World Association of Wrestling

World Association of Wrestling (WAW) is a British independent professional wrestling promotion founded by Ricky Knight, Sweet Saraya, and Jimmy Ocean in 1994 in Norwich, England. It is affiliated with the all-female promotion Bellatrix Female Warriors which is also owned by Saraya Knight. The promotion features British-style wrestling and uses British rules.^[1][2]

World Association of Wrestling

Acronym	WAW
Founded	1994
Style	Professional wrestling Sports entertainment
Headquarters	Norwich, Norfolk
Founder(s)	Ricky Knight Sweet Saraya Jimmy Ocean
Owner(s)	Ricky Knight Sweet Saraya Zak Knight[1]
Sister	Bellatrix Female Warriors
Website	https://wawuk.com/

History

Ricky Knight, Sweet Saraya, and Jimmy Ocean formed WAW in 1994 in Norwich.^[2][3] Ocean left the business after approximately one year.^[4] In 2005, Ricky Knight and Sweet Saraya formed the World Association of Women's Wrestling, although the name was later changed to Bellatrix Female Warriors.^[5]

In 2014, WAW ran more than 100 shows.^[5] In September 2016, WAW began airing on Mustard TV.^[2] American wrestler Scott Hall was previously a backstage agent for the promotion, working behind the scenes at television tapings and appeared in an on-screen authority role as WAW Commissioner.^[1]

The promotion was featured in the 2012 Channel 4 documentary The Wrestlers: Fighting with My Family about the Knight family.^[1] It was featured in the film Fighting with My Family, which was based on the documentary.^[1]

Former Norwich City striker Grant Holt and 2012 Olympics boxing bronze medallist Anthony Ogogo both began their wrestling careers with WAW.^[6]

In 2020, WAW was featured in another documentary, this time on BBC Three. A four-part series, Step Into The Ring followed the lives of five young wrestlers battling against physical and mental health issues to pursue professional careers under the guidance of Zak Knight.^[7]

WAW Academy

The promotion also includes a wrestling school, The WAW Academy.^[3][5] Trainees perform for both WAW and Bellatrix Female Warriors.^[5] The academy trains wrestlers of all ages, including children.^[5] Interest in the school increased after Ricky Knight and Sweet Saraya's daughter Saraya-Jade was signed by the WWE in 2011.^[5] Zak Knight and Sweet Saraya are the head trainers at the academy, but they also bring in guest trainers, as well.^[1] Past guest trainers have included Scott Hall, Dave Taylor, Mr. Anderson, Steve Grey, Mal Sanders, Marty Jones, Jonny Storm, Dean Allmark, and more.

Championships

Current

Championship	Champion(s)	Previous	Date won	Days	Reference
WAW World Heavyweight Championship	Roy Knight	PJ Knight	2 April 2022	928+	[8]
WAW World Tag Team Championship	The Norfolk Killers (RKJ and Brett Semtex)	The UK Hooligans (Zak Knight and Roy Knight)	20 February 2022	969+	[9]
WAW World Light Heavyweight Championship	Irn Dru Marshall	Jack Landers	3 March 2024	1,054+	[10]
WAW Open International Championship	Brody Steele	Aaron O'Malley	22 September 2018	2,216+	[11]
WAW European Heavyweight Championship	Zak Zodiac	Vacant	28 May 2022	872+	[12]
WAW British Heavyweight Championship	Brad Slayer	Nathan Cruz	2 April 2022	928+	[13]
WAW Television Championship	Ricky Knight Jr.	Alexander Young	5 May 2018	2,356+	[14]
WAW People's Championship	Tony Knight	Saraya Knight	28 May 2022	872+	[15]
WAW Under-23 Championship	Jaiden Docwra	Dillon Slade	19 February 2022	970+	[16]
WAW Academy Championship	Kobe Nitro	Oscar Hyde	9 April 2022	921+	[17]
WAW Academy Tag Team Championship	Heavy Thunder (Keegan and Rip Parker)	The Battlekats	8 January 2022	1,012+	[18]

Retired

Championship	Last champion(s)	Date won	Date retired	Previous champion(s)	First champion(s)	Reference
RQW World Heavyweight Championship	Luke Hawx	19 March 2016	14 May 2016	Roy Knight	Robbie Brookside	[19]
RQW European Tag Team Championship	The UK Hooligans (Zak Knight and Roy Knight)	1 May 2015	14 May 2016	K4 (King Kendo and Karl Kramer)	Team Charming (Jack Storm and Dave Moralez)	[20]
RQW European Cruiserweight Championship	Mitchell Starr	22 May 2016	5 June 2016	Peter Nixon	Bubblegum	[21]

See also

• United Kingdom portal

• Professional wrestling in the United Kingdom
• List of professional wrestling promotions in the United Kingdom

References

1. Evans, Aaron (April 30, 2017). "Zak Knight talks about the growth of WAW, Paige's future and The Rock falling in love with his family". Memorabilia Guy. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
2. Hannant, David (August 12, 2016). "World Association of Wrestling set to hit the screens of Mustard TV". Norwich Evening News. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
3. "The History of WAW". WAW. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
4. "INTERVIEW: ZAK KNIGHT, SWEET SARAYA AND RICKY KNIGHT". The Student Pocket Guide. July 1, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
5. Murphy, Dan. "Europeans stars ready to shine at Bellatrix 8". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
6. "From Premier League player to wrestler, Grant Holt on his love of grappling, meeting Billy Gunn and WWE". Talksport.
7. "BBC Three - Step into the Ring". BBC. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
8. "WAW World Heavyweight Championship". WAW. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
9. "WAW World Tag Team Championship". WAW. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
10. "WAW World Light Heavyweight Championship". WAW. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
11. "WAW Open International Championship". WAW. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
12. "WAW European Heavyweight Championship". WAW. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
13. "WAW British Heavyweight Championship". WAW. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
14. "WAW Television Championship". WAW. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
15. "WAW People's Championship". WAW. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
16. "WAW Under-23 Championship". WAW. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
17. "WAW Academy Championship". WAW. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
18. "WAW Academy Tag Team Championship". WAW. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
19. "RQW World Heavyweight Championship". WAW. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
20. "RQW European Tag Team Championship". WAW. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
21. "RQW European Cruiserweight Championship". WAW. Retrieved April 30, 2017.

External links

• Official website