A major shakeup has taken place in the independent wrestling world as former WWE stars Nikki Cross and Big Damo have officially acquired PROGRESS Wrestling and become co-owners of DEFY Wrestling.
The announcement marks a new era for two of the most recognizable independent promotions in the United Kingdom and the United States, with longtime owners Martyn Best and Lee McAteer stepping away from PROGRESS.
A New Chapter for PROGRESS Wrestling
In the official announcement, Big Damo expressed excitement about leading the next phase of PROGRESS while continuing to showcase the best talent from the UK and Ireland.
“We are delighted to be the new co-owners of PROGRESS,” Damo said.
“We both started in the UK and Ireland and fully believe this is home to the greatest talent pool on earth. PROGRESS is well positioned to showcase this generation and the next generation.”
Damo also praised the outgoing ownership group for helping guide the company through some of its most challenging years, including the aftermath of the global pandemic.
He credited Best and McAteer for expanding international partnerships, developing Hooked On Wrestling TV, strengthening ties with Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan, and creating opportunities for wrestlers to compete around the world.
New Leadership, Same Ambition
While honoring the promotion’s recent success, Damo made it clear that he and Cross have ambitious plans moving forward.
Among their goals are identifying new talent, strengthening the current roster, and expanding international partnerships that benefit both PROGRESS and its wrestlers.
Damo highlighted several current stars who will continue to be central figures within the company, including:
- PROGRESS World Champion Cara Noir
- Charlie Sterling
- Tag Team Champions Luke Jacobs and Ethan Allen
- Women’s Champion Alexxis Falcon
- Rhio
- Kanji
- Emersyn Jayne
- Gene Munny
- Charles Crowley
- Axel Tischer
- Simon Miller
- Man Like DeReiss
- Spike Trivet
- Lykos Gym
He also noted the unique visibility brought to the promotion by actor Paul Walter Hauser, who frequently appears publicly carrying the PROGRESS Proteus Championship.
Nikki Cross Focused on Expanding Opportunities for Women
Cross used the announcement to discuss the importance of female representation in wrestling ownership and leadership positions.
“It is not lost on me that there are few female owners in professional wrestling,” Cross said.
“I want to bring my experience and insights to the table and elevate PROGRESS and DEFY to new levels.”
One of the biggest initiatives already planned involves the continued growth of women’s wrestling within PROGRESS.
Following the success of the first Women’s Super Strong Style 16 tournament, Cross announced that PROGRESS plans to host the first-ever standalone Women’s Super Strong Style 16 event in 2027.
The move represents a significant investment in women’s wrestling and could become one of the promotion’s marquee annual events.
PROGRESS Expansion Already Underway
Cross also revealed that PROGRESS is actively working to expand into new cities across the United Kingdom.
While specific locations have not yet been announced, she confirmed that additional details will be revealed in the near future.
The expansion reflects the new ownership group’s desire to increase the promotion’s visibility while creating more opportunities for wrestlers to perform in front of new audiences.
A New Beginning After WWE
The ownership announcement comes only weeks after Nikki Cross was released by WWE in April.
Rather than stepping away from wrestling, Cross appears to be taking on one of the biggest challenges of her career by helping lead two prominent independent promotions.
Her first match since leaving WWE has already been announced and will take place under the PROGRESS banner later this summer.
With Cross and Damo now guiding both PROGRESS Wrestling and DEFY Wrestling, many fans are eager to see how the promotions evolve under leadership from two performers who built their careers inside the very wrestling scenes they now oversee.
Read more to see what Nikki Cross and Big Damo have planned for the future of PROGRESS and DEFY Wrestling.
