In a stunning shake-up for British wrestling, two former WWE stars have purchased PROGRESS Wrestling.
Damian Mackle – known internationally as former WWE star Killian Dain and Big Damo – and his wife, Nicola Glencross – known as Nikki Cross and Nikki Storm, fresh off a decade-long tenure with WWE – are taking ownership of PROGRESS and DEFY Wrestling.
Nikki Cross and Killian Dain were in the group SAnitY in WWE
Progress has been one of the leading UK-based promotions for years now
SunSport understands PROGRESS became open to offers just a couple of months ago and the sale has come together pretty quickly.
There was said to be many interested parties in the promotion, but McAteer felt the company would be in the best hands with Mackle and Glencross.
Big Damo, who has starred in PROGRESS before and after his five-year WWE run, believes the next generation of stars in the industry is in their newly acquired promotion.
He said: “We are delighted to be the new co-owners of PROGRESS. We both started in the UK and Ireland and fully believe this is host to the greatest talent pool on earth and PROGRESS is well positioned to showcase this generation and the next generation.
“Our job now is to guide PROGRESS through the coming years, identify new talent and integrate them with the current phenomenal roster. I’m proud to say we have some of the best wrestlers in the world performing for us right now.”
Cross, who had a run as the Women’s world champion in WWE, has grand plans to further showcase the ladies in PROGRESS.
“It is not lost on me that there are few female owners in professional wrestling, so I want to bring my experience and insights to the table and elevate PROGRESS and DEFY to new levels.
“We were deeply encouraged by the first PROGRESS Women’s Super Strong Style 16 tournament. Rhio and Gisele competed in an incredible main event, and Rhio proved to be a worthy winner! We will soon be announcing that next year, in 2027, we will host the first stand alone female Super Strong Style 16.”
Cross and Damo have, of course, been married since 2019. The latter wrestled in WWE from 2016 to 2021 while Cross spent a decade with the company before being released in April.
Lee McAteer with Big Damo showcasing both PROGRESS and DEFY brands
Both cut their teeth on the UK wrestling scene and now bring a wealth of experience back to it.
It brings an end to the four-year tenure of Lee McAteer and Martyn Best who steered the company into safe waters after the end of their WWE deal and the fallout from the Speaking Out movement.
While he is no longer the owner of PROGRESS, he will remain a shareholder alongside Cross and Damo in Hooked on Wrestling, an independent wrestling broadcaster.
McAteer said: “Being a custodian of PROGRESS Wrestling has been one of the greatest honours of my life and with fellow owners Martyn Best and Matt Buczek we have restored and protected PROGRESS and leave it in a stronger place for it to grow to the next level.
“I have been so proud of the connection we have nurtured with our loyal fans and it will be something I will always treasure.
“I am delighted that we are handing the company over to two people I have great admiration for, and are highly respected throughout the wrestling community. Big Damo and Nikki Cross are British and Irish wrestling royalty and after hearing their thoughts, I know that the most exciting chapter in PROGRESS’s history is still to come.”
The first show under the new management team is set to go down in Manchester on 7th June at the O2 Ritz Academy, Chapter 195:Wonderbrawl 2.
After that, Chapter 196:Scorchio! will feature Nikki making her first UK appearance since leaving WWE in April with the promotion returning to London.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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