PROGRESS Wrestling To Run Future WWE UK Shows?
RIP "punk rock pro wrestling."
There's currently no word on where, when, or how WWE's last batch of UK tapings will air, but it looks like the company have a clear plan for how their British brand's shows will be run going forward.
According to Dave Meltzer in this week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter, PROGRESS Wrestling co-founder and figurehead Jim Smallman will be heavily involved in the operation, particularly if WWE end up running UK house shows.
That Smallman and co. would assume operational roles in the UK expansion is no great surprise, given their relationship with the company. PROGRESS and WWE have been working together for well over a year now. Several wrestlers have crossed between the promotions since then, with the affiliation bringing notable changes in PROGRESS' booking style, taking them away from the self-styled "punk rock pro wrestling" of old and closer to pure sports entertainment.
Vince McMahon's promotion actually own the independent group's tape library, but haven't done anything with the footage. Tiered Network subscriptions featuring content from PROGRESS, ICW, and other UK affiliates has been rumoured, and Meltzer writes that these changes may now come in 2019, though nothing has been confirmed.