10 Reasons Why ITV Should Bring Back British Wrestling

9. It Fills The Void

With the looming possible loss of Champions League football rights to BT Sport, a little wrestling might solve the problem of what to screen in its place. A not inconsiderable bonus to ITV executives. And if they really must go down the spin-off route as well as putting out preview/review shows of the week's bouts they could well also have that covered. Remember 2005's 'Celebrity Wrestling' when Britain's third channel tried to capitalise on the boom in schoolyard popularity? Various so-called famous types were grouped into teams and trained by pro wrestlers. This threw up the odd spectacle of posh cad James Hewitt playing up to the 'Gentleman Jim' stereotype/ring name under the tutelage of D'Lo Brown while Welsh sprinter Iwan Thomas, under the name of 'The Dragon,' was being put through his paces by Joe Legend. Even that had a spin-off- 'Bring It On'. With a presenting team of Kate Thornton and Rowdy Roddy Piper proving as insipid as the scraps they were made to watch, no wonder it bombed. But bringing something similar back alongside the proper rough stuff really could work wonders. The mind boggles as to who could be persuaded to appear..