Scottish Wrestling Alliance
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Details | |
|---|---|
| Acronym | SWA |
| Established | 2004 |
| Style | British Wrestling with modern influences |
| Location | Glasgow |
| Founder(s) | |
| Owner(s) | {{{owner}}} |
The Scottish Wrestling Alliance is a professional wrestling promotion based in Scotland.
Contents |
[edit] History
The promotion was formed in April 2004, after the collapse of Kenny Morrison's Scottish Championship Wrestling, and would be formed in a working relationship with National Wrestling Alliance territory UK Hammerlock of England. It was this relationship in which SWA gained the NWA Scottish Heavyweight championship, commissioned by NWA and it's UK/Euro representative Andre Baker.
Conscience was crowned as champion on the debut show, Rebirth, when he formed an alliance with Adam Shame and Hatred to create the Sinners. The faction soon expanded and formed feuds with Eric Canyon, Johnny Moss, Sabotage and more, including Majik who later became leader of the group. The Sinners grip on SWA was loosened in 2005 when Eric Canyon defeated Majik for the NWA Scottish title in a cage match in Bellshill. Majik was later able to bring the title back to the Sinners, but a returning Conscience got revenge on his old friend and ripped the Sinners apart in a feud that culminated in him brutally beating Majik in a casket match in 2006.
With the Sinners weakened and then eliminated, the A List group has risen throughout 2006 and entered 2007 stronger than ever with every one of their talent roster having significant achievements and one of their core stars being the number-one contender to the NWA Scottish Heavyweight Championship.
Notable feuds throughout the years include Chris Renfrew and Darren Lewis batling for the T Division trophy, the Ladykillers battle with the Laandstrom Institute, SWA's struggle against an A List takeover, Adam Shame challenging Eric Canyon fo the NWA Scottish title and Majiks blood feud with old ally Conscience.
With a fast expansion of roster and fanbase, SWA introduced the SWA Tag Team Championship in 2005 in a tournament that culminated in their first anniversary event; Rebirth: Battlezone. The title joined the NWA Scottish and T Division titles however with further expansion in 2006, the Laird of the Ring Champoinship was announced to be formed in 2007.
[edit] Expansion
Starting with one venue, the Sir Matt Busby Complex in Bellshill, SWA looked to expand in 2006 with a second venue using Clydebank Town Hall from February 2006 onwards. Other outlets for SWA included free exhibitions at Bishopton Charity show and supplying talent for cross-promotional charity events and Hammerlock Wrestlings Cumbria shows.
SWA's fast success in Scotland encouraged the company to expand its ventures. Using original talent bred from Area 52, SWA's training facility, they created SWA:NXT, an offshoot promotion designed to highlight younger talent and create more opportunities for the roster to prove themselves against established wrestlers with the overall exphasis on "wrestling" as opposed to storyline/gimmick based matches.
NXT debuted in January 2007 in the Tweedie Hall in Linwood, and its success has secured the brand's promotion throughout 2007, this was evident when SWA successfully returned to Linwood in March and revealed plans to return in the near future.
SWA has also created After Hours, a brand designed for an over-18 audience. With SWA's product being largely family based, After Hours will offer wrestling entertainment for adults. The debut date has not yet been announced but the brand will launch mid-2007.
[edit] Fan Access & SWA Online
SWA's Fan Access project expanded throughout 2006 after being teased in 2005. The project was originally designed to create a simple news service but soon ended up becoming an online fanzine offering special features, filmed promos, speculation, interviews with questions from the fans and all the news and updates for upcoming shows.
With plans to expand in 2007, SWA Online hopes to create an interactive news service based on fan feedback unlike any other seen in British wrestling or indy/regional websites.
The site, developed and conceived by GDA Media, has become one of the most visited regional wrestling sites in the UK.
[edit] SWA Championships
To date, SWA has commissioned four active titles since its inception. which are:
- NWA Scottish Heavyweight Championship - Adam Shame
- SWA T Division Championship - Chris Renfrew
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- The T Division title was designed to highlight young talent who wouldn't get the spotlight elsewhere. The T stands for Three years or under, meaning only those with less than three yeas experience can hold the title.
- SWA Tag Team Championship - The Laandtrom Institute (Jamie Walker & Hatred)
- SWA Laird of the Ring Championship - Vacant
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- The first Laird of the ring Champion will be crowned later in 2007.
[edit] Area 52
In association with NWA UK Hammerlock, the Scottish Wrestling Alliance hosts its own professional wrestling training school sessions from its own facility, Area 52 (a play on Area 51), based in Mossedge Industrial Estate, Linwood outside Paisley.
Sessions include;
- Monday nights British style wrestling hosted by Spinner McKenzie from 7-10pm (£5 per session)
- Wednesday nights Submission based wrestling hosted by Conscience from 6-9pm (£5 per session)
- Thursday nights modern wrestling hosted by Adam Shame and/or Eric Canyon(£5 per session)
- Saturday & Sunday mixed session hosted by various trainers from 1-5pm (£10 per session)
[edit] Refrences
- SWA Online; an online database for the Scottish Wrestling Alliance.
