Top Rope Promotions

Top Rope Promotions, formerly known as Yankee Pro Wrestling, is a Northeastern independent professional wrestling promotion based in New Bedford, Massachusetts and is the largest promotion in the southern New England-area rivaling other Northeastern promotions including Chaotic Wrestling, the Millennium Wrestling Federation and New England Championship Wrestling. Its wrestling school The Lock-Up is responsible for training several leading independent wrestlers, most notably, Ariel.^[1] Along with its head trainer Matt Hyson, their seminars have been hosted by Ring of Honor alumni Jamie Noble and A.J. Styles.

A number of independent wrestlers competed in Yankee Pro Wrestling during their early careers including Amanda Storm,^[2][3] Andy Jaxx,^[4] DC Drake,^[5] Slyck Wagner Brown, Johnny Heartbreaker, Shark Boy, Christian York, Metal Maniac, Robbie Ellis,^[6] Rick Fuller and Dan "The Beast" Severn.

The promotion has also regularly featured former World Wrestling Federation veterans including "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas,^[7] Koko B. Ware, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, Junkyard Dog, Nikolai Volkoff, Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, George "The Animal" Steele, King Kong Bundy, Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake, Tito Santana,^[8] "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka, The Bushwhackers (Bushwhacker Butch and Bushwhacker Luke) and The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags) as well as managers Mr. Fuji, Capt. Lou Albano and Luna Vachon Who was the Promotions last Women's champion. Others who have made appearances include Kamala, Bastion Booger, Doink The Clown, Gangrel, Virgil, Rick "The Model" Martel, Marty Jannetty, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, Tatanka, Scotty 2 Hotty, Chad Toland, Steve Bradley and WWE Tough Enough contestants Jonah and Chris Nowinski.

Following the close of Extreme Championship Wrestling, several ECW mainstays such as Amish Roadkill,^[9] Dawn Marie, Simon Diamond, Perry Saturn, Tony DeVito, Little Guido, Jerry Lynn, Steve Corino, Justin Credible, Julio Dinero, Chris Hamrick, Big Dick Dudley and Joel Gertner had brief stints in the promotion. In recent years, TNA wrestlers Christy Hemme, Talia, Abyss, Jay Lethal, Joey Matthews and Ron "The Truth" Killings have also made appearances.

History

The promotion began holding events in the Fall River-New Bedford area during the early-1980s, picking up the old territorial area previously run by the World Wide Wrestling Federation during the 1970s. After going through several name changes and owners, the promotion changed its name from New England Wrestling to Yankee Pro Wrestling during the 1990s. During this time, the promotion gained a strong following in southern New England regularly bringing in former WWF stars from the 1980s and 90s. Through its wrestling school, the promotion would also feature many wrestlers who later competed in World Wrestling Entertainment, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, Ring of Honor and the independent circuit.

In 2000, head booker 21-year old Steve Ricard bought out the promotion. Under the Top Rope Promotions banner, he continued running monthly shows in the Fall River-New Bedford area successfully making between $500-$5,000 a show.^[10] The majority of its shows were held at PAL Hall in Fall River and the Top Rope Arena in New Bedford. The promotion also ran a weekly cable television program in the local area.

In addition to monthly events at the PAL Hall in Fall River, Top Rope Promotions runs events at the Creative Auction Centers in Fall River and New Bedford, the historic Adams-Turners Hall in Adams, and the Elks Lodge in Franklin. Top Rope Promotions also appears at the annual Whaling City Festival at Buttonwood Park in New Bedford and at the annual Wolcott Country Fair in Wolcott, Connecticut. The promotion also holds annual events at Outdoor World campground in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, and also appears on occasion at The Wapping Fair in South Windsor Connecticut, however they have not been since 2008.

Roster

Male Wrestlers

Female Wrestlers

Managers