Kiwi Pro Wrestling

Kiwi Pro Wrestling
Acronym KPW
Founded May 2006
Headquarters Wellington, New Zealand
Founder(s) Rip Morgan
Website

Kiwi Pro Wrestling (KPW) is a professional wrestling promotion based in Wellington, New Zealand.

History

Started in May 2006 by veteran New Zealand wrestler Rip Morgan, KPW was formed with the express purpose of taking NZ wrestling from club level to professional level and groom local wrestling talent to compete on the world stage. CEO Rip Morgan and commissioner Butch Miller have many years experience as pro wrestlers on the international circuit and have extensive contacts in the international pro wrestling scene. KPW's talent pool includes returning veterans such as Rogue Trooper and Irishman Mike Ryan from 'On the Mat' days on NZ television, as well as upcoming wrestling talent.

Since its formation, KPW management has gone out of its way to actively involve former wrestlers, recognising that their invaluable experience and knowledge are essential for invigorating NZ pro wrestling. Wrestling legends such as Steve Rickard, John da Silva and Robert Bruce, all former champions, have thrown their support behind the company and contribute to the New Zealand Legends profiles on the Kiwi Pro Wrestling web site. Butch Miller (one half of the world famous Bushwhackers), arguably the most successful wrestler from New Zealand, acts as KPW commissioner and regularly appears at KPW matches with his 'Bushwhacker Shack'. His partner, Luke Williams, is a wrestling promoter based in Puerto Rico.

KPW's first show, Storm Warning, was held on 23 June 2006.

Media appearance

Two of KPW's wrestlers, Jonnie Juice and Creed, wrestled briefly on Sunday morning children's television show What Now.[1]

KPW were also on TV ONE's Good Morning show on 6 July 2006, promoting their 7 July Ring Rampage show at the Taita Community Centre.[2] There were interviews with CEO Rip Morgan and Butch Miller, as well as a tag team match featuring D-Money, Jonnie Juice, Creed and H-Flame. The kiwis will fight for death to bear the honnor of looking at the 1221

KPW broadcast their December 2006 match 'Xmas Kracker' on Triangle TV during June 2007 and posted the promo on YouTube.

Kiwi Pro Wrestling brought wrestling back into central Wellington in March 2007 with the 'SlamTime City' and 'Kaos Theory' held at Wellington High School in April and July respectively. Like 'Xmas Kracker', these matches were filmed by Ocular Films (Wellington) for future broadcast. The company staged their 'Australian Invasion' match in August 2007, this being their first show, matching local against overseas talent. Four wrestlers from Melbourne appeared: Tank, Iron Horse, Grudge and the Sheik.

In October 2007, KPW staged their Halloween Howl II match in Wellington, continuing in their series of matches staged around various themes. The company also started their "Wild 4 Wrestling" training school in March 2007 for aspiring professional wrestlers and referees. In February 2008 and again in May 2008, Kiwi Pro Wrestling champion H-Flame and Max (the Axe) Damage represented KPW in Hobart, Tasmania in successful matches against NAW opponents. On 18 April 2008 Kiwi Pro Wrestling stages the 'Eve of Destruction' show in Wellington, New Zealand.

Several local and national newspapers have published articles about Kiwi Pro Wrestling being: City Life, Wellingtonian, Capital Times, The Dominion, National Business Review, Hutt News and New Zealand Herald. KPW's latest article covering the Hobart matches is in the Australian People magazine 27 February issue. { On 31 August 2009, KPW announced that they would air a new half-hour TV show named "Off the Ropes" to be screened on Prime Television. The first episode screened on 15 November 2009

WWE Trials

There was a significant amount of controversy following KPW's, (more specifically, Rip Morgan's) announcement on 3 June 2008, of the wrestlers that would take part in the 2008 New Zealand WWE trials in Auckland.[3]

KPW issued a press release to say that all wrestlers from New Zealand promotions (NZWPW, KPW, IPW) and Australia were invited to apply to tryout.[4]

Those named to audition for WWE were (promotion in brackets):[5]

No wrestlers from New Zealand Wide Pro Wrestling or Impact Pro Wrestling were invited to audition. This created a controversy which caused many fans and insiders in New Zealand Professional Wrestling to condemn the actions of KPW. NZPWI editor and NZPWI Invitational Founder Dion McCracken launched a tirade against Rip Morgan and KPW on the NZPWI site.

Prior to attending the WWE Try Outs, Kiwi Pro Wrestling invited New Zealand wrestling legend Steve Rickard to their training facilities to see the standard on offer, which he did and left impressed with the selection and talent.

Following the WWE Try Outs, Kiwi Pro Wrestling continued to successfully promote matches in the lower North Island. 'AfterBlaster' was held in July 2008 in Wellington then 'AfterBlaster 2' in New Plymouth, September 2008. The main match in 'Halloween Howl 3' held in Wellington in October 2008 was dedicated to one of the promotion's strongest supporters, Kiwi wrestling legend Al Hobman, who had recently died. At the match to acknowledge him were former wrestlers Bruno Bekkar, Juno Huia, Steve Rickard and Cowboy Billy Wright. At this time, Kiwi Pro Wrestling had also added the Oceania Amateur champion, Shane Whitehead to their roster.

In March 2009, Kiwi Pro Wrestling held the 'River City Showdown' in Wanganui, drawing their biggest crowd yet followed in May by their first Tag Team Tournament, 'Rise of the Champions' in Wellington. 'Night of the Belts' in July 2009 marked a return to Wanganui, and 'Halloween Howl 4' rounded out the year for live KPW shows, being held in Newtown in October 2009.

Television

The Off the Ropes logo

On 31 August 2009, KPW announced that they would air a new half-hour TV show named Off the Ropes to be screened weekly on Prime. The show debuted on Sunday 15 November. It is now aired every Sunday at 1.30pm.

Championships

Heavyweight Title History

Wrestler Defeated Date Place Event Notes
H-Flame Jonnie Juice 21 July 2006 Taita, Lower Hutt Eruption Tournament final for the vacant championship
Inferno H-Flame 13 December 2009 Wellington, NZ Off The Ropes Episode broadcast 13 December 2009
Max Damage Inferno 31 January 2010 Wellington, NZ Off The Ropes Episode broadcast 31 January 2010
The Technician Max Damage 16 July 2010 Wellington, NZ Make or Break
Whetu The Technician 26 October 2012 Wellington, NZ Halloween Howl 6
Shane Sinclair Graham Hughes 2 November 2013 Wellington, NZ Halloween Howl 7 Championship match for the vacant title

Women's Title History

Wrestler Defeated Date Place Event Notes
Nurse Payne n/a 25 May 2012 Wellington, NZ Mayhem Battle royal for the vacant championship
Scarlett Nurse Payne 2 November 2013 Wellington, NZ Halloween Howl 7
Frankie Quinn Scarlett 15 November 2014 Levin, NZ PowerPlay XI

Tag Team Title History

Team Defeated Date Place Event Notes
The Renegades (The Technician and Kade Morgan) Jade Diamond and Whetu 8 May 2009 Wellington, NZ Rise of the Champions Tournament final for the vacant championship
H-Flame and Lazarus Volt The Renegades (The Technician and Kade Morgan) 22 July 2011 Wellington, NZ True Mana
Rodeo Drive (Charlie Roberts and Steve Jordan) H-Flame and Lazarus Volt 26 January 2013 Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, NZ Bays Wrestlefest II
Rock 'n' Rage (Bull Addams and Stix) Rodeo Drive (Charlie Roberts and Steve Jordan) 2 November 2013 Wellington, NZ Halloween Howl 7

See also

References

  1. New Zealand Pro Wrestling Informer: KPW promote "Storm Warning" on What Now. 28 May 2006
  2. New Zealand Pro Wrestling Informer: KPW To Feature on Good Morning this Thursday. 4 July 2006
  3. http://www.nzpwi.co.nz/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4230&Itemid=71 THE WWE NZ TRYOUT DEBACLE 4 Jun 2008
  4. http://kiwiprowrestling.co.nz/News-Item.487.0.html?&tx_ttnews[cat]=3&tx_ttnews[pS]=1209556800&tx_ttnews[pL]=2678399&tx_ttnews[arc]=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=153&tx_ttnews[backPid]=545&cHash=6e5046f3ca Kiwi Pro Wrestling's Media Release 28.05.08
  5. http://kiwiprowrestling.co.nz/News-Item.487.0.html?&tx_ttnews[pS]=1212454424&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=157&tx_ttnews[backPid]=488&cHash=5ce4b7176c CEO Rip Morgan announces WWE Try Outs selection 03.06.08

External links