New Generation Wrestling

New Generation Wrestling
Acronym NGW
Founded 2008
Style Professional wrestling
Sports entertainment
Headquarters Hull, United Kingdom
Founder(s) Luke Ingamells
Owner(s) Richard Dunn
Website ngwuk.com/home

New Generation Wrestling (NGW) is a British professional wrestling promotion based in Hull, founded by Luke Ingamells in 2008 and currently owned and run by Richard Dunn. As in other wrestling promotions, NGW shows feature storyline-driven, scripted matches for entertainment purposes and not legitimate sporting contests. Initially a small regional company, NGW has gained critical acclaim for its strong characters, consistent storylines and family-friendly shows. Over the years, it has arguably become the top wrestling promotion in North England and one of the country's top providers of sports entertainment.[1]

NGW is featured regularly on Challenge TV's WrestleTalk and British Wrestling Round-Up programs. In addition, it is being broadcast on a number of regional TV channels, most notably the Lincolnshire-based Estuary TV.

The company prides itself on showcasing some of the best British wrestlers, but NGW shows have also featured international stars such as Brian Kendrick, Paul London, Angelina Love and The American Wolves.

History

The Eastmount Years (2008–2012)

New Generation Wrestling put on its first event on 16 May 2008 at Hull's Eastmount Recreation Centre, a venue which would be known as "the home of NGW" for years to come. Line-ups featured local up-and-comers, such as "Prima Donna" Nathan Cruz and "The Amazing" Matt Myers, as well as some of the hottest names on the British independent circuit, such as Dave Rayne and Stixx. A constant progression in match quality and production values ensured NGW a loyal fanbase within the local community.[2]

The company gained nationwide recognition for the rivalry between Nathan Cruz and 15-year veteran Alex Shane, which culminated in a match between the two at NGW's 2nd Anniversary Show in June 2010. The contest, built as a clash of generations, saw Cruz defeat Shane for the right to the "Showstealer" moniker.[3] Cruz went on to become the top heel (villain) in the company, winning the NGW Championship in early 2011 and holding it for nearly a year. At Eternal Glory in December, Cruz lost the title to his former best friend, the popular Matt Myers, in one of the most memorable moments in NGW history.[4]

In December 2011, NGW held its first show on the road at Pontefract Town Hall.[5]

The Sports Arena and TV Exposure (2012–2015)

As the NGW following grew, the promotion held its first event at Hull's Sports Arena (now the Airco Arena) in July 2012, featuring appearances from former WWE Diva and TNA Knockout Winter, as well as British legend Kendo Nagasaki.[6] While the majority of NGW shows remained at the Eastmount Recreation Centre, the July event was the first of many regular happenings at the Arena, which promoter Richard Dunn had wanted to use for wrestling for years.[7] Shows at the Arena took NGW to a whole new level in terms of live audience and show production, which in combination with the performers' consistent in-ring ability, attracted the attention of wrestler-turned-TV-producer Alex Shane.

Starting late 2012 and continuing throughout 2013, developments surrounding NGW events and storylines were covered regularly on WrestleTalk TV, a wrestling talk show on Challenge TV produced by Shane.[8] In April 2013, a spin-off series was launched by the British Wrestling Council titled BWC: British Wrestling Round-Up in what was effectively British wrestling's return to national television for the first time in 25 years.[9] NGW remained a staple of the show throughout its several changes in format and has used the platform to showcase some of its best matches to a nationwide audience. As producing quality television became a priority for NGW, 2014 saw an increase in the number of shows put on at the Sports Arena, later renamed the Airco Arena.[10]

In early 2013, NGW Champion Rampage Brown had a storyline falling-out with management, resulting in him no longer being recognised as the titleholder, despite still being in possession of the belt.[11] As a new champion was crowned in his absence, the company ended up having two champions when Rampage made his return several months later and aligned himself with NGW owner Richie West's faction The Control. The rivalry between El Ligero and Rampage Brown over the rightful claim to the NGW Championship was the most prominent story throughout 2014, culminating in a critically acclaimed 30-Minute Iron Man Match between the two at Eternal Glory in December. Rampage picked up the victory after a shocking attack by Ligero's best friend and tag team partner, Dara Diablo, and became the first ever NGW Undisputed Champion.[12]

Another focal point of NGW programming has been the on-going Davey Boy Cup Tournament, put together by the daughter of the late British Bulldog, Georgia Smith.[13] Following qualifying matches which took place throughout 2014, the four finalists were revealed in early 2015 to be Nathan Cruz, Zack Gibson, Bubblegum and Mike "Wildboar" Hitchman, with matches among them scheduled for the next few months.[14]

In March 2015, the announcement was made that NGW matches would be available on-demand as part of the BWC British Wrestling Weekly subscription service.

Hull City Hall (2015)

In March 2015, plans to install an indoor football pitch at the Airco Arena effectively kicked local communities out of the venue, among them New Generation Wrestling, who later announced that they had acquired the historic Hull City Hall for future shows.[15]

NGW Academy

NGW runs its own wrestling academy which has produced some of the best young talent in British wrestling. The Academy provides training not only for aspiring in-ring performers, but for auxiliary roles as well. Advanced classes at the Academy's Hull facility are led by El Ligero and Nathan Cruz, while NGW regular Caz Crash is in charge of beginner sessions. The Academy also holds seminars with notable guest trainers, among whom Fit Finlay, Doug Williams, Nigel McGuinness, Winter, Rockstar Spud, Dave Taylor and many more.[16]

The NGW Academy launched a second facility in Birtley, Gateshead in the summer of 2014 with head trainer Rampage Brown.[17]

With the expansion of NGW's touring schedule, the Academy has also started doing exclusive pre-show training seminars at a number of external locations, led by some of the biggest stars in British wrestling.

NGW Proving Ground

Starting April 2011, NGW has held a series of Academy shows under the "NGW Proving Ground" banner. Acting as developmental events, the main objective of the shows is to showcase the future stars of British wrestling, but they also feature established names of the main roster.[18] The first six Proving Ground events took place at the Eastmount Recreation Centre in Hull, but ever since February 2013, they have almost exclusively been held on the road.[19]

Partnership with Global Force Wrestling

In July 2014, Jeff Jarrett's Global Force Wrestling announced working partnerships with several major European promotions, including New Generation Wrestling, representing Northern England.[20]


Roster

Active roster
  • Mark Haskins
  • Martin Kirby
  • Matt Myers
  • Nathan Cruz
  • Rampage Brown
  • Rob Lynch
  • Robbie X
  • Sam Bailey
  • Sam Wilder
  • Stixx
  • Wildboar
  • Zack Gibson

Notable alumni

Champions

Title Current holder Date won Location Previous Champion
NGW Undisputed Championship Rampage Brown 5 December 2014 Hull, England El Ligero
NGW Tag Team Championship The London Riots
(James Davis & Rob Lynch)		 14 September 2014 Hull, England Colossus Kennedy & Stixx

See also

References

  1. ↑ Moore, Mark (3 October 2014). "In The Spotlight: New Generation Wrestling: To Hull and Back". wrestletalk.tv/bwc/ TV. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "About NGW". ngwuk.com/home/ Generation Wrestling. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  3. ↑ "Wrestlers sock it out for rights to nickname at anniversary show in Longhill". hulldailymail.co.uk May 2010. Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "Best friends in a wrestling face-off". hulldailymail.co.uk Daily Mail. 16 January 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  5. ↑ Moore, Mark (3 October 2014). "In The Spotlight: New Generation Wrestling: To Hull and Back". wrestletalk.tv/bwc/ TV. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  6. ↑ "Masked wrestling legend Kendo to star in Hull show". hulldailymail.co.uk Daily Mail. 2 July 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  7. ↑ Alexandrov, Elto (20 March 2014). "Ring the Bell! Ep. 2: The Destiny of British Wrestling". radio.thehullfire.com Radio. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "Progress over absent NGW Champion Rampage Brown". ngwuk.com/home/ Generation Wrestling. 10 February 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  9. ↑ "British Wrestling Round-Up Ep 1 – Sunday 14th April @ 11.30 pm". challenge.co.uk TV. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  10. ↑ "KC Stadium sports arena renamed Airco Arena in new sponsorship deal". hulldailymail.co.uk September 2014. Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  11. ↑ "Progress over absent NGW Champion Rampage Brown". ngwuk.com/home/ Generation Wrestling. 10 February 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  12. ↑ Puckering, Dean (29 December 2014). "NGW Eternal Glory 2014 Results". thewrestlingmania.com Wrestling Mania. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  13. ↑ "British Bulldog's Daughter Announces the Davey Boy Smith Cup!". YouTube. WrestleTalk TV. 11 June 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  14. ↑ "British Bulldog Memorial Cup". ngwuk.com/home/ Generation Wrestling. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  15. ↑ "NGW is coming to Hull City Hall". ngwuk.com/home/ March 2015. New Generation Wrestling. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  16. ↑ "NGW Training". ngwuk.com/home/ Generation Wrestling. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  17. ↑ Brown, Michael (30 July 2014). "Former WWE star puts would-be wrestlers through their paces in Gateshead". chroniclelive.co.uk Live. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  18. ↑ "NGW Proving Ground Results". ngwuk.com/home/ Generation Wrestling. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  19. ↑ "New Generation Wrestling all set for Beverley debut". driffieldtoday.co.uk Live. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  20. ↑ "GFW Reaches Agreements With European Promotions". globalforcewrestling.com Force Wrestling. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2015.

External links