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Jeff Jarrett: 'WOS Wrestling will be a full-on promotion'

Jeff Jarrett: 'WOS Wrestling will be a full-on promotion'

Posted: Mar 29th 2017 By: Neil Docking

Jeff Jarrett says World of Sport Wrestling's return to ITV is just the first step in the revamped brand becoming "a full-on wrestling promotion".

ITV has teamed with US company IMPACT Wrestling to deliver a new series of the iconic grappling show on Saturday afternoons - after a 30-year absence.

Ten new episodes will be taped over two nights at Preston Guild Hall on Thursday, May 25 and Friday, May 26, with tickets going on sale on Friday, April 7.

The partnership follows a two-hour WOS pilot, which aired on ITV on New Year's Eve, featuring some of the finest talents on Britain's independent scene.

WOS and IMPACT today held a joint press conference in TV studios at Media City in Manchester to outline further details of the fledgling alliance.

Jarrett, IMPACT's chief creative officer and new WOS executive producer, was joined by a host of UK stars, who could soon become household names.

They included WOS Champion Grado, El Ligero, Sha Samuels, Zack Gibson, Rampage Brown, Viper, Kenny Williams, Johnny Moss and Ashton Smith.

Ex-IMPACT World Champion Nick Aldis, from Norfolk, England, then made a surprise appearance and was unveiled as the newest member of the roster.

Jarrett began the press conference by saying it was "surreal" to be involved in the revival of WOS Wrestling, after talks began with ITV some three months ago.

Flanked by IMPACT President Ed Nordholm and Tom Mclennan, director of entertainment at ITV Studios Manchester, he then disclosed the vision for the brand.

Jarrett said: "Being a part of this opportunity is great, but from the very beginning, it's a full-on wrestling promotion. It goes with everything.

"This show is already being shopped internationally around the world. We are going to look at live touring, merchandise, licencing, who knows, maybe a pay-per-view in the future.

"But it's a full-on wrestling promotion. It's not going to just be a television show."

The former world champion said a new website, WOSWrestling.com, would launch imminently and host exclusive digital content.

He said WOS would be founded on a core of British wrestlers - the "nucleus" of the roster - supplemented by selected IMPACT talents.

The ex-WWE, WCW and IMPACT star added: "The British scene is red hot, so IMPACT will have its influence, but WOS Wrestling is going to have its own flavour."

He confirmed there would be no restrictions on WOS talents working for other independent promotions, but said they could not appear on other TV shows.

Jarrett said: "In my opinion independent wrestling is somewhat the lifeblood of professional wrestling nowadays.

"Myself and Ed have made it a real strong initiative at IMPACT, working out partnerships with [Pro-Wrestling] NOAH in Japan, AAA in Mexico, The Crash in Mexico, multiple promotions around the world.

"As far as on-screen, on television, that's the nature of the business we're in, so they won't be participating in other television programmes, but independent promotions, yes."
The World of Sport Wrestling roster (Photo: ITV)

He said WOS would finalise its roster in the coming weeks and was considering expanding its women's division and introducing more titles.

Hinting that NOAH or AAA talents could be involved, he said: "It's the WOS brand being revived and you can put a number on it - 60, 70, 80% British wrestlers - they are going to be the blood of it.

"But there are going to be international stars too, whether it's from IMPACT, Japan, Lucha Libre, Japan or whatever it may be.

"There is definitely going to be international stars integrated with the British talent."

Former British champion Alex Shane, who called the action alongside ex-WWE commentary great Jim Ross on the New Year's Eve special, was also present.

However, Jarrett said it would be inappropriate to discuss whether Ross would return to the announce table for the new series, given his wife Jan's death last week.

Original WOS legend Klondyke Kate was also on hand to address whether the show would emulate the mat-based style of yesteryear, or present a modern take on British grappling.

She said: "Times move on. WOS is going to be a new venture and the talent on this roster is unbelievable.

"There is so much talent in this country, we don't need anybody else. What's coming is coming - look forward to it.

"Don't worry about what happened in the past. It's great to know it happened, but there's a new era now and these guys are going to take over. They are going to do a hell of a job."

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1983 King Parsons def. Tola Yatsu for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 2003 Sonny C def. Rocco Valentino for the TPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 2004 Ty Magnus & Li'l Joe def. X2C (Cade Sydal & X-Cal) for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 2004 Chris Matthews def. Angel Williams for the ACW Heavyweight Champion
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Week of Sun 03-24 to Sat: 03-30

  • 03-24 1978 Dale Valentine def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-24 1978 Steven Little Bear & Ray Candy became the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 03-24 1979 Charlie Cook def. Ron Bass for the TSW Arkansas Champion
  • 03-24 1986 Lance Von Erich def. Buddy Roberts for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 03-24 1999 Tarantula def. Grunt for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-24 2001 Miss Venom def. Heather Savage for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 03-24 2017 Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) def. Legion (Rob Cabella & Samedi) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 03-24 2019 The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) became the ASP Tag Team Champions
  • 03-24 2023 Stormi Renee def. Erica for the CPW Women’s Champion
  • 03-24 2024 Malik Mayfield became the ASP Livestream Champion
  • 03-24 2024 Johnny Kove became the ASP Mid-American Champion
  • 03-25 1983 Terry Gordy def. The Great Kabuki for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 03-25 1988 King Parsons def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW World Champion
  • 03-25 2000 Bull Schmitt def. Rocco Valentino for the OPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-25 2000 Ichiban [2nd] def. Tarantula for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-25 2016 Mascara La Parka def. Korvin Sage for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 03-25 2016 The Mid-South Express (Tyson Jaymes & Will Chambers) def. The Creepsters (Buster Cherry & Mr. Barnes) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 03-25 2017 Randy Price def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 03-25 2017 Nikki Knight became the ASP Women's Champion
  • 03-25 2017 Fuego del Sol became the IWR Revolutionary Champion
  • 03-25 2018 Adam Patrick def. Brock Landers for the ASP Mid-American Champion
  • 03-25 2023 Pyro def. Dr. Corvus for the WAH Hunger Dojo Champion
  • 03-26 1956 Bull Curry def. Don Evans for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 03-26 1977 The Medics (Medic 1 & Medic 2) def. Bob Sweetan & Tony Rocco for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 03-26 1980 Bull Ramos def. Mike Sharpe, Jr. for the MSW Mississippi Champion
  • 03-26 1995 Wild Maverick became the PZWA Junior Heavyweight Title Champion
  • 03-26 2010 Dutch Hagen def. Shane Morbid for the TAP Oklahoma Heritage Champion
  • 03-26 2011 The Saints of Twilight (Ignition & Reckless) def. Cold Blooded Chris & Max McGuirk for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 03-26 2011 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-26 2011 Ryan Styles def. David Kyzer for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 03-26 2023 Wolf of War became the ASP Livestream Champion
  • 03-26 2023 The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi & Tank Bryson) became the ASP Tag Team Champions
  • 03-27 1939 John Swenski def. Bob Kenaston for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-27 1952 Marshall Estep became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-27 1967 Fritz Von Erich def. Brute Bernard for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-27 2010 Maniac Mike def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-27 2021 Spike became the WAH Living Hope Champion
  • 03-27 2022 Maui Mike def. Malik Mayfield for the ASP Livestream Champion
  • 03-27 2022 Chosen Influence (Luke Richmond & Malik Mayfield) became the ASP Tag Team Champions
  • 03-27 2022 Mr. Nasty became the ASP 5-Star Champion
  • 03-28 1983 King Parsons def. Tola Yatsu for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 03-28 2003 Sonny C def. Rocco Valentino for the TPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-28 2004 Ty Magnus & Li'l Joe def. X2C (Cade Sydal & X-Cal) for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 03-28 2004 Chris Matthews def. Angel Williams for the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-28 2021 Maui Mike became the ASP Livestream Champion
  • 03-29 1968 Spoiler #1 def. Billy Red Lyons for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-29 1976 Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Buddy Roberts) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 03-29 1982 Bugsy McGraw def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 03-29 2008 Anthony Jackson def. The Canadian Red Devil for the FCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-29 2008 La M (Jesus Rodriguez & El Choppo) def. The Compound Varsity (Romero Contreras & Justin Lee) for the FCW Tag Team Champions
  • 03-29 2008 Al Farat def. Thug Nasty for the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 03-29 2008 Carnage def. Slash for the GPCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-29 2008 Xavior def. Jeff Knight for the GPCW Cruiserweight Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Bud Barnes def. Tyson Jaymes for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 03-29 2014 David Kyzer def. L. J. McDaniels for the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Rick Russo def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Rick Russo def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-30 1981 Bob Sweetan def. Mike George for the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 03-30 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. Ernie Ladd & Leroy Brown for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 03-30 1986 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) def. The Sheepherders (Butch Miller & Luke Williams) for the UWF Tag Team Champions
  • 03-30 2013 Bobby Burns & Psycho Sawyer def. The Golden Alliance (Jake O'Brien & C. M. Chunk) for the SRPW Tag Team Champions
03-28
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