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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."