World of Sport Wrestling | |
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![]() | |
Genre | Sports entertainment Professional wrestling |
Developed by | ITV |
Directed by | Simon Staffurth |
Starring | WOS Wrestling roster |
Narrated by | Alex Shane SoCal Val |
Theme music composer | Paul Farrer |
Opening theme | "ITV World of Sport Wrestling 2018 - Main Theme" |
Composer | Paul Farrer |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 10 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers | Simon Marsh Tom McClennan |
Production locations | Dock10 studios (2016)[1] Epic Studios (2018) |
Editors | Nikki Chang Matthew East-Jones Phillip Lindsey-Cooke |
Camera setup | Multicamera setup |
Running time | 60 minutes[2] |
Production companies | ITV Top Rope Sports |
Original release | |
Network | ITV |
Release | 31 December 2016 February 3, 2019 | –
World of Sport Wrestling, currently known as WOS Wrestling, is a British professional wrestling television series and occasional promotion. It was promoted as a re-launch of the popular wrestling segment of the World of Sport sports programme which ran on ITV between 2 January 1965 and 28 September 1985. The programme was launched on New Year's Eve 2016. It was formerly associated with the United States-based promotion, Impact Wrestling. A six-date live tour of the show's stars took place in January/February 2019.[3][4] In 2024, an online-only reboot was announced.[5]
History
[edit]Background
[edit]ITV transmitted British professional wrestling for over 33 years from November 1955 to December 1988. The bulk of this was screened on Saturday afternoons or lunchtimes (although other slots including midweek late evenings, midweek lunchtimes and bank holiday Monday afternoons were also used).[6] Throughout World of Sport's lifetime, the Saturday afternoon coverage was generally incorporated into the package show as a slot. Joint Promotions held exclusive rights to ITV television coverage until the end of 1986 when they rotated with tapings of All Star Wrestling and occasional WWF special editions.
Despite the cancellation, professional wrestling in the distinct British style has continued in the United Kingdom to the present day. Additionally, since the early 1990s, a second strand of wrestling promotions has emerged, producing more American-styled shows. The two genres have become known commonly as "Old School" and "New School", respectively, after the names used in an invasion angle run by the FWA promotion around 2001. Over the years, numerous attempts were made to relaunch televised British wrestling, with various promotions covered on a single local ITV franchise or satellite/digital channels and often touted as the "revival" of British Wrestling. Although ITV screened WCW in the early hours and from 1992 to 1995 in British wrestling's old Saturday afternoon slot, no homegrown promotion ever received regular syndicated coverage on the network.
In the 21st century, vintage ITV coverage was repeated as World of Sport on digital channels such as The Wrestling Channel and Men and Movies, resulting in the name "World of Sport" becoming a frequent retronym for the Traditional/Old-school style.
Development and pilots
[edit]The mid-2010s saw an increasing drive to return British Wrestling to ITV. A pilot for World of Sport Wrestling (branding itself as a direct revival of the old slot on the World of Sport programme) hosted by veteran British ring announcer Lee Bamber was filmed at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon in November 2013 but rejected by ITV. This was eventually posted to YouTube in mid-2015[7] and reposted in 2023.[8]
On 17 October 2016, ITV announced that they would be bringing back professional wrestling and would be recording another pilot episode on 1 November 2016, being filmed at dock10 studios in Greater Manchester. The show featured independent wrestlers such as El Ligero, Grado, and Sha Samuels. ITV also announced that former WWE commentator Jim Ross would commentate on the pilot episode. It aired on New Year's Eve on ITV.[9] A storyline running through the show was Grado's quest for the WOS championship, falling short in his match with Dave Mastiff to become inaugural champion before eventually winning the belt in a rematch at the end of the broadcast.
The following year, on 23 March, Impact Wrestling announced that they would be teaming with ITV to yet again bring back the show with Jeff Jarrett as an executive producer for a ten-episode series. The show was announced to be scheduled for taping at Preston Guild Hall on 25 and 26 May. Impact Wrestling talents such as Grado, Rockstar Spud, and Magnus along with independent wrestlers such as El Ligero, Dave Mastiff, and Sha Samuels, were confirmed to be part of the roster.[10] The tapings were cancelled in April,[11] and were eventually rescheduled for 2018.
Series 1
[edit]On 25 April 2018, ITV announced World of Sport would air as a ten part series later in the year on Saturday afternoons. The shows were taped at Epic Studios in Norwich, on May 10, 11, and 12 and broadcast from July 28 until September 29 on ITV and STV.[12] Jim Ross was not involved and neither was Impact Wrestling. Instead, the hosts were Alex Shane and SoCal Val. The main storyline was the championship reign of Rampage and his pursuit by challenger Justin Sysum, the third man in the ring in Rampage's Triple Threat title win from Grado and denied the title in a controversial countout loss in episode 3 before defeating the champion in a tag match in episode 7 and then, in the final two episodes, earning himself a title shot and finally winning the belt. Other storylines saw the establishment of a women's championship and a Tag Team Championship tournament spread over six episodes. Also an ongoing story was Grado's running battles with disapproving Stu Bennett, who played the role of WOS executive. Other repeated characters included masked monster heel Crater, treacherous heel Martin Kirby and his former partner, singing babyface Joe Hendry.
2019 live tour
[edit]At the conclusion of episode 6 (transmitted 1 September 2018) a six-date live tour of the show's stars was announced for January/February 2019.[3] The WOS Women's Championship changed hands four times and Sysum made four defences of his WOS Championship against former champion Rampage. As Davey Boy Smith Jr. was not on the tour, the WOS Tag Team Championship was not defended.[4]
Cancellation
[edit]Following ITV obtaining the rights to All Elite Wrestling in the UK, Dave Meltzer confirmed that WOS Wrestling had ended in late 2019, although this appeared to be disputed by the show's producers.[13]
2024 revival
[edit]At 09:00 BST on 28 June 2024, a short teaser video was posted on the WOS Wrestling Facebook page with the caption #WOSTheReturn. The video showed the WOS Heavyweight Championship, the WOS logo with "The Return" written underneath. Sha Samuels, one of the featured performers in the 2018 reboot, provided a voiceover confirming the return.[5] On 28 June, WOS confirmed their return on September.[14]
It was later revealed that WOS Wrestling had reached an agreement with ITV that allowed the revival to take place, however, copyright issues meant that the official name of the promotion would be WOS Wrestling, rather than "World Of Sport" and the event would be broadcast online, rather than on ITV television.[15] In July and August 2024, more information was drip-fed to the public, including the involvement of Grado, the aforementioned Sha Samuels and L.A. Taylor and that NORTH Wrestling and Progress Wrestling announcer Tom Campbell would be providing commentary on the broadcasts.[16]
WOS Wrestling's first taping was scheduled to take place on 14 September 2024, with Adam Maxted, Iestyn Rees, Joel Redman, Eddie Ryan, Sheikh El Sham, Niwa Niwa, Nathan Angel, Jake McCluskey, Ashton Smith, Session Moth Martina, Nightshade and SoCal Val advertised as appearing.[17]
Programme sales
[edit]Broadcasting rights to the series were licensed in India to Discovery Communications-branded channel DSport. Series 1 was transmitted on Tuesday nights at 9pm from 26 February 2019.[18]
In the United States, Series 1 was screened on Stadium on Sunday nights 7pm EST, starting 12 May 2019, the first ever purchase of a UK wrestling programme by a US television channel.[19]
Awards
[edit]The programme received a nomination for Digital Content for the Royal Television Society's East Awards 2019.[20]
Episodes
[edit]2013 pilot
[edit]No. | Recording date | Recording location | Transmission date | Matches |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | November 2013 | Fairfield Hall, Croydon | unbroadcast |
|
New Year's Eve 2016 special
[edit]No. | Recording date | Recording location | Transmission date | Matches |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 November 2016 | dock10 studios, Salford Quays | 31 December 2016 |
|
Series 1
[edit]No. | Recording date | Recording location | Transmission date | Matches |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 10–12 May 2018 | Epic Studios, Norwich | 28 July 2018 |
|
2 | 4 August 2018 |
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3 | 11 August 2018 |
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4 | 18 August 2018 |
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5 | 25 August 2018 |
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6 | 1 September 2018 |
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7 | 8 September 2018 |
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8 | 15 September 2018 |
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9 | 22 September 2018 |
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10 | 29 September 2018 |
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Championship reigns
[edit]WOS Championship
[edit]WOS Championship | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Details | |||||||||||||||||||||
Promotion | World of Sport Wrestling | ||||||||||||||||||||
Date established | 2 November 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Date retired | 3 February 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
No. | Overall reign number |
---|---|
Reign | Reign number for the specific champion |
Days | Number of days held |
Days recog. | Number of days held recognized by the promotion |
+ | Current reign is changing daily |
No. | Champion | Championship change | Reign statistics | Notes | Ref. | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Event | Location | Reign | Days | Days recog. | ||||
1 | Dave Mastiff | 2 November 2016 | World Of Sport Wrestling | Manchester, England | 1 | <1 | <1 | Defeated Grado to become the inaugural champion. Aired on 31 December 2016 | [21] |
2 | Grado | 2 November 2016 | World Of Sport Wrestling | Manchester, England | 1 | 554 | 574 | Aired on 31 December 2016 | [21] |
3 | Rampage | 10 May 2018 | World Of Sport Wrestling | Norwich, England | 1 | 2 | 63 | This was a 3-Way match also involving Justin Sysum. Aired on 28 July 2018 | [22] |
4 | Justin Sysum | 12 May 2018 | World Of Sport Wrestling | Norwich, England | 1 | 267 | 127 | Aired on 29 September 2018 | [23] |
WOS Tag Team Championship
[edit]WOS Tag Team Championship | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Details | |||||||||||||||||||||
Promotion | World of Sport Wrestling | ||||||||||||||||||||
Date established | 10 May 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Date retired | 3 February 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
No. | Overall reign number |
---|---|
Reign | Reign number for the specific champion |
Days | Number of days held |
Days recog. | Number of days held recognized by the promotion |
+ | Current reign is changing daily |
No. | Champion | Championship change | Reign statistics | Notes | Ref. | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Event | Location | Reign | Days | Days recog. | ||||
1 | Iestyn Rees and Kip Sabian | 11 May 2018 | World Of Sport Wrestling | Norwich, England | 1 | 1 | 28 | Defeated Nathan Cruz and Adam Maxted in a tournament final to win the title. Aired on 1 September 2018 |
[24] |
2 | British Bulldog Jr. and Grado | 12 May 2018 | World Of Sport Wrestling | Norwich, England | 1 | 267 | 127 | Aired on 29 September 2018 | [23][25] |
WOS Women's Championship
[edit]WOS Women's Championship | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Details | |||||||||||||||||
Promotion | World of Sport Wrestling | ||||||||||||||||
Date established | 10 May 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
Date retired | 3 February 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
|
No. | Overall reign number |
---|---|
Reign | Reign number for the specific champion |
Days | Number of days held |
Days recog. | Number of days held recognized by the promotion |
+ | Current reign is changing daily |
No. | Champion | Championship change | Reign statistics | Notes | Ref. | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Event | Location | Reign | Days | Days recog. | ||||
1 | Kay Lee Ray | 10 May 2018 | World of Sport Wrestling | Norwich, Norfolk | 1 | 253 | 167 | Defeated Viper and Bea Priestley to win the title. Aired on 4 August 2018 |
[26] |
2 | Viper | 18 January 2019 | WOS Wrestling UK Tour 2019 | Southampton, Hampshire | 1 | 1 | 1 | This was a 3-way match also including Bea Priestley | [27] |
3 | Bea Priestley | 19 January 2019 | WOS Wrestling UK Tour 2019 | Newport, Gwent | 1 | 7 | 7 | [28] | |
4 | Viper | 26 January 2019 | WOS Wrestling UK Tour 2019 | Blackpool, Lancashire | 1 | 8 | 8 | [29] | |
5 | Katy Lees | 3 February 2019 | WOS Wrestling UK Tour 2019 | Bethnal Green, Greater London | 1 | <1 | <1 | This was a 3-way match also including Bea Priestley | [30] |
See also
[edit]- List of professional wrestling promotions in Great Britain and Ireland
- List of professional wrestling television series
References
[edit]- ^ "Back in the ring: ITV World of Sport Wrestling filmed at dock10". Dock10. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ^ "WOS Wrestling - Episode 1". www.itv.com. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ a b "Events | World of Sport wrestling".
- ^ a b WOS Results, Cagematch.net, last accessed 15 February 2019
- ^ a b "WOS Wrestling: The Return, Saturday 14th September 2024 Live at WOS Arena @ Epic Studios, NorwichTickets on sale 10am on Friday 28th June 2024". World of Sport Wrestling (Press release). 28 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
- ^ uk2.net. "ITV Wrestling". www.itvwrestling.co.uk.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "411Mania - New Information on World of Sport Wrestling's Revival Pilot". New Information on World of Sport Wrestling's Revival Pilot.
- ^ ITV World of Sport 2013 Pilot
- ^ "World Of Sport Wrestling". ITV Press Centre. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ "Iconic 'WOS' British Wrestling to Return to ITV". IMPACT Wrestling. 24 March 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ "ITV World of Sport tapings postponed". 28 April 2017.
- ^ "Pro-wrestling to return to British TV". BBC News. 25 April 2018.
- ^ "World Of Sport Wrestling return teased on social media". Cultaholic. 13 December 2019.
- ^ Gibbons, Aidan (28 June 2024). "World of Sport Wrestling Returning Later this Year". Cultaholic. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
- ^ Kelly, Andrew (30 June 2024). "More News On WOS Revival". Cultaholic Wrestling. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ Brennan, Corey (2 August 2024). "Tom Campbell Announced As Part Of WOS: The Return Announce Team". Fightful News. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "WOS Wrestling - The Return". Universe Events. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "DSport to t'cast UK's WOS Wrestling League in India | SportzPower".
- ^ "#NEWS: WOS Wrestling Reach U.S Broadcasting Deal". Retrieved 23 September 2023.
- ^ "RTS East Awards 2019". 18 January 2019.
- ^ a b Kreikenbohm, Philip (1 November 2016). "World Of Sport Wrestling - TV-Show @ MediaCity Studios in Manchester, England, UK". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (10 May 2018). "WOS Wrestling #1 - TV-Show @ Epic Studios in Norwich, Norfolk, England, UK". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ a b Kreikenbohm, Philip (12 May 2018). "WOS Wrestling #10 - TV-Show @ Epic Studios in Norwich, Norfolk, England, UK". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (11 May 2018). "WOS Wrestling #6 - TV-Show @ Epic Studios in Norwich, Norfolk, England, UK". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- ^ "WOS Wrestling Results (9/29/18): New WOS Heavyweight Champion, WOS Tag Team Titles Defended, More | Fightful Wrestling". www.fightful.com.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (10 May 2018). "WOS Wrestling #2 - TV-Show @ Epic Studios in Norwich, Norfolk, England, UK". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (18 January 2019). "WOS Live Tour - Tag 1 - Event @ O2 Guildhall Southampton in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (19 January 2019). "WOS Live Tour - Tag 2 - Event @ Newport Centre in Newport, Gwent, Wales, UK". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (26 January 2019). "WOS Live Tour - Tag 4 - Event @ Blackpool Tower Ballroom in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, UK". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (3 February 2019). "WOS Live Tour - Tag 6 - Event @ York Hall in London, England, UK". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
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