British National Championship

Click here for full announced list of participants!

For one full calendar year starting this September, IPW:UK will run a tournament the likes of which has never graced the UK before, and realistically, has never been attempted by a part-time wrestling promotion before.

For 365 days—starting in September 2007—62 professional wrestlers from every corner of Great Britain will compete against opponents over the course of six stages. If—in September 2008—they are the last man standing, they will be crowned the holder of the British National Championship, as endorsed by IPW:UK.

All British Champions will be seeded directly to the second round of the tournament. This is to as not to interfere with their defences during the time period of now-through-January 2008.

On August 26 in Orpington, Kent, the draw for the first round was made.

The Format

There will be 32 first round matches, consisting of two British wrestlers facing off against each other. Winner is decided by one single fall, with a 20-minute time limit to each bout. Should the time limit be reached, both wrestlers will exit the tournament.

There will then be 16 second round matches, and 8 third round matches both over 30 minute time limits. The quarter-finals will be competed over 40-minute time limits, with the semi-finals competed with a one-hour time limit.

The final will have no time limit, and all wrestlers excluding the two involved are strictly barred from ringside for this bout.

The tournament will be held primarily over the course of the next 12 month's Orpington, Bromley, Portsmouth, Broxbourne and similar IPW:UK venue dates. In the event of any date clashes, this may be changed at any given time. In the event of a wrestler falling to injury thus being unable to make the next round, a suitable replacement will be found.

Bracketing and match day selection will be completed based on ease of geographical location.

The wrestlers chosen for this tournament are deemed to be the most suitable by not only the selection committee, but also by their peers. Around 20 wrestlers already selected for the tournament were asked to put forward official suggestions on other wrestlers to round off the field of 64.

Due to the National status, reigning and defending National All-England and National Under-23 Champions (currently Sam Slam, on both accounts) will defend their titles in each round. As a result, the winner of this tournament will also finish as the current reigning and defending All-England Champion and age permitting, possibly Under 23's Champion also. Other titles (3CW Heavyweight Championship, IPW:UK Title, RQW Heavyweight Championship, and so forth) will not be on the line.

British Champions will be seeded directly into the second round so as not to interrupt upcoming defences of their titles, and also as a reward for being the current reigning champion.

The team that came up with the odds (including a qualified former practicing bookmaker), looked to the following three main points when 'odding up', so to speak:

- How has the wrestler performed over the past 12 months against all comers.
- How has the wrestler performed over the duration of their career against other wrestlers in the tournament.
and
- How familiar is the wrestler with the other participants, the setting, and the venues the tournament will be held in.

If you have any questions, please e-mail daniel@ipwuk.com today.