IPW:UK & RQW Team Up For European TV Deal
Posted by Daniel Edler
World Association of Wrestling (WAW) and International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom (IPW:UK) today announce a deal that sees them become the two benchmark promotions under the Real Quality Wrestling banner. With each promotion earning a European television deal with a leading German TV station and potential worldwide recognition through planned license deals.
RQW House, Dagenham, UK
After hinting that big news has been coming for months Real Quality Wrestling owner Len Davies today proudly announced the joining of two powerhouses in UK wrestling under one umbrella and a new European television deal that will see each of the respective promotions receiving their own show, in their own style as Real Quality Wrestling will provide programming seven nights a week.
This is the true beginning of what Real Quality Wrestling was meant to be: a benchmark in UK wrestling. Despite not being the initial intention of the outfit, the past two years has seen RQW independently promote numerous shows around the country. It would seem that the concept of an umbrella promotion was harder to implement than initially thought. Throughout that time however a number of lessons were learned, contacts made and bridges built which is where we find ourselves today.
It has been clear for some time that the betterment of UK wrestling required like minded people, with the know how and experience working together. Now with a European television deal and two of the UK’s leading, yet completely different promotions heading the charge there becomes a real opportunity to present the best of British wrestling on a whole new level to a whole new audience.
Both IPW:UK and WAW will continue to present shows in their own unique style as only they can. The only difference fans will notice about both promotions is a step up in production, something that has been cited as the only thing preventing them from reaching the next level. Along with the help of RQW this has become possible.
The channel concerned has a viewership of 10 million homes on German Cable, 800,000 German Satellite, 2.6 million European satellite and with RQW programming featuring seven nights a week the figures speak for themselves. British wrestling will be featured more prominently on a European scale than it has for a very long time. Additionally the programmes will be presented to the world market for license with interest being shown in several non-European markets due to the work already undertaken by the existing RQW TV show.
UK fans need not fear as talks are also currently underway to make programming available to a worldwide audience via their website. Both promotions will still present exclusive DVD releases of their shows which will include the complete uncut events.
IPW:UK’s first TV taping will take place May 4th 2008 at The Great Hall, Bromley Civic Centre; their debut at the new ‘home’ venue. With an action packed card headlined by former WWE superstar Eugene, as well as an IPW:UK title match that will see Big Brother 8’s Billi Bhati going one on one in with IPW:UK Champion Martin Stone. www.ipwuk.com
Whilst WAW’s will happen on May 18th 2008 as they return to The Talk, Norwich where they will present a hard-hitting night of wrestling that will see a diversity of different styles on display. The main event will see Earl Ling team up with The Zebra Kid to take on the combination of Sam Slam and Karl Kramer in a builders cage shoot fight – a match that promises to be talked about for years to come! www.waw-uk.com
In the meantime it will be interesting to see what happens at the Seni weekend, as Real Quality Wrestling will present 4 TV Tapings of top wrestling action at the London Excel Centre on Saturday April 26th. This has been reduced from the original 2 days planned due to re-organisation of the SENI event by the organisers, but it does put wrestling in the main arena where it should be.
RQW owner Len Davies sums up the collaboration in stating, ‘I’m sure that there will be a lot of questions following this announcement. Over the next few weeks and months all of these questions and more will be answered as it will become apparent just why a European television deal is so important to British promotions. Without a doubt these are truly exciting times’.
RQW House, Dagenham, UK
After hinting that big news has been coming for months Real Quality Wrestling owner Len Davies today proudly announced the joining of two powerhouses in UK wrestling under one umbrella and a new European television deal that will see each of the respective promotions receiving their own show, in their own style as Real Quality Wrestling will provide programming seven nights a week.
This is the true beginning of what Real Quality Wrestling was meant to be: a benchmark in UK wrestling. Despite not being the initial intention of the outfit, the past two years has seen RQW independently promote numerous shows around the country. It would seem that the concept of an umbrella promotion was harder to implement than initially thought. Throughout that time however a number of lessons were learned, contacts made and bridges built which is where we find ourselves today.
It has been clear for some time that the betterment of UK wrestling required like minded people, with the know how and experience working together. Now with a European television deal and two of the UK’s leading, yet completely different promotions heading the charge there becomes a real opportunity to present the best of British wrestling on a whole new level to a whole new audience.
Both IPW:UK and WAW will continue to present shows in their own unique style as only they can. The only difference fans will notice about both promotions is a step up in production, something that has been cited as the only thing preventing them from reaching the next level. Along with the help of RQW this has become possible.
The channel concerned has a viewership of 10 million homes on German Cable, 800,000 German Satellite, 2.6 million European satellite and with RQW programming featuring seven nights a week the figures speak for themselves. British wrestling will be featured more prominently on a European scale than it has for a very long time. Additionally the programmes will be presented to the world market for license with interest being shown in several non-European markets due to the work already undertaken by the existing RQW TV show.
UK fans need not fear as talks are also currently underway to make programming available to a worldwide audience via their website. Both promotions will still present exclusive DVD releases of their shows which will include the complete uncut events.
IPW:UK’s first TV taping will take place May 4th 2008 at The Great Hall, Bromley Civic Centre; their debut at the new ‘home’ venue. With an action packed card headlined by former WWE superstar Eugene, as well as an IPW:UK title match that will see Big Brother 8’s Billi Bhati going one on one in with IPW:UK Champion Martin Stone. www.ipwuk.com
Whilst WAW’s will happen on May 18th 2008 as they return to The Talk, Norwich where they will present a hard-hitting night of wrestling that will see a diversity of different styles on display. The main event will see Earl Ling team up with The Zebra Kid to take on the combination of Sam Slam and Karl Kramer in a builders cage shoot fight – a match that promises to be talked about for years to come! www.waw-uk.com
In the meantime it will be interesting to see what happens at the Seni weekend, as Real Quality Wrestling will present 4 TV Tapings of top wrestling action at the London Excel Centre on Saturday April 26th. This has been reduced from the original 2 days planned due to re-organisation of the SENI event by the organisers, but it does put wrestling in the main arena where it should be.
RQW owner Len Davies sums up the collaboration in stating, ‘I’m sure that there will be a lot of questions following this announcement. Over the next few weeks and months all of these questions and more will be answered as it will become apparent just why a European television deal is so important to British promotions. Without a doubt these are truly exciting times’.
© 2003–2008 IPW:UK, International Pro Wrestling. All rights reserved :: Valid XHTML & CSS :: Designed & developed by MCB Studios.