Nikki Cross & Big Damo Officially Acquire PROGRESS Wrestling & Defy Wrestling

In a huge blockbuster move for the British and Irish pro wrestling scene, former WWE Superstars Nikki Cross (aka Nicola Glencross) and Big Damo (aka Killian Dain and Damian Mackle) have officially acquired UK-based wrestling promotion, PROGRESS Wrestling, and US-based indie promotion, DEFY Wrestling. The husband-and-wife team are now the new co-owners of both promotions.

The announcement notes that Damo and Cross vow “to ensure PROGRESS remains a launchpad for today’s and tomorrow’s stars.” Speaking on the announcement in a press release, Damo stated, “We are delighted to be the new co-owners of PROGRESS. We both started in the UK and Ireland and fully believe this is host to the greatest talent pool on earth, and PROGRESS is well positioned to showcase this generation and the next generation.”

Damo continued that he and his wife intend to guide PROGRESS through the coming years. He added the following:

“We are also very excited to be the new co-owners of DEFY Wrestling. Home to the most feverish fan base in the Pacific North West. Nikki and I have an affinity with Seattle, and I always had an incredible experience wrestling on the DEFY shows in front of the Defyance.”

“We would like to thank Martyn Best and Lee McAteer for being wonderful custodians and bringing new levels of professionalism to our industry. They steered PROGRESS after a worldwide pandemic, created an incredible wrestling network in Hooked On Wrestling TV, created a phenomenal working partnership with Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan and DEFY in USA and showed ambition, and an incredible drive to give multiple talented men and women visas to compete in the USA, and opportunities in so many other countries.

“Our job now is to guide PROGRESS through the coming years, identify new talent and integrate them with the current phenomenal roster. I’m proud to say we have some of the best wrestlers in the world performing for us right now. Our men’s World Champion Cara Noir and Charlie Sterling are performing at the highest level. Our Tag Team Champions Luke Jacobs and Ethan Allen are two of the best wrestlers in the world under 30. Our women’s division is host to some of the best women wrestlers alive. Women’s champion Alexxis Falcon, Rhio, Kanji, Emersyn Jayne and so many more. We also have Hollywood actor Paul Walter Hauser regularly walking the Hollywood red carpets with his PROGRESS Proteus Championship belt. Then there is Gene Munny, Charles Crowley, former WWE star Axel Tischer, Hollie Barlow, Simon Miller, Man Like DeReiss, Spike Trivet, Lykos Gym, and so many more.

“I could go on all day but Nikki and I want to continue to give these amazing athletes a platform to create engaging stories, while also leaving plenty of room for absolute masterpieces in ring.

“We also want to capitalize on our great relationships with talent and promotions worldwide, and create new partnerships that not only bring phenomenal talent to our shores, but also export our best talent to new ventures abroad.”

Cross is a former WWE Raw Women’s Champion, Money in the Bank winner, and a multiple-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, having held the belt with Alexa Bliss and Rhea Ripley. She now becomes the first female co-owner of PROGRESS and DEFY Wrestling. Cross said her own statement:

“It is not lost on me that there are few female owners in professional wrestling, so I want to bring my experience and insights to the table and elevate PROGRESS and DEFY to new levels.

“We were deeply encouraged by the first PROGRESS Women’s Super Strong Style 16 tournament. Rhio and Gisele competed in an incredible main event, and Rhio proved to be a worthy winner! We will soon be announcing that next year, in 2027, we will host the first stand alone female Super Strong Style 16. We are also in the process of bringing PROGRESS to new cities across the UK, and will be excited to announce those details soon.”

Nikki Cross and Big Damo Become New Owners of PROGRESS Wrestling & Defy Wrestling

The announcement notes that PROGRESS is poised for its “next chapter” with Damo and Cross at the helm, adding, “Expect exciting collaborations, new talent initiatives, and a renewed focus on the UK scene, all the while maintaining PROGRESS’s gritty, intimate atmosphere, and building upon their growing global presence.”

Speaking on the announcement, former owner Martyn Best commented: “It’s been a fascinating and interesting journey with PROGRESS, and I’ve personally made some very fine friendships. I’m so proud of what Lee and I have achieved, and as with every successful and growing business, it’s now time for its next chapter. Big Damo and Nikki Cross bring that extra massive oomph of global credibility and legitimate experience that PROGRESS now needs, and I will certainly be supporting them and following their “progress” with huge interest.”

Former co-owner Lee McAteer also stated: “Being a custodian of PROGRESS Wrestling has been one of the greatest honours of my life, and with fellow owners Martyn Best and Matt Buczek, we have restored and protected PROGRESS and leave it in a stronger place for it to grow to the next level. I have been so proud of the connection we have nurtured with our loyal fans, and it will be something I will always treasure.

“I am delighted that we are handing the company over to two people I have great admiration for, and are highly respected throughout the wrestling community. Big Damo and Nikki Cross are British and Irish wrestling royalty, and after hearing their thoughts, I know that the most exciting chapter in PROGRESS’s history is still to come. To all the PROGRESS fans, wrestlers, colleagues, and partners, thank you. I am incredibly excited for the future of PROGRESS under Big Damo and Nikki.”

The first show under Cross and Damo’s ownership will be PROGRESS Chapter 195: Wonderbrawl II on June 7 at the O2 Ritz Academy in Manchester, UK. PROGRESS also has a homecoming show at the Electric Ballroom in London scheduled.

Cross will also make her first UK appearance since leaving WWE in April at PROGRESS Chapter 196: Scorchio on Sunday, July 26. The shows will stream live on Hooked on Wrestling TV.