Leicester Pro Wrestling
Encyclopedia
Live Professional Wrestling (LPW), formerly Leicester Pro Wrestling, is a British
professional wrestling promotion
based in the Midlands
and running shows in Leicestershire
and Birmingham
. The promotion was originally a collaboration between MPW co-promoter Mike Andrew and NBW promoter Gerry Norton (carried over from the MPW/NBW relationship which saw the NBW British Ironman Championship defended in both promotions, and highlighted by the mix of MPW and NBW talent on early LPW shows), but this relationship was ended sometime in mid-2006 and Andrew began promoting LPW shows with Mark Brownhill. In 2008 Mike Andrews retired and passed the company onto Mark Brownhill.
, Leicestershire
, at the Royal British Legion Club (a venue previously used by Midlands Professional Wrestling, LPW's now-defunct sister company with which it shared a substantial amount of talent. The show was main-evented by a battle royale to crown the first LPW Champion, which was won by John Bull.
A month later, LPW ran its second show on the 15 January 2006 at another regular MPW venue, the Ivy Leaf Social Club in Sheldon, Birmingham (the venue was used by both companies up until MPW's closure later that year), then returned to the Royal British Legion Club in Syston on the 20 January. A third Syston show was planned for February, but the Royal British Legion Club was demolished. LPW found a replacement venue in the form of the Syston & District Conservative Club, and ran their first show there on 10 March 2006. The promotion continued to use this venue on a semi-regular basis for the rest of 2006.
, but also expanded into new venues of its own such as the Social Club & Institute in Minworth
, Sutton Coldfield
, and Lea Hall
Sports & Social Club. LPW's first show at Lea Hall featured renowned British wrestler Doug Williams
. Whilst Willenhall was abandoned as a venue after only one show, Minworth and Lea Hall remain regular venues for LPW, along with Shard End
Social Club, and Leicestershire venues Thurmaston
Progressive Working Men's Club and Stocking Farm Social Club.
-based Pure Wrestling Association, based mainly around free exchanges of talent.
LPW was also one of several promotions to contribute talent to the British Under 23's Championship event in November, 2006. Despite becoming involved too late to enter a representative in the tournament itself, the promotion sent "Ironman" Chris Stone to compete in a non-tournament four-way elimination contest against representatives of various other promotions.
On August 12, 2007, Triple X Wrestling
made a mini invasion of fellow Midlands promotion Leicester Pro Wrestling. While many of the Triple X roster wrestled for Leicester Pro Wrestling on a regular basis, the invasion included several who did not. Jimmy Havoc went up against Jekkel for the LPW British Iron Man Championship, in a match where Jekkel managed to retain his title. Zack Sabre Jr
beat Ashton Smith via submission, in a rematch from "Chop Him In The Valentines". The main event saw Omer Ibrahim pin then LPW Champion Andy Shoes in a non-title contest.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
professional wrestling promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
based in the Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
and running shows in Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
and Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. The promotion was originally a collaboration between MPW co-promoter Mike Andrew and NBW promoter Gerry Norton (carried over from the MPW/NBW relationship which saw the NBW British Ironman Championship defended in both promotions, and highlighted by the mix of MPW and NBW talent on early LPW shows), but this relationship was ended sometime in mid-2006 and Andrew began promoting LPW shows with Mark Brownhill. In 2008 Mike Andrews retired and passed the company onto Mark Brownhill.
Early days
LPW ran its first show in December 2005 in SystonSyston
Syston is a town and civil parish in the district of Charnwood in Leicestershire, England. The population is 11,508 as of the 2001 Census.-Overview:...
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, at the Royal British Legion Club (a venue previously used by Midlands Professional Wrestling, LPW's now-defunct sister company with which it shared a substantial amount of talent. The show was main-evented by a battle royale to crown the first LPW Champion, which was won by John Bull.
A month later, LPW ran its second show on the 15 January 2006 at another regular MPW venue, the Ivy Leaf Social Club in Sheldon, Birmingham (the venue was used by both companies up until MPW's closure later that year), then returned to the Royal British Legion Club in Syston on the 20 January. A third Syston show was planned for February, but the Royal British Legion Club was demolished. LPW found a replacement venue in the form of the Syston & District Conservative Club, and ran their first show there on 10 March 2006. The promotion continued to use this venue on a semi-regular basis for the rest of 2006.
Expansion & Present-day venues
LPW continued the trend of running shows at former MPW venues with its April 7 show in WillenhallWillenhall
Willenhall is a town in the Black Country area of the West Midlands of England, with a population of approximately 40,000. It is situated between Wolverhampton and Walsall, historically in the county of Staffordshire...
, but also expanded into new venues of its own such as the Social Club & Institute in Minworth
Minworth
Minworth is a village on the outskirts of Birmingham in the West Midlands area of England. It is located near Walmley, Wishaw, Warwickshire, Curdworth, Thimble End and Castle Vale....
, Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield is a suburb of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Sutton is located about from central Birmingham but has borders with Erdington and Kingstanding. Sutton is in the northeast of Birmingham, with a population of 105,000 recorded in the 2001 census...
, and Lea Hall
Lea Hall
Lea Hall is an area in the east of Birmingham, England, bordering the Kitts Green and Garretts Green areas.It is the location of Lea Hall railway station, which is served by London Midland...
Sports & Social Club. LPW's first show at Lea Hall featured renowned British wrestler Doug Williams
Doug Williams (wrestler)
Douglas Clayton Durdle is an English professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Doug Williams. He is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Douglas Williams...
. Whilst Willenhall was abandoned as a venue after only one show, Minworth and Lea Hall remain regular venues for LPW, along with Shard End
Shard End
Shard End is an area of Birmingham, England. It is also a ward within the formal district of Hodge Hill. Shard End borders Castle Bromwich to the north and Kingshurst to the east which are situated in the northern part of the neighbouring Metropolitan Borough of Solihull.-Pre-War:Before the end of...
Social Club, and Leicestershire venues Thurmaston
Thurmaston
Thurmaston is a village and civil parish within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. As of the 2001 census its population was 8,945...
Progressive Working Men's Club and Stocking Farm Social Club.
Championships
LPW currently recognize 6 of their own champions. 3 of these championships (the Central Counties, Phoenix City and now-LPW-exclusive British Ironman titles) were carried over from MPW, with a further 3 (the LPW Heavyweight, Tag Team and Welsh belts) being added. No wrestler has yet won all 6, the closest being Mad Mike, John Bull and Ronin, with 3 reigns with different belts each. The promotion also recognizes the British Under 23's Champion.Wider involvement in the British Wrestling scene
LPW has strong working relationships with the Birmingham-based Sovereign World Wrestling Alliance and Anti-Watershed Wrestling promotions and the HullKingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
-based Pure Wrestling Association, based mainly around free exchanges of talent.
LPW was also one of several promotions to contribute talent to the British Under 23's Championship event in November, 2006. Despite becoming involved too late to enter a representative in the tournament itself, the promotion sent "Ironman" Chris Stone to compete in a non-tournament four-way elimination contest against representatives of various other promotions.
On August 12, 2007, Triple X Wrestling
Triple X Wrestling
Triple X Wrestling is a professional wrestling promotion based in Coventry, England, which operated from 2006–2007, and from 2009 onwards. TXW is promoted by James Meikle and Nick Bakewell...
made a mini invasion of fellow Midlands promotion Leicester Pro Wrestling. While many of the Triple X roster wrestled for Leicester Pro Wrestling on a regular basis, the invasion included several who did not. Jimmy Havoc went up against Jekkel for the LPW British Iron Man Championship, in a match where Jekkel managed to retain his title. Zack Sabre Jr
Zack Sabre Jr
Zack Sabre, Jr., is a British professional wrestler. Zack is a former NWA United Kingdom Junior Heavyweight Championship and a product of the NWA-UK Hammerlock training school. He started training with NWA-UK Hammerlock at the age of 14, under the guidance of Jon Ryan and Andre Baker...
beat Ashton Smith via submission, in a rematch from "Chop Him In The Valentines". The main event saw Omer Ibrahim pin then LPW Champion Andy Shoes in a non-title contest.
Roster
LPW currently recognizes the following wrestlers as members of its roster:- The Bouncer
- Carnage
- Dan Williams and tag partner the enforcer
- Damian Dunne (Formerly Omen of the Wyld Stallyns)
- Gang*
- Jay Icon
- John Bull
- Jekkel
- K.I.D (notorious K.I.D)
- L.M.R.
- Pete Dunne
- "The It Boy" Quentin Hyde-Styles
- Reno
- Ronin
- Scott Grimm
- "The Golden Boy of British Wrestling" Stunning Terry Seddon (Formerly Tezz of the Wyld Stallyns)
- The Boss (manager of The Bouncer)
- Peter Stevens (Referee)
- Tony Russell (Referee)
- Max Brownhill (Referee)