NWA UK Hammerlock
Encyclopedia
NWA UK Hammerlock was a British
professional wrestling promotion
based in Kent
.
's territories. For many years the NWA
had shunned Europe
because it recognized a rival World Heavyweight Championship based in the UK (recognized by All Star Promotions), but in the late 1990s, the UK Hammerlock became a member of the NWA, opening Europe to its influence. The Hammerlock wrestling school has produced some of the top names in England ranging from former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Gary Steele
, Doug Williams
, Johnny Moss, Fergal Devitt
, Rebecca Knox
, Katie Lea, Zack Sabre Jr
, Danny Garnell and many more.
Probably the biggest event in Hammerlock's history came in 1999, when the promotion's top star, Gary Steele, defeated Naoya Ogawa
to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
. Gary Steele also made appearances for the Japanese promotion Zero-One on their PPV supercards "Fighting Athlete" in March 2001 and True Century Creation II in March 2002. NWA-UK Hammerlock generally run shows around the Kent area, but have been known to put shows on around the Essex area, Wales, Cumbria etc. The promotion also has training schools in Kent, Coventry, Scotland and Dublin.
The promotion would also branch out after the turn of the century, setting up a sister operation, known as NWA Ireland as well as gain a working relationship with the Scottish Wrestling Alliance.
Hammerlock training school graduate Fergal Devitt
is their biggest success currently at New Japan Pro Wrestling
(NJPW) under the ring name of Prince Devitt. While graduates Paul Tracey and "Rudeboy" Peter Jay have also embarked on campaigns to the United States
both taking notable stays at New Japan's L.A Dojo.
UFC Hall of famer Dan 'The Beast' Severn also held the promotion's NWA United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship
while on tour with the promotion before losing it to Johnny Moss.
The NWA-UK Heavyweight title's biggest exposure in recent times was when Scottish Wrestling Alliance presented the Gathering from the Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena in Glasgow, Scotland in front of 1,700 fans. Conscience retained his NWA-UK Heavyweight title against Doug Williams
in the main event. Also on the show was a NWA Scottish Heavyweight Championship
match, Jack Jester defeated "Vigilante" Johnny Moss by pinfall to capture the title. Jack becomes the 8th champion.
Hammerlock stopped running events in 2007 and officially folded in 2009. In 2010, Hammerlock Wrestling founder Andre Baker committed suicide, aged 45.
In June 2011 NWA UK Hammerlock officially reopened its doors with a memorial show to its late founder Andre Baker, and has several events planned in October and December, though the promotion is now running shows primarily in Essex and has not relaunched its school camps as of yet.
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 Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
.
History
Established in 1993 by former wrestler turned promoter Andre "Sledgehammer" Baker, it is one of the National Wrestling AllianceNational Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
's territories. For many years the NWA
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
had shunned Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
because it recognized a rival World Heavyweight Championship based in the UK (recognized by All Star Promotions), but in the late 1990s, the UK Hammerlock became a member of the NWA, opening Europe to its influence. The Hammerlock wrestling school has produced some of the top names in England ranging from former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Gary Steele
Gary Steele
Gary Steele is a retired British professional wrestler, who has competed in European and North American promotions and has been a popular longtime mainstay of NWA UK Hammerlock since the mid-1990s...
, 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...
, Johnny Moss, Fergal Devitt
Fergal Devitt
Fergal Devitt is an Irish professional wrestler currently contracted by New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is currently in his second reign as the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion...
, Rebecca Knox
Rebecca Knox
Rebecca Quin is an Irish former professional wrestler, better known by her ring name Rebecca Knox.Quin began training as a professional wrestler under Fergal Devitt and Paul Tracey in June 2002, and made her debut five months later. Initially working in Ireland and occasionally teaming with her...
, Katie Lea, 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...
, Danny Garnell and many more.
Probably the biggest event in Hammerlock's history came in 1999, when the promotion's top star, Gary Steele, defeated Naoya Ogawa
Naoya Ogawa
Naoya Ogawa is a Japanese former world judo champion, Olympic silver medalist, professional wrestler and mixed martial artist...
to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
NWA World Heavyweight Championship
The National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in the National Wrestling Alliance. Its lineage has been traced from the first World Heavyweight Championship, which traces its lineage to Georg Hackenschmidt's 1905 title and...
. Gary Steele also made appearances for the Japanese promotion Zero-One on their PPV supercards "Fighting Athlete" in March 2001 and True Century Creation II in March 2002. NWA-UK Hammerlock generally run shows around the Kent area, but have been known to put shows on around the Essex area, Wales, Cumbria etc. The promotion also has training schools in Kent, Coventry, Scotland and Dublin.
The promotion would also branch out after the turn of the century, setting up a sister operation, known as NWA Ireland as well as gain a working relationship with the Scottish Wrestling Alliance.
Hammerlock training school graduate Fergal Devitt
Fergal Devitt
Fergal Devitt is an Irish professional wrestler currently contracted by New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is currently in his second reign as the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion...
is their biggest success currently at New Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
(NJPW) under the ring name of Prince Devitt. While graduates Paul Tracey and "Rudeboy" Peter Jay have also embarked on campaigns to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
both taking notable stays at New Japan's L.A Dojo.
UFC Hall of famer Dan 'The Beast' Severn also held the promotion's NWA United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship
NWA United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship
The NWA United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship in the NWA UK Hammerlock promotion. The championship has existed since 2001.-Title History:-External links:*...
while on tour with the promotion before losing it to Johnny Moss.
The NWA-UK Heavyweight title's biggest exposure in recent times was when Scottish Wrestling Alliance presented the Gathering from the Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena in Glasgow, Scotland in front of 1,700 fans. Conscience retained his NWA-UK Heavyweight title against 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...
in the main event. Also on the show was a NWA Scottish Heavyweight Championship
NWA Scottish Heavyweight Championship
The NWA Scottish Heavyweight Championship is the primary singles title in the Scottish NWA-affiliated wrestling promotion NWA Scotland. It was first won by Conscience who defeated Eric Canyon, Adam Shane, and Hatred in Scotland on July 17, 2004. The title has generally been defended in Scotland,...
match, Jack Jester defeated "Vigilante" Johnny Moss by pinfall to capture the title. Jack becomes the 8th champion.
Hammerlock stopped running events in 2007 and officially folded in 2009. In 2010, Hammerlock Wrestling founder Andre Baker committed suicide, aged 45.
In June 2011 NWA UK Hammerlock officially reopened its doors with a memorial show to its late founder Andre Baker, and has several events planned in October and December, though the promotion is now running shows primarily in Essex and has not relaunched its school camps as of yet.
Championships
| Championship: | Current champion(s): | Previous champion(s): | Date won: | Location: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NWA British Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship NWA British Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship The NWA British Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship that serves as the major title in the NWA UK Hammerlock promotion... |
Adam Pearce Adam Pearce Adam Pearce is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is the current NWA World Heavyweight Champion in his fourth reign and the NWA British Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion in his first reign. He is also a former PWG Champion.... |
Dru Onyx Dru Onyx Rodney Lloyd Anthony Kellman , better known by his ring name Dru Onyx and Soa Amin, is a Canadian professional wrestler, He is a currently the co-holder of the NWA Canadian Tag Team Championishp... |
January 23, 2010 | Quebec City, QC |
| NWA United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship NWA United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship The NWA United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship in the NWA UK Hammerlock promotion. The championship has existed since 2001.-Title History:-External links:*... |
Kurupt | Lee Walker | October 30, 2011. | Pitsea, Essex Pitsea Pitsea is a small town in the east of the Basildon district of south Essex, England. It comprises five sub-districts: Eversley, Northlands Park Neighbourhood , Chalvedon, Pitsea Mount and Burnt Mills. Vange is located to the west of Pitsea, Bowers Gifford and North Benfleet to the east and Nevendon... |
| NWA United Kingdom Junior Heavyweight Championship NWA United Kingdom Junior Heavyweight Championship The NWA United Kingdom Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship in the NWA UK Hammerlock promotion.-Title History:... |
Beau "The Show" Jacks | April 4, 2009 | ||
| NWA Ireland Heavyweight Championship | Paul Tracey | |||
| NWA Ireland Junior Heavyweight Championship | Jordan Devlin | May 28, 2006 | ||
| NWA Ireland Tag Team Championship | Adam Abz & Ross Browne | |||
| NWA Scottish Heavyweight Championship NWA Scottish Heavyweight Championship The NWA Scottish Heavyweight Championship is the primary singles title in the Scottish NWA-affiliated wrestling promotion NWA Scotland. It was first won by Conscience who defeated Eric Canyon, Adam Shane, and Hatred in Scotland on July 17, 2004. The title has generally been defended in Scotland,... |
Eric Canyon | February 26th 2011 | ||