Top Rope Promotions, formerly known as Yankee Pro Wrestling, is a Northeastern independent professional wrestling promotion based in New Bedford, Massachusetts

New Bedford, Massachusetts

New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...

 and is the largest promotion in the southern New England-area rivaling other Northeastern promotions including Chaotic Wrestling

Chaotic Wrestling

Chaotic Wrestling is an American independent wrestling promotion based in North Andover, Massachusetts owned by Jamie Jamitowski and formerly Killer Kowalski prior to his death in August 2008. In addition to the promotion is the Chaotic Training Center, a professional wrestling school where...

, the Millennium Wrestling Federation

Millennium Wrestling Federation

The Millennium Wrestling Federation is a New England independent professional wrestling promotion based in Melrose, Massachusetts. Founded in January 2001 by promoters Dan Mirade & Neil Manolian, the MWF is one of the top promotions in the Northeastern United States along with Chaotic Wrestling,...

 and New England Championship Wrestling

New England Championship Wrestling

New England Championship Wrestling was an independent professional wrestling promotion based in the Northeastern United States and has promoted events since 2000...

. Its wrestling school The Lock-Up is responsible for training several leading independent wrestlers, most notably, Ariel

Ana Rocha

Ana Rocha is an Portuguese-American professional wrestler and manager known by her ring name "The Portuguese Princess" Ariel, who has competed in Northeastern independent promotions including Ring of Honor, IWA Mid-South and the National Wrestling Alliance.-Early life and career:Born in São...

. Along with its head trainer Matt Hyson

Matt Hyson

Matthew "Matt" Hyson is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his performances in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Spike Dudley and in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Brother Runt.In ECW, he was a two-time...

, their seminars have been hosted by Ring of Honor

Ring of Honor

Ring of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...

 alumni Jamie Noble

Jamie Noble

James Howard Gibson better known by his WWE ring name Jamie Noble, is an American former professional wrestler currently working for WWE as a trainer. He is best known for his work from 2002 to 2009 when a severe back injury forced him to retire from competition...

 and A.J. Styles

A.J. Styles

Allen Neal Jones , better known by his ring name A.J. Styles is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...

.

A number of independent wrestlers competed in Yankee Pro Wrestling during their early careers including Amanda Storm, Andy Jaxx, DC Drake

DC Drake

Don Clyde "DC" Drake is a former American professional wrestler. He became the Heavyweight Champion for the National Wrestling Federation and Tri-State Wrestling Alliance which later became Extreme Championship Wrestling.-Training:...

, Slyck Wagner Brown, Johnny Heartbreaker

Romeo Roselli

Giovanni Roselli best known as Romeo Roselli is a professional wrestler and actor best known for his stint with World Wrestling Entertainment on the Raw brand as one half of the "Heart Throbs" and is not to be confused with another wrestler by the name of Kid Romeo.-Career:Roselli began wrestling...

, Shark Boy

Shark Boy

Dean Mathew Roll is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Shark Boy and his experience in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling .-Early career:...

, Christian York

Christian York

Jason Spence is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Christian York.-York and Matthews:...

, Metal Maniac

Metal Maniac

Jeff Miller, known by his ringname Metal Maniac is an American professional wrestler who has competed in Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic independent promotions throughout the 1990s including Century Wrestling Alliance, East Coast Professional Wrestling, World Xtreme Wrestling and the National...

, Robbie Ellis, Rick Fuller

Rick Fuller

Richard Fuller is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances World Championship Wrestling. He would later be featured in several video games including WCW Nitro and WCW/NWO Thunder....

 and Dan "The Beast" Severn

Dan Severn

Daniel DeWayne Severn is an American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, notable for his success in the early years of Ultimate Fighting Championship tournaments. Severn has fought and wrestled for many mixed martial arts and professional wrestling promotions, including King of the...

.

The promotion has also regularly featured former World Wrestling Federation

World Wrestling Entertainment

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...

 veterans including "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas

Tony Atlas

Anthony White better known by his ring name "Tony Atlas" is an American bodybuilder, powerlifter, and professional wrestler who has held multiple titles and championships in each sport. He is also known by his bodybuilding title, "Mr...

, Koko B. Ware, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan

Jim Duggan

James Edward Duggan , better known by his ring name "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment in the 1980s, when it was known as World Wrestling Federation , and World Championship Wrestling...

, Junkyard Dog

Junkyard Dog

Sylvester Ritter was an American professional wrestler and professional football player, best known for his work in Mid-South Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation as The Junkyard Dog...

, Nikolai Volkoff

Nikolai Volkoff

Josip Nikolai Peruzović , better known by his ring name of Nikolai Volkoff, is a professional wrestler who is best known for his performances for the World Wrestling Federation...

, Greg "The Hammer" Valentine

Greg Valentine

John Wisniski, Jr. is an American professional wrestler, better known as Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. He is the son of wrestler Johnny Valentine.-Training:...

, George "The Animal" Steele

George Steele

William James Myers , better known by his ring name George "The Animal" Steele is a former American professional wrestler and actor...

, King Kong Bundy

King Kong Bundy

Christopher Alan "Chris" Pallies is an American professional wrestler, stand-up comedian and actor, better known by his ring name, King Kong Bundy.-Personal:...

, Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake, Tito Santana

Tito Santana

Merced Solis better known by his ring name Tito Santana, is an American professional wrestler whose heyday spanned from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, though he continues to appear on the independent circuit. He is best known from his time in the World Wrestling Federation...

, "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka

Jimmy Snuka

James William "Jimmy" Reiher is a semi-retired Fijian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. Originally from the Fiji Islands, Snuka wrestled for several promotions in the 1970s and 1980s. Snuka is a two-time world heavyweight champion, having been a...

, The Bushwhackers

The Bushwhackers

The Bushwhackers were a professional wrestling tag team that also competed as The Sheepherders during their long career. They wrestled in the World Wrestling Federation and Jim Crockett Promotions as well as a nearly 40 year run on the independent wrestling circuit...

 (Bushwhacker Butch

Butch Miller (wrestler)

Butch Miller is a retired professional wrestler best known as one half of the tag team known as "The Sheepherders" on the independent scene and in the National Wrestling Alliance and as one half of The Bushwhackers in the WWF.-Career:Butch Miller started wrestling for NWA New Zealand in 1964 where...

 and Bushwhacker Luke

Brian Wickens

Brian Wickens is a professional wrestler best known as Luke Williams, one half of the tag team known as "The Sheepherders" on the independent scene and in the National Wrestling Alliance and as The Bushwhackers in the WWF.-Career:Luke Williams started wrestling for NWA New Zealand in 1964...

) and The Nasty Boys

The Nasty Boys

The Nasty Boys are a professional wrestling tag team consisting of Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags, active from the mid to late 1980s and throughout the 1990s. Their gimmick was that of anti-social punks who specialized in hardcore wrestling and brawling...

 (Brian Knobbs

Brian Knobbs

Brian Yandrisovitz , better known as Brian Knobbs, is an American professional wrestler, best known as one half of the tag team The Nasty Boys along with Jerry Sags.-The Nasty Boys:...

 and Jerry Sags

Jerry Sags

Jerome Saganovich is an American professional wrestler best known as Jerry Sags. He is one half of the tag team The Nasty Boys along with Brian Knobbs.-Career:...

) as well as managers Mr. Fuji

Harry Fujiwara

Harry Fujiwara is an American former professional wrestler and manager, best known by his ring name Mr. Fuji. He was infamous for often throwing salt in the eyes of face wrestlers...

, Capt. Lou Albano

Lou Albano

Louis Vincent "Captain Lou" Albano was an Italian-American professional wrestler, manager and actor. He was active as a professional wrestler from 1953 until 1969, then he became a manager, until 1995....

 and Luna Vachon Who was the Promotions last Women's champion. Others who have made appearances include Kamala, Bastion Booger, Doink The Clown

Doink the Clown

Doink the Clown is a professional wrestling gimmick, originally used by Matt Osborne in the World Wrestling Federation from 1993 to 1995. Since Osborne's departure from the WWF, the character has been played by several wrestlers, primarily on the independent circuit, as well as in sporadic special...

, Gangrel

David Heath (wrestler)

David William Heath is an American professional wrestler and pornographic film director. He is best known for his time in the World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Gangrel.-Beginning:...

, Virgil

Mike Jones (wrestler)

Mike Jones is an American professional wrestler, who most recently performed for World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Virgil, where he appeared on its Raw brand as Ted DiBiase, Jr.'s personal assistant...

, Rick "The Model" Martel

Rick Martel

Richard Vigneault is a retired Canadian professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation between 1980 and 1995 under the ring name Rick Martel...

, Marty Jannetty

Marty Jannetty

Frederick Marty Jannetty is an American professional wrestler, best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation as part of tag team The Rockers with partner Shawn Michaels, and later as a singles competitor. While in the WWF, he became a one time Intercontinental Champion and a one time...

, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart

Jim Neidhart

James Henry "Jim" Neidhart is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in the 1980s and 1990s in the World Wrestling Federation as Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. Jim is the father of WWE Diva Natalya...

, Tatanka

Chris Chavis

Christopher "Chris" Chavis , is a Native American professional wrestler best known for his work with World Wrestling Entertainment as Tatanka from 1991 to 1996 and from 2005 to 2007...

, Scotty 2 Hotty, Chad Toland, Steve Bradley

Steve Bradley

Steven Richard Bisson was an American professional wrestler who had competed on North American independent promotions throughout the 1990s including East Coast Wrestling Association, IWA Puerto Rico and the National Wrestling Alliance as well as spending over three years in World Wrestling...

 and WWE Tough Enough

WWE Tough Enough

WWE Tough Enough is a professional wrestling reality television program produced by WWE wherein participants undergo professional wrestling training and compete for a contract with WWE. There were two winners per season for the first three seasons, all of which aired on MTV...

contestants Jonah and Chris Nowinski.

Following the close of Extreme Championship Wrestling

Extreme Championship Wrestling

Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...

, several ECW mainstays such as Amish Roadkill, Dawn Marie

Dawn Marie Psaltis

Dawn Marie Psaltis is an American former professional wrestler and professional wrestling valet. She is perhaps best known for her appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and the SmackDown! brand of World Wrestling Entertainment under her ring name Dawn Marie, where she was a WWE...

, Simon Diamond

Pat Kenney

Patrick Joseph Michael "Pat" Kenney , known also by his ring name, Simon Diamond, is a retired American professional wrestler, currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a road agent...

, Perry Saturn, Tony DeVito

Tony DeVito

Anthony "Tony" DeVito is an American professional wrestler, best known for working in Extreme Championship Wrestling and Ring of Honor...

, Little Guido

James Maritato

James Maritato is an American professional wrestler, of Italian origin, currently working on the independent circuit. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment and Extreme Championship Wrestling under the ring names Little Guido Maritato and Nunzio.-Starting out:While...

, Jerry Lynn

Jerry Lynn

Jeremy "Jerry" Lynn is an American professional wrestler who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....

, Steve Corino

Steve Corino

Steven Eugene "Steve" Corino is a Canadian professional wrestler, who currently works for Pro Wrestling Zero1, Ring of Honor and numerous other independent promotions. Corino is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and ECW World Heavyweight Champion.-Early years :Corino began wrestling in 1994...

, Justin Credible

Peter Polaco

Peter Joseph Polaco is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Justin Credible. He is also known for his earlier stint with the WWF under the ringname Aldo Montoya...

, Julio Dinero, Chris Hamrick

Chris Hamrick

Chris Hamrick is an American professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling throughout the early 2000s...

, Big Dick Dudley and Joel Gertner

Joel Gertner

Joel Gertner is an American Professional wrestling announcer and manager best known for his work in Extreme Championship Wrestling.-Early career:...

 had brief stints in the promotion. In recent years, TNA wrestlers Christy Hemme

Christy Hemme

Christina Lee "Christy" Hemme is an American actress, singer, model, professional wrestling valet and former professional wrestler. Hemme is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, as a backstage interviewer and ring announcer.-Early life:Hemme was born in Poway, California, but she...

, Talia

Velvet Sky

Jamie Szantyr is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Velvet Sky. She is a former TNA Women's Knockout Champion and TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champion with her former Beautiful People partners Madison Rayne and Lacey Von Erich...

, Abyss

Chris Parks

Christopher J. "Chris" Parks , better known by his ring name "The Monster" Abyss, is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...

, Jay Lethal

Jay Lethal

Jamar "Jay" Shipman better known by his ring name Jay Lethal, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to Ring of Honor , where he is the ROH World Television Champion...

, Joey Matthews

Adam Birch

Adam Birch is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his tenure with World Wrestling Entertainment , and training in WWE's developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling, as Joey Mercury...

 and Ron "The Truth" Killings

Ron Killings

Ronald Aaron "Ron" Killings is an American professional wrestler and rapper. He is currently signed to WWE working on its Raw brand. Since working for the company, he has been a one time United States Champion under the ring name R-Truth and a two time Hardcore Champion under the ring name K-Kwik...

 have also made appearances.

History

The promotion began holding events in the Fall River-New Bedford area during the early-1980s, picking up the old territorial area previously run by the World Wide Wrestling Federation during the 1970s. After going through several name changes and owners, the promotion changed its name from New England Wrestling to Yankee Pro Wrestling during the 1990s. During this time, the promotion gained a strong following in southern New England regularly bringing in former WWF stars from the 1980s and 90s. Through its wrestling school, the promotion would also feature many wrestlers who later competed in World Wrestling Entertainment

World Wrestling Entertainment

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...

, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...

, Ring of Honor

Ring of Honor

Ring of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...

 and the independent circuit.

In 2000, head booker 21-year old Steve Ricard bought out the promotion. Under the Top Rope Promotions banner, he continued running monthly shows in the Fall River-New Bedford area successfully making between $500-$5,000 a show. The majority of its shows were held at PAL Hall in Fall River and the Top Rope Arena in New Bedford. The promotion also ran a weekly cable television program in the local area.

In addition to monthly events at the PAL Hall in Fall River, Top Rope Promotions runs events at the Creative Auction Centers in Fall River and New Bedford, the historic Adams-Turners Hall in Adams, and the Elks Lodge in Franklin. Top Rope Promotions also appears at the annual Whaling City Festival at Buttonwood Park in New Bedford and at the annual Wolcott Country Fair in Wolcott, Connecticut. The promotion also holds annual events at Outdoor World campground in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, and also appears on occasion at The Wapping Fair in South Windsor Connecticut, however they have not been since 2008.

Male Wrestlers

Matt Taven (TRP Heavyweight Champion) Jason Blade (TRP Interstate Champion) Big Daddy Bravo (TRP Tag Team Champion) Buck Nasty (TRP Tag Team Champion) "Brutal" Bob Evans Colossus Vinny Marseglia "The Manliest Man' Biff Busick "The Distance" Danny Miles Duke Bronson "Die Hard" Eddie Edwards Eddie Edwards (wrestler) Eddie Edwards is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for wrestling with Ring of Honor , where he is a former ROH World Champion. He also had previous reigns as a former ROH World Tag Team Champion with his partner Davey Richards as The American Wolves and as the inaugural ROH World... Eric Alden Frankie Arion Freightrain "The Ladies Man" Gregory Edwards "The Maestro" Guy Alexander Isys Ephex J. Freddie "The Main Event" Jason Axe Jason Blade "White Lion" Jim Tanner "Heavenly" Johnny Angel

Lukas Sharp Matt Magnum Tommaso Ciampa Tommaso Ciampa Tommasso Whitney is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Tommaso Ciampa. He is currently signed to Ring of Honor, while also competing for several independent promotions, including Chaotic Wrestling, Top Rope Promotions, East Coast Wrestling Association and Northeast... "The Prodigy" Mike Bennett Mike Bennett (wrestler) Mike Bennett is an American professional wrestler. He wrestles on the independent circuit and is signed to Ring of Honor .- Independent promotions :Bennett made his professional wrestling debut in 2002... "H20" Ryan Waters "Loverboy" Rick Williams "Sensational" Scott Levesque Shane Alden Stevie Richards Stevie Richards Michael Manna is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Stevie Richards. Also known by his ring names, Steven Richards and Dr... Scott Reed "Kid Reflex" Eric Dylan Kevin Cordeiro Nick Westgate

Female Wrestlers

Amber Awesome Kong Barbie Lea Morrison

Luscious Latasha Mistress Belmont Roxxi

Tag Teams/Stables

The Freakshow (Big Daddy Bravo, Buck Nasty, & Colossus) The Social Networkers (Shane Alden & Lukas Sharp) The Whaling City Wrecking Crew (Nightmare Nick Steel & Vain) The All Winners Club ("The Ladies Man" Gregory Edwards & Isys Ephex) Power Hungry ("Mass Appeal" Jay Jaillet & Freightrain) The Prestige ("H20" Ryan Waters & Matt Magnum) Fox & Fitch (J.T. Fox & Anthony Fitch) The Republique (Kongo & Fala) The Real Situation (Chris Camaro & Kristian Frost) Vinny Marseglia & "Heavenly" Johnny Angel J.T. Dunn & Kevin Cordeiro

Others

Steve Ricard (Owner & Promoter) Spike Dudley Matt Hyson Matthew "Matt" Hyson is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his performances in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Spike Dudley and in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Brother Runt.In ECW, he was a two-time...  (Commissioner) Shawn O. (Ring Announcer; Play-By-Play Announcer, Top Rope Television) " The Adorable One" Gene Joseph (Manager/Wrestler; Color Commentator, Top Rope Television) Mark Daniels (Play-By-Play Announcer & Color Commentator, Top Rope Television) Tony S. (Referee) Zac Carter (Referee) Brian "Ballin" Shaughnessy (Referee) Holyoke Joe (Referee)

Championships

Championship:	Current Champion(s):	Previous Champion(s):	Location:	Date:
TRP Heavyweight Championship	Matt Taven	Tommaso Ciampa Tommaso Ciampa Tommasso Whitney is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Tommaso Ciampa. He is currently signed to Ring of Honor, while also competing for several independent promotions, including Chaotic Wrestling, Top Rope Promotions, East Coast Wrestling Association and Northeast...	Fall River, MA	August 5, 2011
TRP Interstate Championship	Jason Blade	Vinny Marseglia	Bellingham, MA	November 5, 2011
TRP Tag Team Championship	The Whaling City Wrecking Crew (Nightmare Nick Steel & Vain)	The Freakshow (Big Daddy Bravo & Buck Nasty)	Fall River, MA	November 24, 2011
Killer Kowalski Cup Tournament	Matt Magnum	Matt Taven	Fall River, MA	October 7, 2011
Spindle City Rumble	Tommaso Ciampa Tommaso Ciampa Tommasso Whitney is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Tommaso Ciampa. He is currently signed to Ring of Honor, while also competing for several independent promotions, including Chaotic Wrestling, Top Rope Promotions, East Coast Wrestling Association and Northeast...	J. Freddie	Fall River, MA	December 3, 2010
Whaling City Rumble	The Guy	"Mass Appeal" Jay Jaillet (2006)	New Bedford, MA	January 9, 2009

External links

• Top Rope Promotions Official Website
• CageMatch.de - Top Rope Promotions