It’s been a day of shocking developments in the UK indie scene, as OWE United Kingdom (the UK tour for China’s Oriental Wrestling Entertainment) announced the upcoming tour would be delayed amid controversy (including the VP stepping down) and Breed Pro Wrestling postponing their anticipated Starrcave event (a wrestling event inside a cave). But the biggest news reported on-line was that Revolution Pro (RevPro) had purchased and/or merged with another longstanding UK indie, Southside Wrestling Entertainment (SWE). At present, details are still somewhat muddy, but an official announcement is expected soon.
Shame to hear @SouthsideWE is closing, thanks for the opportunities you provided me and all the best in your new deal with @RevProUK
— Gary Ward (@GaryRWard) September 4, 2019
RevPro buys Southside.
Again, I've only been gone a month and a half. pic.twitter.com/zImLp5uQ5p
— SUGE De La Geto (@SugarDunkerton) September 4, 2019
While deals of RevPro’s acquisition have not been made public yet, it’s expected that RevPro will inherit SWE’s territory (so to speak) in the Sheffield, Stevenage and St. Neots area, and talents working with SWE would begin working with RevPro’s roster. Staff from SWE would transition into new roles with RevPro. RevPro was founded in 2012 and is arguably the #2 UK indie behind PROGRESS, enjoying a strong surgence as part of the IWGP Conception in alliance with NJPW, Ring of Honor, and Mexico’s CMLL.
I think the Southside crew coming into the RevPro fold will help out a lot. Concensus seems to be that Quildan is stretched too thin, late card reveals, lack of local ads, etc, more hands should help out the basics, plus will give them a step up in Stevenage, St Neots and so on.
— Chris (@GreatBashHeel) September 4, 2019
SWE, based out of the Cambridgeshire area of England, was founded in 2010 and for nearly a decade has been one of the UK’s premier indie promotions. Outside of Pro Wrestling EVE and PROGRESS Wrestling, SWE has arguably had one of the strongest influences on women’s wrestling as well – something RevPro has lacked of late – and the hopes are that with SWE’s talents coming in that it will relieve a lot of the pressures of RevPro owner Andy Quidlan and that RevPro’s women’s division will see a revamp and a reboot.
If The Southside family are working at all RevPro shows then it could be a big benefit for Rev Pro by taking work off Andy.
Heard a friend say that Ben Auld being given a free hand to rejuvenate the Rev Pro women’s division might be a good idea.
— Monkey Buckles (@Monkey_Buckles) September 4, 2019
While it is still in the whispers and rumors stage of development, by all accounts it appears as though SWE will finish up with their last announced shows before the merger takes place, with all future shows being booked under the RevPro banner.
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can catch past events at Southside On-Demand and RevPro On Demand.
