Big Damo and Nikki Cross are taking ownership of PROGRESS Wrestling and DEFY Wrestling, according to a company statement issued on the PROGRESS Wrestling website.
Damian Mackle, known to fans as Big Damo and former WWE star Killian Dain, and his wife Nicola Glencross, known as Nikki Cross and Nikki Storm, are now set to lead PROGRESS, one of the top independent wrestling promotions in the United Kingdom, as well as DEFY Wrestling in the United States.
Damo, a former PROGRESS Men’s World, Tag Team and Atlas Champion, said he and Nikki are excited to guide PROGRESS into its next chapter while continuing to showcase talent from the UK and Ireland scene.
“We are delighted to be the new co-owners of PROGRESS,” Damo said in the statement. “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 also praised DEFY Wrestling’s fanbase in the Pacific Northwest and thanked outgoing PROGRESS leadership Martyn Best and Lee McAteer for helping steer the company following the pandemic while expanding its relationships with promotions such as Pro Wrestling NOAH and DEFY.
Nikki Cross, a former WWE Raw Women’s Champion, Money in the Bank winner and WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, becomes the first female co-owner of both PROGRESS Wrestling and DEFY Wrestling. Cross said she hopes to bring her experience and perspective to both promotions.
“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,” Cross said.
Cross also revealed that PROGRESS will host its first standalone female Super Strong Style 16 tournament in 2027. She added that the promotion is working on bringing PROGRESS to new cities across the United Kingdom.
PROGRESS Wrestling was founded in 2012 and has played a major role in the British wrestling scene, with names such as Pete Dunne, Toni Storm, Gunther and Will Ospreay among those who have passed through the promotion. The company stated that fans can expect new collaborations, talent initiatives and a continued focus on the UK scene while building its global presence.
Best and McAteer both issued statements thanking fans, wrestlers and partners while expressing confidence in Damo and Nikki leading PROGRESS into its next chapter.