Nicola Glencross [Nikki Cross] and Damian Mackle [Big Damo] are now the new owners of British independent wrestling promotion PROGRESS.
As announced via press release on May 26, the husband and wife duo have acquired PROGRESS in the UK and DEFY Wrestling in the United States. Damo, who is a former PROGRESS Men’s World, Tag Team and Atlas Champion in the promotion, expressed his delight in co-owning the promotion with his wife, while also thanking Martyn Best and Lee McAteer for their work in the industry:
“We are delighted to be the new co-owners of PROGRESS. 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.
“We are also very excited to be the new co-owners of DEFY Wrestling. Home to the most feverish fan base in the Pacific North West. Nikki and I have an affinity with Seattle, and I always had an incredible experience wrestling on the DEFY shows in front of the Defyance.”
“We would like to thank Martyn Best and Lee McAteer for being wonderful custodians and bringing new levels of professionalism to our industry. They steered PROGRESS after a worldwide pandemic, created an incredible wrestling network in Hooked On Wrestling TV, created a phenomenal working partnership with Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan and DEFY in USA and showed ambition, and an incredible drive to give multiple talented men and women visas to compete in the USA, and opportunities in so many other countries.
“Our job now is to guide PROGRESS through the coming years, identify new talent and integrate them with the current phenomenal roster. I’m proud to say we have some of the best wrestlers in the world performing for us right now. Our men’s World Champion Cara Noir and Charlie Sterling are performing at the highest level. Our Tag Team Champions Luke Jacobs and Ethan Allen are two of the best wrestlers in the world under 30. Our women’s division is host to some of the best women wrestlers alive. Women’s champion Alexxis Falcon, Rhio, Kanji, Emersyn Jayne and so many more. We also have Hollywood actor Paul Walter Hauser regularly walking the Hollywood red carpets with his PROGRESS Proteus Championship belt. Then there is Gene Munny, Charles Crowley, former WWE star Axel Tischer, Hollie Barlow, Simon Miller, Man Like DeReiss, Spike Trivet, Lykos Gym, and so many more.
“I could go on all day but Nikki and I want to continue to give these amazing athletes a platform to create engaging stories, while also leaving plenty of room for absolute masterpieces in ring.
“We also want to capitalise on our great relationships with talent and promotions worldwide, and create new partnerships that not only bring phenomenal talent to our shores, but also export our best talent to new ventures abroad.”
Cross, who found success in WWE as a Women’s singles and Tag Team Champion, along with winning the Money in the Bank contract, echoed Damo’s excitement in their latest venture. Cross also added that new cities could be hosting PROGRESS shows soon:
Nikki, a former WWE Women’s RAW World Champion, Money in the Bank Winner and also WWE Tag Team champion with Alexa Bliss and Rhea Ripley, becomes PROGRESS Wrestling and DEFY Wrestling’s first female co-owner, bringing a completely fresh point of view.
“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.
“We were deeply encouraged by the first PROGRESS Women’s Super Strong Style 16 tournament. Rhio and Gisele competed in an incredible main event, and Rhio proved to be a worthy winner! We will soon be announcing that next year, in 2027, we will host the first stand alone female Super Strong Style 16.
“We are also in the process of bringing PROGRESS to new cities across the UK, and will be excited to announce those details soon”
Currently, PROGRESS predominantly hosts shows in London and Manchester.
One of the biggest UK promotions, PROGRESS has seen top stars such as Toni Storm, Gunther and Will Ospreay compete inside the ring. After first being established in 2012, the UK company bounced back from the pandemic with shows in the UK as well as Germany, North America and Dubai.
Best and McAteer spoke about their time in the promotion while also wishing Cross and Damo well in the next chapter:
Best added, “It’s been a fascinating and interesting journey with PROGRESS and I’ve personally made some very fine friendships. I’m so proud of what Lee and I have achieved and as with every successful and growing business it’s now time for its next chapter. Big Damo and Nikki Cross bring that extra massive oomph of global credibility and legitimate experience that PROGRESS now needs and I will certainly be supporting them and following their “progress” with huge interest.”
Lee McAteer said, “Being a custodian of PROGRESS Wrestling has been one of the greatest honours of my life and with fellow owners Martyn Best and Matt Buczek we have restored and protected PROGRESS and leave it in a stronger place for it to grow to the next level. I have been so proud of the connection we have nurtured with our loyal fans and it will be something I will always treasure.
“I am delighted that we are handing the company over to two people I have great admiration for, and are highly respected throughout the wrestling community. Big Damo and Nikki Cross are British and Irish wrestling royalty and after hearing their thoughts, I know that the most exciting chapter in PROGRESS’s history is still to come.
“To all the PROGRESS fans, wrestlers, colleagues and partners, thank you. I am incredibly excited for the future of PROGRESS under Big Damo and Nikki.”
Nikki Cross Returning To PROGRESS
Cross was one of many names released by WWE shortly after WrestleMania 42. The former Women’s Champion’s final run saw her as a member of The Wyatt Sicks faction, which saw all members cut. Shortly afterwards, Cross was announced for the Scorchio show in July 2026.
Damo last competed for PROGRESS in April 2026. As part of the promotion’s Las Vegas show, Damo challenged Paul Walter Hauser for the Proteus Title. To date, Damo has been a part of 44 PROGRESS matches.
