As WWE breaks records and AEW fills Wembley, London’s own wrestling scene is riding the wave, turning the capital into a battleground for high drama, hard hits and larger-than-life entertainment
Body slams, bad guys and big-money sell-outs. Wrestling’s weird world is piling into London, where the capital’s fight scene is booming on a cocktail of theatre, chaos and pure spectacle.
WWE’s highest-grossing event ever was not held on home turf in the United States, but right here in London, according to promoter Sid Scala.
And it is not hard to see why.
Fans are flocking to the capital for North American-style wrestling, where sport collides with soap opera and every match comes with heroes, villains and enough drama to fill a West End stage.
Scala said: “I think wrestling is the last real, live-action morality play. The last art form that is live, living, breathing, exciting, action-packed… stunt show.”
The boom is not limited to WWE.
All Elite Wrestling, the world’s second biggest promotion, pulled in a record 70,000 fans to Wembley Stadium for its flagship All In event, proving London has become one of the biggest wrestling hotspots on the planet.
That success is now feeding into the capital’s independent scene too.
Hackney-based Hustle Wrestling has built its name on the same kind of high-drama mayhem that has made the American giants global juggernauts.
Wrestler Dave Bavarian said the worldwide spotlight has helped turn London into a “beautiful, amazing melting pot of styles and cultures”.
He added: “It’s fantastic being a professional wrestler in London. There’s so many great training schools and promotions, so it’s a really cool, close-knit community as well.”
And the capital’s wrestling fever is only set to grow, with tickets for All In’s London return this summer going on sale Monday.
As for why wrestling has managed to body-slam its way into the mainstream, legend Jeff Jarrett probably said it best: “To a critic, no explanation will do, and to a fan, no explanation is needed.”
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HeadlineWWE Sparks Wrestling BOOM in London
Short HeadlineBody-slam boom in London
StandfirstAs WWE breaks records and AEW fills Wembley, London’s own wrestling scene is riding the wave, turning the capital into a battleground for high drama, hard hits and larger-than-life entertainment
Body slams, bad guys and big-money sell-outs. Wrestling’s weird world is piling into London, where the capital’s fight scene is booming on a cocktail of theatre, chaos and pure spectacle.
WWE’s highest-grossing event ever was not held on home turf in the United States, but right here in London, according to promoter Sid Scala.
And it is not hard to see why.
Fans are flocking to the capital for North American-style wrestling, where sport collides with soap opera and every match comes with heroes, villains and enough drama to fill a West End stage.
Scala said: “I think wrestling is the last real, live-action morality play. The last art form that is live, living, breathing, exciting, action-packed… stunt show.”
The boom is not limited to WWE.
All Elite Wrestling, the world’s second biggest promotion, pulled in a record 70,000 fans to Wembley Stadium for its flagship All In event, proving London has become one of the biggest wrestling hotspots on the planet.
That success is now feeding into the capital’s independent scene too.
Hackney-based Hustle Wrestling has built its name on the same kind of high-drama mayhem that has made the American giants global juggernauts.
Wrestler Dave Bavarian said the worldwide spotlight has helped turn London into a “beautiful, amazing melting pot of styles and cultures”.
He added: “It’s fantastic being a professional wrestler in London. There’s so many great training schools and promotions, so it’s a really cool, close-knit community as well.”
And the capital’s wrestling fever is only set to grow, with tickets for All In’s London return this summer going on sale Monday.
As for why wrestling has managed to body-slam its way into the mainstream, legend Jeff Jarrett probably said it best: “To a critic, no explanation will do, and to a fan, no explanation is needed.”
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