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WWE/Netflix deal 'will boost UK wrestling'

Harvey Bell
BBC News, Suffolk
WAW Ricky Knight stands in front of a white curtain, in a black graphic t-shirt, to his left is Zak Knight who is wearing a black flat cap and a dark detectives coat. To Ricky's right is Roy a topless Roy Knight posing with a golden championship title belt.WAW
Ricky Knight (centre) and his sons Zak (left) and Roy (right) are well known on the British wrestling scene

A deal between World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and Netflix has been helping to boost audiences for wrestling shows in the UK, a promoter has claimed.

Ricky Knight, who runs Norwich-based World Association of Wrestling (WAW), said the tie-up between WWE and the streaming platform was making more people "want to go and see wrestling".

Knight, a former wrestler himself and father of ex-WWE superstar Paige, said it had helped local shows "in a big way".

He said he hoped a boom in business could provide more scope for independent promotions to tour around the country, rather than being fixed in one county or region.

Getty Images Ricky Knight, in a blue suit and grey shirt with dark tie, has a Mohican hairstyle. He smiles at Nick Frost, who is grinning at the camera. He has a thick brown beard, and is wearing glasses and a brown checked suit. They are standing in front of a board promoting the film Fighting With My Family.Getty Images
Knight was played in the film Fighting With My Family by Nick Frost (right)

The US-based WWE signed a multi-year deal with Netflix in 2024, giving the platform exclusive broadcast rights to its weekly shows and premium live events in more than 90 countries.

Independent promotions have long since been the backbone of professional wrestling, and WAW has itself produced a number of talents that have gone on to some of the biggest shows in the world.

The 2019 film Fighting With My Family is a fictionalised account of Paige's own journey to WWE, in which Knight is played by Nick Frost.

Knight gives other examples of former WAW wrestlers who have made it big in the US, including Smackdown general manager Nick Aldis, and Kip Sabian of All Elite Wrestling.

"We've got few guys out there who have taken the name out there with them," he said.

"They always put us over when they do interviews, which is nice... when people like Nick give you praise and tell you how good your [wrestling] school is, it's really helpful.

"There's a lot of good companies out there now and a lot of them are doing well, which is good to see.

"I'm not one of those promoters that wants to see the other guys do bad; I'm a British wrestling promoter who wants to see British wrestling survive and get better."

Getty Images Paige, who is wearing a black studded bikini-style costume, leans out of the wrestling ring and cocks her ear to the crowd.Getty Images
Knight's daughter Paige graduated from the WAW to become a huge star in WWE

Knight's comments come at a time where there seems to be a lot of unity among UK-based promotions.

"I'm using other promoters' guys, which gives them good exposure, and everyone is helping everyone at the moment," he said.

While WAW has visited Suffolk regularly, it has not put a show on in Ipswich since 2017.

Asked about a return to the area, Knight revealed: "We're looking from next month to start spreading our wings again."

He remained tight-lipped on where the promotion could be headed but urged fans to "look out for a WAW poster" in their area soon.

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