DEFY Owners Matt Farmer And Jim Perry Return, New Dates Announced
DEFY Wrestling is once again under new ownership.
DEFY announced that Matt Farmer and Jim Perry have returned as owners after reaching an agreement with Big Damo and Nikki Storm. The promotion also announced new dates, as they’ll be in Detroit on October 1 and Seattle on December 4.
From DEFY:
MATT FARMER AND JIM PERRY RETURN AS OWNERS OF DEFY WRESTLING
DEFY returns October 1 in Detroit and December 4 in Seattle
SEATTLE — August 27, 2026 — DEFY Wrestling co-founders Matt Farmer and Jim Perry are once again owners of the company after reaching an agreement with Damian Mackle (Big Damo) and Nicola Glencross (Nikki Storm).
Farmer and Perry founded DEFY in Seattle in 2017. In 2024, DEFY joined with the UK’s PROGRESS Wrestling as Perry stepped away to focus on other projects. Earlier this year, Mackle and Glencross acquired PROGRESS and an ownership interest in DEFY.
Farmer and Perry have remained quiet in recent months while the ownership deal was being completed and DEFY worked through significant changes to Washington State’s professional wrestling licensing requirements. With both processes happening at the same time, there was little they could say publicly until the deals were done.
“The DEFYance has been incredibly important through all of this,” Perry said. “Even while DEFY was dormant, they continued to support the Patreon and kept the community around DEFY alive. They may not even fully realize how important that support was during this time. Farmer and I can’t thank them enough for believing in this company while we worked to bring it back.
“We also want to thank the former ownership group at PROGRESS for shepherding the brand in our absence from ownership, James Amner for his continual support, and Damian and Nicola for their work in helping bring DEFY back home.”
DEFY will return to live events on Thursday, October 1 at THE LINCOLN FACTORY in DETROIT before returning home to the HISTORIC WASHINGTON HALL in Seattle on Friday, December 4!
“We are delighted to announce that we have come to terms with the original owners of DEFY, Matt Farmer and Jim Perry, for the ownership of DEFY Wrestling,” Damien said, “Putting DEFY back in the hands of the original owners who rose DEFY to one of the premier independents on earth is beyond exciting for the Pacific Northwest and the USA. DEFY is an incredible wrestling company, with one of the best fanbases in the world. They deserve to have the very best, and with Matt and Jim, we will endeavor to work together where possible so DEFY and PROGRESS can help raise the standard of independent wrestling worldwide!”
Farmer and Perry will oversee DEFY moving forward, with Seattle remaining the company’s home as it begins producing events in new markets.
Tickets for DEFY in Detroit on Thursday, October 1 go on sale soon!
Tickets for DEFY in Seattle on Friday, December 4 are expected to go on sale next month.
Talent, matches, and additional event information will be announced soon.
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