PROGRESS Wrestling has confirmed the end of its relationship with WWE Network.
For the past six years, almost 50 PROGRESS shows have been made available on the streaming platform. Throughout this period, subscribers have been able to see stars like Pete Dunne, Toni Storm, Walter Adam Cole, MJF, Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland, Will Ospreay and Matt Riddle compete for PROGRESS. However, some fans recently noticed that several independent events on the WWE Network were set to expire. Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp reported that WWE is discontinuing independent wrestling content on the streaming platform.
In an update, PROGRESS confirmed that the relationship has come to an end, as both sides are "pursuing different digital media strategies. The company announced that it is "in discussions with a number of high profile global digital media and streaming options, but for now, fans can still watch the PROGRESS library and the upcoming Chapter 158 show on DEMAND PROGRESS. PROGRESS co-owners Martyn Best and Lee McAteer commented on the news by thanking WWE and expressing their excitement for the future.
Additionally, PROGRESS announced that it is returning to the United States in March as part of WrestleMania Weekend in Los Angeles.
From PROGRESS:
PROGRESS Wrestling‘s first show of 2023 was named START SPREADING THE NEWS
for a very clear reason, and they can now confirm that its very positive and long-standing
partnership with WWE Network is coming to a harmonious end.After six years and nearly 50 shows, both promotions are pursuing different digital media
strategies, and fans of both WWE and PROGRESS are going to be the beneficiaries.As one chapter closes, so they say, another one opens, and PROGRESS management can
confirm that they are in discussions with a number of high profile global digital media and
streaming options.PROGRESS own an unrivalled video library containing more than a decade’s worth of the
best of independent wrestling, showcasing many household names that have wrestled at
PROGRESS over the course of the past 11 years.Wrestlers such as Pete Dunne, Toni Storm, Walter (current WWE Intercontinental champion,
now known as Gunther), Adam Cole, AEW World Champion MJF, Samoa Joe, Swerve
Strickland, Will Ospreay and Matt Riddle, to name just a few, have competed and enhanced
their careers at PROGRESS Wrestling during this period.This extensive content library has more than 650 hours, featuring 170 shows, which resulted
in PROGRESS Wrestling being the biggest independent wrestling company to feature on the
WWE Network.Fans will still be able to access their content library via DEMAND PROGRESS and Chapter
148 will be their first show since 2016 to feature exclusively hereFurther news announced at the eponymous chapter is that PROGRESS will be returning to
the US in March at Los Angeles and linking up with WWE’s showcase WrestleMania 39.They also announced their first commercial sponsor in WrestleTours who are taking over
150 U.K. fans to WrestleMania.
PROGRESS co-owners Martyn Best and Lee McAteer said: “First of all, we want to say
thank you to the WWE for a fantastic six year relationship and we wish them all the very best
for the future.“We are very excited for what the future now holds for PROGRESS Wrestling and we are
currently in discussions with several high profile streaming platforms. Our US show during
WrestleMania 39 is an exciting venture and we can only say that our recent decisions put us
between a Rock and a hard place.“This is the first of a number of important announcements we have coming up in the next two
months, and there is no better place to start than just before our conveniently named first
show of the year, START SPREADING THE NEWS.“We would also like to say thank you to all of the fans for their support in 2022, our
comeback year and for their continued support and with Sunday’s show marking the first not
to be aired on the WWE Network for many years, we hope to see a great audience to watch
an action packed show filled with our awesome talent.”
Fightful will provide more information as it becomes available.
Lio Rush will make his PROGRESS debut at PROGRESS Start Spreading The News. More information is available here.
Leon Slater, who has wrestled for PROGRESS, recently discussed his goals for 2023. Click here to see what he had to say.
