World Association of Wrestling

British independent professional wrestling promotion

This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources.
Find sources: "World Association of Wrestling" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

World Association of Wrestling

Acronym| WAW
Founded| 1994
Style| Professional wrestling
Sports entertainment
Headquarters| Norwich, Norfolk
Founder(s)| Ricky Knight
Sweet Saraya
Jimmy Ocean
Owner(s)| Ricky Knight
Sweet Saraya
Zak Knight[1]
Sister| Bellatrix Female Warriors
Website| https://wawuk.com/

World Association of Wrestling (WAW) is a British independent professional wrestling promotion founded by Ricky Knight, Sweet Saraya, and Jimmy Ocean in 1994 in Norwich, England. It is affiliated with the all-female promotion Bellatrix Female Warriors which is also owned by Saraya Knight. The promotion features British-style wrestling and uses British rules.[1][2]

## History

[edit]

Ricky Knight, Sweet Saraya, and Jimmy Ocean formed WAW in 1994 in Norwich.[2][3] Ocean left the business after approximately one year.[4] In 2005, Ricky Knight and Sweet Saraya formed the World Association of Women's Wrestling, although the name was later changed to Bellatrix Female Warriors.[5]

In 2014, WAW ran more than 100 shows.[5] In September 2016, WAW began airing on Mustard TV.[2] American wrestler Scott Hall was previously a backstage agent for the promotion, working behind the scenes at television tapings and appeared in an on-screen authority role as WAW Commissioner.[1]

The promotion was featured in the 2012 Channel 4 documentary The Wrestlers: Fighting with My Family about the Knight family.[1] It was featured in the film Fighting with My Family, which was based on the documentary.[1]

Former Norwich City striker Grant Holt and 2012 Olympics boxing bronze medallist Anthony Ogogo both began their wrestling careers with WAW.[6]

In 2020, WAW was featured in another documentary, this time on BBC Three. A four-part series, Step Into The Ring followed the lives of five young wrestlers battling against physical and mental health issues to pursue professional careers under the guidance of Zak Knight.[7]

## WAW Academy

[edit]

The promotion also includes a wrestling school, The WAW Academy.[3][5] Trainees perform for both WAW and Bellatrix Female Warriors.[5] The academy trains wrestlers of all ages, including children.[5] Interest in the school increased after Ricky Knight and Sweet Saraya's daughter Saraya-Jade was signed by the WWE in 2011.[5] Zak Knight and Sweet Saraya are the head trainers at the academy, but they also bring in guest trainers, as well.[1] Past guest trainers have included Scott Hall, Dave Taylor, Mr. Anderson, Steve Grey, Mal Sanders, Marty Jones, Jonny Storm, Dean Allmark, and more.

## Championships

[edit]

### Current

[edit]

Championship  | Champion(s)  | Previous  | Date won  | Days  | Reference

|
|
|
|
|

WAW World Heavyweight Championship  | Roy Knight | PJ Knight  | 2 April 2022  | 976+  | [8]
WAW World Tag Team Championship  | The Norfolk Killers (RKJ and Brett Semtex)  | The UK Hooligans (Zak Knight and Roy Knight)  | 20 February 2022  | 1,017+  | [9]
WAW World Light Heavyweight Championship  | Irn Dru Marshall  | Jack Landers  | 3 March 2024  | 1,102+  | [10]
WAW Open International Championship  | Brody Steele  | Aaron O'Malley  | 22 September 2018  | 2,264+  | [11]
WAW European Heavyweight Championship  | Zak Zodiac | Vacant  | 28 May 2022  | 920+  | [12]
WAW British Heavyweight Championship  | Brad Slayer  | Nathan Cruz | 2 April 2022  | 976+  | [13]
WAW Television Championship  | Ricky Knight Jr.  | Alexander Young  | 5 May 2018  | 2,404+  | [14]
WAW People's Championship  | Tony Knight  | Saraya Knight | 28 May 2022  | 920+  | [15]
WAW Under-23 Championship  | Jaiden Docwra  | Dillon Slade  | 19 February 2022  | 1,018+  | [16]
WAW Academy Championship  | Kobe Nitro  | Oscar Hyde  | 9 April 2022  | 969+  | [17]
WAW Academy Tag Team Championship  | Heavy Thunder (Keegan and Rip Parker)  | The Battlekats  | 8 January 2022  | 1,060+  | [18]

### Retired

[edit]

Championship  | Last champion(s)  | Date won  | Date retired  | Previous champion(s)  | First champion(s)  | Reference

|
|
|
|
|
|

RQW World Heavyweight Championship  | Luke Hawx | 19 March 2016  | 14 May 2016  | Roy Knight | Robbie Brookside | [19]
RQW European Tag Team Championship  | The UK Hooligans (Zak Knight and Roy Knight)  | 1 May 2015  | 14 May 2016  | K4 (King Kendo and Karl Kramer)  | Team Charming (Jack Storm and Dave Moralez)  | [20]
RQW European Cruiserweight Championship  | Mitchell Starr  | 22 May 2016  | 5 June 2016  | Peter Nixon  | Bubblegum | [21]

## See also

[edit]

* United Kingdom portal

* Professional wrestling in the United Kingdom
* List of professional wrestling promotions in the United Kingdom

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f Evans, Aaron (April 30, 2017). "Zak Knight talks about the growth of WAW, Paige's future and The Rock falling in love with his family". Memorabilia Guy. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
2. ^ a b c Hannant, David (August 12, 2016). "World Association of Wrestling set to hit the screens of Mustard TV". Norwich Evening News. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
3. ^ a b "The History of WAW". WAW. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
4. ^ "INTERVIEW: ZAK KNIGHT, SWEET SARAYA AND RICKY KNIGHT". The Student Pocket Guide. July 1, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
5. ^ a b c d e f Murphy, Dan. "Europeans stars ready to shine at Bellatrix 8". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
6. ^ "From Premier League player to wrestler, Grant Holt on his love of grappling, meeting Billy Gunn and WWE". Talksport.
7. ^ "BBC Three - Step into the Ring". BBC. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
8. ^ "WAW World Heavyweight Championship". WAW. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
9. ^ "WAW World Tag Team Championship". WAW. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
10. ^ "WAW World Light Heavyweight Championship". WAW. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
11. ^ "WAW Open International Championship". WAW. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
12. ^ "WAW European Heavyweight Championship". WAW. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
13. ^ "WAW British Heavyweight Championship". WAW. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
14. ^ "WAW Television Championship". WAW. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
15. ^ "WAW People's Championship". WAW. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
16. ^ "WAW Under-23 Championship". WAW. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
17. ^ "WAW Academy Championship". WAW. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
18. ^ "WAW Academy Tag Team Championship". WAW. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
19. ^ "RQW World Heavyweight Championship". WAW. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
20. ^ "RQW European Tag Team Championship". WAW. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
21. ^ "RQW European Cruiserweight Championship". WAW. Retrieved April 30, 2017.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Professional wrestling in the United Kingdom and Ireland

Promotions|

| England|

* All Star Wrestling
* British Kingdom Pro-Wrestling
* Grand Pro Wrestling
* Lucha Britannia
* New Generation Wrestling
* Pro Championship Wrestling
* Progress Wrestling
* RevPro
* TNT Extreme Wrestling
* World Association of Wrestling
* WOS Wrestling

|

Ireland|

* Fight Factory Pro Wrestling
* Over the Top Wrestling
* Irish Whip Wrestling

Scotland|

* British Championship Wrestling
* Insane Championship Wrestling

Wales|

* Attack! Pro Wrestling

Women's promotions|

* Bellatrix Female Warriors
* Pro-Wrestling: EVE

Defunct promotions|

* 5 Star Wrestling
* British Wrestling Association
* British Wrestling Federation (Paul Lincoln et al version)
* British Wrestling Federation (Orig Williams version)
* Relwyskow Promotions
* Frontier Wrestling Alliance
* Joint Promotions
* One Pro Wrestling
* Pro Wrestling Elite
* Pro Wrestling Pride
* XWA
* International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom

Defunct
governing bodies|

* AWA Superstars of Wrestling (2005–2006)
* Global Professional Wrestling Alliance (2006–2009)
* National Wrestling Alliance (1993–2014)
* United Wrestling Network (2016–2020)

Promoters|

* Adrian McAllum
* Brian Dixon
* Mark Dallas
* Max Crabtree
* Atholl Oakeley
* Paul Lincoln
* Orig Williams
* Jarvis Astaire

Systems of rules|

* All-in professional wrestling
* Admiral-Lord Mountevans rules

Other|

* Attendance records
* WWE in the United Kingdom
* NXT UK

* v
* t
* e

Knight wrestling family

First generation|

* Ricky Knight

Second generation|

* Roy Bevis
* Zak Zodiac
* Paige

Third generation|

* Ricky Knight Jr.

In-laws|

* Sweet Saraya

Related articles|

* Bellatrix Female Warriors
* World Association of Wrestling
* Fighting with My Family

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template