Former PROGRESS co-owner issues statement following Nikki Cross & Big Damo acquisition
Former PROGRESS Wrestling co-owner Lee McAteer has issued a statement following Nikki Cross & Big Damo’s acquisition of the British wrestling promotion.
The promotion released an official statement on May 26, 2026, and revealed that co-owners Martyn Best and Lee McAteer were done with the promotion, and former WWE wrestlers Nikki Cross & Big Damo had acquired it.
McAteer later shared a statement on social media reflecting on his tenure at PROGRESS, expressing his pleasure in passing the promotion to Cross and Big Damo.
“Being a custodian of PROGRESS Wrestling has been one of the greatest honours of my life, and with fellow owners Martyn Best and Matt Buczek, we have restored and protected PROGRESS and leave it in a stronger place for it to grow to the next level. I have been so proud of the connection we have nurtured with our loyal fans, and it will be something I will always treasure,” he wrote.
“I am delighted that we are handing the company over to two people I have great admiration for, and who are highly respected throughout the wrestling community. Big Damo and Nikki Cross are British and Irish wrestling royalty, and after hearing their thoughts, I know that the most exciting chapter in PROGRESS’s history is still to come. I am incredibly excited for the future of PROGRESS under Big Damo and Nikki. Let’s all get behind both of them. To all the PROGRESS fans, wrestlers, colleagues and partners, thank you,” he concluded.
What is PROGRESS Wrestling?
Based in London, UK, PROGRESS Wrestling was established in 2011 by Jim Smallman, Jon Briley, and Glen Joseph. Following a successful run filled with a few ups and downs, PROGRESS was acquired by Lee McAteer and Martyn Best in 2022.
In February 2024, PROGRESS Wrestling merged with DEFY Wrestling, an independent promotion based in Seattle, Washington, in the United States. And on May 26, 2026, both PROGRESS and DEFY were acquired by Cross and Big Damo.
Over the years, PROGRESS has produced and worked with several talented wrestlers, including Pete Dunne, JD McDonagh, Trent Seven, Michael Oku, and many more.
Shounak Chakrabarti is an experienced sports journalist with a lifelong passion for athletics and storytelling. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Journalism from the University of Leeds and joined F4WOnline in 2025.
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