British Isles

Just as Sam Strong bought USPW and started the process of turning them into a major contender, in the British Isles another famous celebrity took over a struggling fed and took them to the big time. 21st Century Wrestling were producing cutting edge entertainment which drew critical acclaim but tiny crowds. Former World's Strongest Man presenter Jeff Nova, who got into wrestling via a couple of guest appearances in the now defunct MOSC, bought the federation, changed to a sports entertainment product, raised the production values massively and led them to a TV contract on Britain's biggest channel and to a place as a national institution. They received a huge boost in 2015 when Tommy Cornell, one of the world's most famous wrestlers and a part-owner of TCW, sold his stake in the American fed and shockingly made his 21CW live on TV to a stunned audience. Joining his younger cousin Edward there, an established star, the pair would run roughshod over the faces for four years - only for Tommy to renounce his heelish ways in December 2019, giving fans the Christmas present they'd dreamed of with a new top face to cheer. The ensuing feud with Edward is likely to run all year. The classic sports entertainment style they use, full of angles and storylines, is reminiscent of the US's SWF. They benefit not just from a big media presence and a large bank balance, but also from owning the UK's National School of Wrestling, which churns out some impressive talent.

While Jeff Nova took years to earn his money, firstly by competing in Britain's Strongest Man, then hosting the World's Strongest Man, then investing wisely in 21CW and making them a massive success, Scottish National Promotions owner Mark Carnie simply asked for $5,000,000 - and got it. The notorious scumbag, one of the sleaziest personalities in a business renowned for terrible people, claimed that he wanted a grant for a 'choreographed art piece examining interpersonal conflict' and being handed the huge sum of money. While the grifter has scared off a few of his workers - and would definitely feature top of a "most likely to be arrested for harrassing an employee" list if one was made - SNP are somehow rising fast. Their anti-establishment hardcore style has always been considered a poke in the eye to the English by loyal Scotsmen, and they pulled off a huge shock in 2017 when they brought back former MOSC owner The Highland Warrior and his son Jeffrey McPeterson, neither of whom had been seen for seven years. The following year, they would add 3-time 21CW tag champions The Ivanoff Brothers, one of the most experienced and menacing tag teams in the world, to their roster after they quit due to the English fed's head booker wanting to split them up. With a massive bank balance and four men who are significantly bigger stars than they could even dreamed of getting just a couple of years ago, there's a much brighter future ahead for them than anyone would have thought possible.

The newest fed on the scene in the UK is Championship Wrestling From Wigan, headed up by veteran Curtis Jenkins. A former MAW star, Jenkins was deported from the US due to Visa issues and surprisingly failed to find a home in 21CW. Responding by setting up his own fed, he brought in a legend of the country, British Samurai, as road agent. Samurai's own fed, Ring of Fire, had been a similar idea to CWW in many ways but had been crushed by the juggernaut that 21CW became. With his incredible psychology guiding youngsters through, and some very promising stars - notably technician Lenny Mochin, submission specialist JK Lee - a student of Samurai's at the Ring of Fire dojo - and Jon Michael Sharp and Martin Heath, an experienced duo who are the rock of the tag division. With an intense Japanese style based solely on superb matches, they pride themselves on guaranteeing both technical excellence and high-flying action on every show. No angles, no storylines, no faces and heels. Just great wrestlers (well, in theory - fairly good wrestlers may be more accurate in practice) treating it as a legit competition.