Reality of Wrestling
Formerly | Pro Wrestling Alliance (2006–2011) |
---|---|
Company type | Private |
Industry | Professional wrestling |
Genre | Sports entertainment |
Founded | 2005[1] |
Founder | Booker T Sharmell |
Headquarters | Houston, Texas, United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Website | www |
Reality of Wrestling (ROW) is an independent professional wrestling promotion based in Houston, Texas. It was established as Pro Wrestling Alliance (PWA) in 2005 by WWE Hall of Famer Booker T.[2]
History
[edit]Pro Wrestling Alliance
[edit]The Pro Wrestling Alliance's first show was held in December 2006. Owner Booker T started the promotion to give professional wrestlers the opportunity to properly train, as well as to keep the legacy of Paul Boesch's Houston Wrestling alive.[3][4] The money made at shows is donated to Fights For Kids Foundation, which helps kids stay off the streets and shows them the benefits of a better life.[5]
Monthly events were held at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, Texas, and later at the Clear Lake Recreation Sports Center in Clear Lake, Texas.
In December 2007, Rob Van Dam wrestled his first match after leaving WWE against Booker T for the PWA, and the match is included on the DVD The Best of RVD TV Vol 1 DVD in the extras.[6]
Reality of Wrestling
[edit]On March 9, 2012, after seven years as the Pro Wrestling Alliance, the promotion was re-launched as Reality of Wrestling (ROW) and began holding events at the Booker T World Gym Arena in Texas City, Texas.[7][3] The name change was a spontaneous decision of Booker T.[4] In December 2012, the promotion almost closed with Christmas Chaos planned as the last show.[4] However, last minute investors and partners helped the promotion continue to run.[4]
The promotion produces a weekly YouTube show with tapings taking place once monthly at their live events in Clear Lake. ROW later launched a local television program in Houston, Texas that originally aired on KUBE-TV Channel 57 and currently airs on Sunday mornings on KIAH-TV Channel 39.[4] In February 2014, ROW partnered with the Soul of the South Network to air the show in 20 cities.[4] They aired their first internet pay-per-view in July 2014.[4] Episodes are aired on the website FITE TV.
The promotion also includes a school that has a two-year training program for beginning professional wrestlers, as opposed to the more traditional three and six month programs at other schools.[8]
On July 6, 2019, ROW and Impact Wrestling co-produced an event together called Deep Impact that aired live on YouTube and Twitch.[9]
On October 20, 2021, it was announced that ROW would hold its first event outside of Texas called One Night in Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 19, 2021 at MGM Grand Las Vegas.[10][11]
On January 25, 2024, ROW, and the United Wrestling Network (UWN)'s Memphis Wrestling & Championship Wrestling promotions, announced a talent exchange program.[12][13]
On October 29, 2024, ROW become a independent wrestling school for the WWE's developmental program designed for the independent wrestlers called WWE ID, short for WWE Independent Development.[14]
Championships and accomplishments
[edit]Current champions
[edit]Note: Tables with a "Days rec." column means that ROW officially recognizes a different number of days that a wrestler has held a title, generally due to an event airing on tape delay.
Championship | Current champion(s) | Reign | Date won | Days held |
Days rec. | Location | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ROW Heavyweight Championship | Zilla Fatu | 1 | August 10, 2024 | 104 | 55 | Texas City, Texas | Defeated Edge Stone at Summer of Champions X: Part 3. | [15] |
ROW Texas Championship | Ryan Davidson | 3 | August 10, 2024 | 104 | 68 | Defeated Danny Limelight in a Steel Cage match at Summer of Champions X: Part 1. | [16] | |
ROW Television Championship | Clay Roberts | 2 | August 10, 2024 | 104 | 55 | Defeated Chandler Hopkins and defending champion Erik Lockhart at ROW Summer of Champions X: Part 2. | [17] | |
ROW Tag Team Championship | The Kentish Brothers (Anthony Kentish and Hayden Kentish) |
1 (1,1) |
July 13, 2024 | 132 | 76 | Defeated The Highway Men (JP Harlow and Joey Hyder) at ROW Revolution Rising. | [18] | |
ROW Diamonds Division Championship | Rache Chanel | 1 | August 10, 2024 | 104 | 55 | Defeated Mia Friday at Summer of Champions X: Part 3. This was Chanel's Battle to the Bell cash-in match. |
[19] | |
ROW Women's Tag Team Championship | Jada Stone and Maya World | 1 (1,1) |
August 10, 2024 | 104 | 60 | Defeated Kalientita and Londyn Dior at Summer of Champions X: Part 2 to become the inaugural champions. |
Other accomplishments
[edit]Accomplishment | Current winner(s) | Date won | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
ROW Games: Ultimate Athlete | Terron Beckham | May 18, 2024 | Terron Beckham became the inaugural winner of the ROW Games: Ultimate Athlete. | [20] |
ROW King of The Summer | Max Castellanos | September 23, 2024 | Won a 20-man Battle Royal at Summer of Champions X: Part 2 by last eliminating Izzy James. |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Reality of Wrestling: Official Twitter".
- ^ "Reality of Wrestling (ROW) - Cagematch promotion profile".
- ^ a b Damante, Mike (2013-03-26). "Booker T brings Reality of Wrestling to Houston suburb". The Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
- ^ a b c d e f g Pendergest, Sean (2014-04-02). "Booker T's Reality of Wrestling Gets a Second Chance, Just as He Did". Houston Press. Retrieved 2015-04-27.
- ^ Eck, Kevin (2007-06-21). "Q&A with King Booker". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
- ^ Ward, Marshall (2009-09-17). "Get your Van Dam fill through RVD TV". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
- ^ "Booker T World Gym Arena".
- ^ Ryan, Nathan (2014-07-04). "World Wrestling Entertainment on the hunt for more Australian talent". FOX Sports. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
- ^ "IMPACT & Reality of Wrestling Deep IMPACT - Twitch Specials".
- ^ "Booker T's ROW Announces Special "One Night In Vegas" Event". 20 October 2021.
- ^ "Booker T's Reality of Wrestling To Present 'One Night In Vegas' Streaming Live Next Month".
- ^ "Championship Wrestling from Hollywood, Booker T's Reality of Wrestling, and Memphis Wrestling Announce Talent Exchange". January 25, 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ^ Memphis Wrestling @Mem_Wrestling OFFICIAL | January 25, 2024 @TheOfficialROW @CWFHollywood #MemphisWrestling 🤝
- ^ "WWE launches new indie wrestling development program". October 29, 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
- ^ "ROW Heavyweight Championship History".
- ^ "ROW Texas Championship History".
- ^ "ROW Television Championship History".
- ^ "ROW Tag Team Championship History".
- ^ "ROW Diamonds Division Championship History".
- ^ Beckham, Terron. "Reality of Wrestling first Ever Row Games : Ultimate Athlete 😤 5k down 10 more to go 🤪." Threads.net. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
External links
[edit]- Professional wrestling in Houston
- 2005 establishments in Texas
- American professional wrestling promotions
- American independent professional wrestling promotions
- Companies based in Texas
- American companies established in 2005
- Entertainment companies established in 2005
- Professional wrestling in Texas
- American professional wrestling television series
- Independent professional wrestling promotions based in Texas