Resistance Pro Wrestling was an American professional wrestling promotion, founded by musician Billy Corgan, alongside brothers Jacques and Gabe Baron.[1][2][3][4] The promotion held monthly events around Chicago, attracting "between 300 and 600 people per event."[5] The company's headquarters are located in Lockport, Illinois.[6] Corgan left the promotion in November 2014.[7] The company's website was down as of August 3, 2018, and their YouTube channel has been inactive since November 2017. A spin-off/successor promotion called The Resistance briefly ran for less than a year in Summit, Illinois between 2018 and 2019.
 | |
| Acronym | RPW |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 |
| Defunct | 2017 |
| Style | Professional wrestling Sports entertainment |
| Headquarters | Lockport, Illinois, U.S. |
| Founder(s) | Billy Corgan Jacques Baron Gabe Baron |
History
editTheir first show, "Black Friday", debuted November 25, 2011, at the Excalibur nightclub in Chicago. 22 wrestlers competed in the original event. Chicagoans Jay Bradley, Taylor Made, Miss December and Colt Cabana were involved in Black Friday. Other wrestlers included The Sheik, El Generico, Harry Smith, Kevin Steen, Raven (Agent), Teddy Hart and Cheerleader Melissa.
Corgan has also launched a concussion-awareness program tied to Resistance Pro. The wrestling promotion company has partnered with the Chicago Concussion Coalition and doctors from Midwest Orthopedics at Rush hospital. Doctors conduct screens with the wrestlers before and after each event. Corgan and his partners also forbid certain wrestling moves that involve contact to the head to minimize the risk of concussions.
Corgan's group is the first professional wrestling promotion to follow guidelines set by the Sports Legacy Institute (SLI). Corgan is personal friends with SLI founder Christopher Nowinski.[citation needed]
During Black Friday, Resistance Pro crowned its first Resistance Pro Women's Champion, Melanie Cruise. Although the Smashing Pumpkins were on tour in Europe for the first Resistance Pro show, Corgan watched it live, via Skype.[citation needed]
Resistance Pro's second show, "Rise", took place on January 13, 2012, at Excalibur. Wrestlers Melanie Cruise, Colt Cabana, The Daivari Brothers, Teddy Hart, Mr. 450, Da Soul Touchaz, Robert Anthony, Serenity, and Taylor Made all took part in the first all-ages show. Corgan was on hand to crown the Resistance Prop Champion Harry Smith.[8]
The promotion company's third show, "Vicious Circle", took place on February 17, 2012, at Excalibur. The all-ages show featured professional wrestlers: Mr. 450, "The Ego" Robert Anthony, "Lonesome" Jay Bradley, Resistance Pro Champion Harry Smith and Resistance Pro Women's Champion Melanie Cruise. "Lonesome" Jay Bradley issued an "Open Challenge" for the event.
Resistance Pro Champion Harry Smith successfully defended his title against Rhino Friday night at the Vicious Circle show at Excalibur in Chicago. Rhino, the final original ECW champion, challenged Smith to a rematch and put his vacated ECW championship belt against Smith's Resistance Pro's heavyweight belt.
One of wrestling's most famous tag teams, The Rock 'n' Roll Express, Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson, made an appearance, taking on Kentucky Fried, "Original Recipe" Matt Cage and "Extra Crispy" Alex Castle.
Resistance Pro's fourth event, Obsession, is scheduled for March 23, 2012. The event broke attendance records for the promotion with over 1,600 people attending in an arena in Crystal Lake, Illinois, the arena is usually reserved for mixed martial arts events but will now hold regular Resistance events.
On November 15, 2014, Corgan announced he had left Resistance Pro.[7]
According to the professional wrestling database website Cagematch.net, the last officially brand RPW show ran in November 2016. Two co-branded shows were held alongside the "Freelance Wrestling" promotion in mid-2017 and were the final ever RPW branded shows.[9] A splinter/spin off promotion called The Resistance ran shows in Summit, Illinois between 2018 and 2019.[10]
Reality series
editIn March 2014, it was reported that Corgan was in discussions with American television channel AMC to develop an unscripted reality series about Resistance Pro.[4][11] The premise is a behind-the-scenes look at the promotion as Corgan "takes over creative direction for the independent wrestling company." The show was given the green light by AMC, under the working title of "Untitled Billy Corgan Wrestling Project," the same month.[12] However, the project was canceled shortly thereafter by AMC.[7]
Championships
editCurrent champions
edit| Championship | Final Champion | Reign | Date won | Location | Event | Previous champion(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RPW Heavyweight Championship | Shane Mercer | 1 | May 18, 2019 | Summit, Illinois | Resistance Chapter VI: Death Wish | John Skyler |
| RPW Tag Team Championship | The Gym Nasty Boyz (Timmy Lou Retton and White Mike) |
1 | December 1, 2018 | Summit, Illinois | Resistance Chapter IV: Silent Night, Deadly Night | Hy-Zaya and Shane Mercer |
| RPW Women's Championship | Roni Nicole | 1 | May 4, 2018 | Summit, Illinois | Resistance Chapter II: Revelations | Holidead |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Galil, Leor (November 28, 2011). "Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan Sort of Steps Into the Wrestling Ring". Forbes. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
- ^ Lipsyte, Sam (September 2013). "Billy Corgan, Lord of the Ring". GQ. Advance Publications. p. 2. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
- ^ Sonneveld, Stephen (April 2, 2012). "Resistance Pro: Billy Corgan's Wrestling Obsession Is the Dark Horse to Watch". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
- ^ a b "Billy Corgan In Talks With AMC For Reality Show Based On His Indie Pro Wrestling Company". The Huffington Post. March 31, 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
- ^ Kapos, Shia (February 18, 2013). "Billy Corgan in the ring with Walter E. Smithe". Crain's Chicago Business. Crain Communications. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
- ^ Boudway, Ira (March 15, 2012). "Billy Corgan, From Smashing Pumpkins to Smashing Heads". Bloomberg Businessweek. Bloomberg L.P. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
- ^ a b c Johnson, Mike (November 15, 2014). "Corgan leaves Resistance Pro". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
- ^ "Resistance Pro "RISE" – Results". Wrestling Clique. 2012-01-14.
- ^ "List of RPW Events". Cagematch.net. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ "List of The Resistance Events". Cagematch.net. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ Steinberg, Brian (March 26, 2014). "AMC To Develop Scripted Comedy, Latenight Project with Kevin Smith". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
- ^ "AMC Picks Up Billy Corgan's Wrestling Reality Show". RTTNews. March 29, 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-03.