Acronym KPW Founder(s) Rip Morgan | Founded May 2006 Website [1] | |
Headquarters Wellington, New Zealand | ||
Kiwi Pro Wrestling (KPW) is a former professional wrestling promotion based in Wellington, New Zealand. KPW held its final show in 2013. However its championships are still defended in other New Zealand promotions including NZWPW.
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History
Started in May 2006 by veteran New Zealand wrestler Rip Morgan, Kiwi Pro Wrestling was formed to enable New Zealand wrestling to reach a professional level and groom local wrestlers to compete internationally. The CEO is Rip Morgan and the commissioner is Butch Miller, both of whom have experience in wrestling.
KPW's first show, Storm Warning, was held on 23 June 2006.
Media appearance
Two of KPW's wrestlers, Jonnie Juice and Creed, wrestled briefly on Sunday morning children's television show What Now.
KPW were on TV ONE's Good Morning show on 6 July 2006, promoting their 7 July Ring Rampage show at the Taita Community Centre. There were interviews with CEO Rip Morgan and Butch Miller, as well as a tag team match featuring D-Money, Jonnie Juice, Creed and H-Flame.
On 31 August 2009, KPW announced that they would air a new half-hour TV show named Off the Ropes to be screened on Prime Television. The first episode screened on 15 November 2009.
WWE Trials
There was controversy following KPW's, (more specifically, Rip Morgan's) announcement on 3 June 2008, of the wrestlers that would take part in the 2008 New Zealand WWE trials in Auckland.
KPW issued a press release to say that all wrestlers from New Zealand promotions (NZWPW, KPW, IPW) and Australia were invited to apply to tryout.
Those named to audition for WWE were (promotion in brackets):
No wrestlers from New Zealand Wide Pro Wrestling or Impact Pro Wrestling were invited to audition. This caused many fans and insiders in New Zealand Professional Wrestling to condemn the actions of KPW.
Television
On 31 August 2009, KPW announced that they would air a new half-hour TV show named Off the Ropes to be screened weekly on Prime. The show debuted on Sunday 15 November. It is now aired every Sunday at 1.30pm.