Founded November 2010 Founder(s) Amber O'Neal | Style American Wrestling Website www.arenachicks.com | |
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This is a list of women's professional wrestling promotions in the United States, sorted by founding date, and lists both active and defunct women's promotions from the 1980s through the present.
Contents
- ArenaChicks
- Male wrestlers
- Other talent
- ChickFight
- Dangerous Women of Wrestling
- Roster
- Other on air talent
- Delta Tiger Lilies
- Championships
- Double Trouble Wrestling
- DropKick Divas
- Exotic Ladies of Wrestling
- Wrestlers
- Hardbodies Wrestling
- Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling
- Powerful Women of Wrestling
- Ladies Major League Wrestling
- Ladies Professional Wrestling Association
- Fabulous Ladies in International Rings
- Ladies Sports Club
- Professional Girl Wrestling Association
- Girl Fight Wrestling
- Queens of Combat
- QOC Championship
- Womens Pro Wrestling
- Women of Wrestling
- Womens Extreme Wrestling
- CRUSH
- Alumni
- CRUSH Championship Crown
- Naked Womens Wrestling League
- Slammin Ladies
- Hottest Ladies of Wrestling
- Championship
- Shimmer Women Athletes
- World Womens Wrestling
- Women Superstars Uncensored
- Magnificent Ladies Wrestling
- Wrestlicious
- World Independent Ladies Division Wrestling
- WILD North American Championship
- WILD World Championship
- Pro Wrestling SUN
- New England Female Wrestling
- The Female Wrestling Channel
- References
ArenaChicks
ArenaChicks was founded in November 2010 by Amber O'Neal. It films direct-to-DVD matches and coordinates appearances by female wrestling personalities at wrestling conventions and reunion shows.
Male wrestlers
Other talent
ChickFight
ChickFight was founded in 2004 by Jason Deadrich. The promotion began as an eight-woman tournament that was held from 2004-2008. Since 2008, ChickFight has promoted several matches on cards for other wrestling promotions, particularly the California-based Pro Wrestling Revolution. In 2010, ChickFight announced a partnership with the website Diva-Dirt.com to co-promote matches in 2011.
Dangerous Women of Wrestling
Dangerous Women of Wrestling (DWOW) was founded in 1999 by then-Extreme Championship Wrestling promoter Dan Kowal. The organization was founded as Gorgeous Ladies of Outrageous Wrestling (GLOOW), but changed its name to DWOW in 2003 to avoid confusion with Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. The company features a mixture of extreme wrestling, some nudity, and oil wrestling.
The Beautiful Babes of Wrestling (BBOW) promotion is separate from DWOW/GLOOW. Although it used a similar roster, BBOW was composed mainly of women from Maryland Championship Wrestling and women from DWOW/GLOOW. DWOW/GLOOW is also separate from Women's Extreme Wrestling, which was founded in 2002 by Dave Milan, Dan Kowal, Steve Karel and Greg Bagarozy and used a similar talent roster. Whereas WEW ran pay-per-view events, DWOW focused on television and served as a developmental territory for WEW.
DWOW aired a television series in the local Pennsylvania and Northeastern Atlantic markets until the company want on an intermittent hiatus in 2004. They announced a new television deal in 2010. The Dangerous Women of Wrestling Underground television series debuted on August 28, 2010, on The Fight Network.
Roster
The roster of wrestlers includes female wrestlers, male wrestlers, and midget wrestlers.
Other on-air talent
Announcers
Producer
Referees
Delta Tiger Lilies
Delta Tiger Lilies was an all-female wrestling company that operated in 1988 and produced direct-to-video matches.
Championships
Unlike most other organizations, the Delta Tiger Lilies did not have a championship. Instead, it recognized the existing champions from other national promotions, including AWA World Women's Champion Madusa Miceli and NWA United States Women's Champion Misty Blue Simmes.
During one of the events, Simmes challenged Miceli to a title unification match (NWA United States Women's Title and AWA World Women's Title), but the match never happened. At another event, former NWA World Women's Champion Debbie Combs challenged Simmes for the NWA United States Women's Championship, but Simmes was unable to accept due to an arm injury she had sustained.
Other on-air talent
Managers
Commissioner
Double Trouble Wrestling
Double Trouble Wrestling, or DT Wrestling for short, was founded by Double Trouble Productions in 1984. Since it is an erotic wrestling promotion, fans can order custom matches and have the wrestlers compete in costumes, bikinis, topless or nude. The majority of the performers are pornographic actresses and adult models along with notable wrestlers WCW's Tylene Buck and Hollywood from GLOW.
DropKick Divas
DropKick Divas was founded on June 12, 2011 by Kevin Ballew and Jessicka Havok. It films direct-to-DVD matches and custom matches that customers may design the match type and book the talent.
Male wrestlers
Exotic Ladies of Wrestling
Exotic Ladies of Wrestling was founded in 2007. It filmed direct-to-DVD matches. ELOF was located in Trinity County, California in 2007. ELOF relocated Pembroke Pines, Florida after returning.
Wrestlers
Other on-air talent
Managers
Hardbodies Wrestling
Hardbodies Wrestling was founded by Sarah-Michelle Costarakis in 2001 as Florida Championship Wrestling with wrestling videos. It expanded into small bar and grills throughout Florida in 2003. The wrestling was mostly semi-professional and ran until 2008 when it was bought out by FCW. A small video company now uses the name.
Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling
Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, also known as GLOW, was founded by David McLane. It began in 1986 (the pilot was filmed in December 1985) and continued in various forms after it left television in 1990. The television series combined women's wrestling with comedic skits and raps. The promotion was revived in 2001 by Riviera Hotel & Casino.
Powerful Women of Wrestling
Powerful Women of Wrestling (also known as POWW) was founded by David McLane in 1987 after he left Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. The promotion lasted until 1990. Unlike GLOW, POWW focused more on women's wrestling than comedic skits. During its existence, POWW was aligned with the World Wrestling Association in Indianapolis and the American Wrestling Association.
Ladies Major League Wrestling
Ladies Major League Wrestling (LMLW) was an all-female wrestling company founded in 1989 by Howard Brody. It operated in the late 1980s through the early 1990s. Its matches, which were aired promoted under the "Wild Women of Wrestling" (WWOW) banner, were featured on the Universal Wrestling Federation television series and sold on home video.
Ladies Professional Wrestling Association
Ladies Professional Wrestling Association (LPWA) was an all-female wrestling promotion founded in 1989 by Tor Berg. It operated from 1989 through 1992. The LPWA produced two television series, The Super Ladies of Wrestling and Ladies Championship Wrestling from 1990-1992. Many of its matches were also distributed and sold on VHS tapes. It held its first and only pay-per-view, Super Ladies Showdown, on February 23, 1992 before closing down operations shortly after.
Fabulous Ladies in International Rings
Fabulous Ladies in International Rings (FLAIR) was founded in 1990 shortly after the closing of Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling and Powerful Women of Wrestling. In addition to filming all-women's wrestling events for video distribution, the short-lived company also promoted women's matches on various men's wrestling events.
Championships
Katie Kincaid was recognized as the FLAIR Champion. She later lost the title to Dream Maker (Lori Weathers).
Ladies Sports Club
Ladies Sports Club (LSC) was founded in 1990 by David McLane. It was the third female wrestling promotion created by McLane, who also created Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW) and Powerful Women of Wrestling (POWW). Shortly after the closing of POWW (which had a working agreement with the American Wrestling Association to co-promote matches), McLane formed LSC. The LSC roster consisted of many of the women that were then part of the AWA roster, and former POWW wrestlers. Most of the LSC matches were aired on the AWA television series. The company closed in 1991.
Championships
Tina Moretti was recognized as the LSC Champion and Trudy the Farmer's Daughter was recognized as the LSC Television Champion.
Professional Girl Wrestling Association
Professional Girl Wrestling Association (PGWA) was founded in 1992 by Randy Powell. The organization promotes matches, which typically run from 15–30 minutes in length and are more "old school" in style, throughout the United States, Mexico, and United Kingdom.
Girl Fight Wrestling
Girl Fight Wrestling (GFW) was founded in 2015 by Debbie Combs. The organization operated from Kentucky.
Queens of Combat
Queens of Combat (QOC) was founded in 2014 by Josette Bynum. The organization operated from Charlotte, North Carolina.
QOC Championship
The QOC Championship is a women's professional wrestling championship, owned by the American promotion in Queens of Combat. Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in scripted rivalries. These narratives create feuds between the various competitors, which cast them as villains and heroines.
Women's Pro Wrestling
Women's Pro Wrestling (WPW) was founded in 1992 by Debbie Combs. The organization operated from 1992–1993 and produced direct-to-video matches.
Women of Wrestling
Women of Wrestling (WOW) was a professional wrestling promotion founded in 2000 by David McLane. WOW produced a syndicated television series that ran from 2000-2001. It held its first and only pay-per-view, WOW Unleashed, on February 4, 2001 before closing down operations shortly after.
Women's Extreme Wrestling
Women's Extreme Wrestling (WEW), also known as Women's Erotic Wrestling, was founded in 2002 by Dave Milan, Dan Kowal, Steve Karel and Greg Bagarozy. Its storylines usually are filled with erotic and sexual themes. Because the shows have adult sexual content, audience members that attend live shows must be age 21 years of age or older. Although the promotion continues to offer taped matches on DVD and digital download, it has not promoted a live event since 2008.
CRUSH
CRUSH was founded in 2002 by former Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling host Johnny Cafarella. Cafarella developed an idea for a new television series that was loosely based on the original concept for GLOW and later used for Women of Wrestling (WOW). With Steve Blance, Jimmy Hart, and the Flying Farley Brothers (brothers of late comedian Chris Farley), he filmed matches for the pilot episode of a proposed all-women's wrestling/sketch comedy television series called CRUSH in February 2003.
Although Hart stated in radio interviews that the series would debut on the Comedy Central network in fall 2003 and that Tom Arnold would be involved in the series, the pilot was not sold to any networks or distributors. In 2008, Cafarella and Hart partnered with Jonathan Vargas, who won a Powerball jackpot of $35.3 million the same year. Reusing many of the characters (although portrayed by different wrestlers and models/actresses) from CRUSH, they filmed matches for the pilot of Wrestlicious during the summer.
Alumni
The roster also included former WOW wrestler Patti Pizzazz/Patti Pep as "Cousin Haley", Allied Powers Wrestling Federation's NYX as "Griselda", World League Wrestling's Miss Natural as "Kickstart Katie", All-Star Championship Wrestling's Kendra as "Leena from Fargo", independent wrestler Luxurious Lynne as "Shyly O'Reilly", independent wrestler Celeste as "Smiley O'Reilly", former WOW wrestler Slam Dunk as "South Side Slick", and Minnesota Independent Wrestling's Candy as "Tyranny".
CRUSH Championship Crown
X-Terminator won the CRUSH Championship Crown at the initial and only television taping.
Naked Women's Wrestling League
The Naked Women's Wrestling League (NWWL) was founded in 2004 by Howard Mann. The organization promotes pay-per-views featuring female wrestlers wrestling in both clothed and nude matches.
Slammin Ladies
Slammin Ladies was founded on July 2, 2004 by Lexie Fyfe. It films custom matches that customers may design the match type (including frequent intergender matches) and book the talent.
Hottest Ladies of Wrestling
Hottest Ladies of Wrestling (HLOW) was founded in 2005. It filmed direct-to-DVD matches. The promotion used women wrestlers who were from World Wrestling Entertainment, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, and the independent circuit.
Championship
Christie Ricci was crowned the first HLOW Champion after winning a battle royal that included Amy Lee, Bobcat (with Gorgeous George), Casey, Claudia, Jazz, Lollipop, ODB (with Francine), Passion, and Venus. Ricci continued to defend the title outside of HLOW after the organization closed in 2005.
Other on-air talent
Managers
Referee
Shimmer Women Athletes
Shimmer Women Athletes (stylized as SHIMMER Women Athletes and often referred to simply as SHIMMER) was founded in 2005 by Dave Prazak and Allison Danger. The company films direct-to-DVD matches that are sold as single volumes through Ring of Honor's online store before being nationally distributed through retail outlets.
World Women's Wrestling
World Women's Wrestling (WWW or Triple W) was founded in 2006 by Sheldon Goldberg. Their matches were promoted on numerous New England Championship Wrestling cards until the closure of WWW and NECW on November 6, 2010.
Women Superstars Uncensored
Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU) was founded in 2007. It works closely with National Wrestling Superstars. WSU films direct-to-DVD matches and internet pay-per-view events. It launched a television series, UNCENSORED, in 2010.
Magnificent Ladies Wrestling
Magnificent Ladies Wrestling was founded in 2007 by Thomas Darnell. It films custom matches that customers may design.
Wrestlicious
Wrestlicious was founded in 2009 by Jonathan Vargas, with partners Johnny Cafarella (former Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling host and producer) and Jimmy Hart. Similar to GLOW, Wrestlicious combines women's wrestling with comedic skits. Cafarella filmed a pilot for the CRUSH series in 2003 using many of the same characters and gimmicks that were eventually reused in Wrestlicious. The promotion airs television series Wrestlicious TakeDown in the United States and Canada.
World Independent Ladies Division Wrestling
World Independent Ladies Division (WILD) Wrestling was founded in May 2010 by Travis James Leland. It films direct-to-DVD matches. Matches are held on cards promoted by various independent promotions in California and Nevada.
WILD North American Championship
The WILD North American Championship, which used to be known as the LuchaPro Women's Championship, is a women's professional wrestling championship, owned by the American promotion in World Independent Ladies Division Wrestling. Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in scripted rivalries. These narratives create feuds between the various competitors, which cast them as villains and heroines.
WILD World Championship
The WILD World Championship is a women's professional wrestling championship, owned by the American promotion in World Independent Ladies Division Wrestling. Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in scripted rivalries. These narratives create feuds between the various competitors, which cast them as villains and heroines.
Alumni
Pro-Wrestling SUN
Pro-Wrestling SUN was founded on March 20, 2011 by Allison Danger. It films direct-to-DVD matches. The promotion is not to be confused with a Japanese promotion of the same name and later Chick Fights Sun, which ran shows from 2006 to 2009.
Championships
Pro-Wrestling SUN recognizes the World-1 Women's Championship (currently held by Sara Del Rey) as their championship, and the World-1 Women's Tag Team Championship (currently held by Sumie Sakai and Roxie Cotton) as their tag team championship.
New England Female Wrestling
New England Female Wrestling is a wrestling customs company that was founded in 2010 by Mike Harris. The first shoot took place in July 2011. It continued regularly after their debut.
The Female Wrestling Channel
The Female Wrestling Channel was started in 2012 as the answer to Pro Wrestling not putting the ladies in front and because of Pro Wrestling having fake and pre-scripted outcomes when it comes to their matches. The website features no nudity and implores fans to support the rare ladies who are willing to wrestle in a competitive and real fashion.
Championships
Monroe Jamison was handed the championship on Episode 65. She is the current champion at the time of this writing, but faces stiff competition from the likes of Remy Rush, Scarlett Squeeze, and other ladies who are quickly rising on the roster.