Top Rope Promotions

Pwcompanybox
name=Top Rope Promotions


acronym=TRP
established=1984
style=Professional wrestling
location=New Bedford, Massachusetts (1996-2000)
Fall River, Massachusetts (2000-present)
founder=
owner=Steve Ricard (2000-present)
parent=Top Rope Promotions
sister=South Coast Championship Wrestling
formerly=Yankee Pro Wrestling (c. 1990-2004)
New England Wrestling (1984-c. 1990)
website= [http://web.archive.org/web/20050508124636/home.comcast.net/~yankeeprowrestling/main.html YankeeProWrestling.com] (original website)
[http://www.topropepromotions.com/index.htm TopRopePromotions.com]
Myspace|topropepromotions|Top Rope Promotions |

Top Rope Promotions, formerly known as Yankee Pro Wrestling, is a Northeastern independent professional wrestling promotion based in New Bedford, Massachusetts and is the largest promotion in the southern New England-area rivaling other Northeastern promotions including Chaotic Wrestling, the Millennium Wrestling Federation and New England Championship Wrestling. Its wrestling school The Lock-Up is responsible for training several leading independent wrestlers, most notably, Ariel. [ cite web |url=http://www.burning-spirit.com/ariel/extras/burninghammer.html |title=Interview For Burning Hammer |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2004 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Burning-Spirit.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] Along with its head trainer Matt Hyson, their seminars have been hosted by Ring of Honor alumni Jamie Noble and AJ Styles.

A number of independent wrestlers competed in Yankee Pro Wrestling during their early careers including Amanda Storm, [ cite web |url=http://www.amandastorm.com/bheart01.htm |title=So You're that Girl Wrestler? |accessdate= |author=Storm, Amanda |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=AmandaStorm.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] [ cite web |url=http://www.glorywrestling.com/gg/AmandaStorm/AS.asp |title=Amanda Storm |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work=Amanda Storm of G.L.O.R.Y. Wrestling |publisher=GloryWrestling.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] Andy Jaxx, [ cite web |url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/plymouth/archive/x379996506/A-chance-to-say-goodbye |title=A chance to say goodbye |accessdate= |author=Wood, Ryan |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2008-06-25 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Wicked Local Plymouth |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] D.C. Drake, [ cite web |url=http://www.wrestlingclothesline.com/DCDrake.htm |title=Ten Questions With ... D.C. Drake |accessdate= |author=Schwan, Brett |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2006 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=WrestlingClothesline.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] Slyck Wagner Brown, Johnny Heartbreaker, Shark Boy, Christian York, Metal Maniac, Robbie Ellis, [ cite web |url=http://www.firetank.com/smashwrestling/interview-roadkill.shtml |title=Interview with ECW's Roadkill |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2001-01-01 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=SmashWrestling.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] Rick Fuller and Dan "The Beast" Severn.

The promotion has also regularly featured former World Wrestling Federation veterans including "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas, [ cite web |url=http://www.oklafan.com/columns/1126/article.html |title=Upcoming Matches |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2007-12-03 |year= |month= |format= |work=Oklahoma Scoop |publisher=The Oklahoma Wrestling Fan's Resource Center |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] Koko B. Ware, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, Junkyard Dog, Nikolai Volkoff, Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, George "The Animal" Steele, King Kong Bundy, Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake, Tito Santana, [ cite web |url=http://www.titosantana.net/Independent.html |title=Independents (1993-Present) |accessdate= |author=Frederick, David |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2008 |month= |format= |work=Match History of Tito Santana |publisher=TitoSantana.net |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka, The Bushwhackers (Bushwhacker Butch & Bushwhacker Luke) and The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs & Jerry Sags) as well as managers Mr. Fuji, Capt. Lou Albano and Luna Vachon. Others who have made appearances include Kamala, Bastion Booger, Doink The Clown, Gangrel, Virgil, Rick "The Model" Martel, Marty Jannetty, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, Tatanka, Scotty 2 Hotty, Chad Toland, Steve Bradley and WWE Tough Enough winners Jonah and Chris Nowinski.

Following the close of Extreme Championship Wrestling, several ECW mainstays such as Amish Roadkill, [ cite web |url=http://www.firetank.com/smashwrestling/interview-roadkill.shtml |title=Interview with ECW's Roadkill |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2001-01-01 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=SmashWrestling.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] Dawn Marie, Simon Diamond, Perry Saturn, Tony DeVito, Little Guido, Jerry Lynn, Steve Corino, Justin Credible, Julio Dinero, Chris Hamrick, Big Dick Dudley and Joel Gertner had brief stints in the promotion. In recent years, TNA wrestlers Christy Hemme, Talia, Abyss, Jay Lethal, Joey Matthews and Ron "The Truth" Killings have also made appearances.

History

The promotion began holding events in the Fall River-New Bedford area during the early-1980s, picking up the old territorial area previously run by the World Wide Wrestling Federation during the 1970s. After going through several name changes and owners, the promotion changed its name from "New England Wrestling" to "Yankee Pro Wrestling" during the 1990s. During this time, the promotion gained a strong following in southern New England regularly bringing in former WWF stars from the 1980s and 90s. Through its wrestling school, the promotion would also feature many wrestlers who later competed in World Wrestling Entertainment, Total Non Stop Action Wrestling, Ring of Honor and the independent circuit.

In 2000, head booker 21-year old Steve Ricard bought out the promotion. Under the Top Rope Promotions banner, he continued running monthly shows in the Fall River-New Bedford area successfully making between $500-$5,000 a show. [cite web|url=http://www.hampshire.edu/livingnow/07-Spring/fall_river/index.html|title=Just Another Night In Fall River|accessdate=|author=Lindsey, Joe|date=2007-04-24|publisher=Living Now] The majority of its shows were held at PAL Hall in Fall River and the Top Rope Arena in New Bedford. The promotion also ran a weekly cable television program in the local area.

Roster

Current

References

External links

* [http://www.cagematch.de/?id=8&nr=337 CageMatch.de - Top Rope Promotions] ger