DEFY Wrestling is an American independentprofessional wrestling promotion based out of Seattle, Washington. DEFY was created in 2017 after founders Jim Perry and Matt Farmer successfully petitioned the Washington state government (specifically the Washington State Department of Licensing) to alter laws around professional wrestling, which they had argued had severely impacted the ability of promoters to run small professional wrestling events in the state since the early 1990s. Since its launch in 2017, DEFY has risen to a high level of prominence on the American Independent circuit, in part because of its association as the "home" of emerging national wrestling stars Swerve Strickland, Darby Allin and Nick Wayne.[1][2][3]
There is a significant history of professional wrestling in the Pacific Northwest; Between 1925 and 1992 the region was primarily serviced by the well-regarded Pacific Northwest Wrestling (PNW) (also known as Portland Wrestling). However, following the death of the wrestling territory system and the rise of the World Wrestling Federation, PNW fell too by the wayside.[6] Further reinforcing this withering of regional professional wrestling were several regulations introduced to Washington by the Washington State Department of Licensing, which made the cost of producing a professional wrestling event highly prohibitive for smaller organizations. For example, until 2017 the Department of Licensing required all professional wrestling promoters to pay them 6% of the gross income made from any event as well as $1 for every ticket sold at the show.[7][8] Promoters were also required to obtain a license for every performer featured on the show.[8]
In 2017, following many years of lobbying by Farmer and Perry as well as other members of the professional wrestling community, these requirements were scrapped and Farmer and Perry launched DEFY Wrestling to take advantage of the new era. DEFY would make use of Perry's professional background in marketing and Farmer's background as a professional wrestling historian.[3] The very first DEFY show was headlined by Swerve Strickland challenging Cody Rhodes for the then-active GFW NEX*GEN Championship.[2] Subsequent shows would feature Strickland, Darby Allin and Nick Wayne prominently, as well as female talent such as Vert Vixen and British Columbia's Nicole Matthews.
As of 2024[update], almost all of DEFY's events in Seattle have taken place in the historic Washington Hall,[4][3] which has a capacity of 500 to 800 people depending on the setup.[2]
On 9 February 2024, it was announced that DEFY Wrestling would "merge" with Progress Wrestling, an independent promotion based in London, England. It was created to bring a "global presence" to both brands and aid further expansion plans.[9]
The DEFY PrimoLucha Championship is a professional wrestlingchampionship created and promoted by the American promotion DEFY Wrestling, having been contested under lucha libre rules. There have been a total of three reigns shared between three different champions. The current champion is Guillermo Rosas who is in his first reign.
The DEFY Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestlingtag team championship created and promoted by the American promotion DEFY Wrestling. There have been a total of eleven reigns shared between nine teams consisting of eighteen different wrestlers. The current champions are Los Desperados (Arez and Gringo Loco), who are in their first reign as a team and individually.
Key
No.
Overall reign number
Reign
Reign number for the specific team—reign numbers for the individuals are in parentheses, if different
The DEFY Women's Championship is a women's professional wrestlingchampionship created and promoted by the American promotion DEFY Wrestling. There have been a total of two reigns shared between two different champions. The current champion is Marina Shafir who is in her first reign.
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