Dudley wrestling star Tyler Bate talks ahead of Wembley Arena show

The event will see the biggest independent wrestling event to be held in England for over thirty years. For the first time in its history, Britain’s PROGRESS Wrestling will hold an event at Wembley’s SSE Arena, and in the main event Netherton’s Tyler Bate will challenge for the world title.

The 21-year-old sports star said it’s a 'great honour' to be headlining the event, and that he plans on representing 'all that is to come with the future of British Wrestling'.

Standing across the ring from Tyler Bate will be Walter. A native of Vienna, Austria, Walter is one of the biggest superstars in the world of pro-wrestling, having held titles in Germany, Ireland, America and Britain. He is big in another sense, standing at 6ft 4inches, and towering over the stocky but powerful Brit.

“Walter has recently stated that he cannot respect me as a performer," Bate said.

"I plan on beating the respect into him. Regardless of size difference I will make him eat his words”.

Bate is not the only local pro-wrestler who will be in a major match on Sunday. Wolverhampton’s Trent Seven will be facing Doug Williams, in what could be the last match in the latter’s twenty-five year career.

Tipton’s Chris Brookes will have the chance to regain PROGRESS’s Tag Team Titles as he in teams with Timothy Thatcher in a special eight-team contest. And worlds will collide, as WWE UK Champion and Birmingham native, Pete Dunne, faces the former champion of Germany’s WXW promotion, Ilja Dragunov.

Bate is proud of the West Midlands presence in Wembley, and credits local promotions for developing talent. “The West Midlands is a hot bed for wrestling at the moment. I think it has been that way for a long time, but there wasn’t really a platform for the Midlands to showcase what we can do until Fight Club: Pro gained a bigger following giving the local talent a chance”.

Bate will be in action for the promotion at Wolverhampton venue The Hangar on Friday Friday and Saturday before he heads down for Wembley.

The wrestler hopes that others will join him on the road to Wembley.

“For anyone from the Midlands who is yet to make the trip to London for a PROGRESS show, I definitely recommend they come to Wembley to watch the watch their Midlands representatives absolutely take over the entire wrestling industry”.

Tyler Bate vs Walter takes place on Sunday 30th September at Wembley Arena. Doors open at 2pm, with the first match beginning at 3.30pm. The event is scheduled to finish no later than 8.30pm. Tickets can still be purchased at http://axs.com/uk/events/341047/progress-wrestling-2018-tickets?skin=wembley.

By Will Cooling