Wrestle Carnival will make an unlikely return in the new year, after promoter Gary Ward revived the company he once led. The promotion was born in the summer of 2021, before closing down for good in January 2024. However, it is firmly back on the UK pro-wrestling broadsheet.
The Coventry-based company will return in April, taking an unconventional route. Instead of the traditional format of title belts, Wrestle Carnival will instead employ a snooker-inspired Triple Crown system.
First, ‘The Invitational’, before ‘The World Grand Prix’ in the summer and ‘The Masters’ in October.
Ward said: “I wasn’t sure if this would happen, to be honest. I spent a lot of time contemplating whether or not I should return, and I received several offers to help others.
“While I’m always open to supporting others, the idea of the Triple Crown wouldn’t leave me alone. The more I thought about it and spoke with people like Scott D’Amore, the more I became convinced that returning to with the Triple Crown was a great concept.
“Ultimately, I didn’t want to stop, but I needed to for my family. After taking that break, my passion gradually returned, and I realised we only get one shot at life, so I didn’t want to look back with regrets.”
Why Tournaments, and not Titles?
The promoter believes his new format will allow Wrestle Carnival to stand out – their unique selling point.
“The idea of a Triple Crown tournament has been in my plans for some time… I realised that incorporating Wrestle Carnival and tournament events would be a unique way to stand out and return to live events,” Ward explained.
Ward took on a role with Revolution Pro Wrestling during the Wrestle Carnival hiatus, but now returns to the forefront of his own promotion.
He explained why he has decided on the Triple Crown format, saying: “My hope is that the Triple Crown becomes something people worldwide aspire to be part of and to win.
“And, since I only plan to hold three events, managing multiple titles would be challenging. Building up credible contenders over just three events can be tough, and I felt that some of our previous efforts were getting lost in the shuffle.
“My goal has always been to provide a platform, whether for talent in front of the camera or behind the scenes, where people can grow, find a home, and try new things as they work towards becoming bigger stars.”
The return of Wrestle Carnival has been welcomed by its former fans, with Ward promising shows that offer variety, big characters, and faces of new and old.
