British wrestling returns to ITV with World of Sport special featuring WWE legend Jim Ross – Mirror.co.uk

British wrestling is finally returning to mainstream television with a one-off ‘World of Sport’ special on ITV featuring legendary WWE commentator Jim Ross.

World of Sport previously aired on the channel every Saturday in the UK between 1965 and 1985, running in competition with BBC’s Grandstand.

It featured an array of sports, but was famous for the ring antics of legends like Kendo Nagasaki and the larger-than-life characters Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks.

Now World of Sport Wrestling is staging an event with the cream of the modern UK independent scene and former WWE commentary great Jim Ross calling the action.

Names already confirmed to follow in the footsteps of Rollerball Rocco, Mick McManus, Johnny Saint and co. include ‘Liverpool’s No.1’ Zack Gibson, the ‘Masked Mexican’ El Ligero and the ‘East End Butcher’ Sha Samuels.

They will be joined by top grapplers such as ‘The Black Country Beast’ Dave Mastiff, Leeds powerhouse Rampage Brown, ‘The Pound For Pound Best’ CJ Banks, Birmingham dynamo Ashton Smith and Scottish siren Viper.

© Tony Knox

An ITV spokesman said: “Commissioned by Helen Warner for ITV and produced by ITV Studios Entertainment, WOS Wrestling will see some of the UK’s top names in the sport compete in a fun-filled afternoon of family sports entertainment.

“The two-hour special will see some of the UK’s finest pro wrestlers compete in front of a live audience across a series of fights; from singles to tag team and eliminations.

“Backstage, viewers will catch up with the wrestlers between fights and at the end of the show one fighter will take home the WoS Wrestling belt.”

The event will be recorded in Media City in Manchester on November 1 and the show will air later this year.

Tom McLennan, creative director at ITV Studios Entertainment, is executive producing the show with Simon Marsh.

He said: “World of Sport Wrestling was a major event for millions of families every Saturday afternoon for over 20 years.

“I’m excited about bringing back this iconic brand and celebrating the best British wrestlers in the country.”

Fantastic to hear that @WOSWrestlingITV have secured the services of one of the most iconic commentators of all time, in @JRsBBQ!

— El Ligero (@Ligero1) October 19, 2016

Homegrown stars have been taking to twitter to voice their excitement, with many commenting on the acquisition of all-time great Jim Ross, affectionately known as Good Ol’ JR.

The return of British grappling to mainstream television is long overdue recognition for a thriving UK independent scene, now led by companies such as PROGRESS, Preston City Wrestling and Insane Championship Wrestling.

World of Sport was pulled from TV schedules 31 years ago, because of a change in emphasis at ITV Sport, following the show’s two-decade run.

It was replaced with the short lived Wrestling with Kent Walton, which was then dropped in 1988, ahead of the boom of American professional wrestling on these shores.

To find out more about World of Sport Wrestling, including how you can get limited tickets for the TV taping, follow @WOSWrestlingITV on Twitter.