Joint Promotions

Joint Promotions was a Major pro wrestling promotion based in Toller Lane, Bradford, England.

The JP promotion was founded on March 1, 1952 by Jack & John Dale, Les Martin, Billy Best, Arthur Wryton, Norman Morrell, Ted Beresford, George de Relwyskow & Arthur Green, and it ceased operations on February 28, 1995.

Joint Promotions was formed as a cartel in 1952 between various regional British wrestling promoters, in similar vein to the National Wrestling Alliance of North America, whereby each promoter would respect the other’s territorial boundaries. British wrestling at this time was adherent to the Admiral-Lord Mountevans Rules, with an emphasis on rounds as well as seven weight divisions ranging from Lightweight to Heavyweight. 

Joint Promotions would fare well for the first 17 years of its existence, de facto led by Dale Martin Promotions (DMP) situated in London, before DMP was bought out by the Hurst Park Syndicate, and eventually by the William Hill gambling company. Regional promoters would leave the cartel throughout the early 1970s to go independent, though this would not stop a great surge in wrestling’s popularity in the United Kingdom through the transmission of World of Sport, with Joint Promotions holding exclusive broadcasting rights. Promoted by ITV since January 1965, World of Sport at its peak in the early 1980s would attract audiences ranging from 10-17 million viewers, with main event stars including Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks.

Once World of Sport, a variety show and not a devoted wrestling program, in 1986 began broadcasting WWF and competitor All Star Wrestling, Joint Promotions would lose its working class market share as the company failed to evolve with the times. Max Crabtree, brother of Big Daddy, would relaunch the promotion as Ring Wrestling Stars thereafter utilizing his years of booking experience, though again to no success. The company would finally close in 1995, and would represent the “Old School” of British wrestling that would bridge the gap between it and “New School” talent of the 2000s.

Joint Promotions: Info