British grappler Magnus will arrive in Manchester for the TNA Maximum Impact Tour as the country’s first world champion in over a century of professional wrestling.
Magnus – due to perform at the Manchester Arena on January 31 – recently won a tournament for the vacant TNA world heavyweight championship by beating Jeff Hardy in the final.
He is the first wrestler to win a world title from these shores, outdoing more experienced compatriots such as William Regal and the late British Bulldog, Davey Boy Smith.
He said: “It is truly an honour and a privilege to be the TNA World Heavyweight Champion. I’m looking forward to bringing the title back where it all started for me. It’s something I’ve always dreamed of doing.”
“It’s also important to represent all the people in the UK wrestling business that helped me get to this point, and hopefully show the young British talent there is no glass ceiling – you can be a top guy!”
What reaction Magnus gets back home remains to be seen after he took a villainous turn on screen by joining president Dixie Carter’s growing stable, Team Dixie, along with her nephew Ethan Carter III and fellow Brit Rockstar Spud.
Wrestling historian John Lister said: “While the likes of the legendary British Bulldog, William Regal, Wade Barrett and Doug Williams have all had great success in America, they’ve fallen short in their challenges for the World Heavyweight Championship. It’s a great achievement for Magnus to become the number one wrestler in a globally televised promotion.”
Magnus will be joined on the UK tour by more than 20 international wrestling stars including Kurt Angle, Bobby Roode, Samoa Joe, British Boot Camp winner Rockstar Spud and Gail Kim.
His title victory was broadcast in over 120 countries worldwide, including on Challenge here in the UK. The digital channel have recently signed a new deal with TNA to continue showing Impact Wrestling and signature events including Bound For Glory and Lockdown, as well as classic content from the archives.
Action from all five UK tour dates – Manchester, London. Glasgow, Dublin and Birmingham – will be recorded in the next month and broadcast this year, for Impact Wrestling and stand alone pay-per-views.
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