5 Star Wrestling (stylised as 5★ Wrestling) was a professional wrestling promotion based in Scotland. The company operated from 2015 to 2018 and promoted events throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland.[1][3][4][5] They also produced a television series which was broadcast on FreeView television for the FreeSports channel.[6] The company was established to focus on promoting live professional wrestling events, after sister company Serious Parody released the 5 Star Wrestling game for PlayStation 3.

Pro Wrestling UK Ltd
Acronym5 Star[1]
Founded2015[1]
Defunct20 March 2018
StyleProfessional wrestling
Sports entertainment
HeadquartersScotland, United Kingdom[1]
Founder(s)Daniel Hinkles[2]
Website5 Star Wrestling

Overview

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5 Star Wrestling's first event in September 2015 was similarly titled to that of their later video game 5 Star Wrestling: ReGenesis and saw John Morrison defeat Ricochet in a two out of three falls match in the main event. Morrison would then win the 5 Star Wrestling Championship defeating AJ Styles in Newcastle, and defending against Carlito, P. J. Black and retaining in a one-night 8-man tournament in the same month.[7] The one-night 8-man tournament would be featured on Channel 5, under the name Dominant Wrestling: Live from Dundee.[8]

After these events, 5 Star announced they would hold a 128-man tournament throughout 2017, and offered CM Punk $1 million (£770,000) to appear in the tournament, which he refused.[2] The tournament would later be postponed until February 2018.[9] Television channel FreeSports would pull out of a deal with Preston City Wrestling,[10] to work with 5 Star to promote shows in 2018.[11] In January 2018, 5 Star Wrestling held a press conference in Sheffield, promoting new shows through 2018.[12] On 1 February 2018, 5 Star's debut on FreeSports, a new championship was established known as the "Tap Or Snap Title", which was won by Mark Haskins, winning a five-man elimination match for the championship.[13] The event would also see Hager defeat Ryan,[14] and John Morrison retain the 5* Championship over Rob Van Dam.[13] A tag team title championship tournament was also established on this show, and later won by former Love Island contestant Adam Maxted, and partner Charlie Sterling.

In addition to their own championship titles, 5 Star also recognised and hosted matches for Southside Wrestling Heavyweight Championship[15] and the Union of European Wrestling Alliances Cruiserweight Championship.[16]

On 20 March 2018, 5 Star would announce on Twitter that they were to cancel upcoming shows; owing to the folding of their parent company "Pro Wrestling UK Ltd".[17][non-primary source needed]

Other media

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Video games

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Originally announced in 2013,[18] 5 Star Wrestling was released for PlayStation 3 in 2015, developed and published by sister company Serious Parody.[19] An updated version called 5 Star Wrestling: ReGenesis was released on PlayStation 4 20 January 2016, exclusively on PlayStation Network.[20] The game featured parodied versions of famous wrestlers, such as "HarVee Dee", as RVD.[20]

The game cites having "true ring psychology", "Heel and Face mechanics, a revolutionary Limb Damage System and Rivalries that impact gameplay."[21] The game features a 40-hour Challenge campaign[21] with 128 challenges, over 400 objectives, and "more moves-per-wrestler than any other game."[21] The game also features a unique "finisher-to-finisher" reversal system, which allows finishers to be countered immediately into a finisher for the opponent under certain circumstances.[21]

As well as featuring parodies on many wrestlers, the game also featured many parodies of music, arenas and tropes of professional wrestling games.

Reception

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The original 5 Star Wrestling game received mixed reception from critics. APG Nation gave the game 8/10 stating that "The damage system deserves praise on so many levels." Push Square gave the game 3/10,[23] refuting the game by saying "As it stands, without any online functionality, no creation suite, a litigious gaggle of performers, and dodgy mechanics, this game is all but impossible to recommend to anyone."[23] The Official PlayStation magazine was even harsher, giving the game only 20%.[22] PlayStation Universe were less harsh, however, rating the game 60%[24] saying "5 Star Wrestling delivers a clever and refreshing take on the genre in the ring, but is massively hampered by its mountain of drawbacks and flaws outside of it. Fight your way through that and there's a satisfying depiction of how wrestling works waiting to be discovered."[24]

The improved version 5 Star Wrestling: ReGenesis, received better critical response. Bonus Stage reviewed the PS4 game and gave the game 7/10,[25] saying: "despite issues... 5 Star Wrestling remains very difficult to dislike".[25] however, they acknowledge the amount of bugs citing "despite some obvious visual improvements and ironing out of many of its forebear's more prominent bugs, 5 Star Wrestling is still an inherently ugly video game."[25]

Championships

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5 Star Wrestling Championship

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Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days
1 John Morrison 13 January 2016 UK Tour Newcastle upon Tyne, England 1 757 Defeated A.J. Styles to become the inaugural champion. [26]
2 Jake Hager 8 February 2018 Live From Newcastle Newcastle, Tyne And Wear, England, UK 1 40 [27][28]
Deactivated 20 March 2018 Deactivated when the promotion closed down

5 Star Tap or Snap Championship

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Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days
1 Mark Haskins 1 February 2018 Live From Liverpool Liverpool, England 1 21 Haskins defeated BT Gunn, Joey Axl, Morgan Webster and Nathan Cruz in a Five Way Elimination Match to become Inaugural champion. [29]
2 Matt Riddle 22 February 2018 Live In Plymouth Plymouth, England 1 26 [30]
Deactivated 20 March 2018 Deactivated when the promotion closed down

5 Star Tag Team Championship

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No. Champion Reign Date Days held Location Event Notes Ref.
1 Max Money
(Adam Maxted & Charlie Sterling)
1 8 February 2018 40 Newcastle, England Live From Newcastle Defeated El Ligero and Jody Fleisch in a tournament final to win the titles. [27]
Deactivated 20 March 2018 Deactivated when the promotion closed down

Real Wrestling Championship

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No. Champion Reign Date Days held Location Event Notes Ref
1 Eddie Ryan 1 1 March 2018 19 Belfast, Northern Ireland Live In Belfast Defeated Zack Gibson to become Inaugural champion. [31]
Deactivated 20 March 2018 Deactivated when the promotion closed down

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Kriekenbohm, Philip. "5 Star Wrestling (5 Star)". Cagematch.net. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b "We spoke to the man who has made CM Punk a $1 million dollar offer to wrestle in Britain". Metro. 19 May 2017. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Brawl breaks out at press conference ahead of Liverpool 5 Star Wrestling bout". Liverpool Echo. 9 January 2018. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Former WWE stars Rey Mysterio and Rob Van Dam to headline Devon wrestling show". Devon Live Magazine. 10 January 2018. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  5. ^ "5 Star Wrestling is coming to Birmingham and this is how to get tickets". Birmingham Mail. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  6. ^ "FreeSports pulls out of PCW talks and signs deal with 5 Star Wrestling". Mirror. 7 September 2017. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  7. ^ "Video: Rey Mysterio and AJ Styles to make 5 Star Wrestling History". Daily Star. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Dominant Wrestling: Live from Dundee". Channel 5. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Update: 5 Star Wrestling Cancels Entire 128 Man Tournament, Issues Statement And Reschedules Dates". Mandatory.com. 2 June 2017. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  10. ^ "ANNOUNCEMENT: 5 STAR WRESTLING AGREES MULTI-YEAR TV DEAL". 5StarWrestling.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  11. ^ "FreeSports announces TV deal with 5 Star Wrestling as it pulls out of PCW talks". Total Wrestling magazine. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  12. ^ "Ex-WWE world champion Jack Swagger brawls at 5 Star Wrestling unveiling press conference with Eddie Ryan". Mirror. 9 January 2018. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  13. ^ a b Kreikenbohm, Philip. "5 Star Wrestling Results". Cagematch.net. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  14. ^ "Plymouth-born wrestling superstar to headline televised Pavilions show". Plymouth Herald. 11 January 2018. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  15. ^ "5 Star ReGenesis". Cagematch.
  16. ^ "AJ Styles' final indies run continues with John Morrison match, preps for Rey Mysterio match". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. 15 January 2016.
  17. ^ "5 Star Wrestling on Twitter". 20 March 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018 – via Twitter.
  18. ^ "5 STAR WRESTLING: PSN'S DOWNLOADABLE ANSWER TO WWE?". IGN. 3 April 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  19. ^ "5 Star Wrestling for Playstation 3 (2015)". MobyGames. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  20. ^ a b "5 Star Wrestling ReGenesis for PlayStation 4 (2016)". MobyGames. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  21. ^ a b c d "PlayStation Store Description". PlayStation Network. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  22. ^ a b "5 Star Wrestling Review". Official PlayStation Magazine. June 2015: 94.
  23. ^ a b c "5 Star Wrestling review". Push Square. 23 March 2015. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  24. ^ a b c Bolt, Neil (20 March 2015). "5 Star Wrestling PS3 Review". PlayStation Universe. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  25. ^ a b c d "5 Star Wrestling: ReGenesis Review". Bonus Stage. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  26. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (13 January 2016). "5 Star UK Tour - Day 1". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  27. ^ a b Kreikenbohm, Philip (8 February 2018). "5 Star Live From Newcastle". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  28. ^ "Jake Hager Wins 5 Star Championship in Newcastle". 5 Star Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2018-02-10. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  29. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (1 February 2018). "5 Star Live From Liverpool". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  30. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (22 February 2018). "5 Star Live In Plymouth". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  31. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (1 March 2018). "5 Star Live In Belfast - TV-Show @ SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
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