Top Rope Promotions
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Professional wrestling |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Founder | Joe Eugenio |
| Headquarters | New Bedford, Massachusetts , United States |
Key people | Steve Ricard (owner and promoter) |
| Products | Professional wrestling events and training |
Number of employees | Not specified |
Top Rope Promotions—previously known as Yankee Pro Wrestling and South Coast Championship Wrestling—is a prominent independent wrestling organization headquartered in New Bedford, Massachusetts. It commands a significant presence in the Southern New England wrestling scene, rivaling other regional entities such as Chaotic Wrestling and Millennium Wrestling Federation. Established by Joe Eugenio in 1981, ownership transferred to Steve Ricard from 2000 through 2017. The promotion’s operational strategy incorporates training sessions conducted by distinguished instructors including former lead trainer Matt Hyson (also known as Spike Dudley) alongside guest coaches drawn from Ring of Honor veterans like Jamie Noble and A.J. Styles.
Over the years, Top Rope Promotions has been instrumental in showcasing a diverse array of wrestling talent, including Amanda Storm, Andy Jaxx, D. C. Drake, Slyck Wagner Brown, Johnny Heartbreaker, Shark Boy, Christian York, Robbie Ellis, Rick Fuller, Dan "The Beast" Severn, Anthony Greene, and "Brutal" Bob Evans. Following the dissolution of Extreme Championship Wrestling, numerous ECW alumni such as Amish Roadkill, Dawn Marie, Simon Diamond, Perry Saturn, Little Guido, Jerry Lynn, Steve Corino, Justin Credible, Julio Dinero, Chris Hamrick, Big Dick Dudley, and Joel Gertner made brief appearances. More recently, talents from TNA including Christy Hemme, Talia (Velvet Sky), Abyss, Jay Lethal, Joey Matthews, Ron "The Truth" Killings, Bubba Ray Dudley, and D-Von Dudley have been featured in events.
The leadership team has strategically emphasized enhancing industry recognition and leveraging market influence through both talent cultivation and prominent guest appearances to maintain growth within the competitive Northeastern wrestling marketplace.
History
Top Rope Promotions originated in the early 1980s by staging events around the Fall River-New Bedford region, succeeding the territorial area once overseen by the World Wide Wrestling Federation during the 1970s. Following multiple rebrandings and changes in management, it transitioned from New England Wrestling Association to Yankee Pro Wrestling throughout the 1990s. During this era, the promotion cultivated a loyal regional fanbase by featuring former WWF performers from the 1980s and 1990s. Its roster has included wrestlers associated with Impact Wrestling and Ring of Honor, as well as competitors who have appeared in WWE.
In 2000, Steve Ricard—then head booker—acquired ownership and operated under the Top Rope Promotions banner. He continued to produce monthly events within the Fall River-New Bedford corridor under both Yankee Pro Wrestling and South Coast Championship Wrestling names. Event revenues typically ranged from $500 to $5,000 per show. The majority of these matches were held at PAL Hall in Fall River and Top Rope Arena in New Bedford. Additionally, the promotion produced a weekly local cable television program. By 2007, all shows were unified under the Top Rope Promotions identity.
Beyond its primary venues, Top Rope Promotions extends its reach by hosting events at locations such as Creative Auction Centers in Fall River and New Bedford, Adams-Turners Hall in Adams, and the Elks Lodge in Franklin. The company also participates annually in regional festivals including the Whaling City Festival at Buttonwood Park (New Bedford) and Wolcott Country Fair (Connecticut). Although it has occasionally appeared at Outdoor World campground (Sturbridge) and The Wapping Fair (South Windsor), these stops have not occurred since 2008.
The Lock-Up Wrestling School
Established in 2005 by owner Steve Ricard alongside former head trainer Matt Hyson (also known as Spike Dudley), The Lock-Up Wrestling School has produced several prominent independent wrestlers such as Teddy Goodz, T. K. O'Ryan—a former ROH Television Champion—Matt Taven—who held ROH Tag Team and IWGP Tag Team titles—and Vinny Marseglia. Hyson served as lead trainer until 2013 before passing responsibilities to Top Rope veteran "H2O" Ryan Waters. In 2021, graduates Nico Silva and Elia Markopoulos joined as assistant trainers. Although Hyson stepped down from his head trainer role, he maintains an ongoing affiliation with the promotion. In 2022, Markopoulos ascended to head trainer following Waters’ and Silva’s departures. Bob Evans became part of the training staff in July 2023.
This wrestling academy plays a critical role within Top Rope Promotions’ business framework by developing talent that bolsters its market position and competitive edge throughout the regional wrestling industry.
Male Competitors
- AJ
- Anthony JR
- "Brutal" Bob Evans
- Brody Jackson
- Carlos Rosales
- Cesar Leo
- "World Class" Channing Thomas
- "Sweatboy" Christopher James
- Cletus
- Devin Justice
- DJ Powers
- Donny Staxx
- Elia Markopoulos
- Erik Chacha
- Ichiban
- Jobz
- "Bulldozer" John Munroe
- Johnny Pierce
- Jora Johl
- Justin Credible
- "Comrade" Kenny Casanova
- Kid V
- Koosh Bandicoot
- Leon St. Giovanni (LSG)
- Mani Aries
- Matt Hayter
- Moshpit
- The Mullet Man
- Nick Diamond
- "Powerful" Pat Garrett (PPG)
- The Politician
- Portuguese Power House (PPH)
- RALF
- Ryan Fraust
- Rylie O'Neil
- Samuel Radcliffe
- Shane Aldenoff
- Sigma
- "The Difference" Tyler Brooks
- Viktor Vanko
- Vortex
Female Competitors
- Little Mean Kathleen (LMK)
- Liviyah
- Luscious Latasha
- "Bully" Sarah Jade
- Powerful Physical Educator Meghan Enos (PPE)
Managers
- "Former WWF Hall of Famer" Sidney Bakabella
- Powerful Physical Educator Meghan Enos (PPE)
- "Comrade" Kenny Casanova
- "The Snake Charmer" Stitch Hoffman
Tag Teams and Alliances
- The Beastmasters (comprising "Powerful" Pat Garrett and Portuguese Power House, managed by Meghan Enos)
- Koosh and ChaCha (Koosh Bandicoot and Eric ChaCha)
- The Family (Donny Staxx, Anthony JR, AJ)
- The Neighborhood (Kid V and Mani Aries)
- The Ultimate Powers (The Mullet Man and Jobz)
- World Class (Channing Thomas alongside Sidney Bakabella)
- The Russian Invasion (Viktor Vanko and Shane Aldenoff with Kenny Casanova)
Coaches and Support Staff
- Steve Ricard (owner and promoter)
- Shawn Pi Jacobs (ring announcer)
- GK Durant (referee)
- Tony Stevens (referee)
- Andee McHahon, AJ Berube, Zeus Creighton (production team)
- Elia Markopoulos (Head Trainer at Lock-up School)
- Bob Evans (Lock-Up School Trainer)
Titles and Honors
| Title | Current Holder(s) | Date Secured | Event | Former Holder(s) | Duration Held | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRP Heavyweight Championship | "World Class" Channing Thomas | September 9, 2022 | Summer Showdown 2022 | Nico Silva | 440 | |
| TRP Interstate Championship | "The Difference" Tyler Brooks | July 14, 2023 | Summer Showdown 2023 | Jora Johl | 131 | |
| TRP Tag Team Championship | Koosh and ChaCha (Koosh Bandicoot and Eric ChaCha) | October 13, 2023 | Nightmare on Franklin Street | The Beastmasters | 287 |
Honors
| Honor | Previous Recipient | Date Awarded | Event | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spindle City Rumble | Portuguese Power House (PPH) | December 29, 2023 | Spindle City Rumble | |
| Kowalski Cup | DJ Powers | November 24, 2023 | Kowalski Cup Tournament | |
| Gold Rush | Moshpit | July 14, 2023 | Summer Showdown 2023 |