PROGRESS Wrestling Celebrates International Women’s Day!

PROGRESS Wrestling is proud to mark International Women’s Day 2026 by shining a spotlight on the continued growth and impact of women’s wrestling, anchored by the first-ever Women’s Super Strong Style 16 tournament.

International Women’s Day, celebrated on Sunday 8th March, recognises the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women worldwide. This year’s theme, “Give To Gain”, celebrates the power of reciprocity, generosity and collaboration, values that sit at the heart of PROGRESS’ long‑standing commitment to female talent and gender‑inclusive opportunity in the ring.

“At PROGRESS, ‘Give To Gain’ isn’t just a slogan, it’s how we’ve built our women’s division from the ground up,” said PROGRESS Wrestling Co‑Owner Lee McAteer.

“By giving women the same platform, the same spotlight and the same level of investment as our male talent, we see careers accelerated, matches elevated and the entire roster lifted.

“The Women’s Super Strong Style 16 is the latest chapter in that story, an opportunity for female wrestlers to prove themselves on one of the most respected tournaments in the world. It is a signal that PROGRESS will continue to give women the space they deserve to flourish.”

PROGRESS has always championed elite female wrestling, creating a progressive pathway for athletes to achieve their ambitions in the ring. From thrilling World Championship title matches to unmissable rivalries, the promotion’s women’s division has grown into one of the most talked‑about scenes in independent wrestling.

Many of PROGRESS’ female stars have gone on to perform all over the world, competing with some of the biggest names in women’s wrestling today.

The 2026 Women’s Super Strong Style 16 now offers a further proving ground, one of the world’s most recognised wrestling tournaments and a platform for the division to grow even more.

The first‑round matches of the Women’s Super Strong Style 16 are already underway, with bouts taking place across the UK and in Europe.

The tournament finale will build to a showpiece event at the Electric Ballroom in Camden on May’s Bank Holiday weekend, putting women’s wrestling firmly at the centre of PROGRESS’ biggest spectacle of the year.

Current PROGRESS Women’s World Champion, Alexxis Falcon, is proud to be part of a promotion that continues to break barriers for female talent.

“It shows how far the women have come in PROGRESS now we have a female Super Strong Style 16 tournament.

“We are a long way from one match on a card. We are now the Main Event and everyone is talking about women’s Super Strong Style and I am so hyped for all the women who are in it.

“Tournaments like this change people’s careers so it’s so nice to see one for the women.

“Seeing PROGRESS Wrestling commit to the platform for women is something I’m so happy and proud about.”

Supporting the next generation of female wrestlers is also a core priority for PROGRESS.

Rising star Maddy Morgan said being able to represent the promotion has been transformative for her development.

“For me, debuting on PROGRESS was a dream. It seemed so exciting and became a huge goal of mine, so being able to perform in a PROGRESS ring seemed surreal.

“Working with PROGRESS has helped me out so much, not just with my performance in the ring but also with the professional side to wrestling.

This includes advice on connections in the wrestling world, how to present myself properly and how to protect myself in the industry.”

Former PROGRESS Women’s World Champion, Rhio, added: “I’m so proud of all the women that have competed at PROGRESS and around the world that have worked so hard.

“We are going in the right direction and are receiving the recognition we deserve for the hard work we have been putting in.”

International Women’s Day is a powerful reminder that when women are given equal opportunities, resources and recognition, everyone gains. PROGRESS Wrestling’s commitment to developing its women’s division, culminating in the historic Women’s Super Strong Style 16, is a clear example of that philosophy in action.

To find out more about International Women’s Day 2026, please CLICK HERE.