Police Investigating UK Promotion Following Death Match On Family-Marketed Show

Police are investigating an independent wrestling event in the United Kingdom after a Death Match took place on a show marketed at families. 

Colliery Championship Wrestling (CCW) held an event at the Conservative Club in Seaham, County Durham, on April 29 which saw wrestlers Blizzard and Ronnie Thatcher face off in a Three out of Five Doors Match. The promotion did not advertise it would be a Death Match and discounted family tickets were offered for the show with two adults and two children able to attend for £30. 

During the match, Blizzard and Thatcher used various weapons, including light tubes and a garden strimmer as children and adults watched on. 

As a result of the violence, Durham Constabulary have received a number of complaints and they told Adam Clarkson of BBC Radio Tees they were making inquiries about the CCW event. 

"We are working with Durham County Council's licensing team after a number of complaints were received by the local authority in relation to an event at Seaham Conservative Club on 29 April. Inquiries are ongoing," a spokeswoman said. 

CCW promoter James Barrass also spoke to the BBC about the event and claimed he didn't have prior knowledge of the weapons that would be used in the Death Match. 

"Things can sometimes not go to plan. Obviously, there was a little bit more that went down. I spoke to the two guys afterwards. We had discussions and obviously that will not be happening again. We have apologised but how many times do you say sorry? How many times do you have to be penalised in life?" Barrass said. 

Speaking about the police investigation, Barrass said he hadn't been contacted by authorities or Durham City Council but he noted the Death Match has "opened more doors than it has closed" for his promotion. More Death Matches are planned for adult audiences. 

Local independent wrestler Benji, who shared clips of the match on Twitter, questioned Barrass' account of events, though, arguing a Death Match could not take place without prior planning. 

"I've never seen this in my time in wrestling. I've been involved for seven years and I've never seen this type of ultra-violence in front of a family audience. If I see a family-friendly show advertised, I'm going in good faith that my child will be seeing what they see on TV," he said. 

"We've seen the packs of light tubes under the ring and the strimmer. The vast amount of light tubes they had in that show was ridiculous. If I was a promoter and someone brought a strimmer to a show I would know about it. I've worked for 20 companies in the UK and this is something that doesn't get past promotions."