EXCLUSIVE: Lee McAteer Explains Why He Sold PROGRESS Wrestling To Big Damo & Nikki Cross

Lee McAteer has revealed that he ultimately chose to sell PROGRESS Wrestling to Big Damo and Nikki Storm (FKA Nikki Cross) over other suitors for the UK independent wrestling promotion as he believes they are the right people to take the company to the next level.

"I wanted to give it to the people that I feel as though can take it further than I could. If that ever happened or if it came about, I was willing to basically move it forward. For me, I had dinner with Damo and Rockstar Spud…had dinner with them in Vegas and we chatted about a few different things, and one thing led to another, and the opportunity kind of was there and I just felt as though it was the right time to move it forward because I legitimately, and hand on heart, I feel as though they will take it to a level that I wasn’t able to do," McAteer told Cultaholic's Tom Campbell in an exclusive interview.

Professional burnout was also a motivating factor behind the sale, with McAteer noting that he was working 20-hour days while running the promotion.

"No, I don't think it was because they'd seen how much I'd given. I couldn't give any more, Tom. It was really, really difficult because you put your heart and soul into something. You then hit a point, or at least I did, and I'm like, 'I'm not sure I can do this to the level it needs to be.' You need huge amounts of energy and there was so many different things that went into PROGRESS externally to do things, to keep the cash flow going, and everything else that went alongside that, that it was a lot. In truth, I'd taken on far too much. I just got to the point where I was like, 'Do you know what? I’m not sure I can take this to the next level of where it needs to be.' But I genuinely believe Damo and Nikki definitely can," he continued.

McAteer noted he had other offers for PROGRESS for more money than what was on the table from Big Damo and Nikki Storm, but he believed selling PROGRESS to the right custodians was more important than the final financial figure.

Reflecting upon his feelings at the final show of his PROGRESS tenure, McAteer stated: "It was I'm so glad I've done it. I'm so glad I've had that experience, but it was also kind of a sense of relief at the same time, and more so in the fact that I knew it was going to the right people. And that was my main thing about it all. I've got no doubt we could have probably sold it to other people for a hell of a lot more money is the honest answer. Hand on heart, it wasn't about that. It was about making sure that it was in the right hands to grow the scene and to grow BritWres and to be able to showcase and be a bigger part in creating that next generation of stars."

It was announced in May 2026 that Big Damo and Nikki Storm were taking over PROGRESS from Lee McAteer and Martyn Best, who had been the custodians of the promotion since December 2021.

McAteer and Best aren't completely out of pro wrestling following the sale, though, as McAteer noted that he and Best are still going to be shareholders of Hooked on Wrestling TV with Big Damo and Nikki Storm. The streaming service airs shows from several indy promotions, including PROGRESS.