From bedsheets over the entrance way to an 18th anniversary double header - the incredible story of Manchester-based wrestling company FutureShock

It was 18 years ago, in front of around 50 spectators, with a bed sheet over the entrance way at Stockport Masonic Guildhall that FutureShock Wrestling made its debut. Those in attendance that night were treated to a stellar main event between British legend Doug Williams and Claudio Castagnoli, who would go on to perform in the WWE as Cesaro.

A lot has changed at the Manchester-based wrestling company in that time but the venue will remain the same for their 18th anniversary shows next Sunday (August 14). Billed as being ‘an event so huge it won’t fit into just one show’, the double-header will see every championship defended.

Promotor Chris Brooker invited the Manchester Evening News to FutureShock’s training centre in Sheffield Street ahead of the milestone event, as some of the wrestlers on the card put each other through their paces. “When you think about just over the last few years seen so many businesses come and go so to get to the point where our promotion is old enough to take for a pint means a lot to us,” he said.

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“I wasn’t here at the very beginning but I’ve heard stories of the days in 2004 when a group of lads got together in Manchester who wanted to wrestle but had nowhere to do it so they went to Stockport Masonic Guildhall, booked it, and with 45 people with a bed sheet over the entrance they put their first show on and it’s grown from there.

“It’s grown alongside the British independent wrestling scene which was still trying to figure out what it was in 2004. Now we’re through our tricky adolescent phase we can combine old school traditional wrestling with the best contemporary wrestling.”

FutureShock used to be