Posted on 8/27/126 by DEFY Wrestling
MATT FARMER AND JIM PERRY RETURN AS OWNERS OF DEFY WRESTLING
DEFY returns October 1 in Detroit and December 4 in Seattle
SEATTLE — August 27, 2026 — DEFY Wrestling co-founders Matt
Farmer and Jim Perry are once again owners of the company
after reaching an agreement with Damian Mackle (Big Damo)
and Nicola Glencross (Nikki Storm).
Farmer and Perry founded DEFY in Seattle in 2017. In 2024,
DEFY joined with the UK’s PROGRESS Wrestling as Perry
stepped away to focus on other projects. Earlier this year,
Mackle and Glencross acquired PROGRESS and an ownership
interest in DEFY.
Farmer and Perry have remained quiet in recent months while
the ownership deal was being completed and DEFY worked
through significant changes to Washington State’s
professional wrestling licensing requirements. With both
processes happening at the same time, there was little they
could say publicly until the deals were done.
“The DEFYance has been incredibly important through all of
this,” Perry said. “Even while DEFY was dormant, they
continued to support the Patreon and kept the community
around DEFY alive. They may not even fully realize how
important that support was during this time. Farmer and I
can’t thank them enough for believing in this company while
we worked to bring it back.
“We also want to thank the former ownership group at
PROGRESS for shepherding the brand in our absence from
ownership, James Amner for his continual support, and Damian
and Nicola for their work in helping bring DEFY back home.”
DEFY will return to live events on Thursday, October 1 at
THE LINCOLN FACTORY in DETROIT before returning home to the
HISTORIC WASHINGTON HALL in Seattle on Friday, December 4!
“We are delighted to announce that we have come to terms
with the original owners of DEFY, Matt Farmer and Jim Perry,
for the ownership of DEFY Wrestling,” Damien said, “Putting
DEFY back in the hands of the original owners who rose DEFY
to one of the premier independents on earth is beyond
exciting for the Pacific Northwest and the USA. DEFY is an
incredible wrestling company, with one of the best fanbases
in the world. They deserve to have the very best, and with
Matt and Jim, we will endeavor to work together where
possible so DEFY and PROGRESS can help raise the standard of
independent wrestling worldwide!”
Farmer and Perry will oversee DEFY moving forward, with
Seattle remaining the company’s home as it begins producing
events in new markets.
Tickets for DEFY in Detroit on Thursday, October 1 go on
sale soon!
Tickets for DEFY in Seattle on Friday, December 4 are
expected to go on sale next month.
Talent, matches, and additional event information will be
announced soon.