TNA British Boot Camp is a British reality television programme focusing on the professional wrestling industry. The programme documented the careers of four British professional wrestlers seeking a contract with the American professional wrestling promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). The series was commissioned from TNA Productions by Sky UK and started airing on Challenge from 1 January 2013.[1][3][6]

TNA British Boot Camp
GenreReality television
StarringSee below
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2[1]
No. of episodes14[1]
Production
Executive producerJeremy Borash[2]
Production locationsOrlando, Florida, United States[1]
London, United Kingdom
Manchester, United Kingdom[3]
Nashville, Tennessee, United States[4]
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Running time30 minutes (season 1)
60 minutes (season 2)[1]
Production companyTNA Productions[1]
Original release
NetworkChallenge[1]
Release1 January 2013 (2013-01-01)[5] –
7 December 2014 (2014-12-07)
Related
TNA Impact! (2004–present)
TNA Xplosion (2002–2021, 2024-present)
TNA Gut Check (2004–present)
TNA Global Impact! (2006)
TNA Today (2007)
Before the Impact (2021–2023)

TNA British Boot Camp was both the first non-game show commissioned for Challenge by BSkyB and the first American professional wrestling programme exclusively created and broadcast for the British market. The commissioning of the series reflected a commitment by BSkyB to invest £600 million in British-made television content by 2014. The programme's executive producer is veteran TNA ring announcer Jeremy Borash, who created the show and edited the programme himself.[1]

Season 1

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Synopsis

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The programme followed "four of Britain's most promising wrestlers" - Rockstar Spud, Marty Scurll and The Blossom Twins - who competed to receive a contract from TNA.[7] The wrestlers were mentored by veteran professional wrestlers such as Hulk Hogan and Rollerball Rocco.[8]

In the season finale of British Boot Camp, which aired on 22 January 2013, Rockstar Spud was named the winner, receiving a contract with TNA. Following the finale, all four wrestlers performed with TNA as part of the "Road to Lockdown" tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland.[6]

Cast

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The contestants on British Boot Camp, from left to right, Marty Scurll, The Blossom Twins, and Rockstar Spud, with Jeremy Borash (far right).

Contestants

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Mentors

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Other wrestling personalities

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Production

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TNA announced on 5 September 2012 that it had completed filming of TNA Wrestling: British Boot Camp.[10] The series was originally scheduled to air in December 2012, but was moved back to January 2013.[3]

Reception

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The programme was described as "a ratings hit for Challenge TV".[2] Rob Leigh of the Daily Mirror stated that "the show's post-reality show format is bang up to date".[11]

Season 2

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Synopsis

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The programme followed "twelve of Britain's most promising wrestlers" who competed to receive a contract from TNA.[12] It premiered on Challenge, on 19 October 2014.[13]

Cast

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Contestants

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Ring Name Real Name From Stage 1 Stage 2 Finals
(London)
Babyfaced Pitbull Sam Smitten-Downes Leicester, England
Advanced to Stage 2
Eliminated
Cyanide Alex Walmsley Manchester, England
Eliminated
Dave Mastiff David Minton Dudley, England
Advanced to Stage 2
Advanced to the Finals
Final six
El Ligero Simon Musk Leeds, England
Advanced to Stage 2
Advanced to the Finals
Grado Graeme Stevely Ayrshire, Scotland
Advanced to Stage 2
Advanced to the Finals - was given a 2nd chance after being eliminated
Final six
Joe Vega Joseph Whittaker Preston, England
Eliminated
Joel Redman Joel Pettyfer Exeter, England
Advanced to Stage 2
Advanced to the Finals
King Rorster Rory Bailey Burton, England
Eliminated
Kris Travis Kristoffer Travis Sheffield, England
Advanced to Stage 2
Advanced to the Finals
Mark Andrews Mark Andrews Cardiff, Wales
Advanced to Stage 2
Advanced to the Finals
WINNER
Martin Stone Martin Harris London, England
Advanced to Stage 2
Advanced to the Finals
Matt Fox Matthew McNamara St. Helens, England
Eliminated
Noam Dar Noam Dar Ayrshire, Scotland
Advanced to Stage 2
Advanced to the Finals
Final six
Nordic Warrior Tom Newton Manchester, England
Eliminated
Priscilla Ollie Burns Leeds, England
Advanced to Stage 2
Eliminated
Pyro Unknown Manchester, England
Advanced to Stage 2
Eliminated
Rampage Brown Oliver Biney Leeds, England
Advanced to Stage 2
Advanced to the Finals
Final three
Richard Parliament Richard Varty London, England
Advanced to Stage 2
Advanced to the Finals
RJ Singh Ross Jones Hertford, England
Advanced to Stage 2
Advanced to the Finals
Sexy Kev Kevin Lloyd Warrington, England
Eliminated
Sha Samuels Shaaheen Hosseinpour East London, England
Advanced to Stage 2
Advanced to the Finals
Simon Lancaster Simon Lancaster Grimsby, England
Advanced to Stage 2
Eliminated
Heather Schofield Heather Schofield London, England
Eliminated
Kay Lee Ray Kayleigh Ray Glasgow, Scotland
Advanced to Stage 2
Advanced to the Finals
Final three
Melanie Price Melanie Conneely Manchester, England
Advanced to Stage 2
Eliminated
Lana Austin Leanne Austin Manchester, England
Advanced to Stage 2
Eliminated
Kasey Owens Kelly Robinson Belfast, Northern Ireland
Advanced to Stage 2
Advanced to the Finals
Leah Owens Leigh Robinson Belfast, Northern Ireland
Advanced to Stage 2
Advanced to the Finals
Nikki Storm Nicola Glencross Glasgow, Scotland
Advanced to Stage 2
Advanced to the Finals
Viper Kimberly Benson Ayrshire, Scotland
Advanced to Stage 2
Eliminated

Mentors

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Other wrestling personalities

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Winners

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Year Won Winners
2013 Rockstar Spud
2014 Mark Andrews

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "TNA British Boot Camp on Challenge TV". Challenge.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 November 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Rockstar Spud Wins TNA British Boot Camp". Challenge.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 August 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "TNA IMPACT WRESTLING to be filmed in Manchester". Virgin Media. 24 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  4. ^ "TNA British Boot Camp stars get boozy in bar". Virgin Media. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  5. ^ "TNA British Boot Camp Starts 1st January". Challenge.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Rockstar Spud wins TNA British Boot Camp". Virgin Media. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  7. ^ "TNA Wrestling And Challenge TV Announce A New Show to Air in the United Kingdom". Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  8. ^ a b c d "Hulk Hogan to star in new reality show". The List. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  9. ^ a b c d "Dixie Carter to Appear on TNA British Boot Camp". 18 October 2012.
  10. ^ Caldwell, James (22 July 2012). "Update on TNA's "Boot Camp" show". PWTorch.com. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  11. ^ Leigh, Rob (4 January 2013). "Repping for Britain: TNA Wrestling British Boot Camp wrestlers have the opportunity to become worldwide stars". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  12. ^ "Challenge Announces British Bootcamp 2". Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  13. ^ "British Bootcamp 2 Premiere". Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
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