Deadlock Pro-Wrestling (stylized as DEADLOCK Pro Wrestling), often referred to simply as DPW, was an American independent professional wrestling promotion, founded on November 1, 2021, by Anthony Douglas, James Darnell, and John Blud. On December 11, DPW taped the first episode of their broadcast show, Fire, which aired five days later on YouTube. Since then, new episodes of DPW's Fire and Spark programs have aired on YouTube and the promotion's streaming platform, DPW On Demand. The name of the promotion is derived from the Deadlock Podcast, which is hosted by the promotion's founders.
History On November 1, 2021, the formation of Deadlock Pro-Wrestling (DPW) was announced by Anthony Douglas (TonyPizzaGuy), James Darnell (Pulse), and John Blud (Jawnny from NewLegacyInc), the hosts of the Deadlock Podcast. On December 11, DPW taped their first show, Fire, which aired on YouTube on December 16. The first episode of Fire introduced a tournament to crown the first DPW Worlds Champion. Fire would conclude on June 3, 2022, due to the series not being considered financially successful enough to continue. Thus, the company would stick to its monthly event format.
On January 8, 2022, DPW taped their first internet pay-per-view (PPV) event named You Already Know, which aired on January 15. At the event, Bojack defeated Andrew Everett in the DPW Worlds Championship tournament finals to become the inaugural champion. On April 16, at Forever, The Reality (Chance Rizer and Patrick Scott) defeated The Workhorsemen (Anthony Henry and JD Drake) to became the first Worlds Tag Team Champions. On June 10, at Showdown In The Carolinas, Calvin Tankman defeated Kevin Ku in a tournament final to became the inaugural National Champion, and on August 6, at Believe The Hype, Raychell Rose defeated Rosemary in a tournament final to became the inaugural Women's Worlds Champion.
On January 14, 2023, DPW held their first live PPV event named Live 1: Ali vs KENTo. On April 16, 2023, the promotion held Live 2 in New Jersey; this marked their first event outside of North Carolina. On April 25 and 27, 2023, DPW held a two-night collaboration event with Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling in Japan, which marked their first event outside of the United States. On December 2, 2023, DPW announced it would be touring outside of North Carolina for the year of 2024. Such locations included Texas and Illinois.
On March 29, 2024, DPW announced that they had entered into a strategic partnership with fellow independent wrestling promotions West Coast Pro Wrestling and Prestige Wrestling. It was announced on June 7, 2024 that all future DPW events, starting from Limit Break, would be made available on Wrestle Universe.
On November 8, 2025, DPW announced the company would be going on an indefinite hiatus in 2026; 4th Anniversary will be its last ever show in the US. Despite the company's hiatus, Mei Suruga would continue to defend the Women's Worlds Championship in ChocoPro.
Programming and events Former DPW Fire
Fire was the flagship program of DPW that aired DPW's YouTube channel and DPW On Demand. The series debuted on December 16, 2021, originally airing on the DPW's YouTube channel; it concluded on June 3, 2022.
DPW Spark Spark is a web television program that airs on DPW's YouTube and the company's streaming service DPW On Demand. The series debuted on December 30, 2021 and concluded on August 19, 2023. The series acts as a pre-show to major events.
Major events
Deadlock Pro-Wrestling has produced 47 chronological events. The first event took place on January 8, 2022, in Raleigh, North Carolina, at the Raleigh Convention Center. The Durham Armory in Durham, North Carolina, has held the most events with nine.
Championships and accomplishments ChampionshipCurrent champion(s)ReignDate wonDaysheldSuccessfuldefensesLocationNotes DPW Worlds Championship LaBron Kozone 1 + 0 Cary, NC Defeated Jake Something at 4th Anniversary in a Winner Takes All match, in which Kozone's DPW National Championship was also on the line.Aired on tape delay on December 21, 2025. DPW National Championship LaBron Kozone 1 December 8, 2024 + 9 Durham, NC Defeated Adam Priest at 3rd Anniversary. DPW Worlds Tag Team Championship Miracle Generation(Dustin Waller and Kylon King) 2 December 12, 2025 + 0 Cary, NC Defeated Bo-Dash (Bojack and Morgan Dash) at 4th Anniversary.Aired on tape delay on December 21, 2025. DPW Women's Worlds Championship Mei Suruga 1 December 12, 2025 + 3 Cary, NC Defeated Lena Kross at 4th Anniversary.Aired on tape delay on December 21, 2025.Previous champion Queen Aminata vacated the title due to a neck injury.
Tournaments – Championship victory – Championship match loss AccomplishmentWinner(s)Date wonNoteCarolina Classic 2022Lucky AliOctober 15, 2022Defeat defending champion Bojack and Kidd Bandit to win the DPW Worlds Championship at World's Strongest 2022.Tag Festival 2023The Workhorsemen (Anthony Henry and JD Drake)June 18, 2023Won the DPW Worlds Tag Team Championship in the finals.Carolina Classic 2023Jay MalachiSeptember 17, 2023Defeat Lucky Ali to win the DPW Worlds Championship the same night.Tag Festival 2024Violence Is Forever (Kevin Ku and Dominic Garrini)July 7, 2024Defeated Speedball x Something (Mike Bailey and Jake Something) to win the DPW Worlds Tag Team Championship at 3rd Anniversary.Carolina Classic 2024Jake SomethingSeptember 15, 2024Defeated Calvin Tankman to win the DPW Worlds Championship at Super Battle 2024.Battle of the Best 2024Dani LunaOctober 19, 2024Defeated Miyuki Takase to win the DPW Women's Worlds Championship at Title Fight in Texas.Tag Festival 2025Miracle Generation(Dustin Waller and Kylon King)July 13, 2025Won the DPW Worlds Tag Team Championship in the finals.Carolina Classic 2025Jake Something (2)September 21, 2025Defeated Adam Priest to win the DPW Worlds Championship at Super Battle 2025.Battle of the Best 2025Queen AminataSeptember 21, 2025Defeated Nicole Matthews to win the DPW Women's Worlds Championship at Super Battle 2025.
DPW Awards
Wrestler of the Year Year Wrestler2022Bojack2023Jay Malachi2024Jake Something
Breakout Star of the Year Year Wrestler2022Jay Malachi2023Bryan Keith2024LaBron Kozone
Match of the Year Year Match2022Andrew Everett vs. Konosuke Takeshita at Believe The Hype2023Chris Danger vs. Shawn Spears at World's Strongest2024Speedball x Something(Mike Bailey and Jake Something) vs. Violence Is Forever(Dominic Garrini and Kevin Ku) at 3rd Anniversary
Tag Team of the Year Year Tag Team2022The Workhorsemen(Anthony Henry and JD Drake)20232024Speedball x Something(Mike Bailey and Jake Something)
Event of the Year Year Event2022Believe The Hype2023Carolina Classic2024Super Battle
Moment of the Year Year Moment2022Konosuke Takeshita yelling "Let's fucking go" at Fire2023Chris Danger challenges Adam Cole at Spark2024Jake Something wins the DPW Worlds Championship at Super Battle
References
External links Official DPW website