wrestling travel uk

the ultimate destination for wrestling fans around the world specialising in wrestlemania travel packages

Wrestle tours.

Welcome to Wrestle Tours, the ultimate destination for wrestling fans around the world. Wrestle Tours specialise in WrestleMania Travel Packages and specifically WrestleMania 40 Travel Packages. We specialise in providing our customers with the opportunity to witness some of the biggest wrestling events in the world such as WWE WrestleMania, AEW, PROGESS Wrestling and more!

Welcome to Wrestle Tours, the ultimate destination for wrestling fans around the world and in particular WrestleMania Travel Packages with our next big event being WrestleMania 40. Those who experienced WrestleMania 39 with us hung out with the likes of Rob Van Dam, Mickie James, Nick Aldis, MVP, Emma WWE, So Cal Val, Lana Austin, Victoria, Chavo Guerrero, CJ Perry, Kelly Kelly, Danielle Moinet, Charles Crowley, Allie Katch, the Mick Foley family and more!

We specialise in providing fans from around the world with the opportunity to witness some of the biggest wrestling events in the world, including WWE events such as WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, Money in The Bank, SummerSlam, Survivor Series as well as AEW, NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom and PROGRESS Wrestling’s Super Strong Style 16.

Wrestle Tours is part of the PROGRESS Wrestling family, and with all of our specialist knowledge and contacts, we will be working together to create a truly special trip for you. Our goal is to put our fans and friends first and provide you with a once in a lifetime experience, with premium tickets to events like WrestleMania 40, and include other exclusive elements unique to our experience – all at a price that reflects great value!

WrestleMania 42 Travel Packages, 2026 – Waiting List

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• To be Confirmed

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‘Britain’s best boss’ Lee McAteer sells Wrestling Travel and targets investing in UK wrestling

• Alex McCarthy
• Published : 10:16, 10 Jun 2021
• Updated : 16:11, 10 Jun 2021
• Published : Invalid Date,

Lee McAteer has sold his Greater Manchester-based travel firm Invasion.

The sale, which comes 11 years after McAteer co-launched it as a university graduate, is for an undisclosed sum but talkSPORT is told it’s a lucrative deal.

McAteer said: “Together, Invasion Camp Group and Intrax will not only continue to deliver outstanding cultural exchange and life changing opportunities, but it will be on a scale that has never been seen before.

“Building the Invasion portfolio to include such life-changing brands, enabling us to impact so many people, has surpassed my wildest dreams.” Invasion, which includes brands such as Camp Thailand, Invasion.com, Camp Cambodia, and AmeriCamp and, importantly, Wrestling Travel .

The brand helps wrestling fans get to events all over the world whether it is WWE pay-per-view shows in America, Wrestle Kingdom in Japan and anything in between.

talkSPORT has been told that McAteer will explore the possibility of investing in a British wrestling promotion with the capital from this sale.

McAteer, who is also associate director of Tranmere Rovers FC, will continue with the company in the immediate future.

The ambitions of McAteer are an interesting thought. Wrestling Travel have been known to sponsor Liverpool-based promotion TNT Wrestling in the UK and they have sponsored events like Starrcast during AEW pay-per-view weekends in the past. They have also worked with IMPACT on occasions.

In the UK, promotions like Progress Wrestling and ICW have pre-existing relationships with WWE and it’s not clear as to whether they would welcome any investment. But, there are also promotions like Rev Pro and even OTT over in Ireland if that’s on his radar. British wrestling certainly has options.

McAteer, who was once awarded "Britain's best boss,” could have the means to inject some new life into some UK wrestling promotions.

1: Premier League Table

Meet the man who helps get UK wrestling fans to top WWE events - including WrestleMania

Wrestling Travel is the first company of its kind in the UK and has helped WWE fans across Britain secure tickets for WrestleMania 35

• 18:15, 4 Apr 2019

Thousands of British WWE fans will fly out to America this week to experience the annual extravaganza WrestleMania .

Many of those making the trip will do so thanks to Wrestling Travel - the first company of its kind in the UK.

Wrestling Travel is the brainchild of grappling superfan Lee McAteer, a travel industry expert and founder of AmeriCamp , who turned his lifelong passion of wrestling into a booming business.

His company creates bespoke packages to WWE's top events: WrestleMania, Money in the Bank, SummerSlam, Survivor Series and Royal Rumble.

It also offers dream trips to AEW pay-per-views such as Double or Nothing, fan conventions including Starrcast, and NJPW's yearly supershow, Wrestle Kingdom, in Tokyo, Japan.

Wrestling Travel organises everything from flights, transfers and hotels to event tickets - giving fans peace of mind, while they have the time of their lives.

McAteer, 35, is the man behind Invasion Camp Group , a mix of summer camp, gap year and tour companies which includes the likes of Camp Thailand , Camp Bali and Camp.co.uk , which turned over £4m in 2017 alone.

Wrestling Travel can take you to the biggest WWE events

Wrestling Travel is the first company of its kind in the UK - set up by WWE fans for WWE fans.

It creates bespoke packages for those dreaming of going to shows including WrestleMania, the Royal Rumble and SummerSlam, major AEW events, and NJPW's epic Wrestle Kingdom.

Wrestling Travel offers flights, transfers, hotels and event tickets - providing hassle-free, unforgettable experiences - and is ABTA and ATOL bonded through its award-winning parent company  Invasion Camp Group .

And you can 'Use the code MIRROR50 for a discount' on your bookings.

For more information visit Wrestling Travel , contact [email protected] , call 0161 806 1444, or follow Wrestling Travel on Facebook , Twitter or Instagram

The entrepreneur said: "As a huge fan of WWE and professional wrestling, I can put myself in the shoes of the consumer, as I am one!

"Having been to four WrestleManias, I always ended up buying everything late and struggled for accommodation at a reasonable price and therefore, the experience always cost me a lot more than it should have.

"I knew there was a gap in the market for it, as it was something I wanted myself as a huge fan."

Wrestling Travel, which is a member of ABTA and ATOL through McAteer's parent company Invasion, aims to remove the stress and hassle around a trip to see wrestling superstars in action.

Lee even has a close relationship with Jeff Jarrett, leading to the WWE Hall of Famer even taking an interest in Tranmere Rovers, where McAteer is an associate director.

Wrestling Travel is the official travel partner for Conrad Thompson's Starrcast and have recently created packages for All Elite Wrestling's (AEW) including their next big show Double or Nothing in Las Vegas in May.

McAteer and his team, including right hand man, head of marketing at Invasion, Ross Alcock, also lend their expertise to facilitate fan conventions such as Wrestling MediaCon, Liverpool ComicCon and the forthcoming For The Love of Wrestling - which will see none other than The Undertaker and Chris Jericho visit Merseyside this month - having teamed up with Monopoly Events.

Born and raised in Wirral but now based in Salford, McAteer said: "I was a fan of wrestling as a kid and have been hooked ever since.

"The way I see it is if you love what you, do then you never work a day in your life, so combining hobbies and passions into a business is never a bad thing.

"Having been to numerous wrestling events, we understand what is needed in order to have a great time without the hassle of organising every single detail.

For further information, please visit Wrestling Travel .

If you have any questions, you can contact the company at  [email protected] or on 0161 222 3780. 

You can follow the company on Twitter , Facebook or Instagram .

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Wrestlemania 40

The equivalent of the Super Bowl and Oscars for wrestling and in particular, the WWE Universe across the globe, WrestleMania is the big one and for 2024 we’re heading back east to Philadelphia!

We’re delighted to bring you our package for the one of the biggest events of the year. Return flights, premium accommodation, guaranteed tickets to both nights and so much more! It will truly be a trip to remember.

4th – 9th Apr 2024

£6,995 per person, what’s included.

• Official Guaranteed tickets in Upper Tier for both nights of WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field
• Return Flights from London Heathrow to Philadelphia with British Airways or American Airlines in Economy Class
• 5 Nights Accommodation at 4* Sofitel Philadelphia in a King or Double Queen Room on Bed & Breakfast Basis
• Return Airport Transfers
• Pre-Show Tailgates on both days with WWE Superstar appearances
• Dedicated Entrance at Lincoln Financial Field
• Official Event Credential & Lanyard
• EST WrestleMania Merchandise
• EST Concierge Service

Optional extras

• Ticket flight and hotel upgrades available on request
• Optional tickets to see Raw & Smackdown

Entertainment Event of The Year

After an incredible weekend in LA, Wrestlemania is heading back to Philly for the first time since 1999, where Steve Austin & The Rock met in the main event.

The biggest stars in entertainment will descend on Lincoln Financial Field to witness what is set to be a hugely historic weekend of WWE action with some of the most passionate fans in the world!

Fun in Philly

Before the excitement of the wrestling at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia has a whole host of options to keep you entertained while the suns still out.

Follow in Rocky’s footsteps with a run up to the museum of art or visit the birthplace of American independence at Independence Hall. Whatever you fancy, Philly has you covered!

Interested?

Join us for wrestlemania 40.

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From flight to fight! How a wrestling superfan launched specialist WWE travel firm turning over £500k a year

• Wrestling Travel creates bespoke packages to the world's best wrestling events
• This includes WWE's WrestlMania and Royal Rumble
• Wrestling fans travelling to events can pay to eat dinner with their favourite star
• Plans to launch a similar offering for MMA fans also on the cards

By Angelique Ruzicka For Thisismoney.co.uk

Updated: 02:46 EDT, 1 March 2019

View comments

Like many good business ideas, Lee McAteer's company was borne out of a need that no one else appeared to cater for. 

In this particular case, he found it difficult to grapple with affordable flight and accommodation packages to attend wrestling events across the world.

But instead of despairing that he could not watch his favourite sport the way he wanted, he channeled his inner Hulk Hogan and created a business out of it - discovering in the process that there were thousands out there who also sought such travel packages and experiences.

Now he enjoys a slice of the billion-dollar World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) pie after launching the Wrestling Travel company which creates bespoke packages to the world's best wrestling events.

Superfan: Entrepreneur Lee McAteer poses with professional wrestler Jeff Hardy

Lee, 33, relays how he's turned his lifelong passion into a booming business in just a few months. 

He told This is Money: 'As a huge fan of WWE and professional wrestling, I put myself in the shoes of the consumer as I am one

'I knew there was a gap in the market for it as it was something I wanted myself as a huge fan. We now have over 100 people on a waiting list for WrestleMania packages, which is crazy.

'Having been to the last four WrestleManias, I always ended up buying everything late and struggled for accommodation at a reasonable price and therefore, the experience always cost me a lot more than it should have.'

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While his travel company targets a specific audience Lee points out that it is estimated that the combined following across WWE is almost a billion dollars.

'It's quite substantial for something so niche. 

'Each year WrestleMania has around 100,000 that attend the event – although it varies from venue to venue. 

Upcoming Wrestle Travel events and packages

· Starrcast & AEW Double or Nothing (Las Vegas, USA). From £1,335 per person.

· SummerSlam 2019 (Toronto, Canada). From £2,199 per person.

· Survivor Series 2019 (Chicago, USA). From £1,999 per person

· Wrestle Kingdom 14 (Tokyo, Japan). From £2,299 per person

· Royal Rumble 2020 (venue T.B.A). From £1,999 per person

· WrestleMania 36 (venue T.B.A). From £2,299 per person.

Source: www.WrestlingTravel.org

'It's a very popular event that attracts nationalities from all over the world.'

Lee, who has been a wrestling fan since he was a child growing up in Wirral, started the business with just £500 which he put towards marketing. 

It was launched at the end of 2017 and just 20 months later it boasts a turnover of £500,000.

Now the business showcases big events where wrestling fans travelling to events can expect to pay an average of £2,699 per person for the entire experience. 

Payment plans are available to those who don't have such a lump sum available and want to pay off the trip in monthly increments.

A typical package includes flights, tickets to the wrestling match and minimum three-star hotel accommodation, with five-star stays also organised upon request.

He also differentiated the business by going beyond just offering accommodation and flights. 

Packages can also include 'eat and greet' events where fans get to dine with their favourite wrestling stars such as Jeff Jarrett and Flip Gordon.

Lee explains: 'We like to think we are good value for money but at the same time we know what wrestling fans need. 

'We also have reps on the ground that will make it almost like a VIP experience. 

'In New York, for example, there will be five different shows that the fans will go to.'

Customers of Wrestling Travel can generally expect to be put on British Airways and American Airways flights but, where possible, the company tries to accommodate preferences. 

Wrestling Travel's success can also be put down to the fact that it's created a community for wrestling fans.

Lee says: 'What we try and do is get everyone on the same flights so that there is more community feel. We fly mainly from Manchester, London and Dublin. 

'But we have flights from New Zealand, Australia and Spain - it's definitely become international.'

Lee McAteer with professional wrestler 'Lana' (real  name Catherine Joy Perry) 

Discounted deals for groups as well as custom deals can be arranged, but Lee admits there's demand from many honeymoon couples as well. 

He said: 'We've had a lot of honeymoon couples believe it or not. We've done a lot of cool things for honeymoon couples but if I told my girlfriend I'd be dumped, but a lot of people do it.'

Singles are catered for as well. Lee explains: 'We host events so that people can get to know each other. 

'There's lots of single people that want to go to these events. 

'When you look at our tickets, hotel packages it becomes a community play where people find a sense of belonging rather than them coming on their own. 

'They become completely immersed into the wrestling culturally.'

Wrestling Travel has also catered to those who've wanted to extend the trip as part of a holiday and included extra tourist excursions. 

Lee says: 'It's not something we openly advertise but we try and work out what they want to do and instead of pigeonhole them we try and cater to them.'

This isn't Lee's first venture into entrepreneurship. He currently owns and manages 30 brands that forms part of his Invasion Camp Group, which is a mix of summer camp, gap year and tour companies aimed at British millennials. It turned over £5million in 2018.

He is also associate director of Tranmere Rovers Football Club. 

His next plans are to cater for Mixed Martial Arts fans. 'We are now looking to launch in MMA side of the operation in April 2019 as there is demand for that too.'

When asked for advice for other would-be entrepreneurs Lee says it's all about doing what you enjoy. 

He adds: 'The way I see it is if you love what you do then you never work a day in your life so combining hobbies and passions into a business is never a bad thing.' 

Seven WrestleMania facts 

• WrestleMania 1 was held in Madison Square Garden in New York on 31 March 1985. It's since grown in popularity with 80,000 people expected to attend Wrestle Mania 35.
• The WrestleMania attendance record is 101,763 at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas for WrestleMania 32.
• Nearly 1.6million fans have attended WrestleMania since its inception in 1985
• In all WrestleMania matches that Hulk Hogan has wrestled he has only been pinned twice (both of which have only been in Toronto, Canada).
• Royal Rumble 2019 winner, Seth Rollins is the first WrestleMania Main Event winner that is younger than WrestleMania itself. He will challenge Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 35 on Sunday, 7 April 2019
• Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels fought the longest match set at one hour, one minute and 52 seconds.
• The Rock won the shortest match in WrestleMania history, crushing Erick Rowan in six seconds in WrestleMania 32.

Source: Wrestle Travel  and WWE.com

Share or comment on this article: Wrestling Travel: We speak to founder Lee McAteer about the business

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WWE Backlash France on TV 2024: How to watch in UK and live stream

Your complete guide to watching WWE Backlash France 2024 in the UK.

• Michael Potts
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WWE is back for its first pay-per-view event since WrestleMania at the start of the month – and the company is coming to Europe.

Backlash France is the first WWE PPV event to take place in the country, and the first time Backlash has been staged outside of North America.

The 19th edition of Backlash will showcase some of the key stars and storylines following on from WrestleMania.

Cody Rhodes will be the main attraction in Lyon, as he defeated Roman Reigns at the star-studded event earlier this month.

He will take on AJ Styles for the Undisputed WWE Championship title, with plenty more matches to savour.

More like this

RadioTimes.com brings you all the details about how to watch WWE Backlash France 2024 on TV and live stream in the UK.

When is WWE Backlash France 2024?

WWE Backlash France 2024 takes place on Saturday 4th May .

British fans can tune in from 6pm UK time to catch all of the action live.

WWE Backlash France TV channel

The Backlash France will be shown live on TNT Sports Box Office for a one-off PPV fee of £14.99 .

This includes the full match card, while the kick-off show will be available on the WWE YouTube channel for free.

WWE Backlash France live stream

TNT Sports Box Office can also be streamed across a range of devices, from smartphones to tablets and laptops to smart TVs.

Alternatively, you can subscribe to the WWE Network from £9.99 per month and tune in for the whole event live as part of the package.

WWE Backlash France 2024 match card

Check out the match schedule (so far) for WWE Backlash France 2024:

• Cody Rhodes v AJ Styles – WWE Championship
• Damian Priest v Jey Uso – World Heavyweight Championship

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How to watch WWE Backlash 2024 online: live stream the wrestling showdown

WWE is taking 'un voyage' to France for WWE Backlash 2024, also being called Backlash France, because this year's iteration of the wrestling event is also the first WWE pay-per-view to take place in France.

Streaming quick links

US: Peacock UK: WWE Network (cheapest option) / BT Sport PPV Watch abroad with a VPN

Saturday, May 4 will see some of the biggest Raw and Smackdown wrestlers meet up in the ring to continue many of WrestleMania's storylines, with five matches contesting several championship titles.

The fight card is stacked, and there will be more to watch on the day. So here's how to watch WWE Backlash online, including what you need to know about the event.

How to watch WWE Backlash in the US

As with past WWE events, the 2024 WWE Backlash will be available to watch online using Peacock . The event is set to kick off at 1 pm ET/10 am PT.

Peacock costs $5.99 for its base tier and $11.99 for its Premium Plus one, which lets you avoid ads when streaming its video-on-demand library.

How to watch WWE Backlash in the UK

In the UK, you'll be able to watch WWE Backlash at a reasonable hour for once, as it starts at 7 pm.

You can watch the event using the TNT Sports Box Office, by buying a single-use Pay-Per-View for £14.99. You can find the Box Office here .

How to watch WWE Backlash anywhere

If you're going to be away from your normal TV setup but still want to watch X , you might run into some problems. Thankfully, you can solve this exact issue with a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

A VPN lets you change your IP address to that of the area of what you want to watch, meaning you can tune in to your favorite X or other content even if you're not there. Our favorite is NordVPN , which is the No. 1-rated VPN in the world right now according to our sister site, TechRadar.

How to use a VPN to watch any stream

Download the app at NordVPN

Choose the location of the streaming service you want to watch (UK, US, etc)

Navigate to the streaming service and start watching!

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NordVPN is one of the simplest and most affordable ways to watch what you want, from wherever you want to watch it.

It's straightforward and easy to use, has great security, is available on loads of streaming devices and, best of all, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee , so you can try it out 100% risk-free. Give it a go. VIEW DEAL ON

WWE Backlash 2024 fight card

Here is the full slate of fights that make up the WWE Backlash France event:

Singles match: Cody Rhodes vs AJ Styles

Singles match: Damian Priest vs Jey Uso

Triple Threat match: Bayley vs Naomi vs Tiffany Stratton

Tag Team match: Asuka and Kairi Sane (The Kabuki Warriors) vs Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill

Tag Team match: Randy Orton and Kevin Owens vs Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga (The Bloodline).

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WWE Backlash France 2024 LIVE RESULTS: Champ Cody Rhodes BEATS AJ Styles, Damian Priest retains title against Jey Uso

• Kostas Lianos , Digital Sports Reporter
• Updated : 2:54, 5 May 2024

WWE Backlash France has concluded - and what a thriller it was in Lyon.

Cody Rhodes beat AJ Styles in Saturday's main event as the American Nightmare successfully defended his Undisputed WWE Championship.

Before that, Damian Priest retained his World Heavyweight Championship following his victory over Jey Uso.

There were some new champions crowned in France after Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill defeated Asuka and Kairi Sane to become WWE Women's Tag Team Champions.

Saturday's first match saw Randy Orton and Kevin Owens lose to the new Bloodline incarnation of Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga in a thrilling street fight match.

• US live stream/TV: Peacock
• UK live stream/TV: WWE Network

Follow ALL the action from Lyon with our live blog below...

Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga vs Randy Orton & Kevin Owens

And we kick things off with what promises to be a brutal Tag Team Match.

French Canadian Kevin Owens makes his way to the ring first and will await his partner Randy Orton to take on Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga of The Bloodline.

WWE Backlash

And we are live in Lyon, the French crowd is going absolutely bonkers!

Noise warnings have already arrived and we couldn't be more excited for what's coming!

Backlash Kick-off show

The Backlash Kick-off show has ended and we are now set for the main card.

The crowd is absolutely loud, just as expected.

And yes, there have been noise warnings already!

CM Punk chants

The live Backlash crowd in Lyon is chanting CM Punk's name.

Punk won't be at the event as he is in the US for the kick-off show.

Or is he...?

Well, there are very few matches announced for the show so there should be time for extra segments.

Andre The Giant tribute

WWE put together a nice little tribute package for their inaugural Hall of Famer Andre The Giant.

With the wrestling giants holding their first ever pay-per-view show in France, Andre's name has been repeatedly mentioned.

The legendary heavyweight put professional wrestling on the map during the 1980s and 1990s with his incredible figure, talent, dominance and of course road stories.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise the ex-WWE Champion is the main reason France fell in love with WWE.

Backlash will be loud

The live WWE crowd in Lyon received a noise warning during Friday Night SmackDown.

WWE chief content officer and head of creative Triple H confirmed fans received a complaint during the show.

The atmosphere at the event was unbelievable with the crowd refusing to slow down.

Triple H tweeted: "The @WWEUniverse in France literally received a warning about the noise level tonight at #SmackDown @LDLC_Arena. Absolutely insane.

"Like @myMotorhead said… “Only way to feel the noise is when it's good and loud.” Tonight promises to be really special..."

It has just been confirmed that there will be a special WrestleMania 41 announcement after Backlash.

We expect WWE to reveal the host city for next year's WrestleMania.

What are the odds of the Show of Shows going to Europe for the first time ever...?

Well, the announcement will take place after a European pay-per-view event...

The WWE Kick-off show is consisted of Jackie Redmond as well as professional wrestling superstars CM Punk and Big E.

Punk is out with a shoulder injury but continues to make non-wrestling appearances.

The Best in the World is continuing his heated feud with Scottish superstar Drew McIntyre.

Big E, on the other hand, is still out with a neck injury and there is currently no info regarding a potential return.

WWE Backlash's kick-off show has officially, well, kicked off!

The main show will be starting in less than an hour in front of a full and absolutely lively Lyon crowd.

No kick-off matches scheduled at this time, but the match card is always subject to change.

Nevertheless, it's likelier that the WWE panel will just be analysing all the upcoming matches.

WWE shock return

WWE have been teasing a shock return in the past few weeks ahead of Backlash.

And that is none other than Bo Dallas, but the ex-NXT Champion won't be coming back in his old gimmick.

Instead, Dallas is expected to perform in the Uncle Howdy persona that accompanied Bray Wyatt before his tragic death last year.

The 33-year-old could be joined by Erick Rowan and Alexa Bliss following a series of cryptic vignettes.

AJ Styles remembers Dusty Rhodes match

AJ Styles will be challenging Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes 21 years after beating his legendary father Dusty Rhodes to retain the NWA Championship in TNA.

I was wrestling a legend, I was stoked to be able to do that. We spent more time together out of the ring. When Dusty was in charge of creative, we'd talk a lot. He would tell me about his son who wrestled in high school. I wrestled in high school, too. And that was Cody. I almost went to one of his matches. Imagine that? AJ Styles Sports Illustrated

How to watch Backlash

WWE Backlash's main card will start at 1pm ET, there will also be a one-hour pre-show beforehand.

Fans in the UK can watch the live action from 6pm GMT, that is of course 7pm local time in Lyon.

The pay-per-view event will be broadcast live on the Peacock for viewers in the US

And British fans can of course watch on the WWE Network.

Backlash match predictions

Here's who SunSport predict will stand tall tonight at Backlash:

• Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. AJ Styles - Winner: Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes
• World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest vs. Jey Uso - Winner: World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest
• WWE Women’s Champion Bayley vs. Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton (Triple Threat Match) - Winner: WWE Women's Champion Bayley
• Randy Orton & Kevin Owens vs. Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga - Winners: Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga
• WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Kabuki Warriors vs. Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill - Winners: Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill

Backlash match card

Here's the full match card for tonight's Backlash pay-per-view event:

• Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. AJ Styles
• World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest vs. Jey Uso
• WWE Women’s Champion Bayley vs. Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton (Triple Threat Match)
• Randy Orton & Kevin Owens vs. Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga
• WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Kabuki Warriors vs. Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill

Good evening from Lyon

Welcome to SunSport's live blog coverage of WWE Backlash at the LDLC Arena in Lyon, France - Kostas here and I will be bringing you all the action.

Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes will be defending his title for the first time since he ended Roman Reigns' four-year reign at WrestleMania 40.

And Rhodes is facing baptism by fire as he will be putting the belt on the line against the legendary AJ Styles.

World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest is also set for his own first ever defence.

Priest cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase at WrestleMania and won his first ever world title from British superstar Drew McIntyre after he defeated Seth Rollins.

Now Priest will be facing Jey Uso, and the champ's Judgment Day pals Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio as well as JD McDonagh are surely not very far....

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10 UK stays that take tranquillity to the next level

From a hideaway with star-gazing spectacular enough to keep you off your phone to a ‘burnout’ retreat and a reimagined coastguard lookout

The Tawny, Staffordshire

Bordering the Consall Nature Park , a nature reserve featuring 740 acres of woodland, heath and moor, is The Tawny, a “deconstructed hotel”. This means that instead of a single house with rooms there are a collection of boathouses, huts and treehouses scattered around the woodlands and lakes. At the top of the hill is a modern glass building, the Plumicorn restaurant, and a heated outdoor pool looking out over the gardens. Stargazing sessions and night-time meditation are on offer, while spa treatments can be booked in the thatched cottage onsite. Huts from £240 B&B; thetawny.co.uk

Sharpham House, Devon

A Grade I-listed Georgian mansion surrounded by a parkland designed originally by Capability Brown and overlooking the River Dart, Sharpham House is the place to go if you’re ready to take your quest for tranquillity seriously. There are silent retreats, mindfulness for beginners and “burnout” retreats, too – and all guests are fed delicious vegetarian and vegan food, much of it grown organically in their walled garden. From £375 for a 3-night full-board retreat; sharphamtrust.org

Hampton Manor, West Midlands

Grade II-listed Hampton Manor is built on a sprawling estate once owned by Sir Robert Peel. While rooms are available in the house, an exquisite “immersive” culinary experience is tucked away in a small clearing: a collection of modern cabins sit beside a Michelin-starred restaurant. Through the Victorian walled garden is another restaurant and a bakery, and guests are invited to take part in weekend workshops – make your own bread and butter, or a batch of cinnamon buns. In the afternoon, as part of the daily “house rhythm”, there’s an hour of curated vinyl accompanied by cake. Rooms from £179; hamptonmanor.com

Fritton Lake, Norfolk

In the grounds of Somerleyton estate is the Clubhouse, previously a pub called the Fritton Arms, now a pub/restaurant with rooms upstairs. Down the lane are a series of cottages and cabins. And behind the Clubhouse is Fritton Lake, with water buffalo grazing on one side and, on the other, an outdoor pool bookended by open fires, tennis courts, a wooden adventure playground that weaves through the trees, and a floating sauna. They have given 1,000 acres of land on the Norfolk/Suffolk border “back to nature”, and deer, sheep and ponies roam free while families explore the grounds on foraging safaris. Rooms from £170; frittonlake.co.uk

Pennard Hill Farm, Somerset

After feasting in the farm’s 150-year-old barn, amid herb gardens and twinkling lights, stroll into the forest to spend the night in the off-grid safari tent (which sleeps six) or, for an even more memorable experience, the tree tent. Suspended in the canopy of ancient oak and ash is a spherical tent, overlooking the Mendip hills, and below it a wood cabin. There are wood-burning stoves, a bathroom, a kitchen and, outside, a hot shower, a wood-fired pizza oven and fire-pit barbecue, to sizzle your own breakfast. From £130; pennardhillfarm.co.uk

The Beckford Arms, Wiltshire

A country inn located in the rolling parkland of Wiltshire, The Beckford Arms offers eight bedrooms in the pub itself, plus a couple of lodges. And a short stroll away there is the Arch, built in 1755 to act as a grand arrival to the Fonthill Estate, with two bedrooms over three floors connected by a stone spiral staircase. As well as pottering around the estate and taking romantic walks around local lakes, visitors are invited to try chalkstream fly-fishing before settling down for a pint in the ivy-clad jewel of a pub. Rooms from £119; beckfordarms.com

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Fforest, Ceredigion

Just by the River Teifi gorge, next to the Teifi Marshes nature reserve and close to the gorgeous beaches and coves of the West Wales coast, visitors to Fforest can choose the level of luxury they require. There are bell tents, lofts and onsen domes – these are insulated cedar and zinc-clad pods connected directly to a geodesic dome, and outside, Japanese-style bath-houses with a shower, basin and cast-concrete sunken soaking tub. There’s accommodation that suits couples, families and a huge house for up to 14, plus they have their own cosy little pub onsite and, tucked away in the woods, a cedar barrel sauna. £360 for two nights; coldatnight.co.uk

WildLuing, Argyll

The Isle of Luing is one of the slate islands, a group of the Inner Hebrides located 15 miles south of Oban. It has a population of fewer than 200 people, who live amid some of the most stunning and naturally diverse waters in Scotland, enjoying regular spottings of otters, seals, eagles and puffins. Last year local craftsmen finished a series of luxury suites for two, each one like a tiny boutique hotel sheltering on the bay. From £200; wildluing.com

West Cawthorne, Yorkshire

Kip Hideaways offers a selection of rentals called the “Starry Skies” collection, cabins and huts located in Dark Sky Reserves, with star-gazing that’s spectacular enough to keep you off your phone. West Cawthorne in Yorkshire comprises a pair of A-frame structures that each sleeps two, with outdoor baths for those who want to watch shooting stars from the tub. From £110, kiphideaways.com

The Coastguard Lookout, Kent

Isolated, elegant and peaceful, this converted tower was originally a coastguard’s radar-monitoring station for shipping in the Channel. Situated in the middle of Dungeness’s quiet shores (and, brilliantly, Britain’s only desert), the property has been reimagined by interior architecture firm Johnson Naylor, which retained the original 50s structure with style – limestone floors, Scandi furnishings and a log burner. Views of the sea, vast skies and the eerie nuclear power station add a sense of magic. Visit Derek Jarman’s house and garden, try Romney Marsh’s lovely pubs, or stay in and observe the procession of ships from the panoramic windows. On a clear day, you can see France. Sleeps 5, from £300 a night, hostunusual.com

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UK weather: Met Office warning extended after UK hit by thunderstorms and heavy rain

The yellow weather warnings in place cover London, most of southern England, as well as Cardiff and areas of South Wales.

Thursday 2 May 2024 07:28, UK

Large parts of southern England, as well as parts of South Wales, have been hit by thunderstorms and heavy rain overnight - and the Met Office has extended one of the two warnings it had in place.

The first yellow weather alert came into force at 8pm on Wednesday and covered an area stretching from Portsmouth to Plymouth, and northwards to South Wales.

The Met Office warned of difficult driving conditions and some flooding under its alert, which is in place until 8am this morning.

The second warning kicked in at 11pm last night and covered nearly all of southeast England, stretching as far north as Oxford and including London.

It was meant to be in force until 6am this morning, but has now been extended until 10am.

"Thunderstorms are expected through the morning, before gradually clearing from the east. Some travel disruption and flooding possible," said the Met Office.

Around 2cm to 4cm of rain was forecast to fall overnight, with 5cm possible in some places.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said: "You may well get woken up tonight by a rumble of thunder, or some flashes of lightning across parts of the South.

"A lot of heavy rain falling in a short space of time as well."

He said it could create a lot of spray and surface water on the roads for commuters on Thursday morning.

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Elsewhere, it will stay dry with temperatures mostly holding up in double figures across England and Wales, or staying at around 8C to 9C in towns and cities further north.

Mr Deakin said: "A cloudy start then to Thursday one way or another, still some heavy bursts of rain early on across the South West.

"That should tend to clear away, but always the likelihood of further showers across southern parts of England, Mid and South Wales."

He added: "Parts of northwest Scotland, Northern Ireland, northwest England, much of the Midlands down towards East Anglia should have a fine and sunny day tomorrow."

Related Topics

Vince McMahon's life after WWE: Kittens, vacations and staying in touch with Trump

As he faces a mountain of legal woes, former WWE leader Vince McMahon is traveling, eating out and keeping in touch with friends and associates — including former President Donald Trump.

McMahon resigned as executive chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment’s parent company almost three months ago after a former employee, Janel Grant, accused him in a bombshell lawsuit of sexual abuse and trafficking. He denied the allegations. McMahon, 78, is also facing a federal criminal investigation , although he hasn’t been charged.

NBC News and CNBC talked to 11 people familiar with McMahon and WWE about how he’s been spending his time — and how the global brand he built over more than four decades is moving on without him. These people, including close personal associates and company insiders, declined to be named, citing ongoing legal cases and the confidential nature of internal corporate communications.

Multiple WWE insiders said he hasn’t had any contact with company leaders and figureheads since he resigned. Mark Shapiro, the operating chief of WWE parent company TKO Group Holdings, said in March that McMahon “doesn’t work for the company, doesn’t come into the office, and he’s not coming back to the company.”

That also means McMahon hasn’t talked to his son-in-law, WWE creative chief and former superstar Paul “Triple H” Levesque, or daughter, Stephanie McMahon-Levesque, regarding company matters, sources said. While she introduced WWE’s WrestleMania event earlier this month, McMahon-Levesque, who worked beside her father for more than 20 years and played roles in storylines, currently has no involvement with the company, according to people familiar with the matter. Levesque and McMahon-Levesque declined to comment through a spokesperson, as did a WWE representative. 

McMahon is nonetheless indelibly linked with the wrestling outfit, which he bought from his father 42 years ago. Still, he seems to have moved on, according to multiple sources. McMahon has kept up his other routines, and it’s as if he’s unfazed by his legal fights, two sources said.For instance, on an afternoon in late March, McMahon returned on a private plane to the United States from the sunny Turks and Caicos Islands -- but he wasn’t alone, according to a person close to him. He had with him seven kittens and a puppy, all of which he brought back to be adopted by his friends, this person added. 

“If anything, he’s enjoying life,” said the person, who added that McMahon had also taken a trip to Italy. 

Jessica Rosenberg, an attorney for McMahon, declined to comment regarding the aspects of the former WWE chief’s life reported in this article. In an emailed statement Tuesday, however, she criticized Grant’s suit: “The lawsuit’s claims are false, defamatory and entirely without merit. We intend to vigorously defend Mr. McMahon and are confident that he will be vindicated.”

Life amid litigation

The details of McMahon’s life after his WWE reign present a stark contrast to Grant’s accusations, which paint a graphic portrait of a violent and controlling man. In the federal lawsuit, filed Jan. 25, Grant’s attorneys said that she was “the victim of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault and trafficking at WWE,” naming McMahon and former WWE executive John Laurinaitis. Both men have denied the accusations in the suit. The lawsuit also named WWE as a defendant. WWE and its parent company, TKO, have said that they take Grant’s allegations “very seriously.” 

“Vince McMahon raped, trafficked and physically assaulted Janel Grant as part of his decades-long normalization of treating women within the WWE as objects. He might have thought that Janel would just walk away, but that wishful thinking couldn’t be further from the case,” Ann Callis, an attorney for Grant, said in a statement Wednesday. “Every day we are focused on adding to our mountain of evidence, speaking with other victims, hiring renowned experts on sex trafficking/coercive control and preparing to vociferously litigate this case.”

Federal investigators seized a phone from McMahon and have been trying to determine whether federal law was broken in the conduct surrounding Grant’s allegations, NBC News reported in February . WWE had disclosed last summer that investigators served McMahon with a federal grand jury subpoena and executed a search warrant in July.McMahon is cooperating with authorities, according to one of the people close to him. McMahon believes officials won’t bring any charges against him and that Grant’s civil case will be settled out of court, said a person close to the former wrestling executive.

Nicholas Biase, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, declined to comment.

A spokesperson for Grant’s attorneys said that there have been absolutely no settlement talks with McMahon.

While his legal battles persist, McMahon is often ferried by a private driver from his posh Connecticut home to Manhattan, according to one of the sources close to him. There, he eats with friends at restaurants such as the old-school Italian spot Il Tinello East on 46th Street, sees his longtime barber for biweekly haircuts and works with his personal trainer multiple times a week, the source said.  Two other sources, however, say McMahon has otherwise been “quite guarded” and often on the phone with his lawyers to map out plans since Grant’s lawsuit was made public.

Staying in touch

McMahon has also talked to Trump, according to two of the people close to the wrestling impresario. The two billionaires have been in touch regularly, according to a person close to McMahon, although it isn’t clear what they’ve discussed.

Trump and the McMahon family go way back: The former president hosted two WrestleMania events in Atlantic City in the late 1980s, engaged in a wrestling “feud” with McMahon in 2007 and is a member of the WWE Hall of Fame. Linda McMahon, McMahon’s wife, served as the Small Business Administration’s head in Trump’s Cabinet, led a pro-Trump super PAC and is now on the board of the publicly traded Trump Media and Technology Group.

In 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that McMahon paid $5 million in previously unrecorded expenses to the since-dissolved Donald J. Trump Foundation during two of the years Trump appeared on WWE programming.

Trump, who’s running for a second term as president, has also been accused of sexual assault and is facing his own costly pile of civil and criminal legal troubles, including four separate indictments. Trump has denied wrongdoing in his various cases, pleading not guilty in each criminal proceeding, including a New York trial that started Monday. Another person close to McMahon said that the two men don’t discuss their legal problems and that Trump doesn’t provide legal advice.

Hours after the publication of this story, a spokesperson for McMahon pushed back.

“Mr. McMahon has not been ‘staying in touch’ or ‘been in touch regularly’ with former President Trump. He has spoken with Mr. Trump once in the past several years and that was for about a minute or so after Mr. McMahon’s back surgery. Other than that, there have been no communications between the two,” the spokesperson said.

A representative for Trump declined to comment.

Since he resigned, McMahon has been in touch with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena, sources said. Johnson and Cena, both Hollywood superstars, are two of WWE’s biggest success stories.

Publicly, Johnson has thanked TKO and WWE executives regarding his addition to the TKO board earlier this year. In February, Cena told the radio host Howard Stern that “the whole thing is super unfortunate and it sucks,” while noting that he loves McMahon and has a “great relationship” with him. “But in the same breath,” he added at the time, “I’m also a big advocate of accountability.”

Cena and Johnson are both represented by the William Morris Endeavor agency, which is part of Endeavor Group — the majority owner of TKO.A spokesperson for Johnson declined to comment. A representative for Cena didn’t respond to requests for comment. 

WWE in transition

This isn’t the first time WWE has had to contend with controversy stemming from its former longtime leader. McMahon was acquitted of federal criminal charges in the early 1990s related to the steroid scandal that engulfed the wrestling world at the time. 

In 2022, he briefly stepped down as WWE’s leader after the Journal reported that he paid millions of dollars to multiple women to cover up his alleged extramarital affairs. The Journal also reported that other women had come forward with sexual misconduct allegations . WWE amended its financial reports to reflect the payments. McMahon denied all wrongdoing. 

His daughter helped take over leadership of the company in the interim, but McMahon-Levesque resigned when her father, who owned a controlling stake in WWE, returned in early 2023 . McMahon then engineered a deal to merge the company with Endeavor Group’s UFC to form TKO. Longtime Hollywood super agent Ari Emanuel is the CEO of both Endeavor and TKO. 

That deal, announced in April 2023 , made McMahon the executive chairman of the new company, and he gave up majority control of WWE. At the time, he told CNBC he wouldn’t be “in the weeds” with creative decisions but he would weigh in on big decisions. That marked a big shift for McMahon. His family has been in the business dating back to the early 20th century. After buying the company from his father, who was known as “Vince Sr.,” the younger McMahon then employed flamboyant superstars such as Hulk Hogan and the Rock, staging glitzy pay-per-view events like WrestleMania, to build it into an international sensation. And while WWE is still defined in part by the family, McMahon’s daughter and son-in-law are publicly attempting to push the brand into the future.  

At WrestleMania 40, held earlier this month in Philadelphia, McMahon-Levesque surprised the crowd with an appearance and hailed her husband’s leadership. “Every Wrestlemania is special for its own reason, but I think WrestleMania 40 might be the one I’m most proud of, because this is the first WrestleMania of the Paul Levesque era,” she said . (Linda McMahon joined her daughter backstage, according to an Instagram photo posted by wrestling star Charlotte Flair.) Levesque himself proclaimed a “new era” for WWE. 

It was a significant moment for the brand, coming during the first WrestleMania since the Grant lawsuit -- and it’s the first one under TKO’s management. Still, some rank-and-file WWE employees have griped that the company hasn’t done more to address the situation, according to an insider. After McMahon quit, Shapiro told a global town hall for both TKO and Endeavor employees “in no uncertain terms” that the former wrestling boss wouldn’t return, according to another insider. Shapiro also assured employees that Levesque and WWE President Nick Khan have his support, this person said. 

Otherwise, WWE is more relaxed since McMahon resigned in January, sources said. When McMahon was still running things, he would come in late in the afternoon and often stay until around midnight or beyond, two current employees said. (His office at WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, is unoccupied but otherwise intact, according to an executive, who called it “spooky.”) He had a reputation for being capricious and quick to fire employees, which generated fear and created a chilling effect, according to sources. 

Now there’s more levity and freedom to make a mistake or suggest an idea, some employees said.

The current leadership operates more conventionally, giving underperforming employees a standard progress report and opportunities to improve before taking action, they added. 

Some McMahon loyalists remain, but one employee said: “WWE is actually a really great place to work, and Vince distracted from that. It’s been much better since he left.” Another said: “People feel like they’re on steadier ground.”The company, meanwhile, is charting its post-McMahon course with the help of lucrative media rights deals. In September, WWE signed a $1.4 billion deal with NBC News’ parent company, NBCUniversal, for domestic rights to “Friday Night SmackDown.” In January, it inked a 10-year, $5 billion pact with Netflix to move its flagship “Raw” show and other programs to the streaming giant next year. WWE announced both agreements after it became part of TKO and McMahon ceded much of his official control over the brand.

There’s yet another sign suggesting that McMahon’s distance from WWE is more than temporary: He has sold hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of shares in TKO since November, a sizable chunk of those sales coming after he resigned in January. That’s different from when he briefly stepped down in 2022.  

“This time, it’s like, OK, now, it’s over -over,” one of the insiders said.

A version of this story was published on CNBC.com .

Chloe Melas is an entertainment correspondent for NBC News. 

Alex Sherman covers media for CNBC. 

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Urgent warning for UK tourists not to travel to holiday hotspot

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The Foreign Office has warned Britons to avoid travelling in parts of Turkey due to a ‘heightened risk of terrorism’.

It already advises against all travel within 6km of Turkey ’s border with Syria .

Now the government has also issued an urgent warning against all but essential travel to Şırnak city or nearby Hakkâri province.

Both are in the southeast of Turkey where, in addition to Ankara and Istanbul, ‘most terrorist attacks have occurred’, the Foreign Office (FCDO) website states.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pledged to ‘protect our country from the ring of fire through a security corridor across our borders’, during a speech in Şırnak this March, Daily Sabah reported.

Said to be home of Noah’s tomb, Şırnak is packed with archaeological and religious sites, including a castle and a partially ruined red madrasah.

It also has mountains, rivers and canyons that makes it of interest to visiting tourists, Hürriyet Daily News said.

But its proximity to the Syrian border can also make it dangerous.

Historically the threat came from the PKK, a militant group fighting for independence of the Kurdish people.

It has carried out bombings and massacres within Turkey since the 1980s, and has found itself fighting Turkish forces in Syria since Turkey’s invasions of Kurdish-controlled regions there in 2016 and 2019.

The FCDO said: ‘Fighting in Syria continues in areas close to the Turkish border and there remains a heightened risk of terrorism in the region.’

Although PKK terrorism in Şırnak and Hakkâri has largely died down, ISIS and Al-Qaeda -linked groups in Syria continue posing a threat.

ISIS has ‘previously targeted border crossings and nearby locations on the Syrian side of the border’ and has ‘the capacity to carry out attacks in neighbouring countries’, the FCDO website says.

Sites visited by foreigners – including airports, places of worship and large public gatherings like religious events and public holidays – are on the list of potential targets.

The FCDO said: ‘If you’re undertaking essential travel to Şırnak city or Hakkâri Province, take extreme care.’

Elsewhere, visitors face road closures in the southern Hatay Province when travelling routes leading to the Syrian border.

And the biblical resting place of Noah’s Ark, Mount Ararat in the eastern Ağrı Province, is a special military zone that requires a fee and permit to enter.

The FCDO said: ‘If visiting with a travel agent or tour group, confirm with them whether you need an individual permit.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

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Payments are collected at the end of every month.

If you wish for payments to be taken on specific days, please speak to one of our agents.

FlexiPay: You can also choose to pay your balance by using the WT Customer Portal.

The portal will allow you to pay any amount off the balance at anytime online.

Please Note: Account Balances must be cleared before at least eight weeks before departure. Failure to have the account settled, will result into forfeiting your Travel Package, with no refunds.

Step Three: Get Ready

With your payments in place and your Travel Package secure, you can now rest in the knowledge that you will be heading to the biggest and the best wrestling events in the world.