STAR-STRUCK wrestling fans will get the chance to climb into the ring with their professional grappling heroes – and raise money for an anti-bullying campaign at the same time.
The brave youngsters will get the chance to have a go when all-star wrestling – including a former star of WWE – muscles its way into the Stiwt Theatre in Rhos, Wrexham, later this month.
And a select group will have the rare opportunity of learning some of the magic behind the moves of the sport direct from a top master of grunt ‘n groan.
The event will be part of the Stiwt’s first Family Festival, to coincide with the school half-term holidays, from February 25-March 7.
One of the highlights comes on the evening of Tuesday, February 25 when a formidable group of rough and tumble boys take to a ring specially constructed in one of the Stiwt’s main halls for a couple of hours of top-class wrestling action.
Before the main event begins at 7.30pm, the event’s promotion company, Welsh Wrestling, will hold a masterclass during which a group of 10 youngsters will be invited into the ring to get inside information on some of their favourite moves from seasoned fighter James Mason.
Welsh Wrestling promoter Alan Ravenhill said: “We hold one of these special masterclasses before some of our events and they always go down extremely well with the kids.
“They are so popular because it gives young wrestling fans the chance to get up close to their heroes, which is something they don’t get to do every day.
“We usually have one of our most experienced fighters, James Mason, running the workshops. He’s been a professional for over 20 years and has wrestled in America and Japan. Back in 2010 he became the first Welsh Heavyweight Champion, as recognized by the Union of European Wrestling Alliances, and held the title for six months.
“James, who stands 6ft tall and weighs in at over 16 stone, will start off by giving a talk on how wrestling began as part of the ancient olympics and gradually developed into the entertaining professional sport we know today.
“He’ll then show the kids some of the simpler moves like a forward roll and actually give them the chance to try it for themselves if they fancy it.
“James loves doing it and the kids who come up into the ring always enjoy themselves tremendously, so everyone’s looking forward to putting on a masterclass at the Stiwt.”
On the bill for the evening of wrestling will be another former Welsh Heavyweight Champion, Chepstow-based Iestyn Rees, a one-time star of the US-based WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) circuit who is known to fans at the “Welsh Dragon”.
Eighteen-stone Iestyn recalls that one of his most high-profile fights ended in a blaze of media attention.
He said: “I was in a tag team bout at Welshpool a couple of years ago in which I was paired with the former Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik against my fellow pro Kade Callous from Cardiff, and another fighter.
“Kade gave Mr Opik what you might call a good battering which ended in the fight being stopped and the politician being taken to hospital to be checked for broken ribs. That was certainly a night to remember and was all over the media at the time.
“That bout was in mid-Wales but my appearance at the Stiwt will be the first time I’ve ever wrestled in north Wales and I just can’t wait to get there because I hear that when Welsh Wrestling has been there in the past the fighters have had a really great reception.”
Along with Iestyn on the five-bout card will be two masked fighters, Mexican “bad boy” Magico and Tagoni from Puerto Rico, along with Wild Boar from Pontypool, another grappler the crowds love to hate.
Always a favourite with fight fans is The Big Dog from Haverfordwest, billed as a “30st barrel of fun” and likened to a modern-day version of the famous old TV wrestler Big Daddy.
Promoter Alan Ravenhill said: “The fans can also be very generous and at all our Welsh Wrestling events we raise money for Kidscape, the anti-bullying charity. Over the course of a year we must make thousands to help with its excellent work.”
The Stiwt’s operations manager Gavin Sharpe says the Family Festival has been designed as the perfect showcase for the community theatre and the diverse array of talent it is capable of presenting, such as professional wrestling.
He said: “Here at the Stiwt we’re really getting ready to rumble with the all-star wrestling evening.
“We’re lucky to have had the boys from Welsh Wrestling appearing with us a couple of times before and each time they’ve gone down extremely well with the crowds who are always left shouting for more.
“The masterclass before the main event is sure to be a big hit with the youngsters. It starts at 5.30pm and as places are strictly limited to just 10 youngsters, people should book now by ringing the Stiwt on 01978 841300, or online at stiwt.com.”
Also part of the Family Festival programme is a St David’s Day concert by the Rhos Male Voice Choir, a musical show entitled Past, Present and Future from the Stiwt’s resident youth theatre group Theatr Yr Ifranc on February 27, an appearance by Welsh comedian Tudur Owen on February 26, an afternoon of nostalgic World War Two era songs from the D Day Darlings on March 3, a Robin Hood puppet show on the afternoon of February 26 and a performance by legendary 1960s group The Troggs on March 7.
Tickets for all of the Family Festival events are available by ringing the Stiwt box office on 01978 841300, or online at www.stiwt.com
