Live entertainment can come in different forms and shapes, and Acclaim Pro Wrestling offers something unique. The local wrestling promotion company had a great 2023 and started 2024 with a bang, hosting the New Year’s Wrestle-ution as their first event of the new year on January 13. The Dom Polski Hall was packed with about 200 people for a great night of wrestling, accompanied by drinks and snacks. The highlight was a 20-person “battle royal” heralded as the night’s main event. Everyone went home happy as crowd-favourite Macrae Martin was the last wrestler standing among 19 other contestants.
Photo: Vasileios Tselios.
Many readers might think pro wrestling showcases big, muscular men who toss each other around the ring, but Acclaim is so much more than that. They have a large selection of weird and funny acts providing a lot of entertainment before they even step into the ring. For example, the Brothers, a prominent tag team, play along with the crowd and mix comedic moves into their wrestling, provoking laughter and cheers with their every move. On the other hand, wrestlers like Caster McFear antagonize the crowd and give them a bad guy to jeer at, by handing out scripts to his “movies” and calling the crowd a bunch of “stupid extras” who “weren’t quiet on set when they were supposed to be. They interrupted the flow of the performance and the scene.”
The level of wrestling is very high at Acclaim despite the partial comedy. Wrestlers like Junior Benito and London Lighting impress crowds with their moves and abilities. Whether you are a long-time wrestling fan or a new one, you will be left amazed by some of the matches.
“Keep your eye out on Junior Benito, I can see him being on TV as a mainstay in the future,” ring announcer Cheeky told me.
Photo: Vasileios Tselios.
Another highlight is Acclaim’s women’s division. Women have been historically overlooked and underappreciated in wrestling, but Acclaim dispels this problem by showcasing multiple talented wrestlers, from Vanessa Kraven to Dayami Ho, a lucha libre from Mexico who made her Acclaim debut at the New Year’s Wrestle-ution and dazzled the crowd with her aerial manoeuvres.
A unique feature of the women’s division is that all wrestlers, regardless of gender presentation, may fight any other wrestler instead of sticking to traditional men’s and women’s matches only. This speaks volumes about the emphasis placed on having talent throughout each event.
“Women’s wrestling is just important. It’s a really important avenue of what we do. They are amazing athletes [and] amazing performers,” says Cheeky.
Photo: Vasileios Tselios.
To me, the crowd is the biggest attraction at any Acclaim event. Being a part of a raucous crowd having fun makes the experience twice as enjoyable. From counting along with the referee to commenting on the matches while they are happening, the crowd is always involved. It is the pride of the promotion, and all the wrestlers try to draw a reaction out of the crowd and have them join the show, making it a fun experience for anyone who comes out.
“You’ll have the most eclectic crowds at a wrestling show. All walks of life [and] all types of people… We’ve cultivated a great set of very loyal fans,” Cheeky says.
Photo: Vasileios Tselios.
So, if you are ever free on a weekend night, consider coming to an Acclaim wrestling show and joining a rowdy, weird, fun group of wrestling fans who are always welcoming new fans.
Shawn Briefcase, a long-time Acclaim fan, says they may be smaller and less well-known than other wrestling promotions, but that’s not what matters: “You can go to the shows that the bigger guys bring to town, but this is the place to come for the most fun. This is where the heart of wrestling is.”
Acclaim Pro Wrestling puts on a show every month at the Dom Polski Hall, 379 Waverley St. Information about upcoming events and tickets can be found on their Instagram and Facebook. General admission tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the Turning Point, 411 Cooper St. or via email and social media.
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