Pro wrestling to invade Emo

Ever hear of Caveman Broda? What about Madman Martin? Assisted suicide perhaps?
These are the names and faces of the Canadian Wrestling Federation. This sport/show is entering a new level of popularity–and the Emo Arena this Friday.
Above all, it’s going to the extreme.
For the first time ever in Rainy River District, the CWF will be showcasing its travelling wrestling show, complete with arm bars, leglocks–and maybe a few severed tables and steel chairs.
While the card contains bouts featuring 12 of the country’s top up and coming grappling talent, two other matches may turn some heads here.
Mayor Glenn “The Amalgamator” Witherspoon will battle Emo Reeve Russ “The Terminator” Fortier in a “Municipal Grudge” match while Emo-born CWF star Dean “Madman” Martin will ply his chair-wielding trade in front of the hometown crowd against CWF Hardcore champion, “The Spider.”
CWF promoter Ernie Todd said the expansion into Northwestern Ontario towns such as Ignace and Red Lake has helped the federation find a new audience.
“We’ve been received well. People don’t get live wrestling and we give a 100 percent on every show,” he said. “Northern Ontario is part of a territory we’d like to go a little more into.”
Todd said the matches will not be all chairs and brawling, adding his wrestlers will put a lot of work into athletic presentation.
“We don’t go through tables every match. There’s going to be some harder edge stuff, wrestling wise,” he said. “But it’s a family event because there’s not going to be any swearing.
“Some people may say wrestling is great family event while others won’t condone it at all. It all depends who you ask,” he added.
Martin said wrestling has escaped the stigma of being a show imitating a sport, and now has found a new niche for calling itself “sports entertainment.”
“Attitude, presentation, and optical illusion all come into play,” he said. “It’s a tough skill to master.”
And to give the fans the best show, Todd said the training aspect is key and was the main reason why they opened up their own wrestling school in Winnipeg. He suggests newcomers clear their minds and learn the tricks of pro wrestling from scratch.
“We train our own guys. A lot of guys are trained through our system and don’t come in with bad habits [like] sloppy work and bad attitudes.
“Having respect in the craft has a lot to do with it.”
The CWF was started in 1995, a year before Todd took control as head promoter. Since then, the Winnipeg-based promotion made connections with the National Wrestling Alliance, one of the continent’s oldest organizations.
He said their top championship belt, the North American title, has a lineage that includes former World Wrestling Federation star Jeff Jarrett.
Dark Rain currently holds that title and will defend it in Emo.
The show was brought to the attention of the Emo Chamber of Commerce by Renee Martin, “Madman’s” sister, as a way to raise money for the youth sportsfield complex north of town.
Reeve Fortier recalled the next step occurring naturally.
“Being on council, I’m also representative so somebody said, ‘Why don’t you wrestle somebody?’ I thought that if it brings more people in, I would have no problem with that,” he said.
“Glenn didn’t hesitate. I think he thinks he can take me.
“I think he’s going to be the good guy and I’m going to be the bad guy,” he noted. “But being from Emo, I should be the crowd favourite.”
Another problem arose when they were not sure what kind of match to have. Reeve Fortier said the Dryden Chamber of Commerce offered to rent out thick, plastic sumo wrestling suits but shot it down when the 63-year-old Fortier felt it would be best that he and Mayor Witherspoon, 60, should go at it the old-fashioned way.
“It will just be running shoes and a jock strap,” he laughed.
Mayor Witherspoon could not be reached for comment, leaving a perfect opportunity for Reeve Fortier to venture the outcome should there be a real fight between the two.
“I think I would win,” he said. “You have to remember I’m ‘The Terminator.’”
Tickets can be purchased through the Emo Chamber of Commerce at 482-1811, or at Witherspoon’s One-Stop in Fort Frances, Dev-Lynne’s in Devlin, and the Corner Closet in Emo.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the show starting at 7:30. Reserved VIP ringside seating costs $15 and advanced rush seating costs $7. It will cost $10 for rush seating at the door.