Even rough and tough professional wrestlers can have big hearts.
Vancouver Island Pro Wrestling is putting on its annual Headlocks for Hunger show on Saturday (Nov. 26) at the Departure Bay Activity Centre.
The promotion is hoping fans will come out for a night of pro wrestling and bring along non-perishable food items for charity.
“It’s just to help out the community, give back as much as we can. That’s one of the things we strive for,” said Brent LaPlante, VIPW promoter.
The main event features VIPW women’s champion Riea Von Slasher defending her title against Nicole Matthews, a decorated veteran from the Lower Mainland who wrestled earlier this week at a WWE show.
“She’s [been] a Shimmer champion, former ECCW champ; she’s done it all in the world of West Coast wrestling,” LaPlante said.
Von Slasher and Matthews had a match in Nanaimo in May that got so out of control that the referee deemed it a no contest. This Saturday will be a no-disqualifications match.
The semi-main event features B.J. Laredo and Scott Steel, both from Nanaimo, defending their VIPW tag-team titles against Pure and Simple.
“They ruled the Alberta wrestling scene for awhile and are trying to make a name for themselves out here on the West Coast, so they decided to put a target on the backs of the tag-team champions,” Laredo said. “I don’t know if it was a smart decision. Who knows, it might pay off for them. But if I have it go my way, it won’t.”
Krofton faces Eddie Osbourne and Father Juan Valdez in a handicap match and Lak Siddartha and others will also be in action.
Fans who bring three non-perishable food items or more will be entered into a prize draw.
Tickets to the show are $15 at the door or $10 in advance at That ’50s Barbershop, China Steps Emporium and Centre Court Collectibles.
The show starts at 7 p.m.