New Zealand has a fine history of producing professional wrestling talent. The Bushwhackers, Butch Miller and Luke Williams, are WWE Hall of Famers, Dakota Kai is a WWE NXT superstar, whilst Jay White is one of the stars of New Japan Pro Wrestling. Even Dwayne ‘The Rock' Johnson briefly went to school in Auckland.
But this weekend, Kiwi wrestling fans should set their eyes on Tauranga as the Maniacs United wrestling promotion rolls into town.
The Live Pro Wrestling show takes place this Saturday, January 23, at Greerton Community Hall with students from the Auckland school in action, including some with a Tauranga connection.
Tyler Chase is from Tauranga and is the current New Zealand Professional Wrestling Tag-Team Champion. He has been training at the school for four years now and believes wrestling has gone through big changes in recent years.
'Wrestling has changed a lot in the past 40 years. I don't think people quite see that. It's not all about violence. We put on all sorts of genres for different kinds of people. It's a family show, so bring your kids, they'll enjoy it.”
Stacey Stewart is the director and head trainer of Maniacs United and believes the ‘family friendly' event will have something to please all comers this weekend.
'It is basically the quintessential good guy versus bad guy scenario with larger than life characters. It's just a lot of fun and something different to do.”
Covid-19 prevented the staging of this show last year and Stacey was left disappointed after high demand ultimately resulted in refunds having to be handed out.
However, she is hopeful of a good turnout for this weekend's event.
'There is a lot of interest. We get more people in Tauranga than we do Auckland to be honest. We are a bit saturated in Auckland, there is so much choice whereas we are really the only people that come down to Tauranga.”
Chase will be defending his tag-title belt alongside partner The Fabulance Lance Adams and is looking forward to performing in his hometown.
'We always get really good crowds in Tauranga. They are always really energetic and enjoy the show.”
Doors open at 4.45pm at Greerton Community Hall. The event is cash only and tickets are available on the door.