THUNDER BAY – Fight – Devon Nicholson and Lanny Poffo have a common goal. They want to bring wrestling back to the way it used to be. The professional wrestling that they fell in love with and have been passionate about from the time they were able to talk. They are sick of all the long boring in-ring promo’s, foolish backstage segments, underwear model looking wrestlers and completely choreographed matches that you see on WWE © on television today.
They want to present a realistic, gritty, and hard hitting style that wrestling fans don’t have to be ashamed to watch. Together they are creating a new pro wrestling league called “Hannibal Pro Wrestling.” The league motto is “Land of the Tough Guys.”
NetNewsledger had the chance to talk with both Poffo and Nicholson earlier this week about their new project. Lanny Poffo had this to say when asked if he was excited about getting back into promoting the Eastern Ontario area. “YES! There’s a tremendous demand for quality on the independent scene. There’s will be plenty of hungry young talent, mixed in with superstars of the recent past and present. It’s the circle of life. This area is filled with great fans that deserve the best. From 1979 to 1985, I helped my father and brother promote our brand of Wrestling in the Southern US. It was a great experience that I intend to bring to HPW.”
Poffo’s partner retired pro wrestler, and Olympic alternate in Greco Roman wrestling for the London Games is equally enthusiastic.
“I am no longer an active pro wrestler but would like to stay involved in the industry that I am passionate about. I greatly enjoy entertaining people. There is no better feeling then when I put on an event and people come up to me after and say that they haven’t been that entertained by wrestling since the 80’s,” shared Devon.
Lanny is looking forward to working with Devon on this project, and believes he can help him make the new company a success.
Poffo commented, “We’ve been friends a long time. I’d rather work with him on this promotion than against him in the ring. He beat me like a drum! Seriously, he’s too trusting in strangers. He expects others to be as honest as he is. I hope he’s lost that trust over some disappointments.”
Nicholson added “I think we both make up for each other’s short comings. Lanny is very sharp individual. They didn’t call him ‘The Genius’ in WWE© for nothing”.
Poffo will still be taking to the ring on HPW cards and says he’s in formidable condition these days. “I’ve gone from 272 to 233 lbs. That’s 39 lbs. of ‘pull your trunks up!’ At 57, I’m not in the best shape of my life but rather the best shape in the last 10 years. I’ve still got a ways to go. I intend to wrestle until the FANS tell me to hang them up!”
Nicholson will be available to meet with fans and sign autographs at the events when he’s not busy taking care of behind the scenes matters. “I was on the bad side in wrestling most of my career and took that role very seriously. The thing I find most rewarding about being a ‘fan favorite’ wrestler is being able to interact with the fans.”
“This will be the biggest wrestling event ever to hit Smiths Falls,” Nicholson says. “It is will certainly be a historic night. I do not want to disappoint the crowd on the company’s first night of existence. I will give them a spectacle they will never forget.”
The event takes place at the brand new Smiths Falls Memorial Community Center. Tickets for the event are on sale now online at ticketweb.ca or can be picked up at the venue starting March 12th. Advance ticket prices range from $15 – $25 and a family 4 pack of tickets can be purchased for $40.
HPW will recognise the Great North Wrestling title as our championship. Jeremy Prophet will be defending the title against Scott Steiner in Smiths Falls in a rematch from their classic battle in Thunder Bay in 2010 in front of a huge and enthusiastic crowd.
For the wrestling fans here in Thunder Bay, Nicholson and Poffo can see HPW making a stop here in the future. Both men enjoy performing in the city that’s “Superior by Nature” and say that if the fan interest is there they will return with a big event.
Click here for Direct ticketweb link