The concept of professional wrestling instantly evokes images of beefy lycra-clad athletes hitting each other with folding chairs, red-faced giants screaming outrageous proclamations into a microphone and gaudy gold belts worn by people who do not wear pants. Fans of this product (often described as a ‘soap opera for men’) have tried to convince others that wrestling is not weird, but as someone who for almost 10 years has traveled the world researching, training and competing in professional wrestling – allow me to dispel any misconceptions you may have; wrestling is weird and that is why it is amazing!
Pro wrestling traces its roots to the days of traveling carnivals where troupes of misfits, freaks and monsters would wrestle from town to town entertaining local crowds, and although the way the ‘sport’ is presented has drastically changed, at its core this spectacle remains the same – larger-than-life matches in which wrestlers entertain audiences by ‘attacking’ each other with powerful physical maneuvers. Whether you are a lifelong fan and have seen thousands of matches or a complete novice who cannot tell the difference between WWE, UFC, MMA and all the other combat sports-related three letter acronyms, watching a live pro wrestling show is an experience unlike any other.
Luckily for Shenzhen residents, Chinese wrestling promotion, Middle Kingdom Wrestling (MKW) is returning to the Pearl River Delta on December 14 for one of the biggest wrestling events in China.
A mix of athletic competition, dramatic theater, fantastic aerial maneuvers and hysterical comedic antics, MKW’s Bash at the Bay 2 event is unlike any other spectacle. Hosted at Superface in Nanshan, Bash at the Bay 2 marks Middle Kingdom Wrestling’s 26th event, and second time around in Shenzhen – this one promises to be their largest one yet.
One of the only professional wrestling organizations in China, Middle Kingdom Wrestling has been putting together wrestling cards in China since 2015. The company is headquartered in the northern Chinese city of Harbin, where they also have a training school in which men and women train to become China’s next wrestling superstars. The theme of the ‘Middle Kingdom’ has been favorable for MKW as the company has rapidly gained prominence outside of the Chinese mainland through its ‘Belt and Road’ wrestling events. As a result, over the past few years, MKW has also held events in Nepal, Vietnam, Thailand and South Korea.
Spectators attending Bash at the Bay 2 will be able to witness intense action featuring an impressive roster of wrestlers from China, the US, the UK, Mexico, Japan, Ireland, Canada, Nepal and the Philippines. Notable matches include Ash Silva vs Nuwakote Tiger in a follow up to their match in Nepal for the MKW Belt & Road Championship, Ray Lyn vs Zeda Zhang (a former WWE NXT Superstar who boasts the distinction of being the first Asian-American woman to compete for the largest wrestling company in the world), Championship Wrestling from Hollywood (CWFH) tag-team The RockNES Monsters vs Black Mamba & Bamboo Crusher, the up-and-coming talented wrestler KC the ‘Monster Butcher’ vs ‘Mad Dog Connor,’ and an exciting MKW heavyweight championship match between ‘Masterclass’ Michael Su and Zombie Dragon, plus much more!
Sat Dec 14, 6pm; RMB80-180. Superface. See event listing. Tickets.
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[All images courtesy of promoter]
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