Curling rink turns into wrestling ring for a night

Shannon LeClair  

Times Reporter

 

Pro wrestling came to Strathmore on May 2 thanks to the Strathmore Elks Club. The Canadian National Wrestling Alliance (CWNA) is currently on a spring tour and was invited to make the stop for a show in town. The five-match event featured a tag team match, and ladies wrestling and of course good old one-on-one wrestling. 

“It was just like the old Stampede Wrestling and how they used to come out into the communities. The curling rink worked great for that because it wasn’t being used at the time and so we were able to get in there and use the kitchen,” said Don Perepelkin, secretary with the Strathmore Elks. 

Tickets sold for $10, and Perepelkin said 130 to 150 people attended the family friendly event. Proceeds raised from the event will be given back to the community for various projects. The Westmount Elementary School playground project is one that will be benefiting from the Elks. 

“Anything we make off of that goes back into our main fund, which is the same as when we do catering or bartending at weddings it goes back into our account,” said Perepelkin.

“Then if a group needs help or something like that then depending on how much we’ve put in the bank and how much we’ve raised we can help out with those projects.”

CNWA wrestler Massive Damage speaks to students at local schools about addiction through the CNWA Fight for Life program. Unfortunately things didn’t work out for the wrestler to visit a Strathmore school this time, but there could be a chance in the future. 

Perepelkin does think it’s possible the Elks will bring wrestling back to Strathmore at some point.