ItB次元官网网址檚 not exactly the bright lights and glamour of WrestleMania, but a mid-week evening earlier this month brought out some curious eyes to a ring on the north end of Campbell River.

The 365 Wrestling Academy celebrated its open house from April 3 to April 7, and founder Michael Becherer has a feeling that professional wrestling B次元官网网址� much like a Campbell River Storm game in late November B次元官网网址� can become a huge part of the cityB次元官网网址檚 local sporting culture.

B次元官网网址淲hen I started out, I had to move to Ontario to do this,B次元官网网址� said the 39-year-old Campbell River native, who wrestles professionally as Eddie Osbourne. B次元官网网址淪o to be able to come back home and to be back with my family and to give back to pro wrestling, on my Island and in my city, is pretty special.B次元官网网址�

On this particular Wednesday night, trainers Corey Van Dyk B次元官网网址� known in the ring as B次元官网网址淗avikoB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� and Nolan James put the new recruits through the motions of drills and maneuvers they might have to perform in the ring, in what are known as spots.

B次元官网网址淚 have memories of a being a kid where everyone loved wrestling,B次元官网网址� recalls the 37-year-old James, who is rehabbing torn knee ligaments and has been on the shelf for about 18 months. B次元官网网址淪tory lines were so interesting, and thatB次元官网网址檚 what really hooked me. For me, it was more of the athletic guys that could do different things as opposed to out-powering everybody.B次元官网网址�

Professional wrestling has roots in the sports world as well as theatricality. While the athletic abilities and maneuvers are very much real, the show, much like a live play in a theatre, is scripted. This isnB次元官网网址檛 the first time Becherer has attempted a wrestling school in town either, as Van Dyk was one of the original schoolB次元官网网址檚 first graduates.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just getting started in the training aspect,B次元官网网址� says Van Dyk, who saw his first show in Campbell River, and thought having been laid off, he might give it a go. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e worked with Eddie (Mike) for many years. His methods and the way he likes to train and I want to help him make a lot of new students wrestlers.B次元官网网址�

With his re-establishment in Campbell River, Becherer hopes he can help the next generation of performers come from Vancouver Island in a few years.

B次元官网网址淚f you ask 100 people here in Campbell River that there was a wrestling school, maybe one or two might know. Those might be friends and family,B次元官网网址� Becherer says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just getting the word out. I think we can have a great culture here, we can have a big family and grow more people into this family and this culture.B次元官网网址�

READ MORE:

Edward Hitchins
edward.hitchins@campbellrivermirror.com
Like us on and follow us on