JAMESTOWN – Professional wrestlers have to start somewhere and some of the future stars may be wrestling in our area and are waiting for the break to take the next big step.
Some of these wrestlers can be seen plying their craft this Sunday at Bergman Park at 1 p.m. or at the Allen Park Ice Rink if there is rain. This event, The Bergman Brawl, is free and open to the public.
Southern Tier Wrestling is holding the show that will include seven matches, including the Heavyweight Title Match as the main event. Southern Tier Wrestling officials told WNYNewsNow that the free event is offered so fans can discover the excitement of the action and become familiar with the story lines.
Officials said the company is growing and the story lines are fairly fluid so that fans never know what will happen.
Asked about the development of matches, rivalries and the ongoing action-filled story line, Jon Osterdahl explained it is different for wrestlers and organizers.
“In my opinion, I think there’s probably a lot of different facets to it. For us it’s getting the crowd out there and building everything around it. For those guys (wrestlers) it’s telling the story once they’re in there,” he said. “It’s incredible theater. Everybody always says it’s a male generated soap opera but honestly it’s a lot, lot more than that.”
Ken Liedy said many of the grapplers come from Grapplers Anonymous Pro Wrestling Training in Buffalo.
“They put on an awesome show for us and wherever they go,” Liedy he said. “Some of the guys we gave shots to just a year ago, they are already breaking out all over the country and making a names for themselves.”
The main event this Sunday features former STW Heavyweight Champion “Big Time” Bill Collier against “The Don” Rob Sweet. This, Osterdahl explained, is a shot at revenge for Collier.
“At our show back in April, The Don basically stole the title from Bill, he’s (Sweet) got a couple of goons, henchmen,” he said. “The fans, we had people crying, children were screaming old men were yelling they were upset.”
STW offers a family oriented event that seems to draw the fans into the action, Osterdahl said, referring to April’s title grab by Sweet.
“It was everyone, both children and grown men 60-70 yrs old coming out of those bleachers wanting to get a piece of Rob Sweet,” he said.
Randy Grey, owner and promoter of STW said the free show is a way to show local wrestling fans how fun and action-packed the STW is.
“We’re hoping it pays us on the back-end. Jamestown is a rabid hotbed for pro wrestling and there’s already an established fan base and we’re trying to gain new fans and even expand into Pennsylvania,” Grey said. “The Bergman Brawl, early on in October there will be another show to continue on the story line. This is pro wrestling. Tomorrow’s stars you’ll see in Jamestown in STW.”
Osterdahl explained that the fluidity of the story line is a positive for organizers and the wrestlers too.
“It does change quite a bit and in a good way because it keeps us on our toes and it keeps our roster on its toes. Honestly a lot of times things change. It’s benefiting our roster because they are getting bigger and better opportunities,” he said.
