Lak Siddartha can finally compete in front of friends and family.
The longtime Victoria wrestler has helped a pair of up-Island promoters launch Vancouver Island Pro Wrestling, which debuts in Victoria at the Velox Rugby Club on Saturday (Sept. 21).
The first match is 7:30 p.m.
“I’m so excited, I’ve been waiting to wrestle on the Island and in Victoria for years,” Siddartha said.
“We’re looking to make some interesting story lines so fans will want to come back and see our product.”
Siddartha will face Scotty Mac out of Surrey, one of the two main events. The other main event sees current V.I. champion B.J. Laredo of Nanaimo against Eddy Osbourne of Campbell River.
“We just want to bring wrestling back here like it used to be,” said co-promoter Brent Laplante (B.J. Laredo).
“The idea is to stick to four main towns, Victoria, Port Alberni, Duncan and Nanaimo, with each town getting a show every two months.”
Dates are still being settled on for the next show at Velox in mid-November.
The Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling promotion used to hold shows in Victoria but there has been little to none in recent years.
Siddartha ran his own program four years ago and was part of the last pro wrestling show in Victoria, a Canadian National Wrestling Alliance event at Langford’s Luxton Hall in April 2012.
“I have four shows this month and more in October, including Halloween Hell, one of the bigger draws of the year in Surrey, so it’s nice to have shows to keep me here on the Island,” Siddartha said.
Saturday’s card will feature Victoria’s Pete Powers vs. Tony Baroni and a women’s match between Riea Von Slasher and Bambi Hall, with Island and mainland wrestlers Cremator Von Slasher, Ravenous Randy Myers, Moondog Manson, Krofton and more.
Tickets are $15 at the door, $12 in advance, or $10 for a group of four or more, and are available by phone or at Dragon Impact (764-B Yates St.), or by calling Brent Laplante at 250-619-2216.
For more info visit VIprowrestling.com or visit the event’s site on Facebook.
sports@vicnews.com