WrestleFest 2 happens on Friday, June 27 at Nanaimo's Frank Crane Arena, which will see event production company Five Acre Co. amplifying the experience. (Facebook/Five Acre Co)

By Ian Holmes

WrestleFest

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NANAIMO — One year ago, Vancouver Island Pro Wrestling (VIPW) co-owner BJ Laredo was equal parts nervous and excited.

With significant resources committed to staging WrestleFest at Frank Crane Arena, Laredo was hopeful their core base of fans, and many more, would show up.

Turns out, people were buying what Laredo and the VIPW brand was selling.

The June 14, 2024 show drew over 2,000 fans, believed to be the largest independent pro wrestling show in the Pacific Northwest in nearly 30 years.

“When we were in the Departure Bay Activity Centre we were excited to have 150 people in the building and now if I don’t sell 150 tickets before the doors open I’m nervous,” chuckled Laredo.

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Shows staged at Nanaimo’s Centennial Building consistently tops 500 spectators, backing a product with plenty of Nanaimo area talent.

WrestleFest 2 happens on Friday June 27 at Frank Crane Arena.

Doors open for a VIP show for an additional cost for a pair of matches between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., followed by the formal offering starting at 7:30 p.m.

VIPW, a popular independent promotion in its twelfth year of operation, hired Port Alberni-based production company Five Acre Co. with its large video screen, dynamic lighting and enhanced sound system.

Laredo said last year’s successful show led to increased attention on VIPW.

Wrestlers approached the promotion to be included in WrestleFest 2, as opposed extensive efforts to recruit heavily for last year’s show.

“It’s really brought a lot of exposure to us in showing what we can bring to the table of this crazy world of professional wrestling,” Laredo said. “I think it put us atop the elite of the independent wrestling promotions out there,” Laredo said.

Merchandise will be on sale at the event, while fans will also have opportunities to interact with wrestlers.

“We’re 100 per cent family-friendly. There’s no swearing, we try to build it toward that audience. The whole idea around WrestleFest is to attract people to our product who aren’t necessarily wrestling fans.”

BJ Laredo is a lifelong Nanaimo resident who co-founded and continues growing Vancouver Island Pro Wrestling (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

“The Class Act” Ty Cordova, who manages The Cordova Corporation, has led a controversial movement within VIPW.

Self-described, but not officially recognized as ‘The 51st State’, Cordova’s crew includes current VIPW heavyweight champion Scott Steel.

More widely known more as an effective, condescending motor-mouth as opposed to a polished wrestler, Cordova will be in action in a four-on-four Chamber of Extreme main-event against an entry known as Team VIPW.

The entitled Cordova isn’t concerned about his lack of in-ring experience.

“I am in absolutely phenomenal shape right now,” Cordova told NanaimoNewsNOW.

“I have been training twice a day for almost a year now, and my personal chef has really dialed in my nutrition. I may be inexperienced in the ring, but even Ray Charles can see that I’m an absolute freak athlete, and he’s blind and dead.”

Cordova, representing a faction often relying on underhanded thuggery, vows they will come out on top in the show’s main event.

“Then we are going to get our hands raised, and I’m going to hear the boos of thousands of angry fans as my limousine speeds away from the venue. It will be my masterclass.”

Tickets to WrestleFest 2 can be purchased online on VIPW’s website, or at the door.

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