Pro wrestling breathes life into infamous Esquimalt nightclub
While Vancouver Island may seem far removed from the brightest lights and biggest stages of professional wrestling, it doesn't mean there isn't some smack being laid down on the West Coast.
A pro wrestling circuit has breathed new life into an infamous nightclub in Esquimalt, B.C., and everyone is encouraged to get into the ring.
What the Carlton Club in Esquimalt may lack in beauty, it makes up for in personality.
It's also bursting at the seams with history. At one point it was a wedding venue, a navy bar, a gay club, a biker bar and a strip club.
It hasn't all been good though, with some repairs made to patch over bullet holes that landed over the years. Still, when Mike Becherer first saw the space, he knew his company 365 Pro Wrestling had found its stomping grounds.
The company is the biggest wrestling promotion company on Vancouver Island.
With the crowd literally within spitting distance of the ring, there's no room for gimmicks. You have to look good, and the only way to look good is to actually be good.
"When we do it well, when we do it perfectly, it's magic," said wrestler Becky Beecher.
During main events, a few hundred people pack into the Carlton Club.
Some wrestlers are familiar faces, like Josh Cadwell who's known to spectators as a bad guy.
When he steps into the ring, he's greeted with a familiar chorus of "boos" before the muscled performer squares off against his opponent.
Meanwhile, at just 19 years of age, Maxwell Benson is a polished pro. He says his love for the sport started when he was young.
"We just saw it on TV or in person and it just captivated us," he said.
Brendan Wilkinson, also known as "Krofton," is the champ of this ring. He says it's a labour of love.
"None of us do this for the money," he said. "We do this because we love it."
If you've never stepped into the ring before, on Thursday nights you can learn the ropes.
Students at 365 Pro Wrestling Academy learn to lay the smack down.
While the company has firm roots in Greater Victoria, it also puts on shows in Ontario.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.