IT’S the sound and passion of the crowd that engulfs you. The way they interact with each wrestler. More an active participant in a pantomime drama, rather than an enthusiastic observer.
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There’s three young boys in the front row - aged between five and seven. They’re standing, the seats cannot contain their excitement, as they boo and cheer and punch their little fists in jubilation.
“Where’s your hair, where’s your hair?” they scream and giggle, towards Matty Wahlberg, a jock heel (wrestling speak for bad guy) from the group Babes.
Wahlberg has just had his ridiculous blonde ‘80s wig knocked off his head to expose a crew cut. His head was shaved at the last show after losing a hair versus mask match to the face (good guys) team, SMS.
The kids think it’s hilarious. So do their fathers. They’re getting in on the banter too, before turning to laugh with their mates.
It’s a stormy Saturday evening and Charlestown Bowling Club’s auditorium is playing host to Newcastle Pro Wrestling #64. Unlike the majority of shows it’s only three-quarters full.
The weather, a Newcastle Jets home game and the day-night Ashes Test are possibly to blame.
What hasn’t been diminished is the energy in the room. Wrestling fans are a passionate mob. An obvious by-product of following a form of entertainment that’s derided by many.
Newcastle Pro Wrestling launched in 2011 at the New Lambton Community Centre and it quickly outgrew the surrounds due to its colourful mix of characters like Aussie working-class hero Jack Bonza, the vaudeville strongman Concrete Davidson and the burlesque bruiser Harley Wonderland.
Since 2014 its been based inside Charlestown Bowling Club, where it monthly draws crowds of 450 people.
It’s an interesting mix. There’s plenty of kids – predominantly boys –with their parents, but there’s also groups of men on boozy nights out and teenagers and young adults, who could be best described as wrestling connoisseurs.
Everyone is there to suspend reality for several hours. To enjoy the suplexes, the clothelines, the power slams and the colour, comedy and athleticism it entails.
It’s the athleticism that impresses. While Newcastle pro wrestlers lack the size and stature of WWE stars like John Cena and Brock Lesnar, these guys can seriously move.
The opening bout between Jude “The Dude” London and Michael Spencer is fast-paced and delivers a series of near pin-falls to have the audience cheering.
“Some people think because it’s not an legitimate sport, that it’s easy,” says Newcastle Pro Wrestling co-owner Adam Harragon, who wrestles as Adam Hoffman.
“It’s not easy. We train three times a week and that’s just the wrestling. Then there’s cardio and gym work.
“Like any sport we train, but some people don’t understand that and they get a reality check at training when they turn up and realise ‘shit, this is hard’.”
Comedy is also a major component. The biggest laughs of the night are provided by “Tuff Stuff” Ricky South, a campy wrestler who hails from Oxford Street.
Some people think because it’s not a legitimate sport, that it’s easy.
- Adam Harragon
South is wearing lipstick and rainbow tights. Several times during his match he falls suggestively on his opponent, the macho Aussie bloke Jack Bonza. At one point South even kisses Bonza. The crowd goes nuts with laughter.
Other crowd favourites are the four-man Juan Direction. Just imagine One Direction in white Mexican wrestling masks. Then there’s Big Fudge, a scrawny masked superhero whose deadly finishing move is a punch to Harley Wonderland’s rotund backside.
As the night concludes and fans shuffle out past the merchandise tables full of t-shirts, it’s a sea of smiles. Bright and beaming. They have been entertained.
