A sold-out crowd is anticipated to take in a high-energy wrestling event scheduled to take place at Polish Combatants Hall (291 Albinson St.) on April 24.
Canadian Wrestling's Elite representative Danny Warren told Sudbury.com the last time they were in town at the same venue a few months ago, it was standing room only.
“We’re coming back with a bigger event and a much bigger headliner than the last time,” he said, adding that the local wrestling scene has grown significantly since the Winnipeg-based company first started coming to Sudbury in 2018.
“We’ve now captured the attention from more than just the die-hard fans in the area, but casual people who are curious at checking it out.”
The small venue booked for the April 24 event only adds to the experience.
“Once you’re there live and you’re seeing it in-person for the first time, you’re seeing a completely different animal than you’d expected,” he said, adding that with everything directly in front of you and the excitement contagious, there’s a lot of energy flowing through the hall.
Headlining the event will be Rowan, formerly of WWE fame prior to being cut loose in 2020 to join the independent circuit.
Alongside a handful of travelling performers, the show features wrestlers from every region the show takes place in, with Sudbury represented by Magnum McLaren, whose 17th birthday is only a few days prior to the event.
“We were looking for some new faces in eastern Ontario to kind of be the flag-bearers of the organization when we came out that way,” Warren said, adding that McLaren joined the organization last autumn and “has been hitting home runs for us ever since.”
Although McLaren has been written as a pompous villain character, Warren said a unique thing took place during his previous appearance in Sudbury in February, when the crowd actually began cheering on the home-grown, scene-stealing character.
With McLaren reportedly on the road and too busy to take a phone interview, Sudbury.com connected with him by emailed correspondence.
As with Sudbury.com’s previous story with McLaren in advance of his appearance at least year’s Capreol Days, McLaren remained in character and insisted that Magnum McLaren is his real name.
A third-generation wrestler, McLaren said he has been training at his home gym, which includes weight lifting and cardio twice per day, plus a couple months of intensive training camps each year.
“I'm The Magnum and that's how I act,” he said of his character. “I dress flashy in and out of the ring because I feel that is the only way to be successful in the business. If you pretend to be somebody else in this business, it's not authentic and people can see right through it.”
It’s a busy time for McLaren, with the young wrestling star’s career picking up steam.
After the April 24 event in Sudbury, he is scheduled to participate in the May 27 Nickel City Slam event hosted by Project X Wrestling at the Sudbury Curling Club.
He will also be on the road, performing at a contest in Montreal on May 7, which McLaren describes as “the perfect stepping stone for The Magnum as he quickly ascends through the professional wrestling business.”
With last year’s Capreol Days a “fantastic success,” he said the event is returning for a much bigger wrestling show for this year’s event, hosted by Project X Wrestling.
The April 24 show at Polish Combatants Hall (291 Albinson St.) begins with a meet and greet at 6 p.m., followed by doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and a bell time of 7 p.m.
Tickets are $28 for VIP meeting and greet, $23 for general admission in advance and $26 at the door, if there are still any available.
Advance tickets are available at Harley G’s (1314 Lasalle Blvd.) and online by clicking here.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.
