Barrie wrestling fans will be out in full force Sunday when the stars from WWE NXT head up the 400 north for the first time.
The Barrie Molson Centre will host the WWE’s flag ship developmental program, which is quickly becoming the most popular of the wrestling company’s three major television shows (RAW and Smackdown Live being the other two). Jon Peterson is not only a huge wrestling fan, but is also a referee with local wrestling promotion Barrie Wrestling. Peterson says it is exciting to see this brand come to town as opposed to the other two more mainstream as it is for the more diehard fan.
“I think the one thing that stands out about NXT from say Raw or Smackdown Live is the fact that it tends to focus more on the in-ring action rather than being a male soap opera every week,” said Peterson. “With NXT, the superstars really get a chance to show off what they are capable of talent-wise in the ring.”
There are eight matches scheduled for the show, which starts at 5 p.m., and most of NXT’s stars will be on-hand. The main event will be an intergender mixed tag match as NXT Champion Andrade Almas/Zelina Vega vs Johnny Gargano and his wife Candice LaRae.
The NXT Women’s Champion Ember Moon will defend her title against Nikki Cross and NXT’s newest mega signing Ricochet will make his tour debut in a match against Fabian Aichner.
Next weekend Peterson and the rest of the Barrie Wrestling crew will host their monthly live family friendly show at 49 Ferris Lane in Barrie. The March 3 Wrestle 4 Cardiology event is set to be a big one, which makes Peterson happy to just be a fan at Sunday’s show and is overjoyed that he and the rest of the folks from Barrie Wrestling can get out to see the biggest wrestling company in the world do their thing.
“Bringing NXT to Barrie to give the fans an alternative to Barrie Wrestling is fantastic,” said Peterson. “I may be a bit biased when I say I think we're still the best game in town, but anything that helps get eyes on professional wrestling in general is great for the business and our fans.”
One interesting connection between the biggest professional wrestling show on earth and the local Barrie Wrestling promotion is a man named Darryl Sharma.
Sharma is an official with NXT and is touring the world with the company; but fans of Barrie know Sharma better as Hornet. Hornet was a Barrie Wrestling mainstay and was one of many who helped grow the promotion since its start three years ago.
A former King of Barrie and heavyweight champion of the area, Sharma will walk in to the BMC to officiate Sunday’s show but could very well get the loudest ovation from the fans who loved Hornet. Peterson officiated many of Hornet’s matches and can’t wait to see the man who was well respected by all here in the city.
“Darryl was an key piece of Barrie Wrestling in it's early days.,” said Peterson. “To see someone as humble as him get noticed on the big stage and eventually get signed is huge, and it gives the rest of us hope that we too can eventually make it to the big dance; be it WWE, New Japan or even places like Ring of Honor.”
Sunday’s WWE NXT Barrie Molson Centre show starts at 5 p.m. with doors opening at 4 p.m. Tickets can still be purchased at the door for those looking for a great time out.
