Jon Dunbar is a copy editor at The Korea Times, as well as editor of the Foreign Community page and curator of the Korea Times Archive. If you have suggestions for possible articles, or wish to contribute articles yourself, contact jdunbar@koreatimes.co.kr.
Pro Wrestling Society set to bodyslam Seoul
Wrestlers pose in a poster for Pro Wrestling Society's upcoming event in Seoul on Sunday, April 14. Courtesy of Pro Wrestling Society
By Jon Dunbar
By Jon Dunbar
It was a little less than a year ago that
began promoting its events here in Korea. It has held a handful of monthly pro wrestling events at its gym in a remote location in Pyeongtaek, and things have been going so well that the men and women of PWS are bringing their show to Seoul this Sunday.
Shiho, one of PWS' wrestlers and trainers, attributes the success to the community it has formed.
“Lots of hard work of members of PWS ― great matches of our wrestlers, media team, management team and our sponsor ― made it possible,” he told The Korea Times. “It will be the watershed for us to prove that pro wrestling is a very fun culture for anybody regardless of age or gender. We are very hyped up to show people what we have.”
One impressive factor in this community has been the stability of members, with few leaving and only more talent coming in.
“We have been maintaining a stable roster which is very rare in Korean pro wrestling where they lack wrestlers,” he said. “We have been lucky not only to maintain our current roster, thanks to our family-oriented environment, but also have more new faces and veteran wrestlers joining us.”
Zicky Dice, left, is coming to Korea to compete in Pro Wrestling Society's first Seoul event this Sunday. He will face off against underdog Shiho, who is competing for the chance to face Pro Wrestling Society Champion Ryan Oshun. Little is known of masked wrestler The Revenant, right, who faces Kid Rain in the ring. Courtesy of Pro Wrestling Society
Shiho himself has been busy, going outside Korea to wrestle and getting to know other similar pro wrestling organizations around the region. Last year he went to China to join the championship match of
Middle Kingdom Wrestling (MKW)
there, and this year through his connections he's been invited to a pro wrestling show in Nepal.
“It feels wonderful that you can travel all around the world doing what you love making new fanbases,” he said. “I want to spread my name and presence as much as possible across the globe. I've wrestled in the United States, Korea, China and was trained in Japan as well which gave me flexibility in pro wrestling skill and philosophy. And now I'm going to have my match in Nepal which makes the fifth country I've wrestled in.”
On March 31, PWS announced it had established official ties with MKW, founded in 2015, and
, founded in 2013 in Okinawa, Japan.
“Middle Kingdom Wrestling is one of the fastest-growing promotions in China. Their product and quality of matches are setting a new bar every time. I was astonished by their show quality when I was there and it gave me a new perspective about the pro wrestling market of China,” Shiho said.
“Ryukyu Dragon Wrestling is the only wrestling promotion in Okinawa and has been setting themselves as a cultural icon of Okinawa. Their lucha-based actions and unique tastes have been fascinating people of Okinawa.”
The partnership means the three East Asian organizations are exchanging personnel, including trainers, trainees and talented wrestlers.
Japanese rookie pro wrestler Ann Chyamu, left, and Uncle Money of Middle Kingdom Wrestling are coming to Korea to compete in Pro Wrestling Society's first Seoul event this Sunday. Chyamu will compete against fellow Japanese wrestler Hibiscuss Mii of Ryukyu Dragon Wrestling, and Money's opponent remains a secret. Courtesy of Pro Wrestling Society
For the Seoul show, Ryukyu Dragon Wrestling is sending Hibiscus Mii, a 20-year female veteran of pro wrestling, and MKW is sending Uncle Money to compete.
There will be seven matches in all. The contenders include masked luchadores, female wrestlers and a few yet to be announced. The main event will be a tag team match putting Jo Kyung-ho and Kim Min-ho up against Ryan Oshun and Adam Mayhem.
The
event is held Sunday, April 14
, at 2 p.m. at All Stadium, a space for combat sports in Dobong-gu, northeastern Seoul, nearest to Banghak Station on Line 1. Entry costs 20,000 won or 5,000 won for children under 12. Cash only.