WRESTLING mania will come to Bradford for the first time in years next week.

The Broken Ring Wrestling (BRW) Show on March 29 coincides with the reopening of one of the UK’s most famous venues for the sport spectacle this year.

St George’s Hall was once a stalwart in the world of wrestling, taking in the likes of Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks for bouts broadcast on World of Sport.

The fabled venue last hosted a big wrestling show in 2010 when the American Wrestling Spectacular saw the likes of Rey 619 and Triple Threat Thriller compete in the World Cup Superbrawl finale.

One of Bradford’s most iconic buildings has since undergone a refurb and reopened earlier this year.

Bradford lad and owner of Broken Ring Wrestling, TJ Walterson, spoke passionately about his love for the venue.

He said: “I wouldn’t have wanted to run it anywhere else than St George’s Hall and there’s no other venue in the city that could possibly hold this type of event and give it the grandeur it deserved.

“Bradford wrestling fans deserve a quality venue on their doorstep, and they’ve got it. It’s finally been rebuilt, it’s finally been reopened, and they can celebrate it and celebrate each other.”

Walterson – a pro-wrestler of 15 years across Europe and America – suffered a back injury two and a half years ago and said BRW was born out of a frustration at his plight and Bradford’s modern place in the world of wrestling.

The owner described the show as 'a love letter to Bradford’s wrestling fans'.

He added: “Everything was broken – my back was broken, the venue was broken, Bradford’s perception in the world of pro-wrestling was broken.

“We can try to fix that and I can’t do that without Bradfordian wrestling fans, I can’t do it without a fantastic venue and we have the talent – the talent’s here, most weekends they travel elsewhere to wrestle.

“People in their own city walk past some of the greatest wrestlers on the planet and have no idea who they are and that to me is just heart-breaking.

“There’s people who work in the city centre right now who are amazing grapplers, amazing performers and their peers, their Bradfordians don’t know who they are."

The show will feature a number of wrestling stars from across the globe including Dewsbury-born WWE UK performer Amir Jordan, World of Sport Wrestling Champion Justin Sysum and the seven-foot mountain Big T Justice.

There will also be a chance to win prizes with a huge raffle, as well as a meet-and-greet by donation after the show, all which will raise money for High Park Specialist School in Bradford.

Walterson said: “I can tell you it’s going to be dramatic, action-packed, spectacular. It’s going to have stories that grip you, characters that move you, and above all else you’re going to feel something.

“Pro-wrestling at its very core is an art form and with any good art you will feel something.

“In the same 10-minute period you might feel disgust, disdain, joy, adulation. I don’t think any other art form can provide that. Any other form of entertainment can’t provide that.

“And if they can provide it, they can’t provide it live right in front of your face.

“It’s one of the most demanding art forms on the planet and you’re going to get the best wrestlers from around the globe in front of you at St George’s Hall.”

A whole generation of fans were enthused by the wrestling exploits in Bradford of yesteryear. And while Walterson believes it's tricky to inspire people to go into the field, he hopes he can bring wrestling to the eyes of a whole new set of fans.

He said: “I can expose them to it and I can expose them to a very high level, high quality wrestling show.

“I hope to make people feel a full range of emotions. If children are inspired by the characters they see and the lifestyle they lead and the physical results and the health that they have because of it, great.

“But we’re there to make them feel and you’re going to.”

For any sceptics, Walterson also has a message.

He said: “If you’re interested in drama, character, athleticism, storytelling, you will enjoy this show.”

The BRW Show takes placed on Friday, March 29 at St George’s Hall and doors open at 6:30pm.

Tickets are priced at £10 for children and £12 for adults.

For more information and to buy tickets visit: bradford-theatres.co.uk/whats-on/broken-ring-wrestling#scr-booking