Warrior Wrestling Returns With Willow Nightingale Appearance

BOWMANVILLE – Warrior Wrestling is returning from a two-year hiatus for an event at half Acre beer Co. this week that will feature an appearance by All Elite Wrestling’s Willow Nightingale.

Doors open at 5:30 pm. Friday at Half Acre, 2050 W.Balmoral Ave. There will be a 7:30 p.m. bell time, but a “pregame party” is planned for fans who come early, including a pre-show meet-and-greet with Nightingale, said Steve Tortorello, Warrior Wrestling founder and president.

“A million people have flipped through wrestling on TV and go,’I don’t get that.’ And then you go to a wrestling show and you go, ‘Oh, now I get it.’ It is indeed in your face,” Tortorello said. “It’s fun, loud and interactive with drinks, food and wrestlers flying all over the place. It’s truly something that you have to experience live to understand.”

Tickets start at $26.50 for general admission while reserved front-row, VIP tickets go for $103. More details about tickets can be found here.

Tortorello, who lives in Uptown, is a lifelong wrestling fan and was a kid when he was swept up in a wave of “Hulkamania” that saw wrestlers like Hulk Hogan cross over into celebrity status in the ’80s.

Tortorello’s always enjoyed the community aspect of wrestling during live shows – being part of the chants and cheers while someone is flying in the air to crush someone else down onto the mat, he said.

“there’s no net and there is no do-over or take two. It is incredible action,stunt performers doing this live in front of your face,” Tortorello said.”I sometimes tell people that if you go to a Benihana, where you see people flipping stuff while they cook, it’s like that.You’re watching this incredibly hazardous and risky thing right in front of you.”