Prince George’s new professional wrestling league, Primetime Wrestling, crowned its first two champions in front of two sold-out crowds at the House of Ancestors this weekend.
On Friday night, popular blonde “Backstage Pass” Braydon Goss survived a six-man elimination tournament to claim the league’s northwestern championship. The 29-year-old wrestler from Summerland is a graduate of the Storm Wrestling Academy formerly of Calgary and has been competing for five years.
“This was a hard-fought victory,” said Goss after surviving two matches to claim the title. “But, you can only call yourself the best by beating the best and I welcome the opportunity to be matched against the very best competition in Canada.”
The vacant heavyweight championship was decided via a rather unpopular verdict on Saturday night, when “Mr. Beefy Goodness” Vance Nevada outlasted 12 other competitors in an over-the-top rope Battle Royal to seize victory. Nevada, originally from Brandon extended his standing record as the professional wrestler with the most championship title reigns in Canadian professional wrestling history, claiming the Primetime Heavyweight title as the 46th title belt of his 30-year ring career.
“Finally”, boasted Nevada after the match battling against an enthusiastic chorus of boos and jeers. “Prince George has a real man in this town, a champion that you can be proud of.”
Local organizers Davy Greenlees and Stuart Brown were encouraged by the fan response to the pair of events over the weekend which included a guest appearance by B.C. Indigenous Sports Hall of Famer, Prince George’s Princess Delta Dawn (Dawn Murphy) who also found herself embroiled in the action.
Organizers are already looking ahead to future touring dates across northern British Columbia, including a return to Prince George at the House of Ancestors on May 12 and 13. Details and matches are expected to be announced soon, including the first title defenses of the new champions crowned this weekend.