When International Wrestling Australia returns to Dubbo on Saturday June 15, they'll be doing so in front of one of their most enthusiastic, strongest crowds they've performed in front of.
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"Dubbo's been one of the best wrestling crowds in and around the state, when we've been doing this tour, we've had some really hot crowds," said the IWA's Mark Mercedes.
"We're looking forward to heading back."
Obviously, wrestling doesn't get to come out [to Dubbo] a lot, most people only see things like WWE on television, and when they do come, they come to the big cities, so a lot of the people in the country don't get to see it in person.
- Mark Mercedes
A former full-time professional wrestler himself, Mr Mercedes has seen all the ins and outs of the professional wrestling circuit over a long career, and knows just what kind of crowds evens like this can draw away from the cities.
"We've been doing this for like twenty years now, and we are a live touring act, all over New South Wales, Queensland, we've done this as an annual tour."
"Obviously, wrestling doesn't get to come out [to Dubbo] a lot, only once or twice a year; most people only see things like WWE on television, and when they do come, they come to the big cities, so a lot of the people in the country don't get to see it in person."
The show will feature all of the athletic action fans of the live performances have come to expect, but will also star a number of nationally recognised names in it's top-billed stars.
"We're bringing in some of the best Australian wrestling talent," Mr Mercedes said.
"Jackson Kelly, who's about to come back from the states, he's been training under Seth Rollins and has tried out for the WWE. Cowboy Chris Abbott, who's our heavyweight champion, he's just defeated Joe Rock, who's now in WWE, he's defended his belt against him."
"These guys are really top tier athletes, and they've really worked hard."
The show contains a wide range of entertainment, melding sporting athletics and endurance with elements of theatrical performance and caricature.
"We're a family fun show, we're all about the different characters within that, wrestling is obviously sports entertainment, it's an actual wrestling match but most people understand that it's a work - it's not real and it's a matter of being involved in the show and the characters and people respond to that," Mr Mercedes said.
"The show runs for about two hours, we've got three different tiers of tickets, and a VIP experience where they'll get priority seating and the opportunity to meet a few of the wrestlers. it's roughly a two hour show, it's very interactive and at the end of the show, most of the wrestlers will come out and get autographs and photos with the fans."
Tickets range from $15 for a child, $19 for an adult or $27 for the VIP package.
