Strike won’t halt wrestling at Ted Reeve Arena

News of Toronto labour unrest hits fans across North America
Temp dump outside arena, but inside pro wrestling event a go

By Kris Scheuer
Wrestling fans across North America are trash-talking Toronto.
News of the city’s labour disruption has travelled south of the border as fans who plan to attend the two-day Death Before Dishonor VII series at Ted Reeve Arena wonder how the strike may affect them.
The event by American promoter Ring of Honor will feature dozens of wrestlers including the Super Smash Brothers and Frankie the Mobster on July 24–25. Also on hand are World Wrestling Entertainment alumni Bret “Hitman” Hart and “Nature Boy” Ric Flair for autographs.
News of Toronto’s strike was a hot topic on an online message board for Ring of Honor. Enthusiasts online are wondering if it is worth the trip to Toronto.
But the show will go on fans: operations at Ted Reeve are going on as scheduled. The arena is run by a city-appointed management board and operated by non-unionized staff.
But that doesn’t mean visitors won’t catch a whiff of garbage.
The arena’s parking lot has been converted into one of the city’s temporary mini-dump sites.
Many posters took the opportunity to make fun of the smelly situation online:
“I’m looking forward to the Toronto shows, but those shows might come with an odor (sic),” wrote ROH Canada. “I wonder if the arena is even open during the strike.
“Heck, maybe we can throws bags of garbage at (wrestler) Jimmy Rave since Toronto is fed up with the strike.”
Lonewolf wrote, “It’s not going to smell that different. Trust me.”
Cowtown clotheslined his fellow forum denizens with a quick quip.
“The Ted Reeve arena is one of the city’s 19 garbage dumps at present,” he wrote. “If the strike doesn’t end, everyone hold your nose.”
“Wait till Bret Hart comes out and cuts a promo about having to deal with a ‘piece of garbage’ outside,” ROH Canada added.
Tongue-in-cheek humour aside, if the strike continues, the dump next to the arena may be filled to capacity by the time the event rolls around.
But with any luck the indoor arena will be full too — with wrestling fans.
(Originally published July 8/09 at http://www.mytowncrier.ca)

Advertisement