London native Kyle Boone will take to the top rope this weekend as ICON Wrestling hosts its first-ever event at the Marconi Club.
The event takes place Saturday, Jan. 24, and marks Boone’s return to his hometown after several years on the independent wrestling circuit.
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“I am ecstatic about it because icon wrestling has phenomenal talent if you know anyone who’s on this show,” he said, “you know that they are what makes indie wrestling fantastic and a must-watch. Not only are they great stellar athletes and performers, but they’re also great people behind the scenes.”
Boone also shared what inspired him to pursue professional wrestling.
“I always saw wrestlers as real-life superheroes and they brought so much joy and excitement to my life. As I grew up, I always wanted to bring that to more kids, and more people who wanted to be fascinated by the world of pro wrestling.”
ICON Wrestling promoter Shilo said the new organization is launching in London with a focus on highlighting local talent.
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“We’re starting in London because London is my hometown, and as a professional wrestler myself, I’ve had the ability to travel and see the great things that other cities have done,” she said.
“We have a lot of great wrestling in London, but the one thing that I did notice was that we don’t have anything that stays local to the city. Everything travels and I see this as an opportunity to create stories that people can follow and they can stick with.”
Shilo said the organization aims to create an inclusive environment within the wrestling industry.
“I love wrestling and I’ve been a part of wrestling for quite a while now. And again, I just, I want to build something that is inclusive and is a safe space for people to grow and there’s not a lot of women in leadership positions in this industry,” she said.
“I want to create a space where everybody feels like they can come bring the best version of themselves, and do what they love while still being able to take joy out of something.”
The event has drawn interest from wrestling fans across the city, but tickets and general admission are still available at https://www.londontourism.ca/events/icon-wrestling-presents-the-intro.
