A wrestling wave is spreading across Trinidad and Tobago and promoter/wrestler Quincy "Razor" Joseph is hoping that the country will be taken by storm when New Evolution Wrestling (NEW) hosts its Royale event at the popular Hutt Shutts sports bar on Crown Street in Tacarigua from 6 pm on June 8.
Formed in 2008, NEW has staged numerous events over the years, but Joseph said its April 6 Lix and Chaos event was the best attended over the years. With over 400 people packed into the Hutt Shutts venue for Lix and Chaos, Joseph is looking to take the momentum into Royale and future events. Royale will be the third event this year, as NEW also hosted A New Beginning on March 2.
With inspiration coming from watching world-renowned wrestlers such as Bret "The Hitman" Hart, The Undertaker and Kane in the World Wrestling Entertainment, Joseph began wrestling at 17 and also has a vision to enhance pro wrestling in TT.
"The inspiration for (NEW) is actually just a boyhood dream and realising that pro wrestling was big in the 1980s, but it went dead," Joseph told Newsday, during an interview earlier this month.
"My aim was to revamp it and bring it back because we're starving for pro wrestling in the Caribbean. My aim in forming the company was to bring something new. It's a unique form of entertainment, not just for Trinidad, but the Caribbean also."
Alongside local wrestling icon Thunderbolt Williams, Joseph formed the Wrestling Training Academy in Caroni with the goal of giving wrestlers a space and platform to hone their crafts and generate a product which fans would be willing to pay for. At present, Joseph said there are approximately 21 wrestlers in training, including four female wrestlers, with training being held twice a week.
Though the Hutt Shutts location restricts NEW's audience to solely adult patrons, Joseph said the organisation ultimately wants to become self-sufficient to be able to host events at other venues which allow young fans to be involved.
"Later down this year, we have a couple shows planned and we're looking to go in south and do at least three before the year is out," Joseph said. "We tell (patrons) how they can go about becoming a pro wrestler. We don't just employ pro wrestlers alone, we also have commentary, referees, actors and somebody who manages the whole show.
"I would say the show has been growing rapidly...Obviously, we use small venues and I'm seeing growth. I think we're on the right track."
[caption id="attachment_1155677" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Jason "Colossus" London performs his choke-slam finisher on Hades Hall at New Evolution Wrestling's Lix and Chaos event at Hutt Shutts in Tacarigua on April 6. - Photo courtesy Arron Mohammed[/caption]
Joseph said the search for sponsorship is a work in progress and NEW currently generates their income from gate receipts. For the upcoming Royale event, early bird tickets were priced at $50, while tickets are currently priced at $75 and will cost $100 at the door. Income is also generated from merchandising done by
