Pro Wrestling Eve

Brighthelm Centre, Brighton

Friday, June 28

THERE are a select group of wrestling fans who will only see women’s wrestling for what it was in the mainstream in the late Nineties and early Noughties, where the female stars were seen only as eye candy to draw male fans.

But there are companies around the world that are proving women can wrestle to just as high a level as their male counterparts – as long as they are given the opportunity.

Pro Wrestling Eve is one such company with its hugely popular all-female line-up.

“Promotions like ours show what happens when the limits are taken off women wrestlers,” said Eve co-founder Emily Read.

The London wrestling promotion has been selling out at the Resistance Gallery for more than two years and is now bringing its punk rock style to the seaside for the first time.

Despite its popularity Emily and her husband Dann say there is still a way to go to make sure women’s wrestling is seen on a level playing field.

Dann said: “Although the presentation of women’s wrestling on TV is better it has a way to go.

“There will always be that mentality that the women are only there as a pretty face on a poster to make the dads come.”

Emily said: “It annoys me when people say women can’t wrestle because there is proof they can.

“When you see these strong powerful women respected and not seen as objects it means a lot, and just watching it makes you feel powerful.

“Anyone who says women can’t wrestle, it’s because of the environment they are in.

“There are big companies that are guilty of that, because of their platform.

“The women being sexualised by the crowd don’t like that.

“But they still run storylines that encourage that.”

Dann said: “There have always been companies trying to have serious women’s wrestlers.

“We’ve had former women wrestlers come to our shows and tear up because they said they weren’t allowed to do stuff like that.

“Even during the time of ‘bra and panties’ matches there were women who wanted to just go out and wrestle.

“There are now places around the world like Shimmer and Stardom that have had huge influences.”

Pro Wrestling Eve and the Riot Girls come to the Brighthelm Centre in Queen’s Road, Brighton, on June 28.

It is the first all-women’s wrestling show to come to the city.

And the pair want to prove that “everyone is a wrestling fan”.

Dann said: “I’ve never seen anyone leave before the end of a show or disappointed.

“Once you get them there, especially people that don’t watch wrestling, they see someone do a flying drop kick and their head just explodes.

“We mix styles of wrestling but we also have cabaret or burlesque as part of the show as well.

“There is something for everyone.

“It’s something extra that will draw you in and then you’ll end up loving the wrestling as well.”

If you are thinking of attending just to voice your gripes with the female performers, be warned that Emily and Dann will have no qualms about showing you the door.

Emily said: “When people are in an inclusive environment they have more fun.

“Eve isn’t for everyone in the sense that we don’t tolerate any type of hate speech.

“If you feel restricted because we tell you that you’re not allowed to shout something sexist or racist or not to body shame the women then you shouldn’t be at our show.

“You should be having a good heart to heart with yourself about why you’re a disgraceful human.”

“We have a list of people who are banned from Eve,” Dann added.

“We haven’t had to ban anyone for a long time.

“Lots of people go to shows and may get told to not act a certain way but still will with no repercussions because the promoter still wants to make sure they get their £15 next time.

“We are confident we’ll replace that someone with someone who will enjoy the show and be respectful.”

Eve will be hosting its show in the same venue Brighton wrestling promotion Riptide calls home.

Emily and Dann said they can’t wait to come to the city and love what the Riptide team has done in its short time on the South Coast.

Dann said: “We have a good relationship with Riptide, we’re glad to see they have brought wrestling to Brighton because it’s a place that was calling out for it.

“The team there has done such a cracking job.

“They fly the flag for inclusivity as well, which some shows don’t.”

With stars from across the world – and even some who now wrestle for famed wrestling promotion WWE – the team at Eve is proving that if you have any issues with women’s wrestling you will have to deal with the Riot Girls.