Washington, D.C. residents will now have the chance to watch an independent professional wrestling match as longtime coach Nick “Mister Gator” Capezza is launching the first indie pro wrestling organization “Prime Time Pro Wrestling” in the District next month.
Lolo McGrath, the chief brand officer of Prime Time Pro Wrestling, told DCist that D.C. has not been a place that independent wrestling (organizations) have ever been before.
“I’m really excited to help run the first indie wrestling show. I want other promotions to wrestle in D.C., too, because we do have wrestling fans here,” she said.
The first event, under the name Grapitol City, is scheduled to take place at D.C. Brau on May 26 inside the brewery where a 25-foot-by-25-foot elevated wrestling ring will be set up with three rows of seats.
McGrath previously worked as a ring announcer at NOVA Pro, which was later closed. She started to consider establishing a new organization that would be based in D.C. given the number of pro-wrestling fans in the area.
Prime Time Pro Wrestling will find the talent in stages leading up to Grapitol City. “What I can tell you is, the main event for this show is going to be for a title match. It’s going to be for a championship belt,” said McGrath who also works as the beverage manager at DC9.
“I have told people before, and I truly mean this, I think being involved in wrestling and being a wrestling fan has made me a better person. As people who observe pop culture it’s really really easy to get jaded and to [exclusively] love irony and things that are high-brow,” she said, adding that the sport was gritty and very earnest.
“If you are watching pro wrestling and you’re being judgmental of it, you’re not going to enjoy yourself.”
Grapitol City is scheduled at 3:00 p.m. on May 26 at D.C. Brau (3178 Bladensburg Rd NE). Tickets ($15-$25) can be purchased starting from April 19.
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