Ring Girl at Hogtown Live Wrestling in Toronto
Played a bit part in some thrilling sports theatre on Sat Oct 1st 2016, when I appeared as the official Ring Girl (ring person?) at the Hogtown live Wrestling event in Toronto at the Super Wonder Gallery on Bloor st W in Toronto. This was a bit like being a cat in room full of rocking chairs… I had to keep one eye on the action, but most of all I just worked hard just staying out of everyone’s way.
Live wrestling needs Ring Girls to fetch discarded costumes and props and hold up signage showing the match number and wrestlers’ names etc, and I got the call because I have experience doing it! This is my third appearance as ring girl but the other two times were for boxing matches.
Wrestling is different. The guys are more colourful and way more into themselves and their characters.
Not many of them even noticed me, except to tell me to move, or ‘watch out!’ . But I added to the excitement in my own way.
The Super Wonder Gallery added the colored lights and stocked the bar with beer and whisky and were very generous (to me) with both. It was a good atmosphere, and everyone had a real good time. The people who came in off the street couldn’t believe it – the show is really exceptional. It’s well written and full of dramatic stunts, high falls, slaps and barrel rolls.
The matches were exciting and kept everyone pretty much riveted to their chairs – nobody knew the outcomes except maybe the wrestlers! Haha no honestly I couldn’t tell if it was real or scripted. When I asked one of the guys backstage he changed the subject and started asking me about my wings – it worked. i talked all about my wings.
Frankie from Amicos late night pizza Toronto posed with me at the ring- its part of a Ring Girl’s contract to pose with sponsors, plus Amico’s Pizza is delicious and I’m going to have a late night party there for my blog peeps this winter.
Rob Campbell wrote about collecting Toronto wrestling posters after I saw him at the show; he paid three bucks each for these posters (they’re not even that old) and thinks they’ll be worth a mint in a few years. Maybe they will now that I posed with them!
Hung with the wrestlers out back and got in the action when they were recording videos and taking pictures. I suppose the longer i hang around, the more they’ll work me into their drama but honestly if there’s even the smallest chance I’ll get an elbow in the face then I’m out.
Here I am – divide and conquer.
The costumes are great – I met the girl who made some of them. 
Monster Muffin aka Muffin or Muffy. She came and sat ringside and watched the whole show. Later I found out she’s a roller derby star and skates with Team Ontario, Toronto Roller Derby All-Stars and The Chicks Ahoy.
I wish I knew more about the backstories of the individual wrestlers. Before the next match I hope to watch some of the Rogers TV shows and get a bead on who everyone is and what they did before and where they stand in the rankings. You get out what you put in, and I like the vibe here.
Come out on Nov 11th to the next show – Super Wonder Gallery
Classic Raymi post – good story – nice adventure. see you at the next show
Great post, Raym. Wrestling was a big part of my youth, in fact I seriously considered becoming a wrestler. I would have been a great heel, I’m a big guy and love trolling the audience! So cool for you to be a ring girl, I bet you killed it. Ringside high fives from out west! Xoxo