‘Clash on Campus’ sees wrestling rock University
The stars of Kingdom Wrestling, the UK’s first faith-based professional wrestling charity, slammed their way into the University of Bradford for an action-packed show.
‘Clash on Campus’ saw a crowd of enthusiastic fans enjoy a night of suplexes, clotheslines and powerbombs inside the University’s cavernous atrium.
Fans of all ages gathered for what is intended to be the first of regular campus-based events.
Famous face
Gareth ‘GK’ Kelly, of Bradford rap group Bad Boy Chiller Crew, formed part of the line-up and wrestled in the first match.
After his victory, the rapper challenged Kingdom Wrestling founder, Gareth Atkinson, who wrestles under the name Gareth Angel, to a future match, saying there was ‘only room for one Gaz in Bradford’. Gareth Atkinson then came towards the ring to confront Kelly, and the two men had a stare down in the atrium.
The event featured six wrestling matches, including singles bouts, an intergender contest won by female wrestler Scarlett, and a tag team match.
Other Kingdom Wrestling stars in action at the University event included Dylan Chase, Tommy Rocker and the masked Young Horus.
‘Inspiring your audience’
Mr Thompson, who runs the company from St Peter’s Church in Shipley, said the event was all about delivering a message of ‘positive masculinity’.
He said: “This is about delivering a message of positive masculinity; it’s about storytelling and connecting and inspiring your audience.”
The 38-year-old father-of-three, who also wrestled at the ‘Clash on Campus’ event, winning a three-man bout, said he hoped to make the events monthly at the University of Bradford.
Away from in-ring action, Kingdom Wrestling runs a training academy, a men’s mental health group and work with schools.