Paul English, otherwise known as “Prime Time” Franky Styles, signed up at the age of 15 for a brand new pro wrestling camp in Prince George with coach Stuart Brown.
This weekend, in Paul’s memory, Brown and others have revived the Maniac Wrestling Alliance Ironman Tournament, now named the Prime Time Tournament – after Paul, the tournament’s first winner in 2001.
For years after, Prime Time would tour the west entertaining audiences and winning titles.
During the pandemic lockdown, Brown and the pro wrestling community were devastated to learn that English had committed suicide.
In a news release, event organizers said “A northerner that had been so colorful and had brought joy to so many had himself fallen into despair and perished in May 2021 at 35 years old.”
“I wanted to do more than just thoughts and prayers. It doesn’t ever do anything, I wanted something more” Brown told My PG Now.
All proceeds from the Prime Time Tournament will go towards the Crisis Prevention, Intervention & Information Centre.
Brown says wrestling fans can look forward to “two action packed nights of good wrestling, with different shows each night.”
The tournament’s first night, tonight, will be the opening rounds of the tournament, while the second night will be the finals matches.
There will also be women’s matches and tag teams to look forward to.
The tournament hasn’t run since 2006, Brown says organizers are looking to bring it back annually under the Prime Time Tournament name.
Many wrestlers at the tournament are locals or had toured with English.
Brice “The Slammer” Sova started training with Brown and English from the beginning of the pro wrestling camp’s opening, and will be a headliner at the tournament.
The tournament runs tonight and tomorrow (October 14th and 15th), and will be held at the House of Ancestors. Doors open at 6:15.
“If we can sell the place out, we should be able to donate at least $5,000 to the Crisis Centre, and that’s the goal” said Brown.
Tickets are for sale at the Scrapbook Zone at 3899 18th Avenue, and will also be for sale at the door.
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