The Canadian Wrestling Federation will make its first appearances in the Yukon this May
In 2010, Frank Ryckman had the opportunity to buy the St. Catharines Ontario-based Canadian Wrestling Federation (CWF) and give the now 31-year-old company’s vision a much needed revamp. A former wrestler who had worked with the CWF for years, Ryckman wanted to bring a more youth-forward approach, mixing the performances with training bootcamps and educational seminars for young folks.
“We come in and we do live professional wrestling shows that are very family-oriented,” he says. “You don’t have to worry about swearing or sexual content, or anything like that. Most of the time, we also mix it with anti-bullying workshops.”
https://www.whatsupyukon.com/yukon/communities/On May 16, the CWF will present its first-ever Yukon Rumble at the Takhini Arena, presented by the Yukon Arts Centre (YAC), along with a five-week string of bootcamps in various Yukon communities including Whitehorse, Dawson City, Carmacks, Watson Lake and Old Crow. With a promise of an all-out wrestling spectacle unlike anything Yukoners typically see, Ryckman and his group of wrestlers are thrilled to finally be making it up to the territory.
“I’m not going to lie to you, this is one one of the most exciting tours that I’ve done in a long time,” says Ryckman. “I’m super, super stoked. I’ve been YouTubing and doing some research and I’m stoked.”
Ryckman will have a group of nine wrestlers travelling in the CWF bus, one of whom is Jesse Bieber, the longest-reigning CWF Heavyweight Champion, who has been making a splash in the wrestling world as of late.
“The kids get excited about it,” Ryckman says. “They see his picture online and on Canada’s Got Talent, so it’s pretty cool.”
Bieber debuted last year in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), a larger international promotion, in addition to appearing on Canada’s Got Talent. Like other CWF wrestlers, he’s never been to the Yukon, though.
“I’m super excited … I can’t wait for it,” says Bieber. “It’s a territory I’ve been really excited to come see for the views and everything I’ve heard about up there.”
Getting to visit small communities and work with the youth, teaching them wrestling moves and participating in the anti-bullying workshops, is a rewarding and important part of the job for Bieber.
“It means a lot to me,” he says. “When I get to go to some of these communities, I get to see the way they live, as well. When we get to come through, it’s exciting because we can see the smiles on their faces, when we come to town, and how happy they are when we get to have these conversations with them. We can see them listening and being invested and wanting to do something different, change something or create some sort of new sense of purpose when we do our boot camps.”
While Bieber is excited to see the Yukon, he hopes Yukoners are excited to see the CWF show as well.
“They definitely don’t want to miss this show,” he says. “We’re going to have some crazy food stars, we’re going to have some amazing talent and I know I’m going to bring my A game, so they’re not going to want to miss it.
“Honestly, if you’re looking for an incredible night of entertainment, you will not be disappointed,” says Ryckman. “I think people are in for a shock. I think they’re in for a show they weren’t expecting in Whitehorse.”
Tickets for the CWF Yukon Rumble are available online through the Yukon Arts Centre. Visit cwfwrestling.ca to learn more about and keep up with the CWF.
