Real Pro Wrestling on PAX

[liquidkudzu]

Will it be popular or just be crap like everything else on PAX?
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http://www.realprowrestling.com/pax.html


-- Real Pro Wrestling and PAX TV today announced the national
television debut of the first Olympic style-wrestling league. Real
Pro Wrestling will launch its national television debut on February
13, 2005 on PAX, the week following Super Bowl Sunday. Real Pro
Wrestling and PAX have teamed to create a 15-week series, including
14 hour-long shows with the 15th final episode lasting two hours in
duration.


The first 14 episodes will be aired nationwide starting Sunday,
February 13, 2005 at 4-5 p.m. EST/PST and 3-4 p.m. CST. Wrestlers
will compete for the championship and $250,000 in prizes and money
and additional incentive based winnings. PAX network airs in 96
million or 88 percent of U.S. households, with 23 of their top-27
programs being sports-related events.


Each episode also will contain special segments designed for
sponsors to better position their brand during the telecast.
Opportunities are still available and include, Background Stories
(reserved for Title Sponsor), Tale of the Tape, Tech Moment, Move of
the Day, Official Drink, Official Apparel and Official Footwear. All
special segments will air during each of the 15 episodes.


Historically known as one of the most popular sports of the 20th
century, wrestling is set to make its professional TV debut in the
beginning of the 21st century as Real Pro Wrestling showcases the
talents of the elite athletes combining Freestyle and Greco-Roman
rules and techniques. Real Pro Wrestling provides wrestlers an
opportunity to compete beyond collegiate and Olympic competition in
a professional atmosphere comparable to leagues such as the NFL, MLB
and NBA.


Founded in 2002, Real Pro Wrestling is based in Ashland City, Tenn.
and is the creation of two former Northwestern collegiate wrestling
teammates, Toby Willis and Matt Case, and former Olympic hopeful
Kenny Johnson.


"Finally, the world's best wrestlers can earn a living at what they
do best," said Willis, co-founder and CEO. "Wrestling fans deserve
to see their heroes compete against the best in the world."


According to the National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA),
more than one million wrestlers participated in collegiate and high
school programs in the United States in 2003 with an additional 20
million individuals currently living in America having participated
in the sport of wrestling in the past. Studies by National
Federation of High Schools (NFHS) show that wrestling is the sixth
highest participant sport in America despite not having a
professional league or marketing efforts.


The league consists of eight teams from around the country made up
of seven different weight classes ranging from 55 kg/125 lbs. to 120
kg/250 lbs. Regional teams will include the New York Outrage,
California Claw, Chicago Groove, Iowa Stalkers, Oklahoma Slam,
Minnesota Freeze, Pennsylvania Hammer and the Texas Shooters. Team
line-ups and coaches will be announced at a later date.


Fan favorite and 2004 Olympic bronze medallist Rulon Gardner will
headline the cast of Olympic wrestlers, including Dan Gable
(Wrestling legend and Olympic Gold Medallist), Cael Sanderson (2004
Olympic gold medallist), Cael's coach Bobby Douglas (Wrestling
legend and Olympic coach), and Steve Abas (2004 Olympic silver
medallist), as they gear up for the inaugural season of the first
Olympic style wrestling league. Real Pro Wrestling, the gimmick-
free, script-free Olympic style-wrestling league, will be taped in
front of a live studio audience on October 8-9 at the Los Angeles
Center Studios.


Matches will take place atop a specially designed elevated circular
wrestling mat in a 360-degree Roman colisseum-inspired arena. A
total of eight cameras will capture the action on the mat to present
the live audience and television fans alike the greatest viewing
experience. Live heart pounding music will increase the already
intense atmosphere surrounding the event.


The one-hour weekly episodes will be comprised of two complete
matches of up to 10 minutes each in length and highlights from other
matches. Special segments concerning the history of the sport,
little known facts and explanations of the rules will also punctuate
the time between matches, as well as the biographical vignettes.


Negotiations are underway for a team of commentators that will
include a major television sports personality as well as a former
world champion wrestler or coach for the color commentary.

[CityOfAngels]

Great idea. Whether or not they can pull it off without a hitch is another question.

[mazagmot]

It would be good to able to watch wrestling regularly rather than the once in awhile NCAA champoinships on ESPN.

[CandleInTheDark]

I love it already.

[animal909]

nice. I like it!