Cody "TKO" Smith hopes the third time is a charm.
Smith and his tag-team partner Mr. India will get one last opportunity to capture the All Star Wrestling (ASW) tag-team titles when the professional wrestling promotion comes to Totem Hall in Squamish tonight (March 4).
"Absolutely this is our last chance," Smith said. "We either win the belts or we're done."
But Smith said he and his partner have no plans to let the opportunity slip through their fingers. The duo will take on the ASW tag-team champions Team Japanada in a three falls of doom match.
"Our plan is we're not going to let it go to three falls," Smith said of the best two-out-of-three format of the match. "We're going to beat them in two straight and then party at the Grizzly Pub after."
The affair consists of a first fall that will be decided by pinfall or submission, followed by a tornado rules fall. In a tornado rules match, all four wrestlers are allowed in the ring at one time, with tags unnecessary. The third fall, if needed, will be a kendo stick match. Sticks will be suspended on opposing corners and whichever wrestlers shimmy up the pole and grab the sticks can use them in the match.
Smith said that Team Japanada's manager, "Vicious" Verne Seibert has cost him the gold on two separate occasions.
"Last time in Squamish, Verne brought out that monster Lak Siddartha to beat me down and cost us the match," he said. "And in North Vancouver in January he threw in a kendo stick and when Mr. India grabbed it, the ref assumed he was using it."
Capturing the tag titles in his hometown is one of Smith's goals and he said it would be a moment he would never forget.
"One of my goals when I entered the wrestling business was to hold a title of any kind," he said. "It would be a dream come true to win a title and what better spot to win it in than my hometown of Squamish."
Aside from the tag-team titles match, there are four other matches featuring some of the top talent in British Columbia. Raven Lake will take on Veronika Vice in a "Girls Gone Wrestling" bout. Vice has a plethora of experience and has competed all across Canada. She's also competed in the top women's promotion in North America, SHIMMER.
"She's an incredible wrestler," Smith said. "And I think she's really going to put on a good show."
Another match that Smith anticipates is "Gorgeous" Michelle Starr taking on Artemis Spencer in a teacher-versus-student match. Smith said both competitors know how to entertain the crowd. Starr has competed around the world and also helped train Spencer, who has now become one of the most heralded independent stars in Canada. Smith said Spencer can wrestle any style and is one of the most technically sound wrestlers in the country.
After the event, the wrestlers will head to the Grizzly Pub for a meet and greet and fans will have a chance for autographs and photos. Tickets for the event are $15 for ringside and $12 for general admission and are available at Club Flex Athletics or at the Totem Hall. Money raised from the show will help benefit Squamish Nation recreation programs.
Doors open for the show at 7:30 p.m., with wrestlers hitting the squared circle at 8 p.m. For more information on the event, visit www.aswcanada.com.
