They cheered, they laughed, they screamed and, for the 150 plus fans in attendance at the All Star Wrestling (ASW) event at Totem Hall on Saturday (Nov. 6), it was a night they won't soon forget.
Young fans William Trento and Layton Parrs were among the most vocal audience members on the evening.
"It was a really good show," said Layton.
The show's "officiating" got the pair riled up as the referee seemed to look away every time an illegal move was perpetrated on William's favourite grappler, the masked superhero known as The Volcano.
The two youngsters may also have gotten heated when Squamish's own Cody "TKO" Smith, moments away from winning the ASW tag team title, was viciously attacked while the referee was incapacitated.
You know you're on when the kids go nuts, said Smith.
"Entertaining the kids is what wrestling is all about," he said. "I loved doing the autograph signings and taking photos with the kids, it really made it all worth it."
The match marked Smith's first foray into the squared circle since an ankle injury suffered in 2006, and he said he was overwhelmed by the support he got from the hometown crowd.
"It was just really a fantastic night," he said. "I think we had a great show and the crowd was popping and loud all night long."
Smith said ticket sales were up 30 per cent from the last 2009 show in Squamish, and he said it was great to see so many familiar faces cheering him on.
"It was just such a thrill to hear the roar of the crowd again," he said. "It seemed like I knew everybody in the crowd and there wasn't a face I didn't recognize. It was nerve-wracking at first, but once I stepped through the ropes again, I felt really good."
The night started off with an eight-man, over the top rope battle royal, with the final two men left standing gaining a title shot in the main event against the ASW tag team champions known as Team Japanada.
And although it was advertised as Smith's final match, he said he can't resist seeking revenge on the man that cost him the tag team titles.
"I've got to beat that monster somehow," Smith said. "I want to come back and beat the guy that blindsided me in my hometown."
Participating in the battle royal were "Gorgeous" Michelle Starr, Volcano, Adam Virtue, Mr. India, Bruiser Joe, Toga Boy, The Panama Wasp and Smith, who at first wrestled under a mask.
Lasting close to 20 minutes, the match saw Smith and Mr. India team up to take out Starr and gain a shot at the tag team titles. After winning, Smith took off the mask and was introduced to the fans as a Squamish local, which caused the cheers to cascade down from all corners of Totem Hall.
Smith and Mr. India seemed to gel as a tag team and had the match under control until the referee was inadvertently knocked out, which brought out the monstrous Lak Siddartha who laid out Smith.
Smith was quickly pinned by Team Japanada member Seth Knight and Siddartha continued the beat-down following the match.
ASW owner Mark Vellios said he was pleased with how the show turned out.
"It was a better turn out than normal in Squamish," he said.
The show also helped raise close to $500 for the Squamish First Nation recreation department.
ASW plans to return to Squamish in the New Year, likely in the spring.
