Exhibition Park CEO Mike Warkentin is helping to pin down some new fans of Whoop up Days by adding Pure Power Wrestling to the card for this year’s free family festival.  He hopes wrestling fans will flip over having  wrestling on the grounds  for Whoop Up Days this year.

 

“We couldn’t be more proud  to welcome Pure Power Wrestling,” said Exhibition park CEO Mike Warkentin.

“ Wrestling  has been a tradition since Stampede Wrestling,” Warkentin continued, adding Whoop Up Days welcomed wrestling years ago, though he couldn’t remember exactly when.

 

“That was before my time,” he said.

 

 Pure Power Wrestling will bring Hot Summer Night to the Agri-food Hub & Trade Centre on Friday, Aug. 25 for a one night only,  ticketed performance beginning at 7 p.m.,  that Friday night.

“ We were looking for ways to diversify our entertainment program,” he continued adding The First Nations Warrior competition is also on Friday night.

“ We‘re hoping to get attract a new crowd to Whoop up Days,” he said.

 

In an evening that won’t be forgotten, the card will be headlined by a PPW Heavyweight Title defense as reigning champion “Cougar Meat” Kyle Sebastian defends his title against his friend and mentor “Mr. Beefy Goodness” Vance Nevada, who is winding down his 30-year career this year. It’s a clash of generations in Southern Alberta’s home for professional wrestling. 

Bringing Pure Power Wrestling to Whoop-Up Days revitalizes a tradition of Lethbridge & District Exhibition  hosting professional wrestling events, as Stampede Wrestling and WWF both made the South Pavilion a frequent stop in decades past, with legends such as Archie “The Stomper” Goldie, Abdullah the Butcher, the Iron Sheik and the Hart family all appearing in front of Southern Alberta crowds.

 There will also be a full music program happening this year.

 

 Rebel Angels ’50s  announced they will be performing at 6 p.m., Aug. 26 for Whoop Up Days.

 

“ We‘re still finalizing the entertainment program,” Warkentin said, adding it, as well as the grand opening of the Agri-food Hub and Trade centre,  will be announced in the next couple of weeks.

 Sydney Steele, a  Pure Power Wrestling veteran who has been with the group since it’s inception 12 years ago is excited about performing at Whoop Up Days.

 

“I’ve always really wanted to do professional wrestling at Whoop Up Days,” Steele said.

 

“ It’s 100 percent an all ages show for everybody from 1 to 99,” he said

Tickets for the all-ages show are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat editor