Homegrown wrestling: high flying, hard-hitting, and exciting

Times Photo by Meg Noguchi SHOWMANSHIP: Pure Power Wrestling entertained a huge crowd at this year’s Cornfest.

By Cal Braid
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Pure Power Wrestling is coming to the Taber Community Centre on Jan. 5 and bringing ‘New Year’s Beatings’ with it. That’s what the poster says, so beware. 

For more than twelve years, PPW has been producing all-ages pro wrestling events throughout southern Alberta and BC. Kevin Farrell is the president of PPW and has been promoting shows for a decade plus. He has wrestled for more than fifteen years, performs under the moniker Sydney Steele, and favours “a loud and incredibly interactive audience.”

In a 2022 interview, Farrell told us, “Our event attendance varies depending on where we are running events. We have performed for 1,500 people at Spitz Stadium and 75 in Fort Macleod. But regardless of attendance, our wrestlers give their all to win the match and put on the absolute best live entertainment possible for the fans. Our wrestlers come from all over, and we have several stars from right here in southern Alberta.”

“PPW events (also) feature world-travelled talent who regularly compete with top stars from throughout the industry. Kyle Sebastian has been wrestling coast-to-coast in Canada for 15 years and has competed in the United States. He has also travelled to Japan where he competed for WWE Legend Tajiri’s SMASH promotion and Pro Wrestling NOAH,” Farrell explained.

Farrell’s wrestling alter ego Sydney Steele has also competed across the country for 15 years and has travelled to Mexico where he trained under some of lucha libre’s all-time legends. Lucha libre refers to freestyle or free-fight wrestling, and often features masked combatants. In addition, he’s competed for Promociones Dinastía Moreno (Dynasty Promotions) and on the International Wrestling Revolution Group.

As a spokesman for the event, Farrell described how the athletic and performance aspects of the sport blend together. 

“Wrestling is an athletic competition to me. It’s high flying, hard-hitting, and exciting. You’ll have fun and be excited like no other form of entertainment. But when I get into the ring my goal is to win.”