The stars of British Championship Wrestling are set to return to East Kilbride next year on what will be the company's 20th anniversary.
After a four-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, all the thrilling BCW action will be back with a bang in Ballerup Hall with a former WWE Superstar set to showcase his skills in the ring.
BCW boss Graham McKay told Lanarkshire Live it has been "incredibly tough" not being involved in organising shows due to the pandemic, with the last East Kilbride event being held in June 2019.
Now he’s delighted fans will be back watching their favourite stars with a Kilmarnock show scheduled for December 10 ahead of BCW's EK homecoming in 2023.
Graham told Lanarkshire Live : "We have waited four years to get back into the Ballerup Hall - the place where BCW was born.
"As it is a COVID vaccination centre I only got the green light to book it last week so I can't explain how excited both me and the wrestlers are about getting back home.
"There's just something about East Kilbride, there's a vibe, and because its a smaller hall you're closer to all the action.
"My champion BT Gunn has wrestled everywhere in Scotland and he says there's nowhere that will ever touch that atmosphere.
"We have been away for East Kilbride for so long. This is my hometown where it all started, the nostalgia behind it is unbelievable.
"We are still in the planning stages at the moment as when we do go back it will mark our 20th anniversary year so we want to make it as big, and most importantly affordable, for fans to come back along."
Graham revealed BCW is the only Scottish wrestling company in history to achieve such a milestone.
He went on: "Twenty years is a big, big milestone in Scottish wrestling - it's a first. No other company in Scotland has been going for 20 years. BCW is the longest running company out there and still doing it to the same level if not better to this day.
"And believe it or not I still have the same die-hard fans who come to the shows."
Incredibly, East Kilbride father and son Steven and David Paton have never missed a local BCW show in 15 years despite 80-year-old Steven's ailing health.
Graham commented: "Everybody recognises them, they're loved by so many wrestlers. They have seats reserved for them in the front row for every show, they just love it.
"The wrestlers even get Steven involved in the shows stealing his walking stick off him. For a man his age to make every show, it's just fantastic."
Graham added that the upcoming smackdown is the perfect chance for families to have a fun night out and enjoy some "light relief" away from the grim reality of the current cost of living crisis.
"I put up a post saying how I got the green light to come back to East Kilbride and it blew up", he added.
"People are really wanting to get a night out and get away from that reality of what we're facing in everyday life.
"I realise the challenges life is throwing at us with energy prices etc and will look into an affordable price structure, but believe me we have been waiting too long for this return - we might even do two nights at the venue!"
The upcoming Kilmarnock show in the town's Palace and Grand Hall features former WWE superstar and Wyatt family member Erick Rowan who will be bringing fans all the exciting grappling action alongside BCW favourites BT Gunn, Daz Black, Angel Hayze, Davey Blaze and many more.
Tickets priced £10 can be purchased by calling 01563 554 900.
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