Are you ready to rrrrruuumble?
The crowd at Our Lady of Guadalupe sure was on April 20, when the crew from East Coast Professional Wrestling roared into town for a sweaty, testosterone-soaked, no-holds barred smackdown at the 72nd Street school.
Kids and their parents screamed extra loudly for Tony “Brooklyn Bulldog” Biella, a Bensonhurst boy turned ring pro, who shook hands with kids and let them hold his Five Boros championship belt.
“It’s great, he’s a neighborhood guy, and he’s a local champion, and people love” said event organizer Gary Cassiliano, president of the school’s youth program.
Kids also got to to go into the ring to meet the other wrestlers and pull tickets from the night’s 50/50 raffle — the best thing about the event, according to Cassiliano.
“The kids really get to be part of the show. That’s why we have it. It’s not something that’s behind barricades. It’s completely interactive,” the parent and parish member said.
Proceeds from the 400 ticket sales went to a great cause — repairing and maintaining the 105-year-old church, an architectural marvel.
Cassiliano said he cannot wait for the next wrestling event in October, when Biella will take on his mentor and trainer — and fellow Bensonhurst native — Gino Caruso.
“It’s going to be really exciting, two neighborhood guys going at it,” said Cassiliano.
Reach reporter Will Bredderman at wbredderman@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-4507. Follow him at twitter.com/WillBredderman.
