Top wrestlers book October date in Ratoath

Ratoath"s Venue Theatre will be transformed into an exciting fighting arena in October when Wrestlemania, the superstars of American wrestling, roll into the village on their American Invasion Tour. Some of the biggest and best names from the USA, Mexico, Japan and Europe will line up to produce the thrills and the spills of major league wrestling in the Meath village on Saturday afternoon, 11th October. It will be the biggest wrestling event outside of Dublin and Belfast as the heroes and villains of the squared circle go one-on-one using a combination of strength, skill and expertise - often defying gravity. It won"t the first time that wrestling has been associated with Ratoath. Back in 1982, the Ratoath Parents" Association staged a professional wrestling event in Ashbourne in order to raise funds towards building a community centre in Ratoath. They contacted the top wrestling promotions company in the UK who were happy to come over to Ashbourne with a top-notch bill. Some of the major stars of the day were featured - all well-known from the Saturday afternoon 'World of Sport" programme on UTV. They included British and World Champion, Tony St Clair, Johnny 'Rasputin" Howard and the Jamaica Kid. Also featured were the top lady wrestlers at that time - the beautiful Tina Starr, and from the USA, the Kansas City Bomber. Tina Starr made front page headlines in the Irish Press around that time after attacking presenter Derek Davis on his Friday night 'Davis At Large" RTE show. The funds raised form the wrestling event all those years ago helped to build the community centre in Ratoath and, a few years ago, it was turned into the beautiful Venue Theatre that is familiar to many locals and visitors alike. The wrestling promoters involved in that fund-raiser back in 1982 are the same promoters involved in the event this October and, after 34 years in the wrestling business, patrons can be assured of seeing the very best wrestling talent available. Of course, the wrestling game has changed completely since then. It"s now more colourful and action-packed. The wrestlers are more athletic and high-flying and very much a part of the glitzy world of showbusiness. Already confirmed for October is the former WWE superstar Joe Legend who currently holds no less than four world champion belts. Legend was featured in the Celebrity Wrestling programme a few years ago and is sure to be a big attraction in Ratoath. Also set to appear in Ratoath is 'The Minx" Sarah Jones - the European Ladies Champion. She recently toured all over Spain and the Canary Islands for the NWE and appeared alonside such top names as Rikishi, Orlando Jordan and The Ultimate Warrior who made his in-ring return on this tour. Also set to appear is Lisa Fury, the number one female competitor in Europe. Lisa has wrestled in Russia, Germany, Italy, Spain and is currently on tour in the USA. Negotiations are still underway to bring some more top American stars to Ratoath in two months" time. The competition will start at 3pm and tickets are now sale at €20 and €18 from the theatre box office on (01) 689 5600 or online at www.venuetheatre.ie.