A wrestling show boss admits he can’t believe he’s hosting a 20 year anniversary show.
British Championship Wrestling (BCW) had made its debut at Kilmarnock’s Grand Hall back in 2003, and chief Graham McKay can’t wait for the special event on Saturday, April 8.
Tickets sales have been flying with the initial allocation selling out, but Graham managed to secure extra tickets after an agreement with the venue and they can be purchased here.
And he’s delighted to be bringing a show of this quality to fans, which will see Scots TV star Grado get back in the ring.
Speaking to the Kilmarnock Standard Graham said: “I would never have imagined still putting on shows 20 years later, I didn’t think the company would be so big and as well known as it has become.
“To think when we first started out we were getting 100-200 people at the shows first the first five years or so, maybe even longer.
“I had visions of where I wanted the company to be and I worked hard, used my wages from the day job to help get funds together for shows.
“Years of hard work turned my vision into reality, at first we had everyone walking out of a side door to the ring, but now I have a custom built ramp and entrance way, the light display and screen is all part of it too.
“I’ve had a lot of people telling me that a BCW show is the closest you’d get to WWE and it’s on their front door step, I try my best to make it feel authentic.”
He continued: “I knew I had the determination, I am not one for lying down and over the years competition got fiercer, at the start there was only two companies in Scotland, so things have got tougher in that sense.
“To still be one of the leading companies after all that time is a big thing, to maintain that standard is hard because you’re putting pressure on yourself every show to do better and keep that level up.
“I always try and bring in the best talent, I was always told if you pay peanuts you’ll bring in monkeys, that’s why I invest in the best talent and try to give fans the wrestlers who are larger than life and bring that wow factor.”
When asked what the highlight of his 20 years he simply said: “Drew Galloway v Matt Hardy. Even to this day I still can’t believed I pulled that off.
“Having one of the Hardy Boyz in Scotland was just surreal, and to think Matt Hardy fought Drew Galloway in Kilmarnock is incredible.
“To put it down to one memory is hard though, the amount of ex-WWE talent we’ve had through those curtains is staggering.
Grado, from Ayrshire, will take on Krieger in a match that is sure to delight the crowd.
Graham says it’s great to have a popular talent back in town: “To have Grado back after so long is great, he’s been away for a few years because it’s hard getting him in amongst his TV schedule.
“It’s a big thing getting him signed up, it will be special for the fans because he’s a Scottish TV star now and having him back at the Grand Hall will be surreal.”
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