Rocking and rumbling

Musical and sporting talent will share the stage for a show with a difference on Boxing Day.

The Studio Bar in Merthyr Tydfil is the venue for an evening of Rock 'n' Wrestling, where muscular grapplers and the best new local bands are set to entertain festive crowds.

In Celtic Wrestling's first show in the area for more than a year, Merthyr-based fighters Caiman Crocodile, Thomas Bassey and Sweet Sugar Steve Bassey have already been confirmed.

They will take on opponents from Cardiff, Mountain Ash and Birmingham.

Caiman, aka Karl Griffiths, said: "This is going to be a little different from our ordinary wrestling shows.

"It's aimed at more of an adult audience, people who are normally sat around on Boxing Day looking for somewhere to go.

Everyone involved will be putting on a show to remember to rock the socks off Merthyr!"

Tickets for the show are available from the Studio Bar, priced £5, with the action starting at 7.30pm.

Caiman is comin’ to town

GRAPPLE fans in Cardiff are gearing up for some high octane action as the latest Celtic Wrestling show hits the city.

Topping the bill at the Cathays Community Centre in Cathays Terrace on Saturday is South Wales favourite Caiman.

Also known as Karl Griffiths, from Merthyr Tydfil, Caiman has proved a hit with fans and is also the founder of Celtic Wrestling. He will take on Vaughn in a grudge match.

There will be a host of other fighters in a series of bouts. Doors open at 7pm and the action starts at 7.30pm. Entry is £6 for adults and £5 for children and pensioners.

For further information call 07729045845.

Season’s Beatings

Rock ‘n’ wrestling comes to Merthyr this Christmas. Boxing Day will see Celtic Wrestling running its first show in Merthyr Tydfil when they team up with a group of rock bands for a night of muscle and music.

Wrestling talent on the bill will include Merthyr’s own Caiman, Thomas Bassey and Sweet Sugar Steve Bassey, as well as a line-up of wrestling talent from Cardiff, Mountain Ash and Birmingham.

The show runs from 7.30pm till late at the Studio Bar.

Tickets are available from the Studio Bar at £5.

Merthyr maulers making wrestle debut at weekend

Four Merthy Tydfil men are set to make their wrestling debuts this weekend after receiving months of coaching from one of the town's top grapplers.

Warren Lewis (Thunderbolt Tommy Dean), Anthony Shirley Thomas (Classy Thomas Bassey), Steve Thomas (Sweet Sugar Steve Bassey) and Jason Payne (Doctor Pain) will step into the ring on the same bill as their mentor, Karl Griffiths, aka Caiman the Crocodile.

Griffiths revealed the fighters had approached him around the town and asked him to become their coach.

He said: "I first met the guys on a night out after they'd seen a feature on me in the Merthyr Express.

"They asked me if I'd be prepared to train them, and naturally I jumped at the chance to inject some new wrestling talent into my home town."

"I have spent several months training the guys and the time has come now where I believe they are ready to step into competitive action in the ring."

Their big break takes place this Saturday at Cathays Community Centre, Cardiff, where Griffiths will take on former PPW Welsh Heavyweight Champion, Matt Vaughn in the main event.

Griffiths has fought the Cynon Valley wrestler on several occasions, but this time, he says, it's personal.

"Vaughn has publicly slated me, Merthyr Tydfil and the wrestlers I've trained on more than one occasion, I'll be holding nothing back for this bout," he said.

"This will be Caiman versus Vaughn Part Six, I believe - I've fought him before and I've beaten him before.

"I ask that any Caimanics from Merthyr come along, not only in support of me, but in support of our home town and our new breed of wrestlers."

Welsh wrestler on bill

Celtic Wrestling is to host its latest show at Cathays Community Centre, Cathays Terrace, Cardiff on Saturday, November 12.

The show starts at 7.30pm and tickets are £6 adults, £5 children or £20 for a family of two adults and two children.

Among the wrestlers taking part will be South Wales favourite Caiman, pictured, aka Karl Griffiths from Merthyr.

For more information visit www.celticwrestling.com or call 07729045845.

Pro wrestling training sessions will be held at Newport Leisure Centre (opposite bus station) from midday through to 3:00pm on October 2nd, October 16, October 30, November 13 and November 27. Trainees of all ability are welcome. Each training session costs £10.00.

Wrestling returns

Wrestling returns to Wales in Cardiff on October 15. New promoter Celtic Wrestling is presenting a show called The Big Bang, at Cathays Community Centre.

Wrestlers taking part include Psycho "The Brazilian Bad Boy" Silvera, Ice XVII The Canadian Hero and homegrown favourite Caiman.

Doors open at 6.45pm. Tickets are £6 for adults and £5 for children and OAPs, and can be bought from the community centre or by calling 07729045845.

Wrestling heroes do battle

Grapple fans are in for a treat with a big night of wrestling entertainment for Cardiff.

New promoter Celtic Wrestling is presenting The Big Bang, at Cathays Community Centre on Saturday, October 15.

Wrestlers taking part include Psycho "The Brazilian Bad Boy" Silvera, Ice XVII The Canadian Hero and homegrown favourite Caiman.

Doors open at 6.45pm. Tickets are £6 for adults and £5 for children and OAPs, and can be bought from the community centre or by calling 07729045845.

Celtic Wrestling - The Beginning

It is true to say that there has been a lack of wrestling action here in South Wales. NWA Hammerlock on occasion will bring their shows to this area of the UK, and recently WWE brought their product to Cardiff for one night.

But the wrestling fans of this area have been crying out for something a bit more substantial, something where they can regularly attend rather than going to the sporadic shows that they have been accustomed to.

With that in mind it was evident that the people of South Wales needed their own product, their own identity, where there would be a regular dose of grappling action for them to enjoy.

And that is where Karl Griffiths, the owner of Celtic Wrestling steps in.

Karl has founded a wrestling company here in South Wales, and although their debut show is not until October, CW provides training sessions for local people where someday they to can wrestle for the company.

Celtic Wrestling will therefore not only be providing the people of South Wales with regular shows, but will also be an important asset to the community.

The roster is building all the time, with the likes of Caiman, Tyler Browne, Ricky Styruss, Nick Berretta, and more Welsh talent coming through to become a part of the main roster for CW.

Celtic Wrestling will be holding shows at venues throughout South Wales with their first show: The Big Bang, live at the Cathays Community Centre in Cardiff on Saturday 15th October. For further information on the show and CW you can check out their website at www.celticwrestling.com.

In the upcoming months it will be exciting to see Welsh wrestling be put on the map thanks to Karl Griffiths and Celtic Wrestling.

Fancy yourself as a wrestler?

Do you fancy yourself as the next Hulk Hogan or perhaps you see yourself more as The Rock?

Whichever wrestler you model yourself on, grapple fans in South Wales are to be given the chance to train and enter the ring themselves.

Celtic Wrestling is a new pro-wrestling company based in Cardiff and they are looking for people to take part in some of their forthcoming tournaments.

Celtic Wrestling is the brain child of Karl Griffiths, 27, from Twynyrodyn, in Merthyr Tydfil, who works in customer services.

Fighting under the name Caiman, Karl is a already a wrestling champion fighting for the organisation Hammerlock UK, which hosts regular bouts in Cardiff.

"I decided I wanted to branch out on my own and do something different," said Karl.

"With Celtic Wrestling I can give fans in Wales exactly what they want in terms of action and excitement.

"I've already got some great ideas up my sleeve."

Karl is giving anyone who fancies stepping into the wrestling ring the chance to get involved.

"We're looking for women in particular, but anyone, any size any shape is welcome," added Karl.

"I can train them or they can get involved with Hammerlock. 'If you've got a bit of charisma the ring is a great place to show it, but even the training is a fun and fantastic way of keeping fit."

Celtic Wrestling has its first show arranged at Cathays Community Centre, in Cathays, Cardiff, on Saturday, September 17.

The event will see 20 wrestlers battling it out in a series of bouts.

To find out more visit www.celticwrestling.com or call Karl Griffiths on 07729 045854.