By DYLAN WHITELY, Student Reporter
EDITOR’S NOTE: Some language in this story may not be suitable for some readers.
Children cheered, college students applauded and people watched from the rooftops of a neighboring building as “Extreme Midget Wrestling” athletes threw down on Tuesday night in Alva.
About two dozen people came out to Iggy’s Green Rush medical marijuana dispensary, 2802 College Blvd., to watch dwarf wrestlers toss each other back-and-forth across the ring.
Audience members may see it as a form of entertainment, but to the wrestlers, it’s a source of empowerment.
“I love it out there,” said Lil Pecker, one of the wrestlers. “It’s one of the best professions out there that a midget can do, and to have brothers that are his size that can deal with the same things that they deal with.”
One of the most enjoyable parts of the job for the wrestlers is seeing their fans – including a few spectators who sat on the roof of a hangar at the Alva Regional Airport across the highway.
“It’s got to be the fans,” wrestler Boom Box said. “Having the kids here, seeing their smiling faces and they come up and say, ‘You’re my hero.’”
Kolby McDonald, a student at Northwestern, attended the show and said he enjoyed the experience.
“My favorite part was seeing midgets getting slammed,” McDonald said. “It was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen in my life, and I’m really happy that I came.”
McDonald said a friend told him the show would be coming to Alva.
Mini Fusion, another wrestler, said he hopes more people find out about the events that way.
“I’m pretty sure next time it’s going to be a word-of-mouth thing,” Mini Fusion said. “We would love to come back anytime.”
The organization performs about 270 shows a year throughout the United States. The organization is based out of Moore in central Oklahoma.
Getting to see new places and meeting new people are some things the wrestlers enjoy.
“I like being able to travel … from city-to-city and state-to-state seeing new things,” wrestler Lil Tucker said.
“My favorite part is travelling,” Mini Fusion said. “You get to see the world and get to meet a lot of interesting people.”
While traveling, the wrestlers form close bonds with one another, they said.
Lil Pecker, who has been with the organization since it began more than 16 years ago, said he believes he has found his calling.
“[Wrestling] is going to keep on booming if people can figure us out,” Lil Pecker said. “We got people figuring us out.
It’s just that we need more of the little people – more midgets, pardon my term. The LPA (Little People Association) doesn’t like it. But you know what, screw it. I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing, providing for my family.”
While they enjoy the atmosphere, wrestlers say the most meaningful part of wrestling is overcoming adversity.
“You see eye-to-eye on a different level, but this brings it to a broad spectrum that other people can see it as,” Lil Pecker said. “You’re not being disabled. You’re turning that disability into ability.”
