Hamilton wrestling company shuts doors after theft

You’d have to be either really brave or really stupid to steal from a bunch of wrestlers. But someone did.

Hamilton-based Alpha-1 Wrestling held two of their biggest shows ever on back-to-back nights in July, says Julian Micevski, A-1’s founder and organizer.

But at the end of the second show, Micevski — aka "All Ego" Ethan Page — realized one of the cameras his company uses to tape their shows was missing.

And that wasn’t all. Along with the camera, they were missing a microphone, tripod and headphones, too.

“But the biggest thing is we lost all of our footage,” Page said. “We have fans all across the world that buy our DVDs, and now all of it is gone.”

All told, $1,600 worth of equipment was stolen. On top of that, the company is out $2,000 in profits from the footage they would have sold.

A blow like this was enough to make Micevski hang up his promoter hat for good, and fold the A-1 wrestling company he founded.

“I’m not going to put my head through a wall,” he said. “But once it all sunk in, I started thinking maybe I’d bitten off more than I could chew.”

Micevski says he controlled almost everything to do with the company — from organizing bouts and shooting them to editing the footage and sending out DVDs.

All of the pressure culminated with losing his gear. “It was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” he said.

Fans in the city will likely be upset the company is folding, he said.

“No one wants it to end. We pride ourselves on making something that’s not embarrassing to watch,” he laughed.

“Our fans are really receptive and just so vocal.”

Micevski said he’ll always remember Alpha-1 as something that brought him closer to his friends — and even some of his heroes.

He shared the ring with ECW and WWE wrestler Tommy Dreamer at an A-1 bout not too long ago.

“My fondest memory was him sleeping on my couch. I stayed up until 5 a.m. talking to someone I really looked up to. It was so surreal.”

Mickeviski said fans should still seek out local, grassroots wrestling. He’ll still be in the ring — just not with A-1. And don’t count them out entirely.

“Hopefully we’ll get an itch someday and bring it back,” he said.

“But for now, enjoy the memories.”

Alpha-1 is holding The Final Hurrah on Sunday, Oct. 1 at the Germania Club of Hamilton, where it has held regular shows. The show starts at 4 p.m. at 863 King St. E. General admission is $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Tickets are on sale at Crazy Bills, 125 King St. E.

For more information on the final bout, visit the Alpha-1 website.