Fort Erie promoter wrestlemaniac
Border Town Pro Wrestling owner Chris Snieg ‘wants good matches, solid stuff,’ says fighter ‘Tyson Dux’
Chris Snieg was just four years old when he first discovered the world of professional wrestling.
“I watched an old VHS copy of WrestleMania III,” said Snieg, the owner of Border Town Pro Wrestling in Fort Erie.
“I was hooked.”
That legendary event featured a match pitting then WWF (now WWE) champ Hulk Hogan against Andre the Giant at the Pontiac Silverdome, before a then record crowd of more than 93,000.
In his mid-30s now, Snieg started his own promotion company last year, following time cutting his teeth with St. Catharines’ now defunct NEO Wrestling and the Niagara Falls’ Crossfire Wrestling.
“I was thinking, there was nothing in Fort Erie,” he said.
The days can be long, with crews spending hours setting up the ring on the day of the event, followed by teardown after the last pin.
“It can be stressful,” Snieg said, adding that he has plenty of help.
“We have a regular crew — an awesome bunch of guys — who are great friends.”
With 10 shows under his belt, Snieg is set to mark Border Town’s first anniversary with Uprising, on Saturday, Feb. 23, at Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre, featuring a main event of “All Ego” Ethan Page versus “Half Baked Kid” Kris Chambers.
The promotion is far from the bright lights and television of the WWE, but Snieg said that in its first year of operation, Border Town has been able to rely on a regular talent base including Kongo Kong and Tyson Dux, who have worked with Border Town since the beginning.
All of the grapplers are individual contractors and Snieg said all of the talent is of high quality.
“I’m a wrestling fan. If they couldn’t entertain me, I wouldn’t book them.”
One of the wrestlers who has been with Border Town throughout its first year is Tyson Moore, a.k.a. “Tyson Dux.”
He likes what Border Town is offering.
“I like what (Snieg) is doing, the whole idea of going out and taking a risk,” Dux said. “His image of what it should be. He wants good matches, solid stuff.”
Dux knows a thing or two about the wrestling game.
The 40-year-old, who works out of the ring as a personal trainer, has been battling inside the squared circle since he was in his early 20s.
“I have my share of lumps, bumps and bruises,” he said.
Interest in the promotion from fans on both sides of the Peace Bridge is growing.
“It’s not only in Fort Erie,” Snieg said. “We have people coming from Buffalo, a few coming from St. Catharines.”
Attendance has been steadily increasing for events, with crowds of more than 100 regularly coming out for matches.
“We started out with a small crowd and now, not only is it building, but we are seeing new faces,” Dux said.
Uprising will feature a number of other matches, including Gabriel Fuerza attempting to regain the adrenalin division title from “The Visionary” Vaughan Vertigo; Phil Atlas versus “The Saturday Night Delight” Tyler Tirva and Dux taking on Jim Stryder of The Factory.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
There are VIP passes available for $25 or $40 for a pair. VIP tickets include early entry for priority seating, a bonus match not available to purchasers of general admission tickets, a free hotdog and a ticket for raffle prize of an autographed poster.
Doors open at 5 p.m. for VIP pass holders and 5:50 p.m. for general admission ticket holders. First bell is at 6 p.m.