Professional wrestling fans in Essex know right where the action is.
Holding an event once a month at The Body Factory gym, the Eastern Wrestling Alliance puts on a show before a packed house of about 300 fans from the region.
Tony Hall, 49, of Pasadena, brought his 10-year-old son, A.J., and A.J.?s friend, Zach Tolle, along, complete with their own gold-plated championship belts, ready to cheer.
“I like getting to heckle the wrestlers and get away with it,” A.J. said.
Tony Hall said that?s why they attend the event: to get a chance to be right in the middle of the action.
“We went down to the Verizon Center for a WWE match and [our seats] were in the rafters,” said Hall. “But we are so close here.”
Jim Hardwick, founder of the Eastern Wrestling Alliance, and better known to locals by his ring name “Jim Christian,” is the man who brought pro wrestling to Essex. Each month, Eastern Wrestling Alliance puts on an event of about eight to 10 matches featuring more than 20 different wrestlers. Hardwick?s vision is one of quality family entertainment.
“I?ve been around the business, but got tired with the way they did things, and I wanted a place for families to come,” Hardwick said. “A real respectable kind of place.”
TheBody Factory is also happy to have a strong turnout for the monthly matches. Carl McGee, the owner of the gym, struck a deal 18 months ago with Hardwick to
bring his Eastern Wrestling Alliance to Essex. Tom Markowski, the manager of The Body Factory, has seen the positive results that come with it.
“The gym brought in wrestling,” Markowski said. “And wrestling brings people back to the gym.”
Since going out on his own, Hardwick also teaches wrestling classes at The Body Factory at least three days a week. By keeping himself in great shape and loving his job, Hardwick couldn?t be any happier, and shows no signs of slowing down.
“I want to keep going as long as I can, he said, “and keep people coming out.”
IF YOU GO
» The Body Factory
» 1520 Country Ridge Lane
» Baltimore, MD 21221
» 410-686-4522
» www.ewamaryland.com
