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Mike CrisolagoMike Crisolago
I am a 29-year old Toronto-based journalist and writer who has a passion for theatre, literature, history and baseball...

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Two of pro wrestling’s greatest legends and arguably the best independent wrestling promotion in the world will descend on Toronto this weekend, and fans are getting excited.

On Friday, July 24th and Saturday, July 25th, American wrestling promotion Ring of Honor presents “Death Before Dishonor VII” at the Ted Reeve Arena, featuring Canadian wrestling icon Bret “Hitman” Hart, with “Nature Boy” Ric Flair making special appearances.

Hart and Flair, both multi-time world champions and WWE Hall of Famers, appear and will sign autographs Friday and Saturday respectively. As well, former WWE and ECW superstar Lance Storm returns to the ring in his home country for the first time in a long while.

“This show is going to own, even the gauntlet match,” writer seancarletonzero posted on a ROH message board. “You have to bring your very best for Ontario crowds!”

ROH, which was featured in the Oscar-nominated film The Wrestler, is generally considered one of the best independent wrestling promotions in the world because it offers a product that mixes traditional technical wrestling with more contemporary, innovative wrestling styles and one of the best work rates in the business. They are also known for bringing in legends, like Hart and Flair, who add credibility and authenticity to the product.

However, as with all ongoing events in Toronto, the city workers strike looms large over the ROH cards. Until recently, the parking lot of Ted Reeve Arena served as one of the city’s many temporary garbage dump sites, and even though it’s now closed, the piles of trash will remain in place until the end of the strike. On the ROH message board, fans have speculated for weeks about how the strike may affect the ROH shows.

“I’m looking forward to the Toronto shows, but those shows might come with an odour,” ROHCANADA wrote. “Wait till Bret Hart comes out and cuts a promo about having to deal with a ‘piece of garbage’ outside.”

“Just seal the doors… those with [general admission] tickets… better know what their getting into waiting in that line haha…,” TheGrahams wrote.

Still, excitement over the shows continues to grow. It seems Toronto, a notorious pro wrestling hotbed, isn’t ready to let a little garbage get in the way of some of the best in-ring action in the world.