Standing in a near-empty Ted Reeve Arena, surrounded by rows of black folding chairs, Ring of Honor owner Cary Silkin’s eyes lit up while describing a “wonderful moment” he experienced during a morning jog in Toronto.

“I looked up and it was Maple Leaf Gardens,” Silkin said. “This was a monument. Toronto has a rich wrestling history and I’m glad ROH can contribute to the legacy of that.”

On Friday, before the first of two Ring of Honor shows at the arena, Silkin recalled greats such as The Sheik and Bruno Sammartino gracing the ring at the Gardens.

“Wrestling and history are two words that, unfortunately, don’t go together,” Silkin said. “But [Toronto] is a smart and knowledgeable crowd.”

ROH, the most respected independent wrestling promotion in North America, gained its reputation by presenting wrestling as sport more than spectacle, emphasizing innovative technical matches and an international roster of talent. In Toronto, the promotion is right at home.

“In Toronto there’s not a whole lot of sarcasm,” said El Generico, the Generic Luchador, through a translator. “They mean it. They’re here to have a good time, they recognize it, they embrace it and it’s fun for everyone.”

The events, dubbed Death Before Dishonor VII, did not disappoint. Superstars such as Canada’s Kevin Steen and Kenny Omega, El Generico, Sonjay Dutt, Austin Aries and Colt Cabana among many others ignited the crowd with a variety of wrestling styles and high-flying manoeuvres. Chants of “This is awesome” and “This is not boring,” along with one of “Five more minutes” echoed throughout the area on a regular basis, as fans lauded the athleticism, creativity and even blood put into every match.

“[Toronto fans] appreciate good action,” Grant Zwarych, a long-time fan said. “It’s not about heels and faces, it’s about who puts on the best show. And that’s the best thing.”

“Stuff like this is great because there are probably a lot of people here who are from the community,” said Jaipaul Massey-Singh, who has attended wrestling events in Canada, the US, and Mexico. “And it goes back to what wrestling was, which was a community event when everyone went down to the arena and got together.”

Along with the action, the events also featured two of pro wrestling’s biggest legends. Canadian icon Bret “the Hitman” Hart made a special appearance on the first show, while “Nature Boy” Ric Flair appeared on the second night.

“The truth is, this is the way wrestling should be – up close,” Hart said to the live crowd. “This is how I remember it, growing up.”

As well, Calgary native and WWE, WCW and ECW great Lance Storm wrestled what may have been the last match of a long and successful career on Saturday. Jerry Lynn, a beloved world-wide performer, also appeared on both shows.

Storm, whose match on the second night elicited chants of “Please don’t go” from the crowd, said he likes wrestling in Toronto and, considering the history of wrestling at Maple Leaf Gardens, isn’t surprised by the great local reaction to the ROH events.

“Toronto was the base for wrestling back then,” Storm said. “It seems when the business is down everywhere else, Toronto is consistent. The fans enjoy it the way they want to. They aren’t as fickle.”

The one negative issue that loomed over Death Before Dishonor VII was the city worker’s strike. With Ted Reeve Arena’s parking lot designated as a garbage dump site, Silkin wasn’t sure what he and his wrestlers might encounter.

“I was expecting stacks of garbage everywhere,” Silkin said. “I expected fans to be lining up with the odour. But the garbage is [far away] from the place and the arena’s clean.”

As the event wound down, one fan in the crowd stood and shouted his admiration for the men in the ring.

“These guys are not sports entertainers!” he screamed with pride, taking a jab at the Vince McMahon-coined term. “They’re wrestlers!”

Which is precisely why Toronto loves them.

Ring of Honor makes its Canadian return on Saturday, November 14, in Mississauga. For more information, visit http://www.rohwrestling.com.

Read about Mike’s backstage experience, including meeting Lance Storm and ROH owner Cary Silkin, at his blog Bastard Type.