Barbed Wire City is Coming to the Pickwick

ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling) was a hugely popular wrestling company which ran from 1992-2001.  During its’ run, ECW was one of the big three wrestling companies.  Although the smallest, ECW had a fan base which was arguably the most rabid, enthusiastic and certainly hardcore.  Ten years after its’ official demise, ECW is still revered and missed.

Memories of ECW have come alive in the form of Barbed Wired City: The Unauthorized Story of Extreme Championship Wrestling.  This Thursday, thanks to the fine folks at Resistance Pro Wrestling, Barbed Wire City Films and the Pickwick Theatre, Barbed Wire City will have its’ Midwest premiere at the Pickwick Theatre.

Barbed Wire City is a documentary about wrestling, but it is also very much a story about people.  Filmmakers Kevin Kiernan and John Philapavage cover the history of ECW, focusing on the people who absorbed so much punishment for little pay for the success of the company and themselves. 

New and old fans of ECW and wrestling are very excited about the special screening.  Matt Parker (24) told me, "I only started getting into the wrestling culture after ECW no longer existed. Barbed Wire City will definitely be an experience that I am very much looking forward to."

Long time wrestling fan Jason Fleigel added, "Looking forward to seeing the documentary as it not only will let the viewer re-live a unique moment in wrestling, but a unique moment for the viewer in their own lives."

Those sentiments are echoed by another wrestling fan, Gabe Baron, co-owner of Resistance Pro Wrestling.  Gabe said, “Resistance Pro is honored to present the Chicago premiere of Barbed Wire City, the definitive documentary on ECW and one of the most important films about professional wrestling ever made.”

You don’t have to be a wrestling fan to be excited about the event.  Pickwick owner Dino Vlahakis told me, “The nice thing about the Pickwick Theatre being an independent theatre is that we have the ability to play specialty films like this.”

Of course, there is one more fan looking forward to the screening.  Me!  Jason and I interviewed several ECW alums (for JohngysBeat.com) a few years ago.  The passion was still in their voices and eyes.  These are unique people and I can’t wait to learn more about them and ECW.

Of course, the Pickwick is the perfect place to hold the ECW documentary premiere.  The Pickwick originally opened in 1928 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.  It is a classic, unique theatre.

Unique seems to be a recurring theme here.  Resistance Pro (a unique wrestling company) is hosting Barbed Wire City (a unique documentary about another unique wrestling company) at the Pickwick Theatre (a unique movie theater).

Like all of Resistance Pro events, the ECW documentary screening will bring together the R Pro family as well as wrestling fans from all over.  Every event R Pro has is special and this promises not to disappoint.