Lakemoor wrestling company takes a shot at stardom

Jim Christenson is following a dream and the inspiration of a song to push his small Lakemoor-based wrestling company to the big time at least for one night.

Christenson knows the timing isn't great, coming during a bad economy where money for entertainment such as a wrestling show, is hard for people to find.

However, the owner of POWW Entertainment, said the song “If Today Was Your Last Day” from Nickelback has become his rally cry in taking his shot to grab a few headlines and bring some national acts to the suburbs.

Saturday's Wrestlerage 8 show at the Odeum Sports and Expo Center in Villa Park, which seats 5,500 people, is much larger than the small VFW halls and sports bars his seven-year-old company normally fills.

He said it's his one day to be the biggest wrestling promoter in Chicago.

“It's definitely bigger than anything we have ever done,” Christenson said during a break in a training event with his employees. “But, this has always been my dream. To put something on that will make everyone go wow.”

The show is on par with the type of wrestling event national touring companies like World Wrestling Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action produce across the United States and in the Chicago area, he said.

“I'm just doing it as if today were my last day on Earth,” he said. “I wanted to do something huge, something I can be proud of, for the sport I love. I worked for one year to get to this point, and now, we are right there, on the verge of achieving our dreams.”

It features national wrestling stars like “Mr. Anderson” from TNA, “Demolition” the longest reigning tag team champions in WWE history and former Extreme Championship Wrestling Champion “The Franchise” Shane Douglas.

Serena Deeb, formerly of WWE, and Traci Brooks, formerly of TNA, also will be on hand.

Christenson, 37, added he tried to get two other stars, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Randy “Macho Man” Savage, but it didn't pan out.

“We were close, but it just didn't happen,” he said. “But, we forged ahead with what we had, and honestly, it's still the biggest card in wrestling right now. This is our shot at the big time.”

The stars will face off against the local talent employed by Christenson. Rick Stolzman, 27, of Addison who goes by the moniker “Ruff Crossing,” will take on Anderson in the main event.

“I'm not nervous right now. To me, it's just another match,” Stolzman said. “I'm sure I'll start to get worked up right before we go out. But, right now, I'm excited for the company. This is so big for us.”

Stolzman, who started with POWW Entertainment in 2003, said he knows one match against a “name” like Anderson could propel him and the company to new heights.

“It's a possibility, but I'm not thinking about that right now,” he said. “This company deserves a show like this. Jimmy deserves to have this dream to come true.”

For Logan Scott Woodcock, 20, of Elk Grove Village, being part of the tag team “Picture Perfect” that will face “Demolition” is something he never thought would happen.

“This is the biggest match of my career, so, yea, I'm a little nervous,” he said. “We've worked hard and done everything we could to make this the best show we can. For us, there is a lot riding on it.”

Christenson, who also wrestles, said it has long been a dream to produce a show with the power to draw national acts.

He acknowledged doing it in a weak economy has been rough.

“But, the employees have done a great job self-promoting the event and getting the word out, selling tickets, doing everything they could to make this happen,” he said, admitting he doesn't know how many tickets have sold. “We haven't sold out, but we aren't in danger of not paying the bills. And, that's huge in this economy.”

Better yet, he did it while keeping ticket prices at the same $15 he normally charges at VFW halls.

“There are $25 tickets available, but you get to meet and greet the stars before the show, as well as get a seat in the first five rows,” he said. “But, it's still only $15 for seats past the first five rows. It's a pretty good deal for a show like this at the Odeum.”

There's been a lot of stress organizing the show, Christenson said, but if his local wrestling company is a little better known nationally than it was before, it will be worth it

“I want to top it next year,” he said with a wide smile. “I'm already planning it.”

For more information about the event, visit powwentertainment.com, or the Odeum Sports and Expo Center at odeumexpo.com.