Thursday Jul 27, 2023
Ep. 4: In the Ring
Spectators and fans rarely get a true peak inside the ring. In this episode, fans – and yet-to-be-fans get that rare chance to hear from a local Minnesota legend and share in his passion for this sport. Arik started F1RST Wrestling in 2007 and has hosted a wide variety of wrestling sporting events – often in unique venues such as First Avenue, and of course, Mall of America. And when he brought his show to the Mall – the fans loved it.
In this episode, Arik shares with the hosts about how he got interested in the sport (hint, it started when he was a boy thanks to his grandmother), why he has such a passion for maintaining this unique form of sporting entertainment in Minnesota, and his philosophy of welcoming everyone. He also shares unique insights into the history of professional wrestling, the showmanship and entertainment value, and the pure joy that it can bring to participants and fans alike.
F1RST Wrestling has performed live in the Rotunda at Mall of America in front of thousands of guests and is looking forward to a planned return this fall. If you are a fan of wrestling, a scholar of history, or just love to hear some great storytelling, you won’t want to miss this episode.
Guest: Arik Cannon, professional wrestler and Founder of F1RST Wrestling
Hosts: Chris Grap & Dan Jasper
Presented by the Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.