Whanganui's Benjamin Thorpe will headline the IPW show Whanganui Warfare at the Wanganui Racecourse next Saturday night.
Whanganui's Benjamin Thorpe will headline the IPW show Whanganui Warfare at the Wanganui Racecourse next Saturday night.
The smiling Whanganui Prison corrections officer cannot wait to put the moko back on and go to battle once again in a professional wrestling ring as Benjamin Thorpe, aka 'Ben Mana', will main event Whanganui Warfare for Impact Pro Wrestling next Saturday night.
It will be the first professional wrestlingshow held in the town in several years, with IPW being an Auckland-based company who are taking their show on the road.
Thorpe is scheduled to challenge for the company's New Zealand heavyweight title against Jason Burns, aka 'Mr Burns', a devious character who leads a villainous faction known as 'The Young Nats', which is a parody of the National Party organisation.
Thorpe has been a professional wrestler for well over a decade, having made his name with the Wellington company New Zealand Wide Pro Wrestling (NZWPW), where he was a three-time heavyweight champion and three-time tag team champion.
He stepped back from the ring for regular competition around a year and a half ago due to a long time knee injury, while he transferred work to Whanganui for "the better family life".
"It's a great opportunity, quite blessed they see me and look at me in that sort of level. I'll make the most of it."
Thorpe has worked for IPW several times before and has wrestled Mr Burns on previous occasions.
"At the time, he'd just dropped the pirate gimmick and went 'Mr Burns' as part of 'The Investment'.
"I think he's really come into his own with the Young Nats."
Burns, who was known for a long time in IPW as the fun-loving 'good guy' character Pirate Burns, completely changed his demeanor and appearance when he joined the corporate bad-guy stable 'The Investment' – adopting a business suit and an arrogant, passive-aggressive attitude.
Success swiftly followed as he later founded 'The Young Nats' and became the leading bad-guy wrestler for the company, who the fans love to come see get taken down by company's good guys.
'The Young Nats' parody of the National Party, which portrays the worst of right-wing perceptions and agendas, was so successful that when IPW put up billboards with 'Mr Burns' face during the general election last year, many on social media mistook it for the real thing.
"The billboard's that went up, that's amazing," said Thorpe of the notoriety.
Ben Mana photos
It also makes their title match such a simple story to tell of good vs evil – given Mr Burns is polar opposites with his opponent as Ben Mana's wrestling persona is that of a proud Maori warrior.
"Much respect for how it's led to him getting the title, character wise," said Thorpe.
"But wrestling wise, I take ultimate pleasure in putting a foot up his a****.
"If all goes well, I'll become Whanganui's New Zealand heavyweight champion."
Thorpe will also proudly defend the industry from criticism that it is a "fake sport", because while professional wrestling is a scripted show, it is still a highly athletic and dangerous one.
He has spent the last six weeks on a diet and in training for this event, while the 15cm scar on his knee is proof of how physical the performance can be.
"It's a live action show, performed in front of your face, with real risks.
Thorpe will not be the only Whanganui local on the card as 'Bradical', aka Brad Fisher, will wrestle another former New Zealand heavyweight champion in James Shaw.
Whanganui Warfare will be held at the racecourse next Saturday, with doors open at 6.30pm for the 7pm start.
Tickets can be purchased online from www.ipw.nz/whanganui or on the door on the night.
