Dragonslayer Pro Wrestling

Every three months, the iconic Ridglea Theater opens its doors to a unique form of entertainment. Dragonslayer Pro Wrestling has been hosting its quarterly Thursday night shows at the Ridglea since January 2025 with some of the best local and international talent the sport has to offer. North Texas is great for professional wrestling with countless promotions and performers calling it home. Texas itself has a rich and storied history in pro wrestling, and the two largest promotions companies in the world, WWE and AEW, have both hosted their flagship pay per views in Arlington in recent years. Pro wrestling is bigger than it has ever been and a large part of it is happening right here in DFW.

Owner/promoter of Dragonslayer, Don Richmond says that what sets his promotion apart from all the others is that his shows cater to the novice wrestling fan as well as the hardcore audience. Pro wrestling is equal parts theater and sport, and Richmond believes that focusing on characters and entertainment value does more to bring in new fans than difficult moves and technical matches. There is plenty of high-level grappling to keep the purists happy, but the show I recently attended also offered comedy, drama, and surprises from start to finish. My favorite thing about pro wrestling is that the crowd is part of the experience. Chants and crowdwork are as much a part of the show as the ring and the ropes. A young fan had a birthday, and he got brought into the ring and sung to by the entire audience. My most memorable moment was when a heckler told a female wrestler that she sucked, and she instantly fired back with “So does your mother’s son” while striking her opponent, causing the crowd to erupt in laughter.

Richmond compares pro wrestling to a modern-day circus, and whether you’re there for the strongman, the tight rope, or the clown cars, everyone should leave satisfied for a different reason. Hours before the show begins, he is working with the talent, talking through the psychology of the matches and certain spots that he thinks will illicit memorable crowd responses. The wrestlers work together to figure out the individual moves and rehearse up until the doors open, but ultimately Richmond is the maestro conducting the overall feel and flow of the show.

Their next show is the Halloween-themed event Nightfall on Thu, Oct 15. Guests are invited to wear costumes, wrestlers will have candy at their merchandise tables, and the entire theme of the night will revolve around the spooky and supernatural. There will be an eight-woman melee featuring talent from around the world. There will also be a women’s triple-threat match to determine who will challenge for the Dragonslayer Championship, a title that was introduced at their last show and claimed by San Antonio’s Mystii Marks. The main event features Nobe Bryant, Dante Casanova, and Sam Adonis in a triple-threat match, continuing a storyline of betrayal and controversy that concluded Dragonslayer’s last show in July. The card offers several other exciting matches, and there are sure to be unexpected announcements and surprises.

Dragonslayer Pro Wrestling’s Nightfall

6:30pm Thu, Oct 15, at the Ridglea Theater (6025 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-738-9500). $10-35. DragonslayerProWrestling.com.