Rhodes on the Pawtuxet Ballroom
Monday, Sept 28, 2026
Reported by Bark Doggyn
Independent wrestling on Mondays in Cranston needs a few more asses in seats and much dimmer lighting, but is otherwise a complete hoot. The storylines may feel a bit forced at moments, but the overall program is run as a ship tight enough to cross Narragansett Bay on a beam reach. Doors open at seven sharp, and the announcer was hyping the first match before half the crowd had their coats off. Ninety minutes later you are back on the highway.
Wrestling in a ballroom is a great idea, but it could not have been any brighter in the room. It’s unclear if this was for the sake of the ‘broadcast’ or because no one could find the dimmer switch. As to the broadcast, there were two large screen TVs in the back of the room showing the same action that was happening seven feet in front of your face, which were helpful for anyone in attendance who hates real life. In between bouts the TVs cut to kids reviewing candy bars and rating their favorite dogs, and also provided some highlights from previous weeks events.
As Danny Cabral kicked off the action by suplexing AV, a local florist commented ‘I’ve done weddings here.’ Danny came out on top, delighting the crowd. Before the next match the show moved to the stage area where two women wrestlers hyped their upcoming showdown. Unfortunately, they were playing to the camera and facing the back of the stage and therefore the entire crowd, which cut down on the impact of their remarks. Even so, the epic burn ‘You’re like everyone from Cranston… You’re gross!’ received a hearty round of boos from the faithful local crowd, with noticeable silence from the East Bay contingent in attendance.
The chairs surrounding the ring were only three to five rows deep, and they were mostly but not completely full. The crowd was game, and diehards young and old knew the wrestlers and let them know what they thought about them. The mat itself is startlingly loud, and the sound of bodies slamming into it announces that although the drama may not be ‘real’ in a sporting sense, these are real athletes nonetheless. At this level charisma is not something that is a given amongst the talent, but there was a fair amount on display, and certainly no lack of heart from the wrestlers.
A spirited tag team showdown between Powers and Conway and Waves and Curls ranged in and outside the ring and set the stage for the main event between Marcus Mathers with his loathsome manager Dustin Waller and obvious crowd favorite Bobby Orlando, who entered the ballroom to a song called ‘This is the Bobby Orlando Song’, and which - barring extreme serendipity - he had written for himself. Either way, it was a certified banger, featuring lines such as ‘Ladi Dadi, we likes the Bobby’. The crowd concurred. Bobby lost his match, but afterwards sat mid ring with microphone in hand on the folding chair he’d just been beaten with and challenged someone to something next week. Stay tuned for that, and support small independent sports, arts, and entertainment. At ten dollars for entry and a second row seat to all the action, it beats billionaire-financed corporate mega events worse than Mr. Orlando got beat with that chair.