Real Pro Wrestling announces television schedule for 2005 season on PAX TV
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Kimberly Moran (BZA)
10/26/2004
PAX TV has teamed with Real Pro Wrestling to launch an Olympic-style wrestling series on the network in February 2005. The 15-week series will premiere Sunday, February 13, a week following the Super Bowl, with wrestlers competing for the championship and $250,000 in prizes. Every Sunday afternoon, for 15 straight weeks, action from Real Pro Wrestling will air on this national television network. The shows are scheduled to air at 4-5 p.m. EST/PST and 3-4 p.m. CST. The shows will be one hour in length for the first 14 weeks, with the final show on Week 15 (which airs May 22) lasting two hours and featuring the championships for the league. Real Pro Wrestling, the gimmick-free, script-free Olympic style-wrestling league, was taped in front of a live studio audience on October 8-9 at the Los Angeles Center Studios. "Finally, the world's best wrestlers can earn a living at what they do best," said Tony Willis, the co-founder and CEO of Real Pro Wrestling. "Wrestling fans deserve to see their heroes compete against the best in the world." Real Pro Wrestling provides wrestlers an opportunity to compete beyond collegiate and Olympic competition in a professional atmosphere comparible to leagues such as the NFL, MLB and NBA. PAX network airs in 96 million or 88 percent of U.S. households, with 23 of their top-27 programs being sports-related events. Founded in 2002, Real Pro Wrestling is based in Ashland City, Tenn. and is the creation of two former Northwestern collegiate wrestling teammates, Toby Willis and Matt Case, and former Olympic hopeful Kenny Johnson. The league consists of eight teams from around the country made up of seven different weight classes ranging from 55 kg/125 lbs. to 120 kg/250 lbs. Regional teams will include the New York Outrage, California Claw, Chicago Groove, Iowa Stalkers, Oklahoma Slam, Minnesota Freeze, Pennsylvania Hammer and the Texas Shooters. Matches take place atop a specially designed elevated circular wrestling mat in a 360-degree Roman colisseum-inspired arena. A total of eight cameras captured the action on the mat to present the live audience and television fans alike the greatest viewing experience. Live heart pounding music will increase the already intense atmosphere surrounding the event. The one-hour weekly episodes will be comprised of two complete matches of up to 10 minutes each in length and highlights from other matches. Special segments concerning the history of the sport, little known facts and explanations of the rules will also punctuate the time between matches, as well as the biographical vignettes. PAX TV DATES FOR REAL PRO WRESTLING Dates during 2005 season, to air Sundays from 4-5 p.m. EST Week 1 - February 13 Week 2 - February 20 Week 3 - February 27 Week 4 - March 6 Week 5 - March 13 Week 6 - March 20 Week 7 - March 27 Week 8 - April 3 Week 9 - April 10 Week 10 - April 17 Week 11 - April 24 Week 12 - May 1 Week 13 - May 8 Week 14 - May 15 * Week 15 - May 22 *Two Hour Championship episode Check with your local provider for station information.