MLP Northern Rising: The heart and soul of wrestling is back at the Gardens

Boris Roberto Aguilar

MLP Northern Rising: The heart and soul of wrestling is back at the Gardens

For so many Canadians, Maple Leaf Gardens was a shrine for hockey. With so many core memories created for Canadians from 1931 until 1999 it was seen as sacred hockey grounds. A building that was home to the Maple Leafs also saw its fair share of concerts and other sporting events including select Toronto Raptors home games.

But for those of us who also watched wrestling know that Maple Leaf Gardens was also a shrine for wrestling. Just a week after the official opening, Maple Leaf Gardens hosted it’s first wrestling event as Jim Londos battled against Gino Garibaldi for the World Championship. In the next few years, Frank Tunney would take over Maple Leaf Wrestling and that promotion along with WWF would become synonymous with wrestling in Ontario until the end of the century. For many wrestling fans in southern Ontario, Maple Leaf Gardens was sacred grounds.

My first foray into watching wrestling live was actually at Maple Leaf Gardens. The show was on October of 1994 and it was part of the Heart Attack tour from WWE (then WWF). That event saw Bret Hart as WWF champion take on Bob Backlund as they prepared for their Survivor Series match that took place later that fall. The main event of that show saw Undertaker taking on Yokozuna in a casket match. I would continue to watch WWE shows at Maple Leaf Gardens until 1999.

Fast forward to 2025 and wrestling is back at the Gardens. While the building’s iconic exterior stayed the same, the interior was converted to house a new NHL-sized ice rink, a fitness center, basketball and volleyball courts, a Loblaws grocery store, and the Mattamy Athletic Centre, Toronto Metropolitan University’s sports complex. While the building has seen it’s changes, the spirit of wrestling continues to rage through it’s halls. With the return of Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling, it inevitable that they would hold an event at the iconic building.

In the lead up to the May 10 show, parts of the city were drenched with Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling (MLP) ads. There was anticipation and chatter within various wrestling circles that MLP was a show that cannot be missed. With one of the most stacked cards possible, MLP was a can’t miss show. With a sell out crowd inside of the Mattamy Athletic Centre, MLP continued the storied tradition of wrestling at the Gardens.

The crowd was hyped and ready to be heard as the dark matches got the crowd ready for the main show which went live at 7PM EST. Please forgive me for not being able to report on said dark matches as I was moving around the venue just taking things in and chatting to so many people. Whether you were a performer, a podcaster, a reporter, everyone was at this show and it felt like a mini-reunion. Once the show started, I took my place in the corner of the venue just took the show and atmosphere in. With roughly 2500 people in the building, wrestling was officially back at the Gardens.

The first match of the main card was Josh Alexander taking on QT Marshall with Sheldon Jean in his corner. This match would set the tone of the night. Alexander beat Marshall after applying a Sharpshooter in the middle of the ring.

Next up was one of the most anticipated matches among the internet wrestling community (IWC) as Zack Sabre Jr. took on Jonathan Gresham. After being one of the stand out matches at Bloodsport XIII during WrestleMania weekend. With the crowd fully settled in this match caused a stir with them. This match was exactly what you would have expected from these two, which was a technical showdown on the mat. While this match may not have been for everyone, the crowd (and I) saw the continuation of what it sure to be a great friendly rivalry among two talented Performers. Zack Sabre Junior picked up the win after converting a series of pins and submissions into a pin.

Speaking of technical showdowns, the following match followed in the same light as the previous match. While it did feel strange having two matches of similar styles back-to-back, Sereena Deeb and Miyu Yamashita put on a show for the crowd which was starting to get red hot. Sereena Deeb picked up the win.

In what felt like a battle of generations, Bullet Club War Dogs (David Finlay and Drilla Moloney) and The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) battled each other in what confusingly turned into a no-contest after both teams fought their way to the back. I guess referees discretion took precedence on the final decision.

Next up was the first of three title matches. NWA World Heavyweight Championship, Thom Latimer took on Stu Grayson. Stu Grayson received a heroes welcome and had the single best performance I’ve seen from him. This was a great match that saw Grayson micrometers of becoming NWA champion, but Thom Latimer was able to overcome the crowd and Stu Grayson to march onto The Crocket Cup. This match was so much fun and saw the entire crowd rally for the underdog, Stu Grayson, who felt and looked like he wanted to prove that he IS at that level.

My personal match of the night was up next and saw three of the most talked about names in various wrestling circles put on a clinic. Michael Oku, Gabe Kidd, and “Speedball” Mike Bailey tore the house down. This match was as fast paced as any triple thread I’ve witnessed. For those who aren’t familiar with any three of these men are sure to be on YouTube right now looking up older matches of them. This match was great and saw some of the best technical wrestling on the planet mixed with acrobatics. This match was so good, and the crowd loved every second of it. Mike Bailey picked up the win after pinning Oku. This match undoubtedly will be on many people’s list for match of the year contender.

The following match was to crown the first MLP Women’s champion and saw Kylie Ray battle Gisele Shaw. This match had a lot to live up to after the previous match, and it held it’s own. Ray may have put on one of the most unique moves I’ve ever seen. At one point in the match, Shaw had Ray in a Tombstone position, but Ray converted that into a Code Red, that ended in a face plant of her own. This match was fun and saw Gisele Shaw crowned the first MLP Women’s champion after she cheated to get the advantage on Ray to take the win.

Main Event

This was a 20-man over the rope battle royal and once the last two men were in the ring, we would see a one-on-match up to determine the first MLP Canadian Champion. Here is the order of entry for the match.

  • Rich Swann
  • El Phantasmo
  • Bhupinder Gujjar
  • Brent Banks
  • Rhyno
  • Billy Gunn
  • Psycho Mike
  • Slex
  • Michael Allen Richard Clark
  • PCO
  • “The Swingman” Johnny Parisi (Johnny Swinger)
  • QT Marshall
  • Josh Alexander
  • Sheldon Jean
  • Santino Marella
  • Bishop Dyer
  • Mo Jabari
  • Raj Dhesi
  • Alex Zayne
  • Matt Cardona

This match had it all. The world was introduced to Psycho Mike as he tried to Body slam Rhyno and Billy Gunn. We also saw some continuity as Johnny Parisi was still scared of PCO as those two had many encounters in TNA through 2024. We also saw Jimmy Jacobs come out with an unknown big guy who absolutely eviscerated PCO. The final two men were Matt Cardona and Josh Alexander. When the two squared off on a one-on-one match, the crowd was firmly behind Canada’s Josh Alexander as they constantly berated Cardona with “Chelsea’s Better” chants. Ultimately, it was fitting that the first MLP Canadian Champion is Canada’s own Josh Alexander.

MLP’s return to Toronto was a strong show. My only two “issues” for this show were minor and can easily be remedied. First, the flow of the matches felt off as we had two very technical ground based matches back-to-back as we saw Gresham/ZSJ and Deeb/Yamashita with very similar styles having what felt like the same style of match. Second, while I personally appreciate getting your money’s worth, I know that some fans can struggle with a 4-hour show (Dark matches + Main Card). Once again, these “issues” are minor as the show was fun and I was sports entertained.

On paper this card had a lot to live up to and overall I think that this show lived up to it’s expectations. While there may be some overall match flow issues, this show proved that MLP is back and stronger than ever in the city of Toronto.

Quick Results

  • Josh Alexander def. Q. T. Marshall
  • Zack Sabre Jr. def. Jonathan Gresham
  • Serena Deeb def. Miyu Yamashita
  • Bullet Club War Dogs (David Finlay and Drilla Moloney) and The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) ended in a double count out
  • NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship: Thom Latimer (c) def. Stu Grayson
  • “Speedball” Mike Bailey def. Gabe Kidd and Michael Oku
  • MLP Women’s Canadian Championship: Gisele Shaw def. Kylie Rae to win the vacant title.
  • Gauntlet For MLP Canadian Championship: Josh Alexander def. Rich Swann, El Phantasmo, Bhupinder Gujjar, Brent Banks, Rhyno, Billy Gunn, Psycho Mike, Slex, Michael Allen Richard Clark, PCO, “The Swingman” Johnny Parisi, QT Marshall, Sheldon Jean, Santino Marella, Bishop Dyer, Mo Jabari, Raj Dhesi, Alex Zayne, Matt Cardona to win the vacant title

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