Call it the five moves of Dumbo.
A professional wrestling extravaganza is coming to Gleason’s Gym on Jan. 17, where a huge line-up of baby-faces and heels will take to the mat to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Brooklyn club the World of Unpredictable Wrestling. Stars on the bill include Mexican lucha libre star Marcela, Japanese wrestler Takaaki Watanabe, and Devon Dudley, who has wrestled for World Wrestling Entertainment.
But the show will also hopefully help a few lesser-known wrestlers make a name for themselves, said organizer Johnny Rodz, head of the World of Unpredictable Wrestling.
“The wrestlers get to have practice and exercise and exposure,” said Rodz, who is a former World Wide Wrestling Federation wrestler and now teaches the spandex-clad stars of tomorrow out of the famed boxing gym. “The scouts come in and get to see how hard these people work.”
One such wrestler looking to flex his muscles on the show will be East Flatbush resident Juan Almenas, who goes by the stage name Ultimate Security. Almenas said he has already been selected by scouts from bigger promotions to try out twice.
“They give you a three-day tryout and torture you and look at you from every angle to see what you are all about,” said Almenas, 29, who first started training when he was 18.
But despite the pain and suffering, the 235-pound contender is hoping he will get picked again.
“I respect these guys so much and this is what I want to do,” said Almenas. “I am here for the long haul.”
Rodz started the World of Unpredictable Wrestling as soon as he retired from wrestling in the 1980s, and he said the school has been helping wrestlers get their start ever since.
“A lot of stars have made it out of here,” he said. “You cannot make money doing this thing, but I love doing it.”
World of Unpredictable Wrestling’s “30th Anniversary Gran Prix” at Gleason’s Gym [77 Front St. between Main and Washington streets in Dumbo, (718) 797–2872, www.wuwonline.com]. Jan. 17 at 7 pm. $25 ($10 kids).
