-Photos courtesy of Photos by Manning live pro wrestling will be in Fort Dodge on Saturday, April 25, at Lizard Creek Ranch.

Not wanting to pay out thousands of dollars and travel to Las Vegas this weekend for WWE’s WrestleMania spectacle? Have no fear pro wrestling fans, as live action will be in your own backyard soon.

Live Pro Wrestling: Strike Back is set for Saturday, April 25, from Lizard Creek Ranch with doors opening at 6 p.m. and bell time set for 6:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now in advance and will be available the day of the show.

Founded in 2025, Live Pro Wrestling has already put on over 50 events across several Iowa towns including Marshalltown, Tama, Waterloo and Keokuk.

“This support has honestly been incredible,” Live Pro Wrestling promoter Andrew Martin said. “We’re consistently seeing strong crowds, a lot of repeat fans and real community buy-in. That’s been the biggest thing; people don’t just come once, they come back and bring others with them.

“We try to present everything like a major event, even in smaller towns. At the same time, we keep that independent feel where things are more flexible, more organic and honestly more unpredictable. It’s kind of the best of both worlds: big-show energy with a local, real connection.”

Fans of pro wrestling will likely connect with names like Mike Bennett, Tyler Breeze and Paul London, as all three have had stints in the WWE, AEW and other major promotions. They have also made stops with Live Pro Wrestling, with Bennett set to appear at the Fort Dodge event vs. Leon King.

“We’ve been lucky to bring in some really recognizable names like Mike, Tyler and Paul,” Martin said. “At the same time, we’ve built our own core group of talent that fans really connect with like Big Beasley, Bannon, Leon King, Kal Kasady and Fort Dodge’s own Shayne Mackey, so you get that mix of names you know and names you’re going to remember.”

Martin hopes that both people currently fans of pro wrestling and those wanting to see what it is all about make the show.

“For wrestling fans, it’s the experience. You’re not watching from far away, you’re right there. You can feel everything, hear everything and the energy is completely different than watching on TV (when attending a live event),” he said. “Plus, you’re seeing talent on the rise. A lot of these guys are on their way up, so you’re getting to watch them before they hit bigger stages.

“A lot of our audience started as non-wrestling fans. It’s not just wrestling, it’s live entertainment. There’s storytelling, big personalities, crowd interaction and a lot of energy. Even if you’ve never watched wrestling before, it’s really easy to get into once you’re in the building. It feels more like going to a live event or a game than sitting down to watch something on TV.”

Along with the scheduled match between Bennett and King, there will be a Midwest championship match between Sully Sunshine and AJ Murphy on the lineup for Fort Dodge.

“The Fort Dodge show is shaping up to be a big one. The main focus is Leon King vs. AEW’s Mike Bennett, which is a huge midwest dream match,” Martin said. “You’re also going to see guys like Big Beasley and Bannon in action, along with fan favorites like Shayne Mackey and Jay Norton.

“Then we’ll have a full undercard with rising talent and ongoing rivalries, so it’s going to be a stacked night.”

General admission tickets are $8 in advance and $15 the day of the event. Front row seats are $25 and second row $20, with a table of eight being $150. They can be purchased at https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML04X13VP4K4K/checkout/EBWRMD355E5EZM2F6SLGW4Y5?fbclid=IwY2xjawRM6-JleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFIOWtpYnZTQ2c1ZTBaajNvc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHnN8F2-pbsCQPCsZdxsxSbrRvyG-S4v9Vw7HHzyzQmy40uMZyQNOyiLjUcH8–aem–OkbRifOnqvf5GZBTAbmhng