by Daniel J. Rowe

When "The Professor" Shayne Hawk started wrestling in Montreal two
decades ago, the culture was toxic.

When he started coaching and running the International Wrestling
Syndicate (IWS), he wanted that to change.

"There was a lot of bullying in wrestling when I came up, and I knew that
I didn't want to pass that on, so in order to break that generational
trauma, what we did here is become much more accepting and I think the
results speak for themselves," said Hawk.

Hawk will be part of the Scarred 4 Life IWS event at the Olympia Saturday night. It is being promoted as the most diverse wrestling event Montreal
has seen. Trans wrestler Dark Shiek was on the card originally but was
detained at the border and was replaced for her heavyweight title fight.

Gay Quebec wrestler Alex Maze said the IWS fans were quick to embrace him
for who he is.

"The first show I came in as staff, I was wearing a shirt that says 'gay
is not okay, it's fabulous,' just to see how people would react. No
reaction at all," he said.

Though he said some fans in smaller venues with other circuits have
shouted homophobic taunts at him, those in Montreal watching IWS shows
have always had his back in the ring.

"With IWS, we don't have that issue," he said. "IWS, I step into the
ring, [and] they know what to get ready for."

read more at: https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/montreal-s-most-diverse-wrestling-show-is- happening-this-weekend-1.6480308

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