Live Wresting returns to The Drill after decades

The refurbished Lincoln Drill Hall, now known as The Drill, will once again host live wrestling matches in the city centre, bringing body-slams, suplexes and piledrivers to a whole new generation of fans with a string of title matches.

With a double feature of matches on April 2, including matinee and evening performances, the shows will see local talent from Fight Factory Wrestling UK (FFW) square up against big names on the wrestling scene as they compete for five sought-after titles.

Rebecca Loeve, manager of FFW, said: “We’re incredibly excited to bring the euphoria of live wrestling back to The Drill for the first time in easily over 20 years. This is a historic milestone – we’ve wanted to entertain locals at the venue for years and now that it’s under new management, we’re finally able to get our foot in the door and give our fans a ring-side seat in the thick of the action. I want to say a huge ‘thank you’ to Lee and all the staff at The Drill for making this possible.

“We’re hoping to see some of our die-hard fans come along as well as introduce the incredible local talents we have to new audiences across Lincolnshire. There are five titles up for grabs and anything goes – you won’t want to miss it.”

There will also be an academy rumble match with fighters from the FFW Wrestling Academy showcasing their skills.

The Double Trouble feature will comprise of two full-length shows: a family-friendly matinee performance at 2pm and an 18+ performance at 7:30pm. Families interested in attending the afternoon show can be assured of simpler storylines and suitable jokes, whereas the evening show will be unbridled action for adult audiences.

The hotly-anticipated event will be held shortly before WWE WrestleMania 38 an annual highlight for wrestling fans, which will be televised in The Drill’s revamped bar area after all the live in-person performances.

Lee Byrne, events and entertainment manager at The Drill, said: “This is nothing short of remarkable. The Drill was once a hotspot for live wrestling matches which was sadly quashed by red tape over the years  – but I’m thrilled to say that it’s back and bigger than ever.

“The incredibly talented team at Fight Factory Wrestling knows how to put on a standout show, so loyal fans and new faces will be blown away by the energetic performances. You’ll want to get a ring-side seat while you still can.”

The Drill regularly hosted wrestling matches in the 1970s and 1980s, building up a loyal local fanbase, with some matches televised on ITV to a national audience.

Dubbed by many as being the ‘golden era’ of wrestling, the venue played host to the biggest names in sports, including famed wrestlers like Giant Haystacks and Big Daddy. Now under the stewardship of the Lincoln College Group, wrestling is set to return to The Drill for a new generation of fans to enjoy.

To purchase tickets for the inaugural showdown, click here.

To see the full schedule of upcoming shows at the revamped community hub and entertainment venue, visit www.lincolndrill.co.uk.