Midget wrestling show packs HOB

Nasty Boy defeated Lil Rampage, seen here flat on the mat.

It was a capacity crowd at HOB. Shortly after the show started at 9 p.m., even ticket-holders were turned away because there was no room for them.

“It’s f---ing packed,” described one security person. The crowd was largely twenty-something and mostly but not entirely male.

A ring was set up on the main floor, just short of what is normally the stage at HOB. An unseen ring announcer kept a crowd of at least 850 people cheering, encouraging but often taunting the wrestlers. Violence depicted included one wrestler hitting the other with a baseball bat.

According to its website, the “Extreme Midget Wrestling Federation” performs 120 shows each year, selling an average of 500 tickets per show. The company promotes seven wrestling shows and two “midget brawls.”

Skyler Ward, a representative of the Federation, did not respond to a request last week for an interview.

(Above) An unidentified referee monitors a match with midget wrestlers “Nasty Boy” (standing) and “Lil Rampage” (sitting) at House of Blues in Chicago.

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