Wrestling match slams into Downtown Windsor
Downtown Windsor transformed into the venue of a live wrestling match on Saturday evening for the Downtown Showdown.
From leaps off the top rope to suplexes echoing off the canvas, the event brought hundreds to the corner of Ouellette and University Avenue.
Hosted by Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling, the free event featured seven fights.
Wrestling fan Steven Bowes told CTV News it's 'special' to have the event hosted outside in the downtown.
WINDSOR DOWNTOWN SHOWDOWN WRESTLING
The Downtown Showdown wrestling event was held at the corner of Ouellette and University Avenue on July 26, 2025. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor)
'I think it was a pretty awesome idea,' said Bowes.
As part of the outdoor setting, local bars and restaurants opened their doors and patios to the hundreds of additional customers.
'We've been working day and night, probably for the last two weeks, since our last event to set us all up,' Coun. Renaldo Agostino said ahead of the event.
The Downtown Showdown was the latest fight-filled night to descend on the city's core after Rumble on the Roof, featuring boxing matches atop the Pelissier Street parking garage, was held earlier this month.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
3 minutes ago
- CTV News
Pospisil bounced in final NBO appearance by Bagnis in three sets
Vasek Pospisil of Canada plays a shot to Sebastian Korda of the United States during their first round match at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Wednesday, August 7, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes TORONTO — The Toronto Farewell Tour was short-lived. Veteran tennis player Vasek Pospisil of Vernon, B.C., who confirmed last week that the National Bank Open in Toronto would be his final hurrah on the pro circuit, was eliminated Sunday in the first round of men's singles by qualifier Facundo Bagnis of Argentina at Sobeys Stadium. Bagnis won the best-of-three match on Centre Court 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in one hour, 57 minutes. Pospisil wrote on X before his match: 'Eighteen years of professional tennis. Looking forward to playing in front of you one last time Toronto.' The 35-year-old Pospisil had a career-high singles ranking of world No. 25, and No. 4 in doubles. Along with partner Jack Sock, he won the 2014 Wimbledon Championships and the 2015 Indian Wells Masters men's doubles titles. He also reached the quarterfinals in singles at the 2015 Wimbledon Championships. He also won a Davis Cup championship in 2022. Against Bagnis, Pospsil had 17 winners, 39 unforced errors, six aces and five double faults. The 35-year-old Bagnis had 20 winners, 25 unforced errors, 11 aces and two double faults. In front of friends and family, including his parents, Milos and Mila, Pospisil put on a gutsy fight against Bagnis but struggled after pulling a muscle in the first set. 'I really wanted my parents to be at my last match. I didn't want to just kind of end it. Because it's been such a family journey. They sacrificed so much for me,' said Pospisil. 'My dad as well, he quit his job, he coached me for 15 years. He was, in some ways, more invested in this than I was. It was just as much his journey as it was mine.' Bagnis will next face 30th-ranked Nuno Borges of Portugal. Meanwhile, 18-year-old wild-card entry Nicolas Arseneault of Richmond Hill, Ont., knocked off 24-year-old qualifier Valentin Royer of France 6-3, 7-6 (4) in one hour, 45 minutes on the grandstand court at Sobeys Stadium. Royer had more winners (21-14) than Arseneault, but had more unforced errors (48-23). The Canadian had five aces, four double faults, a first serve percentage of 68, and won five of 11 break points. Royer had three aces, six double faults, a first serve percentage of 61 and only won four of nine break points. Arseneault will next play 18th-seeded and NBO defending champion Alexei Popyrin of Sydney, Australia. 'It definitely hasn't sunk in yet. It's going to take maybe tomorrow morning before I realize what I've just done,' said a happy Arseneault. 'To play my first main draw in Toronto, and to win my first match, it's the best thing that's happened to me yet.' Upsets and close calls In other action Sunday, the world's 48th-ranked Gael Monfils of France lost to qualifier Tomas Barrios Vera of Chile 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (3), while 80th-ranked Roman Safiullin of Russia lost his first set 6-4 to qualifier Ugo Blanchet of France, but bounced back with 6-2, 7-6 (9) wins. The 84th-ranked Adam Walton of Australia lost his first set 6-4 to Benjamin Bonzi of France but bounced back with 6-0, 6-3 victories. Upcoming In opening-round games on Monday, Canadian Dan Martin plays Jaume Munar of Spain, Liam Draxl of Newmarket, Ont., plays Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain, and Alexis Galarneau of Laval, Que., plays Arthur Rinderknech of France. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 27, 2025. The Canadian Press
CTV News
3 minutes ago
- CTV News
Summer McIntosh goes for her second gold on Day 2 at the swimming world championships
Summer McIntosh of Canada competes in the women's 200-metre individual medley semifinal at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) SINGAPORE — It's Day 2 at the swimming world championships in Singapore. That means it's a chance for Summer McIntosh to add her second gold medal after winning the 400 freestyle on the opening day. The 18-year-old Canadian is trying for five individual golds across the eight-day event in Singapore. On Monday she's a strong favourite to get her second gold, this time in the 200-metre individual medley. She set the world record of two minutes, 05.70 seconds at the Canadian trials a few months ago. McIntosh is expected to be challenged by American Alex Walsh. Also in the field is 12-year-old Chinese Yu Zidi, whose age and astounding times are the talk of global swimming. The women's 100 butterfly is another eye-catching race. American Gretchen Walsh — Alex's older sister — is the favourite and set the world record of 54.60 earlier this year. Roos Vanotterdijk of Belgium and Australia's Alexandria Perkins will push Walsh. Two more finals are set. Qin Haiyang of China and Nicolo Marinenghi of Italy are the favourites in the 100 breaststroke. The Italian is the Olympian champion from Paris, and Qin won this event two years ago at the worlds in Fukuoka, Japan. The 50 fly final is wide open, but the quickest qualifiers were Maxime Grousset of France and Noe Ponti of Switzerland. There are also three semifinals Monday — the men's 100 backstroke, the men's 200 free, and the women's 100 backstroke. ___ Stephen Wade, The Associated Press
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
'It's really been a privilege': Dartmouth art gallery closing after 12 years in business
Jane MacDougald has spent the week carefully taking down the artwork that adorns the purple walls of her gallery, neatly packing up more than a decade's worth of memories and decor, piece by carefully curated piece. The Dart Gallery closes its doors this week after 12 years on Portland Street in downtown Dartmouth. "It was crushing because you know, I've put a lot into making this space what it is," MacDougald said last week, standing among shelves of local art prints and jewelry. MacDougald said she was surprised when her landlord recently decided not to renew her lease. Ian Stanley, who owns the building, said he tried to work with MacDougald and said an art gallery is "great for the community." But he said the rent she hoped to pay was "way under" market value, and they could not come to an agreement. Since she announced the closure on social media, MacDougald said she's been overwhelmed by messages of support. "It's really nice to hear, you know, how much it's meant to people," MacDougald said, her voice breaking. "People, I think, are very sad to see it go." Besides a place for artists to sell their work, the gallery's Red Room — named for the hand-dyed red plywood floors — became a community hub hosting everything from live music, DJs, and comedy, to Black beauty events. MacDougald said she knows that art can sometimes feel inaccessible, and wanted to change that by creating a vibrant, welcoming space that "feels good to be in." Lindsey Harrington, a longtime host of a writer's circle at the gallery, said MacDougald more than achieved that. "We really had the full gambit of artists … whether it be, you know, the city's poet laureate to somebody who never shared a poem before," Harrington said about the dART Speak event. "The biggest gift that the Dart Gallery gave me was a community." The Dart Gallery was among the first wave of businesses to kick-start the revitalization of Portland Street, which has become a vibrant stretch of cafes, restaurants and shops. "She was just so supportive of downtown Dartmouth when nobody else was. It's just really sad," Harrington said. MacDougald said she can't take too much credit for the work of other businesses who followed after her. But, she remembers hoping that bringing art and culture to the neighbourhood where she lived could give it a sense of identity. Tim Rissesco, CEO of the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission, said the closure "leaves a hole for community gatherings on the street." He is hopeful MacDougald could eventually reopen at a new location within the area, something that MacDougald said she also wants. "I've met so many wonderful, talented, kind people and it's really been a privilege," MacDougald said. "I'll miss seeing everyone as often, but you know, I'm not really going to go anywhere." For now, MacDougald said she will offer local art through her gallery website and is interested in exploring a community land trust for downtown Dartmouth. She pointed to the Kensington Market Community Land Trust as a possible model. In that case, community members pool resources to buy properties to prevent residential tenants and small businesses from being pushed out of the unique area.
