International wrestling showcase returns to Windsor with Maple Leaf Pro doubleheader

Source: MLP Wrestling.

An international slate of professional wrestling talent is set to take over Windsor this weekend, as Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling brings a two-night event featuring performers from around the world.

The sold-out shows — Global Wars Canada on Friday and MLP Uprising on Saturday — will be held at the St. Clair College SportsPlex, with Friday’s event co-branded alongside Ring of Honor.

“We’re coming back with two great nights of MLP wrestling,” said D’Amore, founder of Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling.

“The Friday night show is a co-branded show along with Ring of Honor which is owned by Tony Khan of the Khan family. The Jacksonville Jaguars, Fulham FC and of course, for all of us people here in Windsor, Flex N Gate, which is a huge employer in this area. So, it’s going to be great to have him in the area.”

In an interview with CTV News, D’Amore said Windsor has built a reputation as a destination for high-level wrestling events.

“I think one of the things we’ve been able to develop in Windsor over the years is people know when there’s wrestling in Windsor, Ontario, you’re going to see a major event,” he said.

“You see some of the best in the world.”

The weekend will feature talent from multiple international promotions, including Mexico’s Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, along with competitors from Japan, Europe, and the U.S.

“We’ve really gone out to try to get the best talent from all over the world,” D’Amore said.

“You look at it, we’ve got Europeans, we have people from Japan, we have Americans… and now we have those people who created that influence coming here to Windsor. So, we’re super excited about that."

D’Amore pointed to the depth of the roster as one of the strongest in the region’s decades-long wrestling history.

“When I look at the card… the depth of international talent from all over the world coming, I think, is as deep as it’s ever been here,” he said.

“And we’ve been doing this for 30-plus years.”

Beyond the marquee names, D’Amore said a key focus for the promotion is building opportunities for Canadian wrestlers, who often face barriers breaking into larger U.S.-based companies.

“When you’re Canadian in this industry, so many of the opportunities are in the U.S., and you can’t get those opportunities because of barriers there,” he said.

“So, what we’re looking to do is create a Canadian platform where Canadian performers can go out there and show that they are among the very best.”

He added the domestic wrestling scene is as strong as it has ever been, particularly at the independent level.

“I would say right now the Canadian wrestling scene is as strong as it’s ever been,” D’Amore told CTV News.

“The talent at the grassroots… is fantastic.”

Still, he noted logistical and financial hurdles — including work permits and travel costs — can limit opportunities for Canadian talent abroad, reinforcing the need for a homegrown platform.

“It’s been since 1989 [that] Canada has had its own national wrestling company that was on national television,” he said.

“I think it’s time that we have our own Canadian wrestling company with a Canadian identity.”

Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling, launched in late 2024, has already drawn sizable crowds in Toronto and Quebec, according to D’Amore, who said 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the promotion.

“I think 2026 here is going to be a huge year,” he said, hinting at a major announcement expected during the Windsor shows.

D’Amore also pointed to Windsor’s longstanding place in Canadian wrestling history, alongside larger markets like Toronto, Montreal and Calgary.

“Once you get past those three cities… you think about Windsor, Ontario,” he said.

“I think it really is an epicentre for professional wrestling in Ontario, in Canada.”