A Windsor city councillor ventured into unfamiliar territory this past Saturday, swapping the council chambers for the squared circle at a professional wrestling event in LaSalle, Ont. Kieran McKenzie, the 52-year-old councillor for Ward 9, didn’t shy away from the action, despite having no previous wrestling experience. He endured numerous bumps and bruises while competing against seasoned wrestlers during the Noble Champions Group event at the LaSalle Event Centre. McKenzie had been embroiled in a months-long feud with local wrestling legend “Irish” Bobby Clancy, trading verbal barbs to determine who should become General Manager of NCG. On Saturday, the talking stopped as McKenzie stepped into an actual wrestling match, captaining a four-wrestler team against a squad led by Clancy. Clancy’s team was victorious, dashing McKenzie’s dreams of becoming NCG General Manager. Reflecting on his wrestling debut 48 hours later, McKenzie called the match an “incredible experience.” “Well, I’m here, so I think that says a lot,” McKenzie said shortly after Monday’s meeting of Windsor city council. During the match, McKenzie took body slams and boots to the face by two wrestlers who are seven-feet tall. “What a great experience to have had the opportunity to get in the ring with a bunch of professional wrestlers who really know what they’re doing.” Though the match didn’t go his way, McKenzie is already considering what comes next. “Unfortunately, I came up a little bit short in the outcome, but we’ll see moving forward, what the future may hold,” said McKenzie, suggesting he may return to the NCG. Asked whether he sustained any physical injuries, considering his active participation, McKenzie said he suffered only “some emotional damage” over the loss. “In all honesty, I’m more than fine and really, in many respects, mostly just exhilarated by having had that opportunity.”
