By Bjorn Trautwein
brawl in the church. In the festival hall of the Berlin City Mission, shreds flew on Friday afternoon.
In front of the Christ Cross, twelve wrestlers lay down in a specially constructed boxing ring: free of charge and for a good cause in front of around 80 homeless men and women.
City Mission Director Dr. Christian Ceconi first came out as a wrestling fan in a devotion: “Sometimes, when I’m angry, I also wish to do a real body slam” – but then found thoughtful words: “In real life, nobody should leave the field as a loser go. That’s what we’re fighting for here at the City Mission – with mercy.”
After a hard (and, as always in wrestling, choreographed) fight, “Orlando” from Mexico sent Nick Schreier from the Ore Mountains to the boards with little mercy. Four more fights followed in front of a cheering audience, among others the clever Lina defeated the wild Loky.
Marcel (32) and Mariella (28) are currently having an emergency overnight stay: “The atmosphere is really great,” they said happily, “and it’s nice that the good guys win.”
The wrestling show was organized by the Berlin world champion Pascal spalter (32, has been in the ring for 15 years), who won the main fight against the villain “Commandante Rambo” from the Dominican Republic. Everyone involved waived the fee, the benefit fight was financed by the online portal classifieds, for which the wrestler works in marketing.
Pascal (32) works privately in marketing for the online portal classifieds Photo: Olaf Selchow
A drunken guest, who tried several times to get into the ring, caused a small scuffle with the stewards outside of the fights. But this fight ended like all the others without injuries. A clear victory for a good cause!
Pascal spalter’s next official fight as part of the German Wrestling Organization (GWO) will take place on September 3rd in the Festsaal Kreuzberg.