Paramedics may now be required at all WWE-style wrestling events in Dundee after licensing chiefs said past shows raised safety concerns.
The local authority said “previous incidents at similar events” led to the decision to impose stricter conditions on an application by David Low, who runs Scottish Wrestling Entertainment (SWE).
In Tuesday’s Courier, Mr Low, who has been putting on shows in Tayside for almost 27 years, claimed the conditions show licensing officers are treating wrestling as a sport, while he maintains it is “scripted performance art”.
He also says the conditions mean putting on the events is now “unaffordable” and fears the decision signals the death-knell for wrestling spectators in the city.
SWE have brought some of the biggest names in wrestling to Tayside including former WWE superstars Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Tatanka, and Hacksaw Jim Duggan.
A Dundee City Council spokesperson, while declining to elaborate on the incidents in question, said: “A condition had been added to this application for a paramedic to be present.
“Safety of spectators and participants is key and due to previous incidents at similar events we believe this condition to be necessary.”
Mr Low said he knows of only one incident in all the years he has put on shows in the city but said it was “bonkers” if that was the reason for the council’s decision.
He said: “At one show last year, a carer and her patient moved to a no-seating area.
“A wrestler was thrown from the ring and the patient — who I believe had a brain injury — must have gotten a fright and held his hand up, accidentally hitting his carer in the face. She ended up with a black eye.
“I don’t know if she even complained because I spoke with her and she recognised they shouldn’t have been sitting there.
“She didn’t seem upset but I gave her two free tickets for another show because of what happened.
“They just slipped through the net.
“I think it’s completely absurd if that’s the reason.
“It’s totally bonkers.”
Mr Low also said he feared other councils would follow Dundee’s lead — meaning an end to wrestling events across the country.
Fans of wrestling have thrown their weight behind Mr Low in his fight.
A wrestling-daft paramedic living in England has even offered up his services for free to help keep SWE afloat.
