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But Ayres said fans can rest assured that any show featuring "The King" will have the same kind of zest Lawler, who left the WWF earlier this year, is now wrestling as an independent in shows across North America. "I‘ve got Jerry "The King" Lawler," he said. "I paid a high price for him, but 1 got him." But after contact with the wrestler came to a stand still, Ayres pursued and signed another superstar to boost the card. His original choice was to bring Jake "The Snake" Roberts to town, a former WWF wrestler known for covering his opponents with a python after each match. Ayres said he also ran into some difficulty securing a wrestler to headline the show. But Ayres said the process hasn‘t been easy. "You have to book the arena and make sure it‘s free the same night your star is available," he explaineg. "You have to book your star‘s flight and make their hotel reservations. There‘s a lot that goes into it." "It‘s been a big job for one person," Ayres said. "But I‘ve worked my tail off, and it‘s come together." With Shaw‘s knowledge and experience behind him, Ayres began kicking around the idea of putting together his own show, under the name Ontarip Championâ€" ship Wrestling (OCW), comâ€" plete with a card of matches featuring local talent and headlined by a famous name from the professional wrestling world. "He‘s made the business look really fun." Ayres said. "And he‘s been happy to teach me the business side as well as the wrestling side." That diverse attitude, he said, has been supported by Ike "The Crippler" Shaw, a former professional wrestler who _ now _ runs _ the Cambridge school. "It‘s been a great opporâ€" tunity for me to learn differâ€" ent aspects, from actual wrestling to the business side of it as well," Ayres explained. "I would love to be a successful promoter and a wrestler." And that door opened about six months ago when he signed up as a student at the Hart Brothers School of Wrestling in Cambridge. A fan of mat mayhem since the days of Hulk Hogan and Jake "The Snake" Roberts, the Petersburg man has always wanted to involve himself in the indusâ€" try, which many say has put the world of sports enterâ€" tainment on the map. atthew Ayres will Mprove that childâ€" hood dreams really can come true when he preâ€" sents his first live wrestling show this weekend in Cambridge. Mat mayhem hits Cambridge By Anorea Baicey Chronicle Staff "He‘s (McMahon) probaâ€" bly doing the right thing," Aytes said. "He‘s keeping up with the times. "Wrestling certainly has changed from the way it was years ago," he said. And he attributes that to good plannifg on the part of WWF owner Vince McMahon Ayres also said the event will be a good mix of the older brand of wrestling with some of the new, more risky style. The show, called Blastoff 2001, will also feature the likes of JQ Publik and "Sexy" Sid Summers. But Ayres said the bulk of the card will be made up of upâ€"andâ€"coming wrestlers now in training. "It‘s so interesting that someone I‘ve watched on TV for so long is now taking the time to talk to and work with me," he said. decent of him." Ayres said it‘s been a thrill for him to work with Lawler, a figure he‘s looked up to for years. "We‘ve had conversaâ€" tion...," he said, "and I defiâ€" nitely envision one day returning." But Lawler said he‘s not ruling out one day returning to the WWE, once some perâ€" sonal issues in his life are sorted out. "This is a great situation for me," he said. "Being either the one, or one of two, main attractions definitely puts you at the centre of attention. You really get the redâ€"carpet treatment, as opposed to being lost in the shuffle." During his years with the WWE, _ Lawler primarily served as a playâ€"byâ€"play commentator, with little inâ€" ring action. Lawler also said the indeâ€" pendent circuit has allowed him to refocus on why he got into the business in the first place: for the wrestling. "The independent shows are more laid back, and they actually allow the fans to meet and shake hands with the wrestlers." "I really enjoy doing the independent scene," Lawler said in a telephone interview from his Memphis. Tenn. home last week. "The WWF is so impersonal in that there‘s _ no _ interaction between the fans and the wrestlers. he was known for in the WWE Matthew Ayres of Petersburg will present a live wrestling show this Saturday in Cambridge. "I really admire what he‘s It‘s pretty The show will take place this Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Karl Homuth Arena, located on â€" Hamilton â€" Road â€" in Cambridge. Bell time is set for 8 p.m. Tickets are availâ€" able at Perfect 2 for 1 Pizza, 1203 King St. E., in Cambridge. "All I can say is that fans can expect a good show and a great time." "I‘ve ran into some {perâ€" sonal) problems along the way that made me want to call it quits," he said. "But I knew I was too far into it to give up. And 1 figured that I‘ve never been a quitter before, so why start now. While Ayres promises an exciting show, part of him can‘t wait until the event is over, and deemed a sucâ€" cess. done in the business. ©2001 Teleâ€"Monilty Company * The Nike ‘ogo is a hesemork ol Telus M unger lcense rom Ceeemmel Communicalions Inc *Some conditions cpoly s . L§_5â€"S’ & 10( )Op/m ¢.55 SJJ f [ =.a~» | \Tt es C freess, \ " Lf.\‘ ‘\' = F3 Eait ‘”"su!cr C hn 552 3 @02 L @ & 23 apP 2oo e / ) C j @PF _Price 1: Too Low Y‘ e aA 2#299"* To c _a e m . $30/month for 250 minutes P‘ Unlimited Evenings & Weekends for 3 years* sA9 Too Low \\“‘?°’ 1:0 $ 99 + Print! 49 Oily Mike ond Mikes Deect Conrect ore Irademcres used See as for delois . *New actteghons only. on c 36 mant lern