Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling is bringing in some major names.
Scott D'Amore is reopening Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling, and they will hold their Forged in Excellence event on October 19-20. Konosuke Takeshita, Josh Alexander, Raj Dhesi, and other stars have been announced for the show.
In a press release, Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling announced that Timothy J. Walbert would direct the Maple Leaf Pro Forged In Excellence event. Walbert previously spent eight years with WWE, and he has directed WrestleMania and other events. He also worked for AEW as their head director from 2019 until his departure in June 2023.
Plus, Kevin M. Sullivan will lead the way with Maple Leaf Pro's on-screen branding and production. Sullivan has worked for TNA, AEW, and WWE throughout his career, and he has won an Emmy Awar.d
Furthermore, executive producer Keith Mitchell, who was a key figure behind the scenes with WCW, is also part of the team. Mitchell previously worked for AEW and TNA as well. He retired upon his AEW departure in December 2021, but he is now back in wrestling.
From Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling:
ONTARIO, CANADA – September 4, 2024 – The resurgent MAPLE LEAF PRO Wrestling promotion has filled its color commentator seat with none other than Don Callis.
Known and reviled by fans as Cyrus the Virus in ECW, The Jackal in WWE, and as himself in TNA and AEW, Callis’s mic skills and switchblade wit have made him one of the most dynamic personalities in pro wrestling’s modern era.
“We mean it when we say MAPLE LEAF PRO will be Forged In Excellence,” said Scott D’Amore, MAPLE LEAF PRO President. “Just as our two-night Pay-Per-View event on October 19 and 20 will feature the likes of ‘The Maharaja’ Raj Dhesi, Josh Alexander, and Speedball Mike Bailey in the ring, our commentary team will also be the best in class with Mauro Ranallo now joined by Don Callis.
“All that on-air talent will be supported by a production truck full of award winners and a who’s who of pro-wrestling live event production.”
Directing MAPLE LEAF PRO: Forged In Excellence will be Timothy J. Walbert, who has over four decades of live event experience, notably directing WrestleMania and many other massive events during eight years with WWE. Walbert has also directed entertainment juggernauts as varied as the NFL, MLB, and musical acts including Eminem and KISS. Walbert’s directorial vision has crafted the styles of TNA Wrestling and more recently AEW.
The creative force behind MAPLE LEAF PRO’s on-air branding and production is Kevin M. Sullivan, the Emmy and Promax-winning visionary who has already made significant contributions to TNA Wrestling, All-Elite Wrestling, and WWE. Sullivan’s talents have also shaped the brand identities of a client list that includes NBC Universal, Warner Brothers Discovery, and Fox Sports.
Rounding out an all-star team is Keith Mitchell, the renowned executive producer who has five decades of experience in professional wrestling. Mitchell’s dynamic approach was key to World Class Championship Wrestling’s international success in the 80s, WCW’s record ratings in the 90s, and TNA’s growth in the 2000s. More recently, his strategic vision helped AEW’s rapid ascension as a leading force in the industry.
MAPLE LEAF PRO is still over a month away from its triumphant return, yet it has made international news with the signing of major talent as well as being a founding member of the international Pro-Wrestling Alliance along with Qatar Pro Wrestling and Oceania Pro Wrestling.
Both nights of MAPLE LEAF PRO: Forged in Excellence will be broadcast live on TrillerTV, ensuring fans around the world can witness the return of this historic promotion.
Don Callis and Mauro Ranallo will be Maple Leaf Pro's commentary team. More information is available here.
Fightful will have coverage of Maple Leaf Pro Forged In Excellence once it airs on October 19-20.
