Midget wrestling coming to Cape Girardeau

Things are looking up for fans of midget wrestling in Cape Girardeau.

After a midget wrestling event at Pink Galleon Billiards and Games was canceled in October, the club's owner plans to bring a different group of tiny fighters to town Feb. 24.

The Champion Midget Wrestling organization is cooperating with the Missouri Office of Athletics to follow licensing guidelines, unlike the group booked last year, said Pink Galleon owner Chris Seib.

Seib was forced to cancel a performance by the Extreme Midget Wrestling Federation after state officials said the little people were athletes, not entertainers, and were required to pay fees and submit to blood tests just like professional boxers or mixed martial arts fighters.

After losing $2,000 on advertising and promotion of the October event that never took place, Seib said he wasn't interested in booking midget wrestlers again. But Champion Midget Wrestling contacted Seib's booking agent and expressed interest in performing.

"We've got the permits set for this event so there will be no problems," said Leonard Panaro, spokesman for the Champion Midget Wrestling organization based in Buffalo, N.Y.

Panaro described the performers as "well-conditioned little ones." The three-hour show will feature about a half-dozen midget fighters.

"We're kind of a take off of [professional wrestling}, with comedy," Panaro said.

Tickets for the show, including a limited number of ringside seats, may be purchased at The Pink Galleon.

mmiller@semissourian.com

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