Wrestling returns to Shreveport with free event at Great Raft

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — Shreveport has a long history with professional wrestling, and that history continues Fourth of July weekend.

Long before WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) took its brand national, wrestling was split into regional territories. Mid-South Wrestling ruled Louisiana and parts of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi. Mid-South was a profitable wrestling territory for years, and weekly, their television tapings took place in Shreveport at the Irish McNeil Boys Club.

Most of the biggest names from the “golden age” of wrestling spent time in Shreveport.

Kamala body-slammed Andre the Giant in Shreveport years before the famous Hulk Hogan slam. The Fabulous Freebirds “blinded” the Junkyard Dog shortly before the birth of his daughter. Ric Flair, Ted DiBiase, Jim Duggan, Dusty Rhodes, and anyone else who mattered at the time came through Shreveport.

While the glory days of Shreveport wrestling are long past, they have not been forgotten. WWE has historically run smaller shows in Shreveport and Bossier City yearly, and upstart company All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has had one Bossier City event.

While Shreveport waits for one of the big companies to return, Great Raft Brewing is filling the void with live professional wrestling. Enjoy local beer, local food, and live wrestling. In conjunction with the return of their All-American Amber beer, Amber Waves of Pain, Great Raft presents free, all-ages wrestling on July 5 at 4 p.m.