Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan starts wrestling company

A longtime fan of pro-wrestling, Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan has launched his own wrestling promotion.

Appearing on Fox News in Chicago, Corgan said: “I’ve been involved sort of behind the scenes with pro wrestling for about a decade and made a lot of friends in the business. It’s a very insular business and it’s a long story, but I essentially got involved with some brothers who had a wrestling promotion. We decided to form our own promotion and we’re going to try to bring back to the glory days.”

Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan has set up his own wrestling promotion

Resistance Pro Wrestling will be based in Chicago, home to top wrestling stars like CM Punk, and Corgan will serve as creative director. The Pumpkins singer will oversee the storylines and is aiming to keep things plot-driven, eschewing the notion of “sports entertainment” by keeping things old-school.

Corgan has been a wrestling fan for many years which may shed some light on his sometimes questionable behaviour. He has acknowledged that in the past, he has delighted in playing the heel, but added: “[Audiences] just aren’t sophisticated enough to know that I’m playing around.” No more heel Corgan, though, the singer says: “That guy’s been put to bed. I’m babyface from now on.”

Corgan has used his fame and connections to line up some top talent. ECW veteran Raven is the promotion’s agent, while El Generico, ex-WWE superstar Harry Smith, Necro Butcher, Teddy Hart, Cheerleader Melissa, Colt Cabana and the Briscoe Brothers are on the roster.

Corgan has also stated that he wants to use the company to help raise awareness of sports injuries (in association with his friend and ex-WWE wrestler Chris Nowinski) and is adamant that his aim is for everyone to work at the highest level possible, even if that means working outside of independent promotions and going to TNA and WWE. He told Detroit News: “You have a very strong indie scene, and a lot of times guys and girls build up their names there, and when they try to go to the big leagues they get a lot of [grief] from fans saying, ‘You sold out,’ etc. It’s totally the same thing as in music.”

When asked if he is planning to get involved in matches, Corgan said: “I’m want to be behind the scenes, I’m more of the creative person within the promotion, helping to set the tone, but you know how wrestling is… eventually someone’s gonna call me out.”

Resistance Pro’s first wrestling event takes place Nov. 25 at Excalibur in Chicago.

Find out more at http://resistancepro.com/