BANKIE'S HOT TAKE #121 - The Lakewood Estonian House: Matt Pro Wrestling's Home Base
- Apr 3
- 2 min read
Living in Ocean County, I frequently am on the road, going between Seaside Heights, Toms River, and Jackson. I absolutely love being here. There’s such a real laid-back vibe, at least for me, down here. I love to take drives all throughout, seeing what’s around.
This morning, my drive took me past the Lakewood Estonian House, which is right on the Jackson/Lakewood border.
I instantly smiled, because in nine days, I will be there for Matt Pro Wrestling’s 2nd Anniversary Show Double Vision.
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The first time I went to the Estonian House was on January 21, 2023 for a company called Gen Pro Wrestling. The promotion was co-ran by Ray Ray Marz and Mak “Rib” Stevens. Due to my good friend Dan Murdoch wrestling his first match in nine years, I decided to go check it out.
As I alluded to in my Bankie’s Hot Take #13, “Being inside the venue, it felt perfect for pro wrestling. It gave off an intimate vibe instantly. Being THAT close to the action, as a fan, it gets you that much more invested.”
No joke, I was looking forward to attending more Gen Pro Wrestling events, mainly to see the young, local talent begin their careers in the sport of kings.
It was their last show.
Due to a difference in philosophy, or at least that’s what was said to me via the independent wrestling pipeline, Gen Pro ended. However, Ray Ray Marz continued on.
Thanks to a new crew and team with him, Matt Pro Wrestling formed on April 14, 2024 inside the Estonian House with an event called New Dawn 2024. The promotion, named after Matty Marzarella, Ray’s brother, instantly took over the Estonian House and made the venue its home base.
In my review of the show, “The beginnings of Matt Pro Wrestling had a totally different vibe the last time I was in the Lakewood Estonian House for pro wrestling. The atmosphere was fun and electric. The event was simple to follow and truly built a strong foundation to future events.”
Although Matt Pro has ventured out over the past two years to different venues, including the Mantoloking Playhouse in Mantoloking, NJ, to this writer, the Lakewood Estonian House is HOME.
Now, two years later, for Double Vision, Matt Pro is looking to bring its best show ever to the forefront.
Three men, who might be the best built characters throughout the length of the company, face in a Triple Threat match for the right to be Matt Pro Wrestling Grand Champion on April 12. Current titleholder “the Rad Dad” Radley Belmont, the promotion’s Iron Man”, faces Mateo Marcelos, the vile leader of El Pacto Diabolico, and Darius Carter, the world-renowned independent talent that was in Matt Pro’s first two main events.
It’s the biggest match in Matt Pro Wrestling history.
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The cozy exterior Lakewood Estonian House will have its interior be host to a night of chaos.
Come to this event next Sunday. There’s food. There’s a bar. There’s comfy seats. And there will be wrestling. Because when you’re home, all bets are off and everybody’s on.
Bankie Bruce
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