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Zoey Zhang

Diners at Cantonese tea restaurant in China can enjoy dim sum while watching live professional wrestling, a unique form of entertainment that has sparked much attention on mainland social media.
Unlike the genuine sport, professional wrestling, which is widely known as pro wrestling, is a choreographed stage combat performance. The wrestlers are both athletes and actors.
Pro wrestling evolved from the common practice of match-fixing among wrestlers in the United States in the 19th century, who later sought to make bouts shorter, more entertaining, and less physically taxing.
The most famous pro wrestling event in the world is World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in the US.

In China, pro wrestling is often confused with martial arts performances and sports, and its popularity remains low.
However, in December, a tea restaurant in Jiangmen, in southern China’s Guangdong province, creatively merged pro wrestling with dim sum culture.
Xiao Xin, organiser of Chinese Dim Sum WWE, set up a wrestling ring in the middle of a restaurant.
Diners are required to pay an extra 388 yuan (US$53) for seats around the ring, with 760 spots available. Tickets sell out in just two days.
The event’s most popular storyline features Sam, a foreign “villain”, who defeats Chinese competitors until Liu Xuanzheng, a 168cm Chinese pro wrestler, steps in and turns the tide to win.
Liu, hailed as China’s top pro wrestler, began his career in 2002 and brought back wrestling techniques from South Korea. He wins over his towering foreign opponent with quick movements and an iconic offensive throw, adding excitement to the match.

The wrestlers also interact with the diners.
After serving food, a waiter unexpectedly tears off his clothes and jumps into the ring as a wrestler.
In another scene, Sam and a masked man fight outside the ring, snatching food from diners’ tables to use as weapons.
One diner compared it to a kung fu movie about the legendary Chinese martial artist Wong Fei-hung, saying: “I felt like I was in a classic movie scene, enjoying dim sum while watching people fight.”
Another commented: “The wild nature of wrestling mixed with the laid-back vibe of dim sum culture creates a captivating combination.”
The pro wrestlers also have their regular jobs.
Sam is an English teacher in the southern city of Zhuhai, the masked man is a bus mechanic, and the female wrestler works as a flight attendant.
Event organiser Xiao Xin noted that they all share a passion for pro wrestling and took time off from their jobs to perform at the restaurant, aiming to boost the profile of pro wrestling in China.
Mainland media outlets have reported that most pro wrestling matches in China are held in bars, parks or abandoned warehouses, with only about five live events a year, each attracting just a few hundred people. Newcomers typically earn under 500 yuan (US$69) per bout.
For many Chinese, pro wrestling is seen as an entertainment performance involving little technical skill.

A veteran grappling fan wrote on social media: “These athletes actually require top-tier wrestling skills such as floor techniques, high-flying moves, and more.
“They perform thrilling attacks while ensuring the safety of themselves and their opponents. They also need acting skills and resilience.”
The unique mix of dim sum and pro wrestling has sparked widespread attention online, with related topics hitting 24 million views on one major social media platform alone.
One netizen said: “This adds another unique cultural label to Guangdong. Thumbs up for those who love and persist in pro wrestling, this is very meaningful.”
“Chinese pro wrestlers could add some kung fu into their performances, which may give them more recognition,” said another.


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China diners combine dim sum with live wrestling as unique entertainment gains popularity

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People & Culture

In a twist of pro wrestling from United States, the ‘sport’ brings a whole knew meaning to the expression ‘food fight’


In a twist of pro wrestling from United States, the ‘sport’ brings a whole knew meaning to the expression ‘food fight’.


Wrestling