Don Callis: Toronto Is One Of The Best Wrestling Markets In The World, The Crowds Are Passionate

Don Callis previews the kind of audiences AEW can expect to encounter in Canada

Don Callis previews the kind of audiences AEW can expect to encounter in Canada and says talent shouldn’t worry about the unique atmosphere too much.

AEW will make his Canada debut with the October 12 episode of AEW Dynamite in Toronto and a live taping of Rampage the following day. In the wrestling world, performing in Canadian audiences has been compared to being in Bizarro World, where everything is backwards. Faces are often booed, and heels are often cheered. This environment can be jarring, as wrestlers have to deal with fans responding in ways that may not line up with the intended goal.

Speaking with McCully on Rock 95, Callis, a long-time veteran who has worn many hats in the business, was asked about this dynamic and whether performers might change what they’re doing in the ring in response to the crowd. He responded by describing how the Toronto audience is hot and passionate, and talent has to stick to the plan regardless of the fans’ feedback. For comparison, he noted that it’s not like Tom Cruise pops out behind the movie screen and offers to change the story if the viewers don’t like it.

“My experience with Toronto audiences is, they’re gonna do what they’re gonna do. I’m someone who, in my entire career, I never worried or cared about what the audience thought about what I was doing. It’s one of the reasons why I’ve been reviled, I suppose, that and the jealousy. You can’t worry about what the audience is gonna do. You have to do what you do. Tom Cruise, in the middle of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’, doesn’t pop out from behind the screens in the movie theater and go, ‘Oh, you’re not liking it? Let me change the storyline.’ You have to be who you are, and that really is one of the secrets to success in professional wrestling. The Toronto crowd isn’t gonna be this way or that way. What it’s gonna be is hot. What it’s gonna be is passionate. You go and do what you do, and let them enjoy it,” Callis said.

Callis also expressed his excitement to return to Canada. He called Toronto one of the best wrestling markets in the world. Callis went on to describe how people will thank him for coming back while he’s going to the hottest clubs and the finest restaurants.

“I’m even more excited that AEW is coming to Toronto, which Toronto is clearly one of the best wrestling markets in the world. I fully expect that when I walk around Yorkville and give those vendors my money, like I will all week when I’m in Toronto, you’ll find me in whatever the hottest clubs are. I will be there, I’ll be in the best restaurants, and people will come up to me and say, ‘Don Callis, thank you for coming back to Canada,'” he said.

In the same interview, Callis previewed the ROH World Championship match between Chris Jericho and Bryan Danielson. More information is available here.

Check out the updated card for the September 12 episode of AEW Dynamite by clicking here.

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