Lower Hutt mayor Fauono Ken Laban has come out on top in the wrestling ring against his new arch-nemesis Sir Mr Burns, a wrestler who portrays himself as a fictional chief adviser to the prime minister.
By Justin Wong for Local Democracy Reporting
The pair came head-to-head at the Lower Hutt Events Centre at the opening of live professional wrestling by Valiant Pro on Saturday night, the first time the former town hall has hosted professional wrestling in 15 years.
Wearing a "Mr Nightmayor" T-shirt, Laban was delivering remarks in the ring before the first fight when the blue-clad Sir Mr Burns, the wrestling persona of Jason Burns, interrupted, to boos from the crowd.
The self-styled "perfect patriot of politics" and leader of the fictional "Young Nats" wrestling faction snatched the microphone from Laban’s hand.
Sir Mr Burns began taunting Laban and prodding him in the chest, saying “we are in charge now” in case the mayor “didn’t get the memo this month” – in reference to the Government’s three-month ultimatum forcing councils to draft amalgamation plans – before adding Laban and his “little” Hutt City Council would “do what we tell you to do”.
Both men began briefly shoving each other and ended when, to the spectators’ delight, Laban pushed Sir Mr Burns into the ropes and knocked him to the ground on the rebound.
Valiant Pro director and promoter Hayden Thiele said Sir Mr Burns and the "Young Nats" were wrestling character personas, a parody that had nothing to do with politics or the National Party itself.
He said that character had travelled around the country for several years.
Big Frank defeated "The Beat" Jade Priest at the title fight on the night and claimed the latter’s New Zealand All Star Wrestling Champion title. The events centre is hosting Valiant Pro live wrestling again in late September.
– Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
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