Berwyn Eagles Club to stop hosting wrestling after fight

The operator of the iconic indie wrestling venue Berwyn Eagles Club says it will stop hosting shows after more than 20 years — news that has left members of Chicago’s wrestling community stunned.

The final events this weekend include a sold-out show hosted by AAW Pro Wrestling on Friday and a lucha extravaganza from All Star Lucha Libre on Saturday.

Wrestling fans say that the Eagles Club offered budget-friendly prices and free parking. Some of the world’s biggest wrestling stars have shed blood, sweat and tears in the club, making it a cornerstone venue for a sport that combines athleticism, entertainment and sometimes raw brutality.

The plans to end wrestling at the venue come after a fight broke out between an unnamed fan and a wrestler, Mads Krule Krügger, at a March 28 Ruthless Pro Wrestling show. Videos posted to social media showed wrestlers and attendees punching and kicking the fan.

The videos sparked misleading reports from some dirt sheets that cover the industry that someone had been stabbed. But according to a police report obtained by the Sun-Times, Berwyn officers found that no stabbing occurred.

Chuck Marose Sr., who runs the club with his wife, confirmed over the phone that all wrestling events end this weekend. He declined an interview, but said he and his fellow trustees would be “willing” to speak in the future.

Marose Sr. is listed as a trustee and the secretary of the nonprofit Fraternal Order of Eagles, according to 2024 tax filings. The Fraternal Order of Eagles owns the property, according to the Cook County Recorder of Deeds.

Word of the closure quickly circulated among promoters, who create, market and produce wrestling events. Game Changer Wrestling posted on X that the venue informed them that all future events would be canceled.

Donations from the wrestling community have poured into a GoFundMe page set up by a fan on behalf of the Berwyn Eagles Club, citing “an incident beyond their control,” in which “the venue lost its license and is no longer allowed to host wrestling shows.”

“The loss not only impacts the club's day-to-day operations but also puts its long-term future at risk as they search for new ways to sustain the business,” the description continues. As of press time, the GoFundMe has raised nearly $1,400 of its $3,000 goal. Beyond wrestling, the Berwyn Eagles club also hosts bingo nights, Queen of Hearts games and community and fraternal events.

But exactly why the club is ceasing all wrestling events remains unclear. Berwyn’s city attorney and chief of police confirmed with a reporter that the venue’s entertainment license — necessary for hosting wrestling shows — has not been revoked as a result of the events on March 28.

Berwyn chief of police Michael Fellows said that the Berwyn Eagles Club pays for one officer during wrestling events. After the brawl, the department recommended increasing the total number of on-site officers to four.

Wrestling’s toxic fan culture

While what goes on in the ring is often scripted, what happened on March 28 at the club was not a part of the show.

Rickey Shane Page, co-owner of Ruthless Pro Wrestling, posted a statement to X: “Any implication that it was somehow a ‘work’ or ‘storyline’” – a planned event – “is patently false.”

The evening’s altercation escalated when the main event was over. Fans and wrestlers typically hang out after hours for meet-and-greets, merch sales and networking.

The police report states that the fan in question “started causing problems early in the night,” according to a wrestling manager.

Another fan, Loren Rosenberg, who was there on the night of the altercation, said the alleged instigator is a “known problem” in local wrestling circles. While he doesn’t know the fan’s name, Rosenberg recalls a night when this same person “was obviously inebriated” and yelled homophobic slurs at a queer wrestler.

Wrestler harassment, including female wrestlers, has been an issue in the industry.

“Wrestling should be for everyone, but we can't make others feel uncomfortable,” Rosenberg said. “Unfortunately, it may take a few people just to ruin what is a very special venue.”

The loss of an “accessible” and “affordable” venue

As the Berwyn club winds down wrestling events, dozens of local and national promotions, including longtime venue residents AAW Pro Wrestling, have been forced to cancel their events or find new sites for shows. Wrestling shows are typically booked out months, if not years, in advance.

Trent Zuberi, a producer for AAW, said that his company’s co-owner, Danny Daniels, was first informed by Marose Sr. of the sudden cancellations.

AAW launched its first-ever show at the Eagles Club in 2004, and its last show at the venue is happening on Friday. Zuberi said his group has booked venues such as 115 Bourbon Street in Marionette Park for future events.

But for their last show at Berwyn Eagles Club, “we're gonna go out in style,” Zuberi said. “We’ve got all titles on the line. All of our champions are booked. We got some surprises booked.”

Matt Riddle, who was formerly tag team partners with WWE’s Randy Orton, will be on the card at Friday’s show, too.

“The biggest part of the loss is that it's a very accessible and affordable venue,” Zuberi adds, with general admission or standing room tickets typically starting at $20. At its peak, AAW could afford to move out of the Berwyn Eagles Club.

But as more promotions hit the scene, the group scaled back and returned to the club full-time in 2021.

“But we made the best of it because we're able to bring our prices down,” Zuberi said. “It's a working-class neighborhood, it's more affordable for people, easy to get to, not far from the highway. It was an accessible venue for the promoters as far as being able to schedule, rent and store things there.

“That's what people have lost,” he continued. “Now we've lost a place where the biggest companies can pack a house, and the guys that just started a month ago can begin their dreams.”

The end of an era

High-flying luchadores Penta and Rey Fénix, who are dominating in the big leagues, stopped in Berwyn for matches years ago. Current WWE champion Becky Lynch wrestled as Rebecca Knox for the all-women’s promotion SHIMMER at the club, too.

Homegrown wrestlers were devastated to hear the news, too. Robert “Ego” Anthony posted a message about the Eagles Club’s last AAW show to X: “I’m sad and proud to say I’ll be there for the start and the ending. Let’s send it out right.”

Matt Knicks, who’s wrestling at the All Star show on Saturday, referred to the “legendary” club as a “wrestling institution” on Instagram.

“This affects so many different circles,” Rosenberg said, noting that several wrestling schools also operated out of the space. “That was kind of the place where it's like, if you made it to Berwyn Eagles, you can make it anywhere.”