How the pro wrestling community united for the cancer cause

In professional wrestling, the spotlight is often shining on rivalries, championships, great matches and dramatic storylines. But for an independent wrestling promotion company based out of Ottawa, a deeply connected community has come together for 14 years to honour someone they lost.

This year C4 Wrestling had its 14th “Fighting Back” event and donated all their proceeds to the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS). Supported by the pro wrestling community, this single annual event has raised over $700,000 for people affected by cancer – changing the lives of so many people with the spirit of pro wrestling behind them. 

In 2011, Phrank Morin was an up-and-coming wrestler and was regularly a part of C4 Wrestling shows in Ottawa. Sadly, his time in the ring was cut short after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Morin was such a presence in the tight-knit community, that his friends immediately wanted to do something for him.

“The day after they said he had one year to live, I reached out to the Canadian Cancer Society,” said Mark Pollesel, promoter of C4 Wrestling. “At that time, it was going to be a celebration of him - for him to see people coming together in his honour and do something to boost his spirits.”

Morin passed away before the first Fighting Back show took place. But still, the show went on and in its first year raised over $10,000.

“The minute it was done, I thought, ‘All right, well I got to do this again next year,’” said Pollesel. 

Over the years, Fighting Back has evolved into something larger than a tribute. Each show has become more impactful and it now has a history of some of the largest stars in the world of pro wrestling, coming to help and volunteer their time and talents for the cancer cause.

Major stars from the two biggest promotions in North America, AEW and WWE, have approached Pollesel each year. Cody Rhodes, MJF, Bobby Lashley, and Ultimo Dragon are just some examples of household names that took time out of their touring schedule and made the trip up to Ottawa. The participation of those stars helped inspire donations from the audience and the wrestling community all over the world.

"It's become a real event with the whole community - not just with the local fandom and local wrestlers - but with wrestlers from all over the place too. A lot of them will volunteer their time to be a part of it. It's an annual coming together of a community," said Pollesel. “Unfortunately, as those 14 years have gone on, we’ve realized that this is bigger than just Phrank because everybody’s lives are touched by cancer.”

The event has also featured cancer survivors in the wrestling world like Richard Holiday, who asked to be part of Fighting Back. He is cancer-free after being diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2022. “He approached us before Fighting Back last year and said, ‘I’d really like to be a part of it, given what I’ve been through.’ That meant a lot.” 

Fighting Back continues to expand its impact beyond just the live event, as online communities have become involved.

Most recently, AEW wrestler and Ottawa-area local Evil Uno used his presence on TV and Twitch to start his own promotion called Mystery Wrestling, which hosted a 24-hour wrestling match livestream to support the cause. “He was really able to harness his own celebrity and the fandom that Mystery Wrestling now has internationally,” said Pollesel. “It’s amazing to have these other aspects come together surrounding the annual Fighting Back show.”

While breaking the record for the longest professional wrestling match ever this year, Mystery Wrestling's 24-hour livestream managed to raise over $33,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society.

“I know that CCS does amazing work in the community and works with people going through cancer – funding research and studies going on. I’m just glad to be able to contribute to that,” said Pollsel. “I just want this money to go wherever it is most needed, whether that be in a lab somewhere or in outreach for people and families affected by cancer. More and more we realize how much cancer affects people and however we can help the Canadian Cancer Society in Phrank’s memory, we will.” 

The success and tremendous impact that Fighting Back has had over its 14-year history has led to more people starting their own fundraising event. Pollesel’s advice is simple: “Just do it.”

“You’ll quickly realize if you’re doing it honestly and the right way. There are plenty of people who want to help,” he said. “It’s incredibly rewarding.”

Whether it’s a wrestling show, a gaming stream, a community walk or a bake sale, the incredible impact Fighting Back has made from its first show demonstrates how powerful putting work into changing the future of cancer can be.

“As soon as it’s done, you’re going to think about how you can do it again,” Pollesel added. “I take pride in what we’ve built with Fighting Back - as an event, and what it means to people.”

Pollesel and the pro wrestling community have made an immense impact with Fighting Back. Initially inspired by their close friend going through his own cancer experience and losing him, it has grown to become such a powerful event.

With nearly half of the people in Canada expected to face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, the kind of impact Fighting Back makes each year is more important than ever.

You can transform the future of cancer too by starting your own fundraiser with CCS.