BEIJING: A couple in southwestern China turned their wedding into a professional wrestling showdown, with the loser agreeing to do the housework for life.
Unlike conventional competitive sports, professional wrestling is a choreographed combat performance.
The groom, He Yinsheng, a professional wrestler from Zunyi in Guizhou province, staged the unusual celebration with his wife at a local hotel in early May.
In place of a traditional wedding stage, the couple installed a wrestling ring, with a giant screen displaying a dramatic “Groom vs Bride” poster.
The newlyweds then led their respective teams into a best-of-three contest, governed by one lighthearted rule: the losing side would be consigned to household chores.
Videos of the event show performers entering the ring first, delivering a series of high-impact moves, from body slams and takedowns to close-range grappling.
Guests watched in rapt attention, with some children seen standing with bowls in hand, too engrossed to eat.
As the event reached its climax, the bride and groom stepped into the ring themselves.
Cheered on by the crowd, He’s wife swiftly gained the upper hand, deftly evading his attacks before flooring him with a shoulder throw.
The referee then declared her the winner, announcing that she was “exempt from doing housework for life”.
Although the sequence had been choreographed and rehearsed in advance, the spectacle still left guests captivated.
The groom told the mainland media outlet Xiaoxiang Morning Post that all the performers were professionally trained and that safety had been prioritised throughout the show.
“Of course I had to lose in the end. I could not let her do the housework,” said He.
He said the idea came to him during wedding planning, after he realised the budget was exceeding expectations.
Rather than hiring singers and dancers, he opted to stage a wrestling match instead.
His wife backed the plan, while both sets of parents said they “did not understand it, but respected their choice”.
The couple have not publicly shared details of how they fell in love.
“Our wedding had food and a show, so people were happy to attend. In the end, nearly 300 guests turned up, far more than we expected,” He told the mainland media.
He added that he hoped the wedding would also introduce more people to China’s niche professional wrestling scene.
The country’s professional wrestling remains a relatively small subculture, with performances reportedly confined to venues such as bars, beer festivals and corporate annual meetings.
The wedding became a talking point on mainland social media.
One online user said: “Can I buy a ticket to their wedding?”
While another quipped: “They should take this wedding on a nationwide tour.” - South China Morning Post
