The Passion Returns

On Saturday, May 10^th, a Canadian professional wrestling company returned to the famous Maple Leaf Gardens for the first time since 1984 with Maple Leaf Pro: Northern Rising. I was lucky enough to have a pair of front row seats.

A rare photograph of an empty Union Station in downtown Toronto during a sunny afternoon. — Summer in Toronto, ain’t nothing like it.

The exterior of Fran's Diner in downtown Toronto on a sunny summer afternoon. — Summer in Toronto, ain’t nothing like it.

Before doors opened, my brother & I headed to Fran’s Diner for a pre-show meal. I highly recommend the Monte Cristo. I also had a Shirley Temple to drink, because I’m not gonna not order one if I see it on a menu.

The interior of Maple Leaf Gardens before the show started, with empty seats surrounding the ring.

Zack Sabre Jr. and Jonathan Gresham square off in the ring.

Watching professional wrestling on TV is fun, but nothing beats seeing it live and in colour; the closer the better. You just get a better sense of appreciation for it that’s hard to describe.

mikie 🍁 @mikie.zip

@speedballbailey.bsky.social just stole my Canadian flag. #MLPNorthernRising

May 11, 2025 at 1:09 AM UTC

The real highlight of the night was the three-way match between Michael Oku, Gabriel Kidd, and Canada’s own “Speedball” Mike Bailey, who came out on top. After the match, Speedball noticed my Canadian flag and borrowed it to pose with it in the ring, but I guess they were short for time because production had already cut to a promo video, so he ended up taking it to the back with him.

The aftermath of which was captured on Speedball’s Vlog.

We stuck around after the show, and who comes out to meet us but Speedball himself, graciously returning my flag. We chatted for a bit before parting ways. What a guy, what a night.

MLP heads to Montreal in July. I guess I am too…

Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes

The Leafs crashed out of the playoffs, losing 6-1 in Game 7, their seventh straight Game 7 loss. I just stopped watching after it was 3-0. You just knew exactly what you were watching. Death, taxes, and the Leafs crushing your soul.

Fuck.

Beers and jerseys were thrown on the ice, even a few on the bench. The half-empty arena booed them off the ice during the post-game salute. Florida condescendingly threw a pity party in the presser, talking about how hard it must be to play in a market with this much pressure. Just the most insulting bullshit I’ve ever heard from a winning team, frankly.

WARNING: Turn down your volume.

Team President Brendan Shanahan has been relieved of his duties, and the Leafs will have big decisions to make on impending free agents in Mitch Marner and John Tavares. What’s that saying about the definition of insanity again?

All Out

AEW will finally return to Toronto for All Out 2025, a PPV event at Scotiabank Arena. It’ll be the first AEW show in Toronto since March 20^th, 2024. I’ve been lucky to have attended every AEW that’s come to Toronto over the years, and even the pair of Hamilton shows they ran back in 2023 as well. You can guess where I’ll be on September 20.

FOMO got the best of me and I scored some tickets during the pre-pre-sale, almost identical to the seats I had for the 2023 AEW Collision show. Had I waited 48 hours, I could have bought similar tickets for half of what I paid. A lesson learned.

A photo I took from my seat at the 2023 AEW Collision show in Toronto at Scotiabank Arena. — I’m looking forward to a similar view for All Out 2025.

Highlights

Movies

Read my review on Letterboxd

Thunderbolts* 2025

Loved

`3.5/10`

3.5/10

Watched on May 13, 2025

Florence made me do it.

Being the geek that I am, I happened to know a little bit more about Bob than most going into this. Not entirely sure how much longevity this group will have but I thought this was fun. And hey, no bomb and a timer!

The post-credits scene has me really excited for what's to come. Can Marvel really Solve Everything?

I watched 9 movies this month:

Miller's Crossing (1990)
Read my review on Letterboxd

Loved

`3.5/10`
3.5/10
Mallrats (1995)
Read my review on Letterboxd

`3/10`
3/10

Rewatch
Ronin (1998)
Read my review on Letterboxd

`2.5/10`
2.5/10

Rewatch
Thunderbolts* (2025)
Read my review on Letterboxd

Loved

`3.5/10`
3.5/10
There's Something About Mary (1998)
Read my review on Letterboxd

`3/10`
3/10

Rewatch
The Vast of Night (2019)
Read my review on Letterboxd

`1.5/10`
1.5/10
Babylon A.D. (2008)
Read my review on Letterboxd

`1/10`
1/10

Rewatch
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025)
Read my review on Letterboxd

`3/10`
3/10
Fountain of Youth (2025)
Read my review on Letterboxd

`2/10`
2/10

TV

Official poster for The White Lotus, Season 3

Learn more about this show on Trakt

The White Lotus, Season 3 2025

Loved

`3.5/10`

3.5/10

Finished on May 2, 2025

I’m late to the party on this one, and even though I binged the entire series over the course of a month, I didn’t think season 3 was as entertaining as the first two.

It’s just not the same without Jennifer Coolidge.

Favourite Episode: S03E05, “Full Moon Party”

I've been watching 9 shows this month:

Halt and Catch Fire S03 ()
Learn more about this show on Trakt

Did Not Finish
50%
Rewatch
The White Lotus S03 ()
Learn more about this show on Trakt

Loved

`3.5/10`
3.5/10
The Bear S01 ()
Learn more about this show on Trakt

Loved

`5/10`
5/10

Rewatch
Dope Thief S01 ()
Learn more about this show on Trakt

`3/10`
3/10
Detroiters S01 ()
Learn more about this show on Trakt

`3/10`
3/10
Andor S02 ()
Learn more about this show on Trakt

`3/10`
3/10
Detroiters S02 ()
Learn more about this show on Trakt

`3/10`
3/10
Poker Face S01 ()
Learn more about this show on Trakt

Loved

`3.5/10`
3.5/10
Bad Thoughts S01 ()
Learn more about this show on Trakt

Currently watching
50%

Music

Learn more about this album on Last.fm

“viagr aboys” by Viagra Boys 2025

Loved

`4/10`

4/10

Released on April 25, 2025

Favourite Song: “Pyramid of Health”

I've listened to these 12 albums the most this month:

Who Will Look After the Dogs? ()
Learn more about this album on Last.fm

Loved

`3.5/10`
3.5/10
SABLE, fABLE ()
Learn more about this album on Last.fm

Loved

`4.5/10`
4.5/10
The Ecstatic ()
Learn more about this album on Last.fm

Loved

`3.5/10`
3.5/10
viagr aboys ()
Learn more about this album on Last.fm

Loved

`4/10`
4/10
Bleed American ()
Learn more about this album on Last.fm

Loved

`3.5/10`
3.5/10
Satellite ()
Learn more about this album on Last.fm

`2.5/10`
2.5/10
We Sweat Blood ()
Learn more about this album on Last.fm

Loved

`4/10`
4/10
Sinner ()
Learn more about this album on Last.fm

`2.5/10`
2.5/10
July Heat ()
Learn more about this album on Last.fm

`1.5/10`
1.5/10
New Found Glory ()
Learn more about this album on Last.fm

Loved

`4.5/10`
4.5/10
Every Six Seconds ()
Learn more about this album on Last.fm

`2/10`
2/10
Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends ()
Learn more about this album on Last.fm

Loved

`5/10`
5/10

Books

Cover of “Earth X” by Alex Ross & Jim Krueger

Learn more about this book on Goodreads

“Earth X” by Alex Ross & Jim Krueger 1999

Loved

`5/10`

5/10

Finished on May 24, 2025

Admittedly, I was baited into picking this up because I saw Alex Ross’ name on the cover and recognized his work on the gorgeous cover. But despite the interior not being drawn by Ross, I quickly became completely engrossed in this re-imagining of the Marvel universe, never knowing what to expect with each new chapter. I’ll be adding a physical copy to my library as soon as I can find one.

I've been reading 9 books this month:

The Daily Stoic ()
Learn more about this book on Goodreads

Currently reading
42%
Home and Away ()
Learn more about this book on Goodreads

Currently reading
75%
New X-Men Omnibus ()
Learn more about this book on Goodreads

Loved

`4/10`
4/10
Doctor Doom: The Book of Doom Omnibus ()
Learn more about this book on Goodreads

Loved

`4/10`
4/10
w0rldtr33 Vol. 1: Terminal ()
Learn more about this book on Goodreads

Loved

`4.5/10`
4.5/10

Reread
w0rldtr33 ()
Learn more about this book on Goodreads

Loved

`4/10`
4/10
w0rldtr33 Vol. 2: Network ()
Learn more about this book on Goodreads

Loved

`4/10`
4/10
Earth X ()
Learn more about this book on Goodreads

Loved

`5/10`
5/10
Spider-Man vs. Venom Omnibus ()
Learn more about this book on Goodreads

Currently reading
76%

YouTube

Only 359 days until I never go outside again.

I enjoyed these other videos, and you might too:

Purchases

An event used turnbuckle pad from Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling: Northern Rising, signed by “Speedball” Mike Bailey.

After Maple Leaf Pro: Northern Rising had ended and most of the crowd had gone home, I jokingly asked the ring crew if I could buy one of the turnbuckle pads as they were tearing down. I didn’t expect them to say yes, but I couldn’t turn down a chance to go home with a piece of Canadian wrestling history. To my surprise, they even had it signed for me as we were working out the eTransfer at the merch stand. A cherished memento from an unforgettable night.

A list of the other impulsive purchases I made this month that I don’t totally regret:

Select a Theme

mikie

1967

The Passion Returns

Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes

All Out

Highlights

Movies

TV

Music

Books

YouTube

Purchases