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A new kind of theater has moved into Jefferson County Fairgrounds: pro wrestling.

鈥淚t抖阴ap like going to a broadway show. It抖阴ap live theater, it抖阴ap just high-impact live theater,鈥� said Kayla Lawson, whose boyfriend Ryan Hood is an instructor at the at its new home in the Livestock聽Arena at the fairgrounds.

The academy and president Matt Yaden’s production company,聽, began leasing the space in October.

鈥淲hen I looked at it, I thought this would be perfect for our big shows,鈥� said Yaden, who started the school in January 2013.

The small arena-style space at was formerly home to bull-riding events until they outgrew that space, and then sat mostly unused save for the occasional 4-H event. Now, with a makeover of black and purple paint, theatrical lighting and a wrestling ring, the barn hosts weeknight practices and occasional Friday night performances that draw crowds of up to 500 people.

dress in costume, assume characters and learn skilled moves they bring to the ring in dramatic fights with body slams, kicks and punches — without major injury. While moves are rehearsed, they are performed in improvisational storylines.

The academy has around 40 students enrolled in classes for beginners and advanced wrestlers, and even a class for ages 5-13.

鈥淚t抖阴ap been a great addition to our entertainment offerings over the last few months,鈥� said Scott Gales, director for Jeffco Fairgrounds.

Gales, who has been the fairgrounds鈥� director since 2013, said the fairgrounds hosts around 1,200 events a year, as well as a year-round campground. Many of the events are for , 4-H and the offices that are on site.

Jefferson County government offices use the property when they need to host large functions, Gales said, and the rest of the events — about 40-50 percent — are privately held craft shows, gem and mineral shows, circuses, rodeos and more.

Gales said the fairgrounds operate on an annual budget of about $1.3 million and bring in around $530,000 a聽year.

But his focus is not necessarily on generating revenue; it抖阴ap making sure people know what a good public resource the fairgrounds is and to that end, he is always looking to draw in diversity.

鈥淚t gets people thinking about, 鈥楳aybe I could bring my event out there or a different kind of event?鈥� as that network grows,鈥� he said.

Mercury Pro Wrestling Academy and its production affiliate, Rocky Mountain Pro Wrestling, certainly fits that bill.

鈥淚t抖阴ap the biggest hodgepodge聽of different people I鈥檝e ever seen,鈥� Yaden said about his community of wrestling students and performers.

The 20 or so students practicing at the academy on Jan. 25 included Amanda Cole, a former nanny who performs as 鈥淣anny AC,鈥� pursuing her lifelong dream of tapping into her athleticism to turn wrestling into a career.

鈥淥bviously, you have to be athletic to do this, but it抖阴ap storytelling as well,鈥� Cole said. 鈥淚t抖阴ap not just MMA, where you go out there to kill each other. You actually have to work together and that抖阴ap what I love about it — just working together and putting on a show for the audience.鈥�

Cole鈥檚 girlfriend Brittney Balestra-Villani was there, too. She said she was skeptical at first, but gave wrestling a shot after sitting on the sidelines at practices. Now, she has set a goal to perform at a show in July.

鈥淚t was just a lot more fun than I expected it to be,鈥� Balestra-Villani said.

鈥淚t抖阴ap not just going in there and doing moves to each other,鈥� he said. 鈥淓verything matters and everything has to mesh.鈥�

Lawson, whose boyfriend teaches for the academy, never thought she would be a fan of pro wrestling. But after her first show, she said was hooked.

鈥淚t抖阴ap a story and it抖阴ap a continuing story,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen you become a fan you stay a fan for a long time.鈥�

Rocky Mountain Pro wrestling performs next at 6 p.m. Feb. 11 in the Livestock聽Arena at Jeffco Fairgrounds, 15200 W. 6th Ave. They also perform regularly at Rackhouse Pub, 22785 Blake St., Denver. The next show there is at 10 p.m. Feb. 25. Ticket prices range from $10 to $25. For a full list of events and to purchase tickets, go to .