👊 Pro wrestling for kids?

🏆 Vegas #1 Memorial Weekend Destination

Did it seem like it was even more crowded than usual over the busy holiday weekend? Well, there’s a reason for that. Las Vegas was the top Memorial Day weekend destination in the country based on Skyscanner bookings over the past 12 months. [The Hill]

😵 Eastside Cannery on Life Support

Clark County approved a gaming license extension for the Eastside Cannery, even though the Boulder Strip casino has been closed since the pandemic. Similar extensions have been given to the site of the Tropicana (closed in April) and Moulin Rouge (closed in 1955), preserving the ability for the properties to resume gaming in the future. [KTNV]

🚘 Resorts World Limits Free Parking

Resorts World is ending free parking on June 1 for entry-level members of its loyalty program 😠 Card holders must now accumulate tier credits to qualify for the perk. Locals get the first three hours free. [Las Vegas Review-Journal]

• Everything in Vegas feels more expensive these days. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

Pro wrestling is hot again and Las Vegas is in the thick of it. Local promotion Future Stars of Wrestling is producing up-and-coming talent with regular shows and a training academy that includes Juniors Division classes for ages 5-17. Owner Joe DeFalco shares the details.

Tell me about the Junior Division. Is this an alternative to gymnastics or karate classes for kids?

"We found a niche offering a class for kids to do a lot of the stuff the adult trainees do, but in a more laid back, fun-filled environment. Instead of playing a wrestling video game on the couch, your kid is now running the ropes because John Cena did it. And getting kids to exercise is probably one of the most difficult things to do."

Parents are going to be most concerned about safety. How do you handle that?

"The thing with Leon Hater, our main trainer, is the parents love him. He understands what the kids need, not what they want. And the kids love him too, but he keeps everything in check. We have a giant crash pad because kids are kids, they want to drop elbows like the "Macho Man" (Randy Savage) off the top rope. So we make it as safe as possible. We're generally not having somebody drop elbows on top of another kid."

The popularity of pro wrestling seems to run in cycles and is currently on an upswing. Are you noticing an increase in interest?

"The popularity of the women's division in WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) has really taken off. It's made us see there are a lot more young girls who are interested in doing this. It used to be that the sister would come with the brother, she'd watch and not really care. Now, there are times when the brother doesn't have any interest and the sister's the one who continues to wrestle."

Call Future Stars of Wrestling (702-742-8770) to learn more about the Juniors Division and other classes.

Playing the Mayor

Is the role of Las Vegas mayor just an act? It is for actress Lauren Weedman, who plays the Vegas mayor in HBO’s “Hacks.” She talks to City Cast Las Vegas co-host Dayvid Figler about the fine line between entertainment and politics.