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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

CALERA – A show featuring micro wrestlers performing suplexes, elbow drops, dropkicks and other electrifying maneuvers will take place on an arena at the Calera Courtyard during Calera Main Street’s upcoming Caleramania.

Caleramania will take hold of Calera on Friday, May 16 at the Calera Courtyard from 7-9 p.m. and will consist of a series of wrestling matches featuring an entire cast that is under five feet tall from the Micro Wrestling Federation

“We are super excited to bring this to Calera,” said Alicia Anderson, special events coordinator for Calera Main Street. “We have been trying for years to get it here and now it’s here and we are ready to share it with the community.”

Founded in 2000, the MWF is the longest-running organization within the little person industry. The organization is known for its reality show “Big Little Brawlers” which aired on the Discovery Channel in 2024. The Micro Wrestling Foundation has been featured in numerous publications and programs, including Sports Illustrated Magazine, Country Music Television and the WWE. The MWF perform more than 500-plus shows a year across the U.S. with four shows a week that take place at a mini arena in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

“There is no denying that the Micro Wrestling Federation is the number one Little Person wrestling organization on the planet—high-flying, body slamming and off the top rope,” read an official post on the MWF’s website.

Caleramania will feature a rotating mystery lineup of wrestlers from the MWF. Potential performers could include famous wrestlers such as Jamaican Joe, Heavy Metal Mario, Zach Presley, Ben Urkel, Flyin’ Ryan, Carolina Reaper, King Clover, Lit Dynamite, Hotlanta and more.

In addition to the high-flying action in the ring, Calera Main Street will have food trucks and vendors set up in the courtyard for families to grab a quick snack.

Caleramania came about after local first responders attended one of MWF’s shows and reached out to Main Street requesting that they bring the action to Calera.

“I would venture to say that a lot of both private and city employees have wanted it,” said Dennis Torrealba, president of Calera Main Street. “It’s been one of the most requested events for sure.”

Torrealba said he believes the event will benefit local businesses through bringing visitors to Calera Main Street.

“I think the biggest thing is that it’s not only going to bring people in from Calera, I think it’s going to bring in people from surrounding counties and sister cities,” Torrealba said. “I think for the local businesses, the benefit is more eyes and people get to see that they’re here.”

Dee Starkey, merchant market coordinator for Main Street, said she believes the whole city will benefit from the very first installment of Caleramania.

“I think our city as a whole will benefit because people are going to have a whole day out,” Starkey said. “They’re going to come, they’re going to enjoy the show, they’re going to get dinner locally, they’re going to get gas locally. This is a whole community event.”

Ticket sales from Caleramania benefit the MWF and can purchased on site but those interested are recommended to purchase tickets online due to the popularity of the event.

“We are doing this event as a service and a benefit to the community,” Torrealba said.

Those interested in learning more about MWF may visit its website at Microwrestling.com. More information on events on Calera Main Street can be found online at Facebook.com/CaleraMainStreet2019.