The Death Tour
Each winter, when the lakes freeze over, a motley gang of professional wrestlers leaves Winnipeg on a one-of-a-kind wrestling trip through remote Indigenous communities of Northern Manitoba. Wrestling insiders call it the ‘Death Tour’ - both for the physical hardships endured on the road and the emotional toll it takes on those who experience it. Famous for its star-studded alumni, the trip offers wrestlers a rare taste of fame and a chance to see if they have what it takes to make it in professional wrestling.
The Death Tour is a road trip movie like none other which takes viewers on an epic journey to a part of the world rarely captured on camera. Experience these remote communities through the wrestlers eyes as they drive through the frozen tundra, sleep on ring mats after shows, and face their inner demons. Some hope that surviving the Death Tour will propel them to wrestling superstardom while others, their bodies battered and scarred, head North for one last chance to hear the roar of an adoring crowd.
For the communities these wrestlers visit, The Death Tour is a not-to-be-missed event. The wrestlers are celebrities for kids in these towns, which is why they are invited to speak at schools about battles fought in their own lives. Sage “The Matriarch” Morin, talks about her struggles after the loss of her 2 year old son to a drunk driver. Wrestling brought her back from the brink and performing for Indigenous youth has given her life new purpose. Veteran wrestler Sean “Massive Damage” Dunster tears up as he tells local kids about his battle with pain killers. For years doctors have warned him his next match could be his last - but Sean’s not ready to give up the life just yet. Dez “The Eskimofo” Loreen, a self-trained Inuit wrestler from Inuvik, had his own struggles with mental health and substance abuse before he decided to bring wrestling to the Arctic. He’s joined the tour to learn the moves he’ll need to wow crowds back home. Sarah “The Scottish Warrior” McNicoll hopes wrestling will give her a second chance at life as a pro athlete. The sport is a healthy outlet for the rage and regret she feels at being forced to give up on her Olympic dream in her teens.
Keeping it all together is Tony Condello the tour’s promoter. At 81, this will be his 50th Death Tour. Tony’s a wrestling icon who’s helped shape the careers of many wrestling greats. He hopes to continue putting on tours for Indigenous fans for years to come. The Death Tour is a meditation on the inner strength some discover when alone, exhausted and pushed to the limit. This deeply personal documentary travels through Canada’s frozen North and into the wrestlers’ minds as they battle the elements, each other, and the impacts of our colonial past. The wrestlers and their fans will draw upon vastly different pasts to come together over their shared love of wrestling. They’re both fighting for their futures and searching to heal themselves along the way.
CREDITS
Stephan Peterson - Director
Sonya Ballantyne - Co-Director
Chris Jericho - Executive Producer
Stacey Tenenbaum - Producer
Sergeo Kirby - Producer
The Death Tour is a road trip movie like none other which takes viewers on an epic journey to a part of the world rarely captured on camera. Experience these remote communities through the wrestlers eyes as they drive through the frozen tundra, sleep on ring mats after shows, and face their inner demons. Some hope that surviving the Death Tour will propel them to wrestling superstardom while others, their bodies battered and scarred, head North for one last chance to hear the roar of an adoring crowd.
For the communities these wrestlers visit, The Death Tour is a not-to-be-missed event. The wrestlers are celebrities for kids in these towns, which is why they are invited to speak at schools about battles fought in their own lives. Sage “The Matriarch” Morin, talks about her struggles after the loss of her 2 year old son to a drunk driver. Wrestling brought her back from the brink and performing for Indigenous youth has given her life new purpose. Veteran wrestler Sean “Massive Damage” Dunster tears up as he tells local kids about his battle with pain killers. For years doctors have warned him his next match could be his last - but Sean’s not ready to give up the life just yet. Dez “The Eskimofo” Loreen, a self-trained Inuit wrestler from Inuvik, had his own struggles with mental health and substance abuse before he decided to bring wrestling to the Arctic. He’s joined the tour to learn the moves he’ll need to wow crowds back home. Sarah “The Scottish Warrior” McNicoll hopes wrestling will give her a second chance at life as a pro athlete. The sport is a healthy outlet for the rage and regret she feels at being forced to give up on her Olympic dream in her teens.
Keeping it all together is Tony Condello the tour’s promoter. At 81, this will be his 50th Death Tour. Tony’s a wrestling icon who’s helped shape the careers of many wrestling greats. He hopes to continue putting on tours for Indigenous fans for years to come. The Death Tour is a meditation on the inner strength some discover when alone, exhausted and pushed to the limit. This deeply personal documentary travels through Canada’s frozen North and into the wrestlers’ minds as they battle the elements, each other, and the impacts of our colonial past. The wrestlers and their fans will draw upon vastly different pasts to come together over their shared love of wrestling. They’re both fighting for their futures and searching to heal themselves along the way.
CREDITS
Stephan Peterson - Director
Sonya Ballantyne - Co-Director
Chris Jericho - Executive Producer
Stacey Tenenbaum - Producer
Sergeo Kirby - Producer