SEATTLE - A group in South Lake Union is catching the attention of hundreds of people every other Friday. 3-2-1 Battle is a wrestling league made up of everyday professionals who have wanted to live this dream since they were young.
Bill Bates is a barber at a Wallingford salon, but one of 40 participants in 3-2-1 Battle. There are Chefs, nanny’s, construction, and many others that also join in on the fun.
“I love that I have a day job that lets me be artistic, and a night job that lets me be just as artistic,” Bates said. “I’m one of the few people who gets to live this childhood dream.”
Bates said he always gets funny looks when his clients ask him a certain question about his plans for the weekend.
“Casually the client will ask, ‘What do you do when you’re not doing hair’? And I usually make the joke that this is the point in the appointment where things get weird,” Bates said with a laugh.
The wrestling group started 15 years ago with just a few people. Not there are dozens of wrestlers and hundreds of people that go to the shows in South Lake Union.
“I do it because I love to perform. That audience cheering for me is my drug and there’s nothing quite like it,” Bates said. “And no alcohol, or joint, or other drug beats performing in front of a live crowd and cheering your name.”
“A lot of people sit at home with a passion to do something and aren’t really able to do it and I’m one of the blessed few that are able to,” Bates added.
If you’d like more information on the group you can find it here: https://www.facebook.com/321Battle/
