Small and Scrappy

Mickey Rourke's masterfully depressing turn in last year's The Wrestler — not to mention the increasingly dark theatrics of TV shows like Extreme Championship Wrestling — have pretty much disavowed the notion of professional wrestling as light, goofy entertainment. And yet there's still some levity in the gloomy and garishly extreme sport: the Micro Wrestling Federation.

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More About

• Micro Wrestling Federation
• The Wrestler
• Mickey Rourke
• Extreme Championship Wrestling

While drawing from the contemporary antics of the bigger boys, the fighters of the MWF (bearing colorful personas and names like Meatball and Short Dawg) keep the tradition of midget wrestling alive. And though there's no doubt an intentional camp and comedy to the MWF, there's an athleticism and discipline to the bouts — even if it does have as much to do with sheer showmanship as it does with pounding the other guy.

The warriors of the MWF will take the squared circle tonight at 9 p.m. at the Oriental Theater, 4335 West 44th Avenue. Admission to the 21+ event is $15 to $25; for tickets and info, call 303-455-2124 or visit www.theorientaltheater.com.
Fri., Nov. 13, 9 p.m., 2009