Sask. wrestler says the sport has improved everything in his life, like Day to Night - Action News
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SaskatchewanCreator Network Video

Sask. wrestler says the sport has improved everything in his life, like Day to Night

When Levi Day steps into the wrestling ring in front of hundreds of fans, he shines.

Levi Day, who performs as Levi Night, went from shy kid to disco dancing in the ring

Carnduff, Sask. wrestler talks about his passion for the ring

8 months ago
Duration 5:42
Growing up in the small Saskatchewan town of Carnduff, Levi Day loved playing with lego and acting out wrestling moves with his friends. But his lust for busting a move in the ring kept growing stronger. So when he turned 16, instead of asking his father for a car, he asked him to build a wrestling ring. Since then, hes been training, performing and touring. In this video for the CBC Creator Network, filmmaker Jenalene Antony follows the 22-year-old on a journey, exploring his evolution from Levi Day to Levi Night.

The normal transition from day to night involves the sun going downand the moon coming out.

But for Levi Day, getting on stage as his alter ego Levi Night means the shirt comingoff, a pair of tight, sparkly stretch-pants getting pulled onand a head of long, curly red hair being letloose.

When the 22-year-old steps into the wrestling ring in front of hundreds of fans, he shines.

"I come out dancing, having a good time," he said. "That's how I became Levi Night. Keep being yourself, don't hide yourself away."

Levi Day performs in the wrestling ring as Levi Night
Levi Day performs in the wrestling ring as Levi Night. (Levi Day/Facebook)

Levi grew up in Carnduff, Sask., a small town about 250 kilometressoutheast of Regina.

He says he wasshy back then, and people knew him as the "fat kid." He played a lot of video games and built Legoby himself.

"I think about wrestling like it's Lego. You kind of choose your favourite pieces, and that's kind of like the things you do in every match," he said. "It's kind of like a soap opera for men."

Levi Day makes the words Levi Night using lego.
Levi Day becomes Levi Night. (Jenalene Antony)

His fascination with wrestling kept growing. In2010, when he was eight-years-old, he travelled to Phoenix for WrestleMania 26,featuring John Cena, Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker.

Seeing all the big names in person was a turning point for Levi.

He says he got hooked on the sport and realized he wanted to pursue his dream of becoming a professional wrestler.

An 8-year-old Levi Day mimicking his favourite wrestler, The Undertaker, at WrestleMania 26.
Eight-year-old Levi Day mimicking his favourite wrestler, The Undertaker, at WrestleMania 26. (Levi Day)

As Day got more dedicated to the sport, he started losing weight, but says he never really shook that feeling of being the 'fat kid.'He says wrestling gradually helped him come out of his shell.

He and his friends would act out scenes, record them and show the videos at school.

As they got older, a lot of his friends lost interest in wrestling and moved on to other sports like hockey, butnot Day. When he turned 16, he didn't ask for a car for his birthday. Instead, he asked his dad Larry to build him a wrestling ring.

Levi Day stands in the middle of the homemade wrestling ring made by his dad, Larry Day.
Levi Day stands in the middle of the homemade wrestling ring made by his dad, Larry Day. (Levi Day)

The elder Day obliged, and built what they affectionately dubbed Cubby's Dungeon. Cubby is Larry's nickname.

The dungeon part of the name pays homage to the famous Hart wrestling family, who alsotrained ina homemade ring called 'The Dungeon'in theirCalgary basement.

The spacebecame Day's sanctuary, and he would spend long hours training.

"We got this wrestling ring and that's when the switch flipped," said Day.

"I made sure to do it every day no matter what. It was the day of my grandpa's funeral, and I was like,'oh, better get my workout in before I go to the funeral.' I was just focused."

Before his grandpa died, Day vowed to the older manthat he would become a big-time wrestler.

Levi Night dances during a wrestling match.
Levi Night dances during a wrestling match while on tour with Canadian Wrestling's Elite. (Jenalene Antony)

After graduating from high school in 2019, Day headed to Calgary to train with Lance Storm, a former pro wrestler with WCW (World Championship Wrestling) and WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment).

Since then, Day has been touring across Western Canada and has competed in more than 100 matches.He often travels with theCanadian Wrestling's Elite tour,an ongoing show with regular multi-city stopsthrough Saskatchewan.

LISTEN | Danny Warren: Canadian Wrestling's Elite

The audience loves it when he busts out his best discomoves in the ring. Often, he says, they get up and dance along.

"If they knew the struggle I went through as a kid, I'm sure they would like, even respect it more," Day said. "If I could tell people,'I was shylike you, but now look at me', right?"

The love for wrestling runs in the family. Day's father Larry also dreamed of making it big and actually left Carnduff when he was 18 to pursue it. His mother Vi was the one who encouraged him to try out in 1980 when she saw an ad in the paper.

But Larry's dreams were cut short.

"I feel bad that Larry never got the opportunity that Levi has had," said Vi.

"It's just that we had nobody to run our business at the time, and we just kind ofstuck with it. And unfortunately, Larry didn't get to be a wrestler."

Levi Day and his dad Larry, and grandma Vi stand in front of a big rig at their family's business.
Levi's dad Larry, left, wanted to be a wrestler too, but his mother Vi, Levi's grandmother, says Larry had to stay in Carnduff to work with the family business. (Jenalene Antony)

Still, Larry says he is grateful he has been able to coach his sonand see him succeed in a sport they both love.

Levi says everything in the ring is over exaggerated so spectators can see all the action no matter where they are sitting.

He says wrestling is like a dance, a choreographed theatrical performance with big moves and uninhibited fun.

"Oh, the kids especially, they really like it," he said."I think it's like, the colours andthe big hair."

Levi Night wrestling in the ring in various positions.
Levi Day (as Levi Night) says wrestling is like a soap opera, with scenes and stories playing out in the ring. (Jenalene Antony)

These days, Daytours whenever he can. He also met his girlfriend on the road.

Off stage, her name is Sage Morin. But onstage she's known as The Matriarch.

In February, he and Morin will be heading to Northern Manitoba with a team of wrestlers to take part in the what's called "Death Tour," because of it's remote and extreme location.

'It's fun to play a character and really come out. It's like a different feeling when you're out there wrestling," he said. "People like you. Just remember that."

Levi and his girlfriend, Sage Morin, who goes by the name
Levi and his girlfriend, Sage Morin, who goes by the name 'The Matriarch.' (Levi Day)

CBC Saskatchewan's Creator Network is a place where young digital storytellers from diverse backgrounds can produce original video content to air on CBC and tell stories through their own lens. Get in touch or pitch your own story here.

with files from Jenalene Antony