China Business Wrestling Federation 中华商务摔角联盟

CBWF | The Musical

干杯决胜负

Bottoms Up Decides Victory

A shadow organization where business disputes are settled through ritualized combat and drinking matches. A Chengdu underdog. A Shanghai champion. A musical comedy about everything exhausting in Chinese business culture.

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THE CONCEPT

Two Countries. Same Exhaustion. One Ridiculous Solution.

Americans exhaust themselves building wealth.

Chinese exhaust themselves building relationships.

Both deserve to laugh about it.

中华商务摔角联盟 (China Business Wrestling Federation) is a musical comedy set in an underground circuit where guanxi politics, baijiu toasting rituals, and regional rivalries are settled the old-fashioned way: in the ring.

Part of The Mirror Project—twin productions satirizing American country club culture and Chinese banquet culture. Same format. Different exhaustions. Shared humanity.

THE STORY

The Underdog. The Bully. The Championship.

SI DAIWEI is a Chengdu sales manager who fails at every aspect of Chinese business culture. He can't drink—turns bright red after half a glass. He doesn't have connections. He's invisible.

Then he discovers the CBWF: a shadow organization where his one skill matters. He refuses to quit.

CBWF996 banquet poster with raised glasses

The problem? The nine-time Shanghai champion is his childhood bully. And he's using the federation to launder money.

Team Chengdu—the underdog, a Retired National Athlete with legacy status, and an enthusiastic American expat coach—must advance through the tournament, uncover the corruption, and prove that the provinces matter.

The Theme:

Where you're from doesn't determine your worth. Getting back up is its own kind of victory.

THE CHARACTERS

Six Characters. Two Countries. One Shared Heart.

CBWF996 toast ritual poster

THE HEROES

SI DAIWEI 司大伟

"The Daiwei"

The underdog. Can't hold his liquor. Can't stay down.

BAO KELI 鲍可丽

"Major Ke"

Military veteran. Her grandfather was the 1987 champion. Reclaiming her legacy.

LESLIE DORNOCH

"The American"

Expat coach. Twelve years in China. Considers himself "basically local." He is not.

THE VILLAINS

MA XUANLONG 马玄龙

"The Dragon"

Nine-time Shanghai champion. Childhood bully. Money launderer.

TANG PABO 唐帕博

"The Abacus"

The enforcer. Continental sophistication. Handles the dirty work.

THE WILD CARD

RICKY XING 星瑞奇

Executive Director

True believer. Signs whatever he's told. His heartbreak will be genuine.

THE MATCH TYPES

Drinking. Wrestling. Face. Everything.

🥃

三杯定胜负

Three Cups Decide Victory

Drinking rounds followed by wrestling. Tests tolerance and technique.

🎭

面子擂台

Face Platform

Public combat. The loser must toast the winner's superiority. Maximum humiliation.

🍽️

酒桌持久战

Banquet Table Endurance

Marathon format. Alternating toasts and wrestling falls. Last one conscious wins.

🏆

全押

All In

Championship stakes. Everything on the line. No drinking—just truth.

THE MIRROR PROJECT

Same Format. Different Mirrors.

中华商务摔角联盟 is the Chinese counterpart to Country Club Wrestling: The Musical—premiering in Atlanta February 2026, then Edinburgh Fringe Festival August 2026.

🇺🇸 USA 🇨🇳 China
Setting Country clubs Banquet halls
What's Satirized Performing wealth Performing relationships
Combat Style Golf + wrestling Baijiu + wrestling
Regional Tension Old money vs. new Shanghai vs. provinces
The Underdog Small-town outsider Chengdu sales manager
The Villain Corrupt club chairman Corrupt federation champion

Two countries laughing at themselves—and finding common ground.

THE MUSIC

Nine Songs. One Championship. Zero Subtlety.

Song Type
"Outside Looking In" Duet ballad
"Tag In, Partner" Team formation anthem
"Ants Moving House" (蚂蚁搬家) Villain tango
"He Was a Bully" Emotional solo
"The Rules of the Game" Ensemble comedy
"I Found My Thing" Power ballad
"All In" (全押) Championship confrontation
"It's a Fraud, It's a Crime" Accusation anthem
"Champion Tonight" Triumphant finale

The Tone:

School of Rock energy + The Office satire + Rocky heart

The Feeling:

解压 (Jiě Yā)

Stress Relief

Audiences arrive exhausted by the performance their own lives demand. They leave having laughed at that exhaustion—and cheered when someone finally won by being authentic.

THE BRIDGE CHARACTER

Why There's an American in a Chinese Musical

" I came to China because America was predictable. Here, at least when someone tries to destroy you, they're honest about it. It's refreshing, in a terrifying way. "

— Leslie Dornoch

Leslie Dornoch is the literal bridge between the two productions—an American expat who brings WWE-style theatrics to Chinese business wrestling tradition.

He's been in China twelve years. He considers himself "basically local." He speaks Mandarin with an aggressive American accent and peppers his speech with idioms he slightly misunderstands.

The American producer stays creatively involved through Leslie—not as cultural imperialism, but as genuine collaboration. The "real Leslie" and the character mirror each other.

THE TIMELINE

Fast. Focused. 2027.

Q1-Q2
2026

Development

Script localization, Mandarin lyrics, casting exploration

Q3-Q4
2026

Workshop

Staged readings, choreography development, music adaptation

Q1
2027

Shanghai Premiere

Full production launch

2027
2028

Regional Tour

Expansion to tier-1 and tier-2 cities

Creative Team

John Patrick Herold

Book, Music & Lyrics

John Patrick Herold

Co-creator of the original story of Country Club Wrestling. Atlanta-based entrepreneur and multidisciplinary creative whose work spans award-winning swimwear design, visual art, live entertainment, and provocative conceptual projects. He has designed the Juan Vizadic swimwear line, founded the Country Club Wrestling Association of America, and developed an ambitious infrastructure project in the Scottish Highlands - The Royal Dornoch Gondola Company - RDGC.CO.UK. 

His artistic approach—described by Jerri Salts of New York Reddit as utilizing "a unique palette and non-traditional techniques usually reserved for the institutionalized"; all guided by his signature mantra: Live, Love, Shut up. Country Club Wrestling: The Musical marks his theatrical debut as a writer and producer, combining his love of absurdist comedy, country club wrestling, and the peculiar world of private club culture into an original musical that asks: what happens when a mild-mannered professional discovers redemption in the ring? Join him at the premiere to find out. 
Kristopher Mohfanz

Director - Choreographer

Kristopher Mohfanz

Kris Mohfanz is a director, choreographer, artist, and creative who creates movement-driven worlds for live entertainment, fashion, and experiential storytelling. He leads multidisciplinary teams to design immersive performances, brand moments, and stage productions that fuse choreography, narrative, and visual design into a single, electric experience. Known for turning bold ideas into emotionally resonant spectacles, Kris brings a director’s eye and a choreographer’s instinct to every project, crafting work that doesn’t just look good, it moves people.

Dustin Bramlett

Creative Show Producer

Dustin Bramlett

Dustin is an artist and creative producer who builds bold, immersive worlds where live performance, storytelling, and experiential design collide. Grounded in interdisciplinary art and sharpened by years of hands-on production, he turns ambitious ideas into fully realized, audience-first experiences. Big ideas. Sharp execution. Experiences you don’t forget.

Gamble

Music Director

Gamble

Gamble (they/them) is a musician, sound designer, and teaching artist who works with students and professionals at schools and theatre companies throughout Atlanta, championing bold, experimental work that keeps the city's theater scene buzzing. They derive immense joy from sitzprobes, mint ice cream, dissonance, Beethoven, and fruit snacks, because you are what you eat. A few of their most treasured credits: Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Actor’s Express), The Last Five Years (Jennie T. Anderson), Next to Normal (Renegade), The Little Prince (Synchronicity), Peter and the Starcatcher (Stage Door), Into the Woods (Tri-Cities HS), Urinetown (Act3), Spring Awakening (DramaTech), and all things Atlanta Fringe Festival.

Dima M

Composer

Dima M

Dima M is a professional jazz pianist, composer, and certified teacher with over 30 years of diverse musical experience. A multi-instrumentalist who began classical training on piano and drums at age five, Dima transitioned to jazz after nine years of classical study. He holds an M.A. in Musicology and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. Beyond performing, Dima runs DMusic Production—most recently composing for Country Club Wrestling: The Musical—and creates educational content for his YouTube channel, FortePiano. With over 11,000 subscribers, the channel reflects his passion for teaching through accessible jazz and classical piano tutorials.

Kelly Palomino

Assistant Choreographer

Kelly Palomino

Kelly Palomino is a choreographer, stylist, and creative visionary who began her career as a dancer and singer, traveling the world performing with major artists. Drawing from her global performance background, she creates dynamic work that blends movement, fashion, and beauty into powerful visual storytelling. Also a sought-after stylist and makeup artist to the stars, Palomino is known for shaping bold, elevated artist identities both on stage and on camera.

Desiree Hilgers

Costume Designer

Desiree Hilgers

Desiree Hilgers is a choreographer, stylist, and costume designer whose work centers on bringing creative concepts to life through wardrobe. With a choreographer’s understanding of movement and performance, she designs and styles looks that elevate storytelling, character, and stage presence. Known for translating vision into fully realized visual moments, she blends styling and costume design to create cohesive, performance-driven aesthetics for artists and live productions.

James Roberts

Based on a Story By

James Roberts

Co-creator of the original story of Country Club Wrestling. Jim Roberts taught film and literature at Georgia State University for 18 years. He enjoyed every class and never envisioned he would one day retire for a new career. When offered to write a story about a street hustler named Chicken Man who hosted a party for the Black mafia that was robbed by gunmen for 3 hours who then escaped...he knew what to do with his experience with and understanding of storytelling. Fight Night and the Million Dollar Heist started it all.

PARTNERSHIP

Build 中华商务摔角联盟 With Us

We're seeking a co-development partner for script localization, workshop production, and Shanghai premiere.

What We Bring

Proven Format

US production launching Feb 2026; Edinburgh Aug 2026

Complete Adaptation

Full story outline, 9 songs mapped, character guide

Bridge Character

Leslie Dornoch provides natural US creative involvement

Digital Assets

www.cbwf996.com, social strategy, merchandise concepts

Mission Alignment

Citizen-to-citizen diplomacy through entertainment

What We Need

Local Creative Team

Script adaptation, Mandarin lyrics, cultural refinement

Production Partnership

Venue (Shanghai Culture Square?), casting, technical

Regional Network

Touring infrastructure for 2027-2028 expansion

Co-Investment

Shared risk, shared reward

联系我们 · 合作咨询

Partner With Us

欢迎制作人、剧场、投资人与文化合作伙伴。

Whether you're a producer, venue, investor, cultural consultant, or member of the press — tell us how you'd like to collaborate on the Shanghai premiere of CBWF.

Or reach out directly: info@ccwaa.org

CBWF996 | 中华商务摔角联盟

干杯决胜负

Where business disputes are settled like gentlemen. With wrestling.

Part of The Mirror Project

© 2026 Country Club Wrestling Association of America