Yep! I Like Wrestling (YILW) has been around since September of 2011. In the 15 years since they hit the scene, they’ve evolved from a Facebook group into one of New York City’s biggest wrestling communities.  Tiny watch parties have become massive events in some of the city’s biggest bars; parties with just a few people have turned into hotbeds for wrestling fans with appearances from MVP and Rikishi. 

Andre Rivera, known best as Sonny Sofrito, and Kervin Delgado are the tag team who run this ship. At locations such as the Chelsea Bell and the Continental Sports Lounge, they host watch parties for every AEW pay-per-view and WWE premium live event.  This duo has created a community for New York City wrestling fans, and even though these parties have been happening for 15 years, even the newest attendee is treated like family.

“Every time someone comes through, I treat it as, ‘Hey, you’re in my house, welcome.”’ Rivera said.

Not only does Rivera strive to make everyone feel welcome, but he sees everyone who steps through his door as family.

“Being in situations where you’re always in a social atmosphere, it’s like you’re always accumulating new brothers and sisters.” Rivera said, “I come from a small family, but I have an extended family, which is the Yep! [I like Wrestling] family.”

Delgado and Rivera specifically have grown incredibly close from this partnership, and it all started because they met at one of Rivera’s events.

“When I first started doing the discussion group, I asked him if he’d help me out; I needed another administrator.” Rivera said, “He’s like my little brother; sometimes I want to strangle him to death, but I still want him to text me when he gets home.”

Rivera’s background is in nightclub promotion, and some of those skills carry over to promoting for YILW. “If you name a spot in the early 2000s or late 90s, I definitely did at least one party or event. I’m just naturally a host.”

YILW has had a viral moment: MVP and Shad Gaspard were at their WrestleMania 35 watch party and were caught on camera having an emotional reaction to Kofi Kingston winning the WWE championship. The clip has circulated for several years on many different social media platforms. 

Viral sensation or not, Rivera and Delgado have cultivated one of New York City’s strongest wrestling communities.