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A women's wrestling event sold out on International Women's Day and the day after, as couples, friends, and older families turned out to see the fights.

EVE Women's Wrestling held the event at Resistance Gallery, Bethnal Green, bringing female wrestlers from Japan, the US, Scotland and England to take part.

It is hoped the female wrestling will encourage greater equality between the sexes in a sport dominated by men.

Dann Read, who started the London-based events with his wife Emily, said the event was the company's 44th sell-out.

'It was fantastic. There's a hell of a growing movement for this right now.

'We've even sold out the York Hall in Bethnal Green, and we're doing a second match there this June, which will have space for over a thousand people to watch.'

Audience members watched the female wrestlers fight it out in the ring, yelling and cheering throughout the three-hour event.

The wrestling matches on International Women's Day took place at Resistance Gallery in Bethnal Green, London

The fights saw female wrestlers from across the US, Japan, Scotland and England, among other places, to take part

EVE Women's Wrestling was set up to combat the 'massive inequality' in the sport, which is typically only done by men

Audience members yelled, screamed and cheered as wrestlers took part in the sport for three hours

One of the competitors was Viper/Piper Niven, from Scotland. 

She first started wrestling in 2008, and made her first professional appearance in 2009 at the Scottish Wrestling Alliance.

Dann said the events were started to combat the 'massive inequality' in the sport.

'There's this constant ideology that wrestling is a boys club and it has been, it's been pushed as this boys club for years, which comes under the same misguided ideas as superheroes are just for boys. 

Viper/Piper Niven from Scotland also took part(pictured). She first started wrestling in 2008 and attended her first professional appearance at the Scottish Wrestling Alliance, in 2009

A study conducted by EVE found that in the UK, on a typical weekend, only eight per cent of wrestling jobs available are for women

This means there are only around 40 jobs each weekend, compared to almost 600 for men

Dann and his wife Emily have another show planned for June, where EVE aims to host over a thousand people

They have also launched a women's wrestling academy to train up a new generation of wrestlers in London

It meets once a week for two-hours and is taught by two professional trainers, one of which has been a champion at EVE twice

'It's not that girls aren't interested in this - that this is for girls and this is for boys.

'For many years the opportunities for women simply weren't there, but there are tons of really talented and hungry women on the wrestling scene just looking for opportunities to learn and get better.'

'Wrestling is a live theatrical stunt show effectively, and a comedy show as well. 

'Wrestling is just another form of medium and telling stories.'

Dann said wrestling is also 'good fun' to watch and said couples and friends often attend the shows

The wrestlers dress as superheroes to give themselves a stage presence before fighting in the ring

A woman wrestler wearing a mask is caught moments before she pushes her competitor to the floor

EVE did a study recently of the number of wrestling matches being fought by men and women over a typical weekend.

'We actually found only eight per cent of fights featured women on the card,' said Dann.

'On a normal weekend there will be almost 600 male wrestling jobs going in the UK, but only around 40 jobs for women.

'Then there will be women working several dates over the weekend.'

The masked female wrestler pushes her opponent into the side of the ring as members of the audience look on

A female wrestler wearing all pink leaps down onto her opponent. A sign in the background reads 'Revolution is not a one-time event'

EVE has launched an academy in London to train up the next generation of female wrestlers.

The academy runs weekly training sessions every Sunday from 10.30am until 12.30pm.

They are led by two-time EVE champion 'The Fightin' Irish' Rhia O'Reilly, and professional wrestler turned film fight choreographer Greg Burridge.

Guest trainers are also booked in every month to help get young wrestlers ready for the ring.  

A wrestler beckons her opponent in the ring to challenge her as members of the audience smile and laugh in the background