Ah, spring is in the air. Short-sleeved shirts, blue skies, birds, flowers and female oil wrestlers.

Rivaling the World Wrestling Federation (well, almost), the women of WOW -- the Women's Oil Wrestling Federation -- have arrived in town for a one-night only performance at Stoney's Posthouse Tavern, 146 N. Atherton St.

Stoney's owner Carl Easterling said tonight's show is a first of its kind for the State College area. The five wrestlers will conduct bouts with each other and certain members of the audience during the three-hour show.

"I have professional strippers coming next week, but that's been done here before," Easterling said. "Everything I'm doing is above board -- it's within state and (Liquor Control Board) law. You can go to a regular strip club, but if you come here, you will see a very classy show."

Tickets, which are being sold for $8 in advance and $10 at the door, are selling extremely well, Easterling said. Although shows at Stoney's usually kick off around 7 or 8 p.m., the shows' 10 p.m. starting time is more suited to the late-night crowd.

"We're trying not to offend anybody," Easterling said.

Reaction from students has been a mixture of amusement and disgust. Nicole Radel (junior-hotel, restaurant and institutional management) said she thinks the idea of a female oil wrestling show in State College is ridiculous.

"Adult entertainment isn't exactly a need in a college town, especially when it's this degrading to women," Radel said.

Other students cited the fact that next week's show featuring Xanadu, a group of male strippers that rivals the Chippendales in popularity, maintains a certain balance, supplying both sexes with an accessible form of adult entertainment.

Jennifer Weiss (senior-advertising) said she doesn't view the show as degrading but can't defend it as being necessary.

"I don't see an absolute need for it, but if people want to see it, they should have the opportunity to go," Weiss said.

Although he won't attend the show, Marcus Drew (sophomore-photography) said he doesn't feel an event of this type is degrading, adding that if people think it's degrading, they shouldn't go.

"A lot of people consider it entertainment, and they'll find entertainment wherever they can," Drew said.

Easterling knows about controversy surrounding certain acts --earlier this semester he showcased Caeser Pink and the Imperial Orgy, with their graphic stage show and sexually liberated attitudes. As for WOW, however, Easterling doesn't forsee any problems.

"It would be cool, but I think if there is any personal problems people have, they will probably keep it to themselves," he said.