What do you do when your idiosyncratic cerebral alt-rock has been validated by millions of record sales, and you're credited with one of the best albums of an entire decade? Why, you launch a wrestling league, of course.

Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan is the creative director of Resistance Pro, an independent league that hosts its first fight night in Corgan's hometown of Chicago on 25 November at a 1,500-seat venue. He says his childhood interest in wrestling was reignited in the late 90s. "It was a very interesting time for wrestling," he explains from Copenhagen, where he is on tour with the Pumpkins. "It was very volatile, very unpredictable. It drew me back in."

Corgan started going to fights and befriended the wrestlers. Now his face appears on Resistance Pro's promotional material alongside wrestlers such as Necro Butcher, known for his "death matches".

Jaques Baron, a promoter and partner in the new league, says Corgan won't be at every show because of his touring commitments, but, "what you're seeing is his vision, his storyline, his product."

As creative director, Corgan is in charge of the all-important storylines, which keep fans coming back for more. He already has form here. When he was guest of honour at a previous wrestling event, he penned a story that dictated that the popular Blue World Order trio could not fight in their favoured "hardcore" style, which typically involves a lot of broken tables and chairs. He was the night's bad guy. "It infuriated the fans and infuriated the wrestlers," Baron recalls with satisfaction. "Everything worked out perfect."

Corgan loves the sport for its combination of incredible athleticism, unique personalities and social concern, with fight storylines touching on sex, religion, race, and everyday issues. "Oftentimes it's one of the first forms of entertainment to address uncomfortable things in the culture," he says. He intends to continue this tradition, promising female stars will be given a platform to show off their athletic prowess rather being used as eye-candy.

Still, the Pumpkin is realistic about wrestling's role. It is, after all, just entertainment. "I do not think wrestling is going to save the world," he says. "Nor do I think rock'n'roll is going to save the world."