Wrestling fundraiser to benefit Salvation Army

Published 10:25 pm Friday, September 2, 2016

Wrestling and the Salvation Army might seem an odd mixture, but a fundraiser next week will combine the two for the benefit of the Salvation Army.

Vanguard Championship Wrestling will hold an event at the 400 Bank St. location next Saturday, Sept. 10, and proceeds from the event will benefit the Salvation Army.

“If it’s a hit, it’s something we can do annually,” said Lt. Johnny Anthony of the Salvation Army, who added that other Salvation Army corps in other states have held wrestling fundraisers before. “It’s exciting, and it’s different.”

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Anthony said he grew up watching wrestling with his father and maintains his love of wrestling to this day.

“It’s a family event,” Anthony said. “It’s just an awesome event, for the youngest to the oldest person.”

Anthony said the promoter contacted him about renting the facility’s gymnasium for a wrestling event.

“He wanted to do something for the Salvation Army, so we made it a fundraising event,” Anthony said.

The event will feature former WWE Diva and Women’s World Champion Mickie James wrestling former NWA World Women’s Champion Kacee Carlisle in the headline match.

“She’s the most well known,” Anthony said of James, who also is a model, actress and country singer. “She’s the headliner.”

Other matches will include a tag-team match between The Hellcats and the Geordie Bulldogs, as well as Bobby Shields versus Mr. Class, Romonus versus The Reason and the Vanguard Championship Wrestling debut of Zane Dawson.

Anthony said the gymnasium will be able to hold about 350 spectators for the event.

“We’re hoping to hit that number on the head,” he said.

Tickets are $20 for a front-row seat or $15 for a bleacher seat.

“It’s a pretty good price for three or four matches,” Anthony said.

Early arrivals can pay $20 to take a cellphone photo with Mickie James, or $25 to have a professional photo taken as well as take a cellphone photo. They also will be able to get autographs.

The autograph and photo session starts at 6 p.m. Doors open for the main attraction at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the Salvation Army during regular business hours next week or at vcw-wrestling.com. They are also available at the door.