By Taylor Boyd
The fourth annual National Independent Championship Wrestling (NICW) Mardi Gras Brawl will take place on Saturday, March 28, at the Stuart Rotary Building.
Doors open at 6 p.m., with the first match beginning at 7 p.m.
Scott Rutter, of Rutter’s Martial Arts, said the event is held to honor the memory of Kenny Pack, who wrestled for years as “The Machine” Ken Steel on the independent wrestling circuit.
“He was born and raised in Patrick County, he went to Patrick County High School (PCHS), and was an assistant football coach at Patrick County High School. He passed away a few years ago, so we’re doing this as an annual memorial show in his honor as a tribute,” he said.
Noting NICW tries to give back to the community with its shows, Rutter said concession proceeds from the event will benefit the PCHS BETA Club.
The show will include seven matches, with three of them being championship matches. It will end with a battle royal.
“The winner gets a championship opportunity of their choosing in future shows. About 20 to 25 guys will probably be in the battle royal,” Rutter said.
Scheduled matches include:
NICW World Heavyweight Championship: “The Hangman” Larry Cooter vs. “Yela Man” Bobby Yela.
APW Heavyweight Championship: Tony Perdue vs “Bam Bam” Lance Erikson.
Mid-Atlantic Heritage Championship Match: “Ragin’ Rebel” Robert Stanley vs. Shanghai Pierce Junior.
Grudge Match: Scott Lee vs. Joe Brody.
“The Renegade” Cowboy Daniel Craig vs. Tony Ray with special guest referee Scott Lee.
Other wrestlers scheduled to appear include Douglas J. Wentworth, III, Esquire, Act Englund, Scorpion Jr., Big Bite, Daniel Ocean, Dixon Badd, Josh Tart, and others.
Rutter said ‘Boogie Woogie’ Man Handsome Jimmy Valiant will also be inducted into the NICW Hall of Fame.
“He’s also going to be appearing that day as well from 11-3 at Stagecoach on Main Street. We will be inducting him into the NICW Hall of Fame,” he said.
Rutter added that Valiant will be wrestling his last match in Memphis in April.
“I want to say it’s been six decades he’s been part of wrestling,” Rutter said.
Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door for adults; $10 in advance and $12 at the door for children under 12. Children under five are admitted for free.
Advance tickets are available at Stagecoach on Main Street in Stuart and Little Caesars.
The event is sponsored by Rutter’s Martial Arts, Impressive Prints & Designs, and Lawless Welding & Fabrications, Inc.
For more information, go to Facebook.com/NationalIndependentChampionshipWrestling.
