The oldest professional wrestling company in the state of Ohio, the IWA, is returning to Buford on Saturday for their “Red, White and Bruised 2017” event. The event will feature a triple threat match, a flag match, a lumberjack match, a four team stretcher match, and a ladder match.
Brenda Mackan, director of public relations for the International Wrestling Alliance, said the IWA got its start in 1988 when Tom Miller, a professional wrestler himself, decided he wanted to start his own wrestling entertainment group.
Mackan said the IWA follows the style of professional wrestling made popular in the 1980s by the World Wrestling Federation and entertainers like Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage.
IWA Heavyweight Champion Shane Christian will compete in the main event on Saturday against long time rival “The Bronze God” Lennox Norris in a non-title $5,000 ladder match. These two foes are no strangers to one another having been in a grudge match during IWA’s previous visit to Buford in March. The ladder match will mark the third time that these wrestlers have entered the squared circle in what has become a best of five series of matches.
The IWA United States Championship will be on the line Saturday as reigning champion Charlie Brown defends his title against Rick Ramsey. This match is billed as the final conflict between the two stars and should prove to be a very entertaining match.
Tag team wrestling will also be a part of this exciting card as IWA Tag Team Champions The Monsters of Mayhem defend their titles in a four team stretcher match. The idea behind a stretcher match is to incapacitate the opposing wrestler long enough to strap them into a stretcher. The champs will be defending against Cool Blue, The Kings of Kaos, and JD Blaze and a mystery partner. Expect plenty of action in this match-up as all teams come in with dreams of being the IWA Tag Team Champions by the end of the night.
Yaseta Otoko the current IWA Cruiserweight Champion will defend his title against Guile Castle in a flag match. This match has the opportunity to steal the show in Buford as it is likely that both individuals will do something spectacular. Cruiserweight wrestlers are generally smaller and quicker than many of the behemoths that pro wrestling has become known for, resulting in fast paced and usually high flying matches.
Fans in attendance Saturday will also witness the crowning of a new number one contender for the IWA Women’s Championship as Jessica Jean and Queen Aminata square off in a women’s contender-ship match.
The IWA is proud to be helping raise awareness for the Buford Baseball Dugouts Fund as they raise money to revitalize their baseball diamonds.
Andrew Mackan, a promoter for the IWA, said, “The IWA believes in the motto of the fans come first. We are a family friendly event and we want to not just give you a wrestling show, we want to give you memories that last a long time to come.”
The event will be held at the old Buford Elementary School, tickets will be available at the door on the night of the show for a cost of $10, doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show begins at 8:00 p.m.
Reach Ryan Applegate at 937-402-2572, or on Twitter @RCApplegate89.
