ROCKINGHAM — A double clothesline takedown by Marquan Martin and wrestler Hangtyme against Bobby Wohlfert was one of the several smackdown moments that featured Richmond Raider baseball players during Saturday’s fundraiser.
Richmond Senior High School’s gymnasium was transformed into War Games, a nearly four-hour long wrestling event hosted by World Class Elite Wrestling.
The action-packed series of matches drew hundreds of local supporters, which resulted in all proceeds being donated back to the Raider baseball team and head coach Eric Brown.
WCEW owners William Mercer and Trey Webb are both RSHS alumni, and Mercer said the decision to donate all of the money was an easy one.
“We approached the baseball program so we could support the team,” Mercer said. “We love our baseball program here in Richmond County and we want to see great success with that team and all athletics at Richmond Senior High School.
“The outcome of the show was something I think everyone enjoyed,” he added. “Hopefully everyone went home happy that the good guys won.”
As a result of the fundraiser, the Raider baseball team raised $3K, Mercer shared.
“I’ve never been to one of these events, but we had a really good crowd,” Brown said. “The biggest thing is that the boys have enjoyed it and that’s been the coolest thing to see. They’ve been really involved with the whole process.
“When we got here we were told the coaches were going to get in the ring,” he continued. “And then Marquan got involved and all the boys ended up participating.
“For (WCEW) to approach us to put this on and donate the money back to us, which is awesome, it was even cooler for them to get the boys involved.”
A pair of pre-show matches for VIP ticket holders saw Dre White defeat The Hornet, while Jay Wolf and Karter Swift won against Trent Nitro and Chris Kaos.
The main show featured seven matches, the first being an eight-man scramble for the recently vacated WCEW New Class Title.
K. Killah emerged as the winner, outlasting Carolina Dreamer, Scotty Matthews, Angel Colon, Paradox, Johannes, CJ Evans and Kydd Kush.
Sirena Veil defeated Jey Alejandra in the only all-women’s match, and “Mr. Everything” Victor Andrews quieted a much-disliked Sawdust.
Later in the event, honorary New World Order members Zane and Dave, along with The Dawson and WCW legend Buff Bagwell fell short to Chet Sterling, Sean Cruise and Tainted Luv Daniel Messina in an electric match.
In two different matches, Richmond’s baseball coaches and players got in on the action.
During Josh Russell and Mike Maughn’s match, junior Jason Walker raced out of the crowd and jumped onto the ring apron. Getting the attention of the referee, Walker told him that Russell was cheating.
Walker’s distraction drew Russell’s attention, too, who was subsequently flipped and pinned by Maughn.
In the moments after his loss, Russell grabbed a microphone and taunted the Raider baseball team’s section by saying he’d “rather wear a kilt and play bagpipes than be a Raider.”
That caught the attention of Brown and assistant coaches Andy Shuler and Ryan Mercer. They slid into the ring and silenced Russell, the deciding hit being a Ric Flair chop from Brown.
WAR GAMES | Following his loss, initiated by Jason Walker’s distraction, Josh Russell taunted @RaiderBSB by saying he’d “rather wear a kilt and play bagpipes than be a Raider.”
Coaches @EricR_Brown, @AndyShuler2 and @CoachMercer17 had an answer for him. #ROSports @WCEW2024 pic.twitter.com/aa3thdfjPB— RO Sports 🔰 (@ROSports_) May 12, 2024Advertisements
“It was really cool,” Walker explained. “I was told what the cue was for me to come up to the ring and I told the ref that (Rusell) was cheating and I managed to distract him. I dramaticized it a little bit to get the crowd involved.
“This was a unique fundraising event and it was great to see the number of people who turned up to it. The energy level was great and we had a lot of fun as a team.”
In the penultimate match of the night, Martin and the entire baseball team found themselves in the ring to defeat a much-disliked WCEW champion Wohlfert.
With Hangtyme and Wohlfert trading blows, Martin ripped his shirt off and jumped in the ring to assist Hangtyme, who was wearing a Raider baseball jersey. They teamed up to hit Wohlfert with a double clothesline and Martin attempted the pin, but his opponent got out of it.
Wohlfert ultimately won the match, but while celebrating, the Raiders swarmed the canvas and got into a long staredown with him. At Hangtyme’s signal, the team dogpiled Wohlfert and stole his title belt, all to cheers from the crowd.
Martin put an exclamation point on the match by climbing the ropes and celebrating with the WCEW champion belt draped over his shoulder.
“It was a lot of fun tonight to get in the ring,” Martin shared. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, I’ve grown up a big wrestling fan.
“My job was to help (Hangtyme) win,” he added. “It was cool to see the whole team come into the ring at the end. During the season, we tried to do the same thing. Tonight we showed that when we all come together, we can accomplish anything.”
The fundraiser concluded with the headliner War Games: The Match Beyond. Facing off were Team Pitbull and Team WCEW, which met in a steel enclosed two-ring battleground.
The following stipulations were in place: if Team Pitbull won, it got control of Team WCEW for 60 days; but if Team WCEW won, then Team Pitbull had to disband.
As Willaim Mercer said, “the good guys won.” Representing Team WCEW were The New Breed, Big Von and Aaron CK.
The match featured several blood spills, with wrestlers from both teams using folding chairs, metal chains, mesh wire and spikes as weapons within the cages.
Booed ferociously by the crowd, the losers on Team Pitbull were Tre G, Baron Bullard, Mr. No. 1 George South and Johnny Smooth.
After Team WCEW won, Tre G turned his back on long-time friend and partner Baron Bullard.
With the success and support of the community, Brown hopes to make WCEW events a staple for future fundraising events.
The Richmond Observer will publish a photo gallery of Saturday’s War Games fundraiser soon.
Sports editor’s note: Information and/or videos used in this article were contributed by William Mercer, Trey Webb, Eric Brown and Amanda Yarbrough Hill.
