Championship Wrestling coming to Darlington
By Samantha Lyles
Staff Writer
slyles@newsandpress.net
Fans of old school ‘rasslin, rejoice! All the things you love about this unique sports/entertainment hybrid – the action, the lights and music, the classic good guy/bad guy dynamics – are alive and well, and on their way to Darlington as the MACW (Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling) hits town Saturday, March 31.
For one night only, wrestling legends like former WCW superstar Buff “The Stuff” Bagwell, “The Russian Nightmare” Nikita Koloff, “Big Poppa Pump” Scott Steiner, Rick Steiner, and many others will storm the Darlington High School Gym and tangle in the ring – for a very good cause.
Organized as a fundraiser by the Darlington Police Department, proceeds from this event will benefit local charities, including the Free Medical Clinic of Darlington County and the Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault. The event is sponsored by Russco Networks, Landair, Darlington Chain Saw, Darlington Dragway, and Pee Dee Fleet LLC.
Marcus “Buff” Bagwell, a pro wrestler with 28 years experience and an enduring legacy for popularizing fitness and aesthetics among top fighters, will be headlining the Darlington event.
For those who aren’t familiar with this independent wrestling league, the MACW has its roots in the old NWA (National Wrestling Alliance), which was home to such superstars as Ric Flair. Nowadays, Bagwell likens the MACW to Triple-A baseball, where fans are assured a high-quality product without the Major League expenses. He points out that fans who attend MACW cards get the rare chance to personally interact with wrestling icons.
“I’ve wrestled in front of 100,000 people over a thousand times and never met one person. Now, I wrestle in front of 500 to 1,000 people and I can meet everybody there – shake their hands, take pictures, answer those questions about wrestling they’ve always wanted to ask. It’s much more fun,” says Bagwell.
If you’re concerned about exposing your little kids to potentially unwholesome conduct, MACW promises a G-rated entertainment experience suitable for the whole family.
“There’s no cussing, no half-naked girls. It’s just wrestling entertainment. Or, as we like to call it, ‘rasslin!” says Bagwell. “It’s a way to have some good fun without having to worry about covering your kid’s eyes or ears.”
Tickets are available in advance from Fitness World in Darlington (1032 Pearl Street) and Hartsville (821 South 5th Street), and also can be purchased at the door. The cost is $10 for general admission and $20 for ringside. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the action kicks off at 8 p.m.
