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Wrestling for a Cause

Wrestling for a Cause

Posted: Aug 8th 2017 By: Max Brian, hotsr.com

A charitable wrestling event will make its way into the Spa City next month.

Wrestle Raise III, an event put on by Championship Wrestling of Arkansas, aims to draw wrestling fans from across the region to Hall D of the Hot Springs Convention Center on Sept. 16. This year's event, which gives 100 percent of its net profit to a disadvantaged individual or family each year, will be the first one held in Hot Springs.

Matt Riviera, one of the featured wrestlers in the event, said that he and other CWA wrestlers created Wrestle Raise to bring live wrestling to their home state and raise money for people in need. The first Wrestle Raise event benefitted a girl with leukemia; the second, a family that had lost their house in a fire.

"It's a win-win," Riviera said. "We get to do what we love to do and entertain people, and raise money for someone who truly needs it."

Wrestle Raise III will benefit Abby McKenzie, a 10-year-old girl from East End with a rare PI3K pathway disease. The event will feature a headlining match between Tim Storm and Jerry "The King" Lawler, as well as matches between CWA wrestlers such as Riviera and Chavo Guerrero Jr.
The initial two Wrestle Raise events were held in the Maumelle Event Center in North Little Rock. Riviera said that the move to Hot Springs was a strategic one.

"We like to take these shows to destination cities," he said. "We have fans that usually attend these things from out of state. Some fans will drive six or seven hours. Well, they can bring their family and make this a complete day of entertainment. They can go do things in the city during the day -- Magic Springs, so forth -- and then they can come to our event at night."

Riviera described the Wrestle Raise events as entertainment that is "fun for the entire family," and serves to promote this concept by not serving alcohol. He also said that Wrestle Raise has grown in popularity due to where their net profits go.

"The fans feel like they're already part of the cause because every ticket that is purchased goes toward raising that money," he said.

Riviera said that he and his fellow wrestlers decided to raise money for McKenzie after a woman approached him and told him about the possibility of supporting her through the event.

"She said, 'Do you guys have someone for your next event, for the funds to go to?' I said, 'No, ma'am, we don't.' She said, 'Well, I know a young lady from East End, Ark., that I think would be perfect,'" Riviera said. "The rest is history."

McKenzie's mother, Michelle, said that her daughter is one of only 36 people in the world with her kind of PI3K pathway disease. She said that the disease keeps her daughter's immune system from producing antibodies or remembering how to fight viruses. She said her lymph nodes grow rapidly under certain conditions, leading to blockage of her respiratory airways.

Because of her disease, Abby McKenzie has had 30 surgeries and is currently unable to attend school.

Michelle McKenzie said that CWA's interest in putting on the event was "completely humbling."
"It was a surprise, to say the least," she said.

Riviera describes Abby McKenzie as a bright girl with a quick wit. He was enthusiastic about raising money for her.

"This little girl has more charisma than most wrestlers I know," he said.

Michelle McKenzie hopes that the event helps acknowledge her daughter and children like her, who have what she called an "invisible illness." She also hopes that her daughter can enjoy the event, as she is unable to attend many like it.

"I hope she just has fun," Michelle McKenzie said. "She doesn't get to go out a whole lot, she doesn't get to meet a lot of people, especially in crowded places, because we take a chance with her getting sick."

Riviera hopes that many others will enjoy Wrestle Raise III, as well. He said that the event will bring excitement not experienced outside of a live setting.

"There's a lot of things nowadays that could keep you at the house, but I assure you that if you leave your home and you come out and you buy this ticket, you will not regret it," he said.

 

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Supplemental Information

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Spotlight in History

  • 1964 Karl Kox def. Louie Tillet for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 2004 Shane Morbid def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 2004 Codie Mullins def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 2004 Dexter Hardaway def. Codie Mullins for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 2004 Pork Chop def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 2004 Dexter Hardaway def. Pork Chop for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 2004 S.K. Fulton def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 2004 Dirty Harry Sanchez def. S.K. Fulton for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 2006 Ryan Davidson def. Angel Williams for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 2011 Michael Barry def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 2016 Spyder became the SRPW United States Champion
  • 2016 Skylar Slice became the IZW Womens Champion
  • 2021 Lady Sensacion became the FIW Women’s Champion
  • 2021 Rodeo (Chandler Hopkins & Malico) def. Cam Cole & Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Tag Team Champions
  • 2022 Duke Cornell def. Blue Bolt for the WFC Prime Champion
  • 2022 Maddox Jones def. Striker for the EPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2022 Mike Gunns def. Jake Danielsson for the NAW Heavyweight Champion

Week of Sun 06-16 to Sat: 06-22

  • 06-16 1959 The Zebra Kid def. The Golden Giant for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-16 1970 Johnny Valentine def. Killer Kowalski for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-16 1984 Terry Taylor def. Krusher Khrushchev for the MSW Television Champion
  • 06-16 1986 Buzz Sawyer def. Chris Adams for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 06-16 2006 Bobby Burns def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-16 2006 Beau Dalton became the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 06-16 2006 Ray Martinez became the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 06-16 2012 Big Business (Kevin Morgan & Damon Windsor) def. The Old School Suckas (Gary Tool & Randy Price) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-16 2017 Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders & Chaz Sharpe) def. Cursed (Kuda & Blade [2nd]) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 06-16 2017 Nytronis A'Teo def. Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders, Shawn Sanders, & Chaz Sharpe) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 06-16 2023 Jason Simon became the MajCW Native American Champion
  • 06-16 2023 Dan Webber def. Cappuccino Jones for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-17 1957 Billy Raborn became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-17 1958 Bull Curry def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-17 1983 Jimmy Garvin def. David Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-17 1983 Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Michael Hayes) for the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 06-17 2005 Kenny Campbell def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 06-17 2006 The Party Express (Mitch Carter & Cade Sydal) def. Impact Inc. (John Zorthos & Bernie Donderwitz) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-17 2008 Kunna Keyoh def. El Culo Intruso for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 06-17 2017 Prince Mahalli def. Paul Puertorico for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 06-17 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 06-17 2017 Randy Price def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 06-17 2023 Alex Royal def. Justin Lee for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 06-18 1964 Karl Kox def. Louie Tillet for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-18 2004 Shane Morbid def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-18 2004 Codie Mullins def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-18 2004 Dexter Hardaway def. Codie Mullins for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-18 2004 Pork Chop def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-18 2004 Dexter Hardaway def. Pork Chop for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-18 2004 S.K. Fulton def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-18 2004 Dirty Harry Sanchez def. S.K. Fulton for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-18 2006 Ryan Davidson def. Angel Williams for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-18 2011 Michael Barry def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 06-18 2016 Spyder became the SRPW United States Champion
  • 06-18 2016 Skylar Slice became the IZW Womens Champion
  • 06-18 2021 Lady Sensacion became the FIW Women’s Champion
  • 06-18 2021 Rodeo (Chandler Hopkins & Malico) def. Cam Cole & Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Tag Team Champions
  • 06-18 2022 Duke Cornell def. Blue Bolt for the WFC Prime Champion
  • 06-18 2022 Maddox Jones def. Striker for the EPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-18 2022 Mike Gunns def. Jake Danielsson for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-19 1977 Fritz Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-19 2010 Aaron Neil def. John O'Malley for the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-19 2015 Bree Ann def. Claudia for the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
  • 06-20 1972 The Continental Warriors (Bobby Hart & Lorenzo Parente) def. Tom Jones & Ivan Putski for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 06-20 1977 Bill Watts became the TSW North American Champion
  • 06-20 1987 Barry Windham became the UWF Western States Heritage Champion
  • 06-20 2004 X-Cal def. John O'Malley for the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-20 2009 Dustin Heritage def. Dane Griffin for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 06-20 2009 BLK-OUT (Montego Seeka & Jermaine Johnson) def. Impact, Inc, (Johnny Z & Bernie D) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-20 2014 Bree Ann def. Miss Diss Lexia for the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
  • 06-20 2021 DNR (Drake Gallows & Revan) def. Malik Mayfield & Maui Mike for the ASP Tag Team Champions
  • 06-21 1982 Junkyard Dog def. Bob Roop for the MSW North American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-21 1987 Al Perez def. The Dingo Warrior for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-21 2003 Kitty def. Manservant for the TPW Womens Champion
  • 06-21 2008 Tim Rockwell def. El Super Colibri for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 06-21 2008 Li'l Joe def. Xavior for the GPCW Cruiserweight Champion
  • 06-21 2014 Buster Cherry def. Havoc for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 06-22 2005 Phillip def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-22 2018 Joe Cuedo def. Brock Baker for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
06-18
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  • Andy Dalton Jun 18th Today!
  • Johnny Angel Jun 18th Today!
  • Sashimi Deluxe Jun 18th Today!
  • Bruiser Brody Jun 18th Today!
  • Abe Jacobs Jun 18th Today!
  • Bad Boy Jun 18th Today!
  • Billy the Kid Jun 19th
  • Miguel Padilla Jun 19th
  • Top Dollar Bill Jun 19th
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  • Canadian Red Devil Jun 19th
  • Wahoo McDaniel Jun 19th
  • Mike Two Jun 19th
  • Koko B. Ware Jun 20th
  • David Kyzer Jun 20th
  • Jon Cross Jun 20th
  • Professor Ito Jun 20th
  • Milton Winkelman Jun 21st
  • Super Star Jun 21st
  • Rick Russo Jun 21st
  • Jeff the Ref Jun 21st
  • Athena Jun 23rd
  • Don Kent Jun 24th
  • Gabe Wilder Jun 24th
  • Juan Sebastian Jun 24th
  • Kody Lane Jun 25th
  • X-Storms Jun 25th
  • Sylvia Richmond Jun 26th
  • Paul Puertorico Jun 26th
  • Ignition Jun 27th
  • Jason Kirby Jun 27th
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  • Kenny Mack Jun 28th
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  • Malico Jun 28th
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  • Boris Malenko Jun 28th
  • Doc Hearon Jun 28th
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  • Kenneth Caine Jun 30th
  • Terry Funk Jun 30th
  • Ed Lewis Jun 30th
  • Sung Yung Kang Jul 1st
  • Jake Hollister Jul 1st
  • Tim WarCloud Jul 1st
  • Li'l Joe Jul 1st

More Look Back In History

Card Results

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Daniel Aaron Michalles

 
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