• Look Back In History
• Pmessages
• Quiz
• Stump The Staff
• Top Fifty
• Close

Sgt. Slaughter Leads Wrestling Back to Northeast Nov. 3

Posted: Oct 25th 2007 By: CMBurnham

Sgt. Slaughter says he?s always happy to help out.

With his appearance at the former Scranton CYC for the ?Electric City Slam,? the iconic World Wrestling Entertainment figure will be helping to bring professional wrestling back to the venue for the first time in nearly a decade.

He and the others on the Nov. 3 wrestling card also will be helping raise funds supporting Lackawanna College?s athletic department in the building now known as school?s Student Union.

Legions of fans are expected to turn out for the return of pro wrestling locally with the program sponsored by Lackawanna College Athletic Department and Northeast Wrestling.

And among those happiest to see that happen is one of the stars who made a pro wrestling name for himself here.

?I?m more excited than anybody to come back. I?m really thrilled to entertain and perform for the fans,? Sgt. Slaughter recently told The Times-Tribune by phone. ?It?s such a great building to wrestle in. It?s small enough that the fans can be right next to you, and be a part of the whole experience. It?s so wrestle-oriented.?

According to Sgt. Slaughter, the wrestling shows at the CYC were among his favorites due to the proximity of fans to wrestlers. ?I can remember every time we came here, we?d already be sweating by the time we even made it to the ring, just walking down the halls and there were so many people so close to you.?

He also contends that the CYC was the place where stars of today?s WWE would come to see their heroes.

In his return to the area, Sgt. Slaughter will find himself playing the role of mentor to his novice partners, Pioneers Todd Bargella and Dave Dean.

?I?ll just have to pat them on the back and step in when they need me to take care of things,? he said with a laugh. ?I don?t go in to win every match anymore,? said the four-time world champion, ?but I let ?em know that I?m there. If you can get their tongues hanging out, then you got ?em.?

The tag-team round will be one of several matchups throughout the night, which will also include a main title bout between World Champion Kurt Angle and Christian Cage, a midget match, and appearances by Jerry ?The King? Lawler, A. J. Styles, Samoa Joe, and Wilkes-Barre?s Jon Trosky.

After 30 years of competing, the former WWE commissioner devotes most of his time to the business as a road agent, writing storylines, training up-and-comers, and participating in numerous fundraisers, including the Nov. 3 appearance. The proceeds from this event will benefit 10 intercollegiate athletic teams and more than 200 student athletes at Lackawanna College.

?There?s a special place in my heart for that name: Lackawanna. For me to come and just try to help out, is really unbelievable,? Slaughter remarked.

?And as a fan, I think I?d rather be there than anywhere else in the world.?

If you go
What: ?Electric City Slam? featuring Sgt. Slaughter, Kurt Angle, Jerry Lawler and others.
When: Nov. 3, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Lackawanna College Student Union, the former Scranton CYC, Jefferson Avenue.
Details: Tickets begin at $15; $10 for college students with ID. For more information or to order tickets by credit card, call 335-3417. Proceeds benefit Lackawanna College athletic program.

Tags: Sgt. Slaughter, A. J. Styles, Jerry Lawler, WWE