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

FOR THE FANS: Eubanks reflects on Sooner Stampede event

Posted: Jun 28th 2024 By: Jake Sermershein

Over the past 22 years, Tahlequah residents have been key in supporting United Wrestling Entertainment, and founder Brad Eubanks is looking to give back to the community.

On Friday, June 28, UWE is hosting a fan appreciation night. The 2024 edition of the Sooner Stampede is shaping up to be a special one for fans and wrestlers alike. It will take place at the Cherokee Nation Peace Pavilion, and the first 100 fans will get a free hot dog with drawings during the show.

After years of support, Eubanks hopes to make this the top fan appreciation night UWE has seen.

“They’re everything; they are the ones who give us the energy we need to perform at a high level,” Eubanks said. “They dictate who the top guy is. The fans have so much power they will make or break you.”

Sooner Stampede marks the start of the important season for UWE almost like WWE’s Wrestlemania season. Every year, the Sooner Stampede showcases UWE’s Stamped Match – an over-the-top rope battle Royale with the last wrestler declared the winner. Like WWE’s Royal Rumble, the winner gets a title shot at UWE’s biggest show of the Year, Showdown 13, on Saturday, Sept. 23.

Along with one of the biggest shows of the year, for the first time, UWE is hosting an outdoor event at the Peace Pavilion. There is an excessive heat warning for earlier in the day, but UWE is handing out water bottles.

“Besides the excessive heat, we are expecting a great time,” Eubanks said. “This is going to be our biggest fan appreciation night ever. This is leading up to our biggest event in September. We will have wrestlers all across the state and put them in one match. I teamed up with the Tahlequah Fire Department. The first 100 fans will receive a free hot dog. We are going to have a good time and have some prize drawings.”

Along with the Stampede Event Shotgun, Dan Webber hopes to regain the UWE World Championship from The Murder Man Killbane.

Over the past year, the WWE and All Elite Wrestling have helped give the wrestling industry a boom, according to Eubanks. During that period, the wrestling industry has produced historic events such as Wrestlemania or All-In help up the profile of the industry.

During the same time, Eubanks has seen the ripple effects come down to Tahlequah.

“In the 22 years I have been in this business, when the WWE is doing well, wrestling is popular,” Eubanks said. “When that happens, it helps make us more popular. When you are able to tell captivating stories, the fans want to see what happens next, and then the great wrestling that follows is just a bonus.”

This year’s Sooner Stampede starts at 7:30 Friday, June 28 at the Peace Pavilion. Along with free hot dogs and water, admission is free. Eubanks will be competing in the event as the Man They Call Fuel.