Wrestling stars take the field
Second annual Big Time Wrestling show Friday night at McCoy Stadium
PAWTUCKET – When Big Time Wrestling bodyslams its way into McCoy Stadium Friday night, the show will feature superstars of the last five decades of professional wrestling, a feat that coowner Stephen Perkins lauds as offering something for grappling fans of all ages.
“It’s kind of like the three-ring circus, it has something for everybody,” Perkins said in an interview with The Times.
The show’s main attraction will be an appearance from 16-time world champion and two- time WWE Hall of Fame inductee “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair. Considered by many fans of the sport to be the greatest professional wrestler in the industry’s history, Flair is one of wrestling’s transcendent superstars who have become pop culture sensations beyond the squared-circle.
“Ric will be the special guest, he’ll open the show, I’m sure he’ll have a story about the Marriott in Providence,” Perkins said with a laugh about Flair, who is known as the “limousine ridin’, jet flyin’, kiss stealin’, wheelin’, dealin’, son-of-a-gun.”
“There’s always a story with Ric,” Perkins added. “Anytime you have Ric, there’s more people there, there’s the instant attraction. You can have wrestling, but the show needs an attraction, and Ric’s the attraction.”
Flair’s appearance highlights the second annual Big Time Wrestling extravaganza at McCoy Stadium.
Calling the 2016 show “a great success,” Perkins is looking forward to building on the triumphs of last summer’s spectacle.
“There’s a couple options of wrestling companies that go to Minor League Baseball markets, but I have to say ourselves and Pawtucket, I think we probably had the highest attendance of all the shows,” Perkins said. “I’m hoping to do the same … I think giving people a different venue and a cool venue outdoors is part of the selling point.”
This year’s squared- circle smackdown features a triple main event: Eleven- time National Wrestling Alliance, World Championship Wrestling, and World Wrestling Federation ( now WWE) tag team champions The Steiner Brothers will square off against former WWE World Tag Team Champions Kenny and Mikey of The Spirit Squad in a tag-team match. “The Innovator of Violence” Tommy Dreamer will step into, and very likely out of, the ring in a hardcore rules, anything-goes match against two-time Extreme Championship Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion Sabu. The Big Time Wrestling Championship will be on the line when current champion and Billerica, Mass. native Flex Armstrong defends his title against New Bedford, Mass.’s own Teddy Goodz. Perkins also said that for diehard fans of classic professional wrestling, they’ll want to be in their seats for the showdown between international wrestling sensation Bobby Fish and Evolve Wrestling superstar Chris Dickinson. Perkins says he anticipates a “hard-hitting, non-stop- action match.”
The advertised matches and Flair’s appearance, Perkins says, will offer a little something for wrestling fans of all ages. For those who came of age in the ’70s, they’ll be able to see Ric Flair. For those who were watching in the ’80s, they’ll get to see the tag team duo of Rick and Scott Steiner. For the fans of the “Attitude Era” of professional wrestling in the 1990s, it’ll be Sabu and Tommy Dreamer who will pique their curiosity. For those who enjoyed the 2000s, the appearance of The Spirit Squad will likely appeal to them.
“There’s somebody there for the wrestling fans that watch WWE, NXT, ECW, the fans that watched wrestling 20 years ago, but no matter what you do, you meet the wrestlers, you have a smile on your face, you can tell them your memories,” Perkins said.
One of the selling points for next Friday’s event is a two-hour meet and greet with the wrestlers prior to the show. From 6 to 8 p.m., fans will be able to get autographs or take pictures with their favorite stars of the ring.
“Whether you see us in an armory, arena, or ballpark, we’re going to give you the best show we can,” Perkins said. “It’s got that little extra feeling under the night air, the stars … You get a different atmosphere, you can’t replicate it.” The ring next Friday night will be situated on home plate, providing optimum vantage points for all fans in the seating bowl.
Paw Sox Director of Media Creation Kevin Galligan said, “The Paw Sox are excited to bring Big Time Wrestling back to McCoy in 2017. This year’s event features some of the top wrestlers of all-time.”
“Led by pro wrestling icon and WWE Hall of Famer, The Nature Boy Ric Flair, WWE Hall of Famer Tony Atlas, The Steiner Brothers - Big Poppa Pump Scott Steiner and Rick Steiner, Sabu, Tommy Dreamer, The Spirit Squad, Gillberg, Bobby Fish, BTW Champion Flex Armstrong, Teddy Goodz, and more, the fans are very excited to see some of wrestling’s all- time greats at McCoy,” Galligan said. “It is sure to be a night to remember.”
Tickets for the BTW event at McCoy Stadium are still available and start at $20. Tickets can be purchased online at www.btwtickets.com or via the Paw Sox at www.pawsox.com or by calling 401-724-7300 or visiting the stadium box office.