East Hamilton High to host Scenic City Invitational next weekend

Fans of pro wrestling are invited to attend the fourth Scenic City Invitational at East Hamilton High School on Aug. 4-5.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. each night and bell time is 7:30. Tickets are $10 for general admission on both nights. A limited amount of floor seats remain for each night at a cost of $15 each.

Some of the proceeds from the event will once again go to benefit a local Hamilton County school. This year, money raised will go toward construction of new bathroom facilities for the East Hamilton baseball and softball complex.

Event promoter and booker Josh Massey is once again bringing in 16 top performers from 11 different states to compete in the two-night, singleelimination tournament, which is quickly developing a national and global following among pro wrestling fans in the know.

“This year, we’ve been fortunate to have sold as many tickets before the show as we have,” Massey said. “We have sold out 80 percent of the floor seats with fans from 33 different states, along with fans from Australia, England, Germany and Canada. Last year’s tournament was received in the Wrestling Observer (a Sports Illustrated-like website and magazine devoted to wrestling and MMA) with glowing reviews. It was ranked in the top four for tournaments in the entire world and one of the top 20 shows of the year in all of pro wrestling.”

Last year’s champion, former UTC football standout Gunner Miller, is back to defend his title. Miller won the 2016 Scenic City Invitational by besting a field that included Chris Hero and Lio Rush - both of whom recently signed with the WWE - and former UFC fighter Matt Riddle.

This year’s Invitational field includes professional wrestlers from all over the country, including some that have wrestled for Ring of Honor, have tried out for the WWE and have wrestled in promotions in Canada, Japan, England, Germany, China and Mexico, as well as the United States.

Miller and Riddle are among those who will be looking to win this year’s tournament. The tournament will also serve as “retirement weekend” for Chattanooga’s own “Strong Style Psycho”, Tank. A longtime fan favorite, Tank, has wrestled for hundreds of different promotions in his career and has stated that this will be his final event. He is slated to face Riddle in his opening-round bout.

For more information, or for questions about tickets, send an email to dylanwaco@gmail.com.