By Mary Brienza, Staff Writer
For the first time in more than a decade, professional wrestlers entered the “squared-circle” ring at South Brunswick High School Saturday night.
The sounds of cheers, boos and screams of “whoo” filled the high school gym during the South Brunswick Police Athletic League wrestling exhibition fundraiser featuring stars of the World Wrestling Entertainment and the National Wrestling Superstars.
”We haven’t done this in a decade,” PAL treasurer Richard Boulware said. “I’m glad we decided to do this.”
The NWS brings family friendly wrestling events combining both old and new wrestling stars performing to raise money for various organizations in the Northeast.
An estimated 400 to 500 people filled the seats in the gym to watch the action with both new stars and pro wrestling legends like Nikolai Volkoff, Rikishi and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan.
”People appreciate old school wrestling,” Mr. Duggan said.
Another WWE fan favorite, Doink the Clown, also attended the event and participated in a match.
Mr. Boulware said he received positive feedback at the event, and it is likely residents will see a wrestling show again.
”It is nice to put on an event like this knowing that the proceeds will be pumped right back into the community,” Mr. Boulware said.
South Brunswick PAL is a nonprofit organization that provides children in the township several leagues to promote academic and athletic improvement, according to the organization’s website. Some activities sponsored by the PAL include football, basketball, wrestling, cheerleading, track and field hockey competitions, according to the website.
Donations for the South Brunswick Food Pantry and Hugs for Brady charities also were being accepted at the event, he said.
Before the event, fans lined up for autographs and waited in anticipation for the matches to begin.
Monmouth Junction resident Tristan Serrano, 9, had his photo taken with and a photo autographed by Mr. Dugan. His favorite wrestler is the Undertaker, he said.
He said his sister introduced him to wrestling, and he attended the event to see the matches.
”I wanted to see all the wrestlers wrestle,” Tristan said.
Monmouth Junction resident Colby Redfield, 14, said this was his first time attending a wrestling event, and he went with friends. He said he looked forward to the matches, and the event was what he expected. After the fourth match, he said his favorite part was the match with Rikishi.
”This couldn’t possibly be more fun,” Rick Luca, a second-grade teacher at Cambridge, said. “It was unreal.”
Mr. Luca participated in the event as a special guest manger at the event and danced in the ring with Rikishi. He said the wrestlers were very friendly and helpful and made him feel comfortable.
”It’s nice for community to come together on a Saturday night and have some fun,” Mr. Luca said.
PAL president and founder Jake Rodriguez said this year is the 20-year anniversary of the organization.
Township high school alumnus, all-star wrestler in high school and current pro wrestler Randie “The Jersey Kidd” Christie, 21, won his match for the vacant NWS Jersey Shore Championship.
Mr. Christie is a 2008 SBHS alumnus and was a champion wrestler while attending the high school.
He won the title in a “tornado” match, defeating three other opponents in the ring and emerging as the last man standing.
Another one of the wrestlers, Judas Young, said the crowd at the event was “fantastic” and a “breath of fresh air” because of how vocal it was and how much they listened.
”If it wasn’t for the fans, we the wrestlers wouldn’t mean anything,” he said.
Earlier in the event, “locker room contemporaries” of the late Randy “Macho Man” Savage, Nikolai Volkoff, Rikishi, and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, participated in a 10-bell salute to a silent crowd led by announcer Johnny Falco.
Mr. Savage, a legendary professional wrestler in the 1980s and 1990s was killed Friday in a Florida car accident, according to published reports.
Most recently, Mr. Savage appeared as a wrestler in the first “Spiderman” movie starring Toby McGuire.
”I think any time one of the boys passes away, it is a tragedy,” Mr. Duggan said before the matches started. “With Randy, no one saw it coming.”
Mr. Duggan said the “Macho Man” persona was an extension of who this man was and a part of him “as any good character (in wrestling) is.”
”It was a shock to everybody; he took very good care of himself,” Mr. Duggan said. “I guess it was his time to go.”
Some of the wrestlers honored Mr. Savage in the ring by performing some of his signature moves during their matches.

