Email   Print   Share By Erin Rogers, Sentinel Leisure Editor

Facebook Digg Delicious June 14, 2012 | Leisure

Angel Blue jumps off the ropes onto her opponent, Pink, at the ICW Wrestling event held at Abrams Physical Fitness Center Friday. Erin Rogers, Sentinel Leisure Editor

Scott Pheonix lifts his opponent, Playboy Danny Matthews, in the air before slamming him to the ring at the ICW Wrestling event held at Abrams Physical Fitness Center Friday. Erin Rogers, Sentinel Leisure Editor

International Championship Wrestling performed for Soldiers and their Families at Abrams Physical Fitness Center Friday night.

The wrestling bouts brought a different kind of entertainment for the Soldiers and Families in the Fort Hood area than what has been provided in the past.

“We want to bring enjoyment, excitement and something for Families and Soldiers that’s different from every day Army life,” Monty Campbell, public relations coordinator of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, said. “And the wrestlers are happy to be here.”

The ICW wrestlers signed autographs and posed for pictures with their fans before the show started, and said making that personal connection with the audience before-hand makes it easier for the wrestlers to connect with the audience.

“We wanted to come out and give a show to the military guys because it is kind of our way of giving back to them, they give to us every day,” Angel Blue, one of the ICW wrestlers, said. “We love doing shows, and this one is good for us because we don’t always have the opportunity to be around the military life.”

The wrestlers experienced their first taste of military life going through Fort Hood’s security at the main gate. After a brief stop, the wrestlers were able to continue to Abrams and begin preparations for the evening’s entertainment.

Some of the wrestlers in the ICW come from legacy wrestling families. Austin Rhodes has been wrestling for 22 years. His uncle, Dusty Rhodes, known as “The American Dream,” is a three-time National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Champion.

“Wrestling runs in my family,” Austin said. “And I don’t plan on ending that legacy anytime soon.”

Angel Blue, on the other hand, is just beginning the wrestling legacy in her family.

“My family and I have always been big wrestling fans, but I am the first one to actually go through with it,” Blue said. “I started watching it with my parents when I was growing up, and I began training when I was 16.”

The first match began with Austin Rhodes wrestling his opponent “Lil Tony.” The audience was immediately cheering for Austin, who came out decked in red, white and blue. Tony dressed in all black and spoke of how he loved Canada and bad-mouthed Texas.

Austin beat Tony and the crowd cheered for his victory. Next up was Angel Blue, who suited up for her winning match against “Pink.”

As the night went on, the protagonist/antagonist-type wrestling provided laughs, cheers and jeers from Families and Soldiers. The matches included tag-team events, female matches and acrobatics.

At the end of the night, three of the protagonist wrestlers came away with victories. The main event was between wrestlers Raven and Shawn Daivari, with Daivari being the hopeful. He came out of the bout with a loss, but still won the hearts of the crowd with his heroic persona.

“Doing stuff like this is cool because we know there might not be a lot of things to do around here for entertainment, and we enjoy doing this for them,” Daivari said of performing for the troops. “We know they are working hard every day and providing the freedoms that allow us to travel around and do what we do. This is just a small way we can thank them for letting us do what we love.”