PCO Comes To Scenic City Invitational
The two-night tournament takes place this weekend in Tennessee.
One of the fastest-growing independent wrestling tournaments in the U.S. takes place this weekend in Tennessee.
In addition to presenting the hottest rising talent along the East Coast, the fourth annual Scenic City Invitational will feature a couple former WWE Superstars: 2 Cold Scorpio, and the talk of the wrestling world, PCO.
“Half a century old, he has reinvented himself as the French Canadian Frankenstein,” says co-promoter Scott Hensley. “We’re blessed to have the number-one independent guy in the world two years in a row.”
Matt Riddle won last year’s tournament, which also included Joey Janela, Darby Allin and Gunner Miller. Other big names that competed in years past include Chris Hero, Moose, Lio Rush, Kongo Kong and Gunner.
The tournament has gained a strong buzz in a short amount of time, attracting fans from 25 states and at least four countries. It’s also for a good cause with proceeds benefitting Soddy Daisy High School in Soddy-Daisy, TN (the host of the two-day event). “It has really become the family-friendly destination independent event,” Hensley says. “With ours being a school fundraiser show, we’re not trying to push the envelope with sexual language or content. We believe wrestling is a universal language.”
PCO Gets Car Battery Surgically Placed in Chest by D.Destro!!! « The Conclusion ». Feel The Electricity!!!! Blackcraft Wrestling @BCWwrestling @GCWrestling_ @MLW @beyondwrestling @BLabelPro @aiwrestling @VAWrestling @JANELABABY @SCITournament @smashwrestling pic.twitter.com/emkAa9xbj0
— PCO (@PCOQuebecer) July 30, 2018
This year’s participants include PCO, Cyrus The Destroyer, Darius Lockhart, “Warhorse” Jake Parnell, Gary Jay, Cain Justice, Ike Cross, Corey Hollis (who earned his spot by winning the Scenic City Rumble in February), Joey Lynch and Curt Stallion, as well as some names you may be familiar with:
MLW’s Fred Yehi takes on Mance Warner. “This will be a clash of styles as Mance will be harder hitting and Fred will be more technical,” Hensley says. “They are very much entertainers while still being skilled pro wrestlers. I’m not sure who the fans are going to get behind.”
The Carnies’ Kerry Awful goes one-on-one with Nick Gage. “I am scared to death,” Hensley laughed. “Gage strikes fear into fans, wrestlers and promoters. We’re bringing him into a family friendly environment, which is very scary. Kerry Awful doesn’t have the body of a Gunner Miller and doesn’t have the technical prowess of Kyle Matthews, but he does have the fans’ hearts.”
2 Cold Scorpio faces AJ Gray in a dream match. “During Black History Month I asked people who was their first favorite black wrestler, and so many guys said Scorpio,” Hensley recalled. “I never would have thought that, but he was an innovator and someone fans still remember. There are so many obvious parallels between AJ and him. Scorpio is a bigger guy who flips in the air like there is no gravity, and AJ has a powerlifting background while also being able to float through the air.”
For the first time, the Scenic City Invitational will host a third event on the second day, starting in the afternoon. It’s called the Scenic City Futures Showcase Tournament, spotlighting up and coming talent that could be featured in years to come.
“We basically have two really big goals: help schools make money and give wrestlers a platform to show what they’ve got,” Hensley said. There are so many guys that we’d love to work with, but it’s just not their opportunity to be in the tournament yet. But we still want to create relationships for the future, so we’re trying to look ahead and give a preview of guys we may want to use down the road.”
The second night of the tournament will have the winners from night 1 competing, and then the four-way elimination Scenic City Invitational Final with the winner taking home the Greg Hullender Trophy. Hullender, better known as Woody, is a former wrestler who has mentored many in the Tennessee area, including Hensley. “We wanted to put a name on our trophy that was meaningful to everyone in this area,” he said. “Woody gives everybody second a third chances, and really invests in his guys.”
Speaking of second chances, Duke “The Dumpster” Droese will be making his first wrestling appearance in eight years, signing autographs and taking photos with fans. Hensley said he has been trying to recruit the former WWE star for three years, especially with him only living an hour from Soddy Daisy High School. “He has a background working with special needs kids and doing anti-drug programs, so it would mean a lot to have him be a part of this,” Hensley said.
The 2018 Scenic City Invitational takes place at Soddy Daisy High School in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee on Friday, Aug. 3 and Saturday, Aug. 4.
For the full schedule and lineup, follow Scenic City Invitational on Facebook or Twitter.
Floor seats are just $15 per night, but are limited in number and selling fast.
General Admission (bleacher seats) are just $10.
Advance ticket holders will get first entry into the gym for both events.
Tickets for the 8/4 Saturday afternoon Scenic City Futures Showcase event are also available and are only $5 if you hold a ticket to Night 2 of the SCI which will take place later that evening.
Online ticket sales close at 5pm EDT on 8/1.
For tickets and more information, message Dylan Hales on Twitter @DylanWaco or email him at DylanWaco@gmail.com.
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