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Wrestling
For Relief
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There have been all kinds of Katrina fundraisers all over the country. But we dare you to find one quite like this. A full-tilt professional wrestling match sponsored and hosted by an Indiana church. Lindsay Ferrier reports. |
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SCRIPT:
(Locator:
Kokomo, Ind.)
On one side of the Main Street United Methodist Church in Kokomo, Indiana, a marquee with service times. On the other side, a wrestling match promotion. The two worlds collide in the fellowship hall.
Wrestle-Aid is a
fundraiser for Hurricane Katrina victims…an unlikely marriage of church
and body slams.
The Reverend Kerry O’Brien / Pastor, Main Street United Methodist
Church: “It’s thinking out of the box. It’s different enough that people
say ‘I’m curious.’ Or, ‘I like wrestling, I normally wouldn’t go, but
now I want to see what this is all about.’ It gives it just a little
more so I think it does attract people that it may not have in the
past.”
The show is family-friendly with no bad words or off-color humor. Just
lots of improvised melodrama and action. And the church members love it.
Linda Manuel / Member, Main Street United Methodist Church: “I think
it’s just wonderful that you can go out and have a good time and get
into this. I think it’s a good experience.”
It’s a pretty elaborate show to put on for free. But even wrestlers
have feelings.
The Mercenary / Professional Wrestler: “I’ll beat up people anywhere
they want – church, ladies’ aid, whatever.”
Okay, maybe not…but the Reverend O’Brien believes there are no losers on
this evening.
The Reverend Kerry O’Brien / Pastor, Main Street United Methodist
Church: “Some people will go away and say ‘That was a fun night,’ and
other people will say ‘That was a fun night, and it was in a church and
the roof didn’t fall on my head! Right on.’”
TAG:
All the proceeds from Wrestle-Aid went to the United Methodist Committee on Relief. For more information, go to: http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/emergency/hurricanes/2005/.