Wrestling for a good cause
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It has been a long time since Mark 'El Tornado' Bartolucci graduated from Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School.
In fact, his son is in the midst of his Grade 9 year at the south end high school.
So when an opportunity came up for his Rock Solid pro wrestling crew to help raise some money for the school's various charities, Bartolucci jumped at it.
"I played sports in that gym and it will be great to be back in there," Bartolucci said. "It kind of hasn't changed and it feels very strange and it will be strange to wrestle in that gym, but we can fit more than at the Caruso Club so the charity can do a bit better."
The afternoon of wrestling is set to take place Sunday at the school, with doors opening at 2:15 p.m. for a pre-bout barbeque and bell time at 3 p.m., and will feature The Amazing Race Canada participants Nick and Matt, who will be making their Rock Solid Wrestling debut. Joining them will be Amazing Race fan favourites Brent and Sean.
"We have had such a good response to The Amazing Race, and I have known Nick and Matt for years since they are wresters, and we have crossed paths may times, so Sudbury Tourism contacted me through Nick to put this thing together to bring them back after the show aired," Bartolucci said. "I have known both of them since they were kids and started wrestling, so it should be fun. They will be taking on the Hillbilly team, these big, long-haired greasy guys who are big, big guys, so it should be fun. Brent an Sean are tagging along and won't be wrestling."
Other bouts include Bartolucci and his partner, Cody Deaner, taking on The Piss Beaters in a tag team match to settle a score from the organization's last show in Sudbury, as well as Courtney Rush and KC Spinelli representing the women, among others.
"I would put our roster up against any roster," Bartolucci said. "Everyone has either been on WWE, TNA, Japan or Mexico rosters, and we have Courtney taking on KKC as well, and both are world travelled. We have the best crew going."
Better yet, it's all for a great cause.
"Lo-Ellen park groups is the charity we're supporting, and the band is hosting a barbeque, the football team is involved and whatever club wanted to partake gets a portion, and the school has its own charity called Kids Helping Kids and a portion will go to that," Bartolucci said. "Everything sold, the money from every ticket and every burger sold goes to the charities. The sponsors have been incredible for us and every time we do something they are in, and this is a last-minute show and all the wrestlers step up. They come up basically for gas money to do this."
Tickets for the show are $10 for in the stands, $15 for on the floor. Tickets are available at Lockerby Confectionary, at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School or online at sudburytourism.ca/finishline.
bruce.heidman@sunmedia.ca
On Twitter: @bheidmanSudStar