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This year’s Uniquely Union Festival will feature a number of new additions, one of which will include body slams, championship belts and hard-hitting excitement for all ages.

On Saturday, Sept. 8 — Day 2 of the Uniquely Union Festival — the Union-based Trans-South Wrestling organization will present Fan Appreciation Night — a full card of pro wrestling matches including a heavyweight title match, a women’s division match and the first ever 20-plus-person Uniquely Union Battle Royale. For a special Fan Appreciation Night admission price, all tickets (for all ages) will be available at the door for $5.

“We are excited to have the new wrestling event added to our lineup,” said festival committee member Jami Trammell. “We feel as though this will be a great draw because it already has a following here. We welcome Trans-South Wrestling to Uniquely Union and are looking forward to the Battle Royale!”

Uniquely Union Battle Royale

The Uniquely Union Battle Royale — a match designed specifically for the Uniquely Union Festival — promises to be organized mayhem. As in most matches, two wrestlers will come to the ring and begin wrestling. As time progresses, more wrestlers will enter the ring — one at a time — to get in on the action. When a wrestler goes over the top rope and to the floor, he is eliminated from the match. The match will continue until there is one wrestler left — the Uniquely Union Battle Royale Grand Champion. The winner of the battle royale will then get a shot at the TSW heavyweight title at a future event.

Championship

The event will also feature Eric Bradford — star of CMT’s reality show Redneck Island — as he takes on TSW champion and Union County native Deon Johnson. Bradford took on the role of the “anti-redneck” in the show, explaining that he was a cut above anyone who accepts the title of “redneck.” This made him one of the least popular contestants on the show, which coincides with his wrestling persona, as he is a wrestler most fans love to hate. Although he is not a fan favorite, he picks up his share of wins, and he looks to claim the highest honor in TSW at Uniquely Union as he goes after Deon Johnson’s heavyweight championship, a title Johnson has held since December 2011.

Women’s Division

Another featured bout on the card will be a women’s division match featuring Lei’D Tapa vs. Christi Whiplash. Lei’D Tapa debuted in the ring in 2011, wrestling out of Charlotte, N.C. Tapa is the niece of legendary WWE wrestler, The Barbarian. Her opponent will be Christi Whiplash, who has been wrestling for five years out of Anderson. Both competitors warn fans not to be fooled by their appearance. Although they might look sweet and mild mannered, when the bell sounds, hard-nosed competition ensues.

Trans-South Wrestling will also unveil its new magazine/program at the event, featuring photos, articles, rankings and more. The programs will be available at Uniquely Union, the Union County Agricultural Fair and TSW’s monthly event on Nov. 3. Anyone who is interested in purchasing an advertisement in the program for a business or political candidacy should call (864) 426-8638 before this Friday.

For more information, visit TSW on Facebook at www.facebook.com/transsouthwrestling.