Derik Vanderford|Daily Times TSW champion Deon Johnson poses with his championship belt just blocks from his childhood home in the Chambertown area.

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Photo submitted ECW Original "High Flying" Chris Hamrick will challenge Deon Johnson for the TSW heavyweight title on Feb. 4 in Union.

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A local wrestling organization will concentrate its efforts in 2012 toward Union County Relay for Life.

Trans-South Wrestling began holding professional wrestling events at the Union County Fairgrounds on a semi-regular basis in April 2011. Each of the events was held to raise funds — through concession sales, donations and a percentage of ticket sales — for a different cause. During 2011, TSW did its part in raising funds for young brain tumor patient Savannah Cook, the B.P.O. DOES, Miracle League of Union County, Philippi Fire Department and Relay for Life.

As TSW begins 2012 with its first event this Saturday, Feb. 4. The group will hold events on the first Saturday of each month, and each event through May will benefit Union County Relay for Life.

“Toward the end of last year, we decided to start our own Relay for Life team,” said TSW Relay for Life team co-captain Cole McAbee. “There are several ways in which we will raise money this year. We have some big surprises on the way.”

During the TSW event held in December, Union native and longtime pro wrestler Deon Johnson (aka Derrick Green) defeated then-champion Jason Blackman inside a steel cage to become the new TSW heavyweight champion.

“In all the years I’ve been wrestling, no title has meant more to me than the one I won in Union in front of my family, friends and the UCHS wrestling team!” said the former Yellow Jacket. “It’s going to be hard now for anybody to take it from me, but I will give them all a chance.”

Johnson’s first title defense will be against former Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) star “High Flying” Chris Hamrick. Although Hamrick is best known for his time in ECW, he has also wrestled in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Total Nonstop Action (TNA) and various wrestling organizations all over the world. He has competed all over the world, and his high-flying style should be a treat for local wrestling fans. His attitude, however, may not be.

“After Feb. 4, the people of Union will finally have a champion — or anything for that matter — they can be proud of,” Hamrick said.

“All I can say is Deon better have his wrestling shoes on,” he added. “I plan to show everyone, along with Deon, why I was in ECW.”

The Johnson-Hamrick match will be the featured contest among a full line-up of matches at Saturday’s event at Union County Fairgrounds. Bell time is 7:30 p.m. and advance tickets are available at Buffalo Pawn & Gun. Those who would like to donate to the Relay for Life team may do so at the event. McAbee said donation drop boxes will soon be placed at several locations in Union to be announced.