Photo by Jason Robinson Members of the Uniquely Union festival committee applaud as TSW overseer Freddie Vanderford presents Danny Dollar with an award for winning the 2012 Uniquely Union Battle Royale.

slideshow

Photo by Jason Robinson A pro wrestling mega event would not be complete without a good-guy-gone-bad scenario. "Real Deal" Joey Leone smashes Danny Dollar in the head with his own plaque at the end of Saturday night's event.

slideshow

Photo by Jason Robinson Referee Ron Mils explains his decision to Lei D Tapa following Saturday's women's division match.

slideshow

Photo by Jason Robinson TSW fans erupt when their favorite wrestlers are successful.

slideshow

Photo by Jason Robinson Lei D Tapa escapes from Christi Whiplash's waist lock.

slideshow

Photo by Jason Robinson The Uniquely Union Battle Royale proved to be organized mayhem.

slideshow

Photo by Jason Robinson After a successful title defense against Eric Bradford, TSW Champion Deon Johnson takes photos with fans.

slideshow

UNION — For the first time ever, the 2012 Uniquely Union Festival featured dropkicks, body slams, trash talking and an extremely vocal crowd.

Wrestling fans filled the Industrial Exhibit Building at the Union County Fairgrounds for the Trans-South Wrestling event which was part of the 2012 Uniquely Union Festival.

TSW heavyweight champion Deon Johnson successfully defended his title against Eric Bradford, who is best known for his starring role on the CMT reality show Redneck Island.

“We all saw Bradford on Redneck Island saying he was too good to be called a redneck, so I let him know that in some circles, I’m known as a redneck and I’m proud of it,” Johnson said. “I like to fish, ride horses and listen to Hank as much as anybody.”

Johnson pinned Bradford after connecting with a moonsault, which is a backwards flip and body press off the top rope.

The heavyweight championship match was followed by the Uniquely Union Battle Royale, in which 15 wrestlers competed at the same time, each attempting to eliminate the other wrestlers by tossing them over the top rope to the floor.

Wrestlers drew numbers before the match to determine the order in which they would enter the battle royale. The wrestler who drew No. 1 — Memphis, Tenn., resident Danny Dollar — endured the grueling contest until the end and was crowned the winner.

Members of the Uniquely Union Festival committee entered the ring and presented Dollar with a plaque, congratulating him on his victory. Fellow wrestler “Real Deal” Joey Leone also entered the ring to congratulate Dollar, but as Dollar turned his back, Leone snatched the plaque and broke it over the back of Dollar’s head. First responders attended to Dollar and Leone was escorted out of the building.

Despite having to get stitches, Dollar was in good spirits after the event.

“It seems like every time I come to TSW I get hurt somehow,” Dollar said, laughing. “It was all worth it to win the battle royale, though. Now I get a shot at my buddy Deon Johnson and that heavyweight title.”

Johnson and Dollar will square off on Saturday, Oct. 20, as part of the Union County Agricultural Fair.

In other action on the card, Christi Whiplash defeated Lei D Tapa in a women’s division match, and Peter Kaasanova defeated Chase Brown.

For more information about TSW, go to www.facebook.com/transsouthwrestling.