Seymour’s ready to rumble.
The basement at The Point (formerly First Nazarene Church of Seymour) will boast some of the greatest pro wrestling names in the county Friday.
American Wrestling All-Stars Supreme will conduct a benefit event for The Anchor House with the doors opening at 6 p.m and the bell ringing at 7:30 p.m.
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Around 350 people attended the 2014 event and raised $2,300 for The Anchor House.
Headlining the event is former WWE star and current NWA champion Rob Conway and one-half of the “Rock-N-Roll Express” Ricky Morton.
Also returning to the ring here is Seymour native Clint VonDielingen, better known as Vaughn Lilas.
Lilas started wrestling in 2003 and trained with Rip Rogers, also known to Seymour residents as Mark Sciarra, at Ohio Valley Wrestling in Louisville, Kentucky. Lilas has made numerous WWE appearances.
Rogers, born and raised in Seymour, now lives in Louisville and has trained many of the athletes in the WWE today.
“The only place I’ve really wrestled is down at Ohio Valley Wrestling in Louisville, Kentucky,” VonDielingen said. “It used to be the training center for WWE for guys like John Cena, Randy Orton and Brock Lesner.”
At 41 years old, Lilas’ wrestling career has slowed down. He couldn’t, however, turn down this event.
“Nothing I’ve ever done compares to being in the ring for me,” he said. “Performing in front of an audience, big or small, it really doesn’t matter. I get to let it all out and have fun.”
Lilas’ cousin, Seymour’s Zach Thompson, will make his wrestling debut at the benefit.
“I’ve scuffed around a bit, been in situations where I’ve had to wrestle, but this is my first official match,” Thompson said. “I’m very excited. I’m a little nervous because he’s a more experienced fighter than me.”
Thompson, better known by his wrestling name Marty Blankenship, typically announces events.
“I’m actually not a wrestler. I’m an announcer for the group,” he said. “My ‘brother’ Mortimer Blankenship (Matt Robinson) set me up for a match against Vaughn Lilas. He’s bringing Vaughn Lilas in to teach me a lesson.”
The legend goes that Mortimer, a wrestling manager, is sick and tired of Marty taking credit for his work. Marty will have to prove his worth and earn his glory in the ring against Lilas.
“I told him I’m sick and tired riding on the coattails,” Robinson said. “I’ve been wrestling, and he’s trying to take my glory. I decided that I would get a hold of a cousin (VonDielingen) so he could kick his butt like when they were kids.”
Mortimer will back Lilas at the event.
“I’ll be managing (Lilas) that night,” Robinson said. “I have never managed him before. I look forward to managing someone of his caliber. I watched him when he was younger on TV. To be able to manage him will be an honor.”
Marty has trained with Seymour wrestlers “The Blue Beetle” and “Johnny Justice” in preparation for his bout. Beetle and Justice also will enter the ring Friday.
“I don’t want to give away too many secrets, but I’m hoping to do some high-flying stuff on (Lilas),” Thompson said. “It’s a little more risky being a big guy, but I think I can do it pretty well. He’s famous for chops, and I’m hoping to get a few on him as well.”
Thompson got his start in professional wrestling a little over a year ago when he began announcing Saturday shows in Madison.
During intermission, the Christian rock band “The Lasting Hope” will perform. Concessions also will be available throughout the event.
The wrestlers promised there would be a special surprise at the event.
All AWA Supreme titles also will be on the line.
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What: American Wrestling All-Stars Supreme
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: The Point, 311 Myers St., Seymour
Advance tickets can be bought in Seymour at Bullwinkles, Brooklyn Pizza, Orange Leaf, Bryan Bowman Chrysler, Bob Poynter GMC, WJAA 96.3, and in Brownstown at Michies diner and BYC gun shop.
Presale tickets are available for $6 and tickets at the door will cost $8.
Kids aged 3 and under get in free. Proceeds go to The Anchor House.
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