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| For more information about the PWACs, visit the official group page on Facebook |
Founded in 2014, the electorate of the Professional
Wrestling Awards of the Carolinas is made up of a rotating seven-member panel
of individuals who are in some way involved in the Carolinas independent
wrestling scene. Categories included in the PWACs are:
Announcer of the Year
Referee of the Year
Rising Star
Feud of the Year
Female of the Year
Tag Team of the Year
Wrestler of the Year
Nominees for the PWACs are submitted by panel members;
the list of nominees is narrowed to three competitors based on the highest
percentage of nominations received. Winners are selected by panelist voting on
the remaining contenders in each category. Whoever receives the most votes is
declared the winner of a particular category.
Membership for the first panel of the PWACs will be made up of the following individuals.
Blogger/Documentarian
Robert “Redbeard” Truesdale has followed the Carolinas’
independent professional wrestling scene as a fan for nearly 15 years.
Truesdale – who was a self-described “gopher boy” in his late teens for a long
defunct promotion out of Lancaster, South Carolina – is well-traveled, having
attended events in all corners of the Carolinas. He documents his
wrestling-related road trips on his blog, Redbeard’s Rambling, as well as
Rasslin’ with Redbeard, a YouTube series dedicated to depicting the experience
of being an indie wrestling fan in the region.
Photographer/Trainer
Even though his name may not be immediately recognizable,
Harrison South Worth is a man who’s been a part of the independent professional
wrestling scene in southern states (not just the Carolinas) for decades. Worth,
who is a financial administrator as well as an athlete, has served as a
trainer, promoter, and creative consultant for a number of federations at
various points in his life. If you follow many of the top promotions and
wrestlers in the Carolinas on social media, you’ve likely seen his photography
(Worth Wrestle Photos) appear in your timeline. Indeed, he has an eye for
talent and the credibility to make his thoughts count.
Referee
Experienced journeyman referees are like the bass players
of professional wrestling – their presence is acknowledged but their value is
rarely made a point of because their role is that of support and not of star. Perhaps
better known to observant fans as Ray Boring, Chris Moister is a veteran of the
United States military who has grinded his way into being recognized as the
head official for several promotions. Through his work ethic and commitment to
consistently performing his duties as referee at a high level, he has become
“the man in charge of all the action” for companies based in Georgia, both
North and South Carolina, and will soon make his way into Tennessee.
Ring Announcer
Much like referees, quality ring announcers are
individuals whose contributions to professional wrestling are either
underappreciated or woefully ignored altogether. That said, the fact that Brett
Wolverton can be seen almost any given weekend handling the ring announcing duties
(as well as providing television commentary and in some locales even serving as
commissioner of the company) at events from Charleston to Cornelia and from
Charlotte to Cayce means that he’s earned his place as someone who’s capable of
adding an air of respect and professionalism to any given show. While Wolverton’s
capacity to trade barbs with fans and unruly, villainous mouthpieces is evident,
his distinctive delivery and his effort to maintain a dapper presentation
distinguish him from the rest.
Professional Wrestler
If it was scientifically possible to measure the amount
of energy needed to convince a person that they hate someone else, “The
Fabulous Playboy” Bob Keller would be as suitable a medium as any for facilitating
such a study. Walking in the footsteps of infamous wrestling personalities such
as “Classy” Freddie Blassie and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, Keller has the rare
ability to verbally eviscerate anyone he encounters through a combination of
snares and insults. Even though Keller excels in the part of a scoundrel he can
play a more straight-laced role as well which is why his versatility as a
performer makes him a valuable commodity for any promotion. When he isn’t
riling up his competition or the fans at ringside, Keller is working behind the
scenes in a number of roles to help keep an event on track. Keller’s influence
on independent professional wrestling in the Carolinas will continue to be felt
through the work he does as operator of the WrestleForce School of Pro
Wrestling.
Professional Wrestler - Retired
When the subject of respected veterans comes up in regard
to talking about local independent professional wrestlers, the list of names
one can legitimately speak of is short. Be that as it may, a name that is
consistently and deservedly involved in those discussions is that of Abel
Adams. Best known as being one-half of Team Ego with his partner Will Snap,
Adams’ reputation as a locker room leader and ring general precedes him. Having
had at least a hand in developing the careers of competitors such as “The
Southern Savior” John Skyler, Steven Walters (Dash Wilder in World Wrestling
Entertainment’s NXT division), and IMPACT Wrestling’s Gunner, Adams
contribution to independent professional wrestling in the Carolinas is most
evident and will continue to be on display for years to come.
Professional Wrestler
If you were a fan of professional wrestling during the
late 1990s and paid attention to World Championship Wrestling, then you more
than likely encountered one or more of the in-ring personalities of Lodi.
Whether it was his run as “the sign guy” in Raven’s Flock, the unforgettable
pairing he had with Lenny Lane in the West Hollywood Blondes, or the follow-up
thereof with Lane as Standards & Practices (the team that would introduce
the world to Stacey Keibler) the man has performed in front of untold thousands
of fans and been on millions of TV screens all over the world. When he’s not
beating his clientele skinny as owner of the personal fitness studio Your FLEX
Appeal, Lodi – a North Carolina native, graduate of East Carolina University,
and former member of the United States Army Reserve – can these days be found
most any weekend of the month entertaining fans with his unmistakable sense of
showmanship.
For more information on the PWACs, please join the official group page on Facebook by clicking this link.
For more information on the PWACs, please join the official group page on Facebook by clicking this link.
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