World-class indie wrestling is coming to Birmingham Saturday night (May 28) as New South brings the Southeast’s finest athletes together for an outdoor showdown at the original Ghost Train Brewing Company on 3rd Avenue S. The BirmingSlam competition features some of the fiercest showdowns seen in independent wrestling, and will be filmed for Pro Wrestling TV. It is New South’s first time in Birmingham, and represents the beginning of a bright future for indie wrestling in the Magic City.
“New South is a wrestling company that’s been around close to a decade now,” shares Justin Ciucevich, who helped put together the Birmingham show. New South Pro Wrestling can mainly be found in Northern Alabama in locations like Decatur, Hartsville, and Top Shelf Wrestling at the Furniture Factory in Huntsville. They’ve even been to New Jersey and Philadelphia, but had yet to compete in the Magic City. They are excited for their first show in Birmingham, which has gone through an independent wrestling drought of late.
“The Boutwell Auditorium used to be a hotbed for pro wrestling, especially back in the territory days in the 80s and before,” Ciucevich explains. Justin grew up as a wrestling fan in Birmingham and is excited to play a role in bringing it back, and feels many others in the wrestling community will appreciate the effort. “There’s a huge interest in indie wrestling now, on a much more local level,” he shares, “I think people are hungry for entertainment.”
Entertainment will be in large supply Saturday evening. “It was announced that we will be having a New South Heavyweight Title match,” the company’s representative informed us, “Our current champion is Kenzie Paige, the baddest chick in wrestling. She will be defending against our former New South Heavyweight Champion who has been on leave from New South for a few months now, and that is Adam Priest.” Both have competed on other esteemed wrestling platforms such as AEW and NWA, and are “very, very good at their craft. That will be a great match.”
“I would be remiss if I didn’t say this, but Max the Impaler and Trever Aeon and his new manager Comrade Groza. They had their first outing together last week in Decatur, Alabama and were successful over the self-proclaimed #1 contender to the title, Chris Crunkk.” Crunkk returns as well for a match against Miami Ice Rolando Perez, and Jungle Kings will be taking on Big Dave Security Management. Chuck Devine will also be returning to Birmingham for a showdown with the Dominican Hercules Luis Casanova “who is quite a spectacle himself. That will be a match of two very big, very stout men. It will be a physical match.”
Infrared will be competing against Hook and Stretch for the New South Tag Team Title Championship Saturday night as well. These are only a few of the many stellar matchups promised Saturday night at Ghost Train, and New South GM Dump Sanders hints that surprises may be implemented throughout. Another fun segment will be a LIVE Drinkin’ with the Wolf hosted by Steven Michaels featuring special guest Nasty Leroy Wilson and tasty Ghost Train beers.
It certainly promises to be a fun night of wrestling, and Justin is excited for fans of the sport (and interested onlookers) to check out the newest, most inclusive version of indie wrestling. “We try to have a little bit of everything. That’s always been the idea with a good pro wrestling card. That’s what you want, is something for everybody. I think in order to reach that quote “everybody” you have to come into the question of who are you including and excluding with your wrestling and your characters,” he shares, “Change is inevitable and necessary changes have been made. I’ve witnessed that happen in wrestling. It’s a lot more open and it’s really allowed a whole new wave of fans.”
We are excited to join the rankings of new fans this weekend in Birmingham!
