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Wrestlers team up to help a 'brother in need'

Vicki Presnell/contributed

West McDowell head football coach Mark Revis, shown here talking with his team during a game last September, is battling cancer.

Dan Crawley

mcdowell_youth@yahoo.com

Published: June 18, 2009

Professional wrestling fans here in McDowell County are in for a treat as a once-popular independent promotion returns to Marion for a special show to benefit a local sports figure and one of their own.
Foothills Championship Wrestling (FCW) is returning to the National Guard Armory tonight to hold a benefit show for current West McDowell Junior High football coach Mark Revis. This will mark FCW's first appearance in Marion since 2003.
Revis was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma earlier this spring and has recently gone through a series of treatments to help fight the battle against this form of cancer. Admission to the event will be $6. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and bell time is slated for 8. All proceeds from tonight's event will go straight to Revis to help offset the numerous medical expenses that have accumulated over the past couple months.
Revis, who was a standout football player and wrestler at McDowell High, has been active in the youth and junior high football community over the past decade, but he was also a popular talent in the independent wrestling circuit during the late 1990's through the first half of this decade.
Revis, who performed under the name Blade, began wrestling locally for the defunct Southern Wrestling Alliance in 1997. Then, after an initial push, Revis and friend Chris "Thunder" Childers, another McDowell County native, began to work through the tag team ranks, eventually winning the SWA tag team belts.
After the SWA ceased operations in 1999, the duo began working with numerous other promotions across the Carolinas, Georgia and Tennessee through the early part of this decade.
"Mark and I had a really great run for about eight years," said Childers. "Not only was Mark a great guy to work with in the ring but he was a great travel partner and a friend. We had many great moments together on the road."
Childers and Revis won World Tag Titles for South Carolina based promotion America Pro Wrestling. The duo was regularly featured on local television in the Upstate South Carolina market area. The successful tag team returned to the Marion area in 2000 when FCW was in its infancy, also winning the gold before FCW disbanded in late 2003.
Revis was well liked and respected among his colleagues during his tenure as a wrestler. When Childers found out his former partner was recently diagnosed with cancer, he figured one way to support his friend would be through the wrestling community.
"Mark has always been well liked among many of the people he worked with," added Childers. "The wrestling community is like a fraternity, we stick beside each other. Tonight we want to raise money for our brother in need. But we will also put on a good quality show for the fans. We know the fan base here is loyal, so we are looking forward to their support tonight as well."
The list of individuals scheduled to be in action includes two veterans of the sport, Chief Jay Eagle and Terminator Rex. "Superstar" Mickey Richards, Cruise Control and The Juvenile Delinquents are also scheduled to appear.
Another fund-raiser for Revis is set for Saturday. A benefit golf tournament is being held at Old Fort Golf Course beginning at 9 a.m. As of Thursday afternoon, there were still four team spots available in the event.