New Era Wrestling Returning To Tuscaloosa For 'Crimson Clash' On The Strip

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Professional wrestling is set to return to the heart of Tuscaloosa next month, as New Era Wrestling gears up to host its "Crimson Clash" at Two Dimes on Thursday, Sept. 11.

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The event will take place on the Thursday before Alabama's home football game against Wisconsin at the former Druid City Music Hall, which is located at 1307 University Boulevard. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and the first bell is scheduled for 8 p.m.

Greg Wood, who performs as "The Alpha" Alexander Lincoln, told Patch that fans can expect to see the very best that Alabama has to offer in terms of pro wrestling.

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"We're going to have myself and 'Mr. 1985' Bubba Cagle, and we're also going to have Gia Miller, who currently is with TNA [Total Nonstop Action Wrestling], which is a major wrestling promotion that's on TV," Wood said.

Miller, a former Phi Mu at the University of Alabama, and Wood — a native of Talladega — are both UA graduates.

"We're also going to have 'Big Trouble' Ben Bishop," Wood said. "He's fresh off a WWE tryout and he's coming in from Nashville. So, we've got some really cool wrestlers coming in from out of town, but also a lot who're kind of homegrown and from Alabama, as well."

Wood said this will be the second New Era Wrestling event in Tuscaloosa and a first for The Strip, which comes after a successful outdoor show in March at the Buddy Powell Pavilion.

"No one's done something like this in Tuscaloosa," he said. "The show in March drew a really good crowd, but in terms of bringing pro wrestling to The Strip at a really cool venue, it's pretty cool. So we like to think it's a first of its kind. We really want it to be hugely successful. So come out and support it and come see the new venue."

He then spoke to the resurgence in popularity of professional wrestling at the local level and said recent changes implemented by WWE can be credited for the growing appeal.

"I think because it's being promoted at such a higher level now that you're starting to inject more of what we would call 'casual fans' into the mix," Wood explained. "And I think you're seeing things like a 12-year-old boy watching ESPN sees Roman Reigns for the first time. He's like, 'who's that? That guy's cool. I want to watch him.' And then he watches him, and then he sees a flyer about a local show at the grocery store and wants to go to it. I just think there's this trickle-down effect that's occurring."

Tickets are priced at $25 and can be purchased online or at the door, pending availability.

New Era Wrestling and Tuscaloosa Patch have also partnered for a special promo code "PATCH" to be entered through Eventbrite for 20% off on tickets.

Click here to purchase tickets.

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