By Grant Golden
July 27, 2021
Long before the days of the Charlotte Hornets or the Carolina Panthers, professional wrestling reigned supreme in North Carolina. For decades Charlotte’s Jim Crockett Promotions was one of the largest national organizations in the industry, home to legends like Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes. But as the industry evolved, and the competition dried up, Vince McMahon and his company World Wrestling Entertainment became the organization synonymous with professional wrestling. All Elite Wrestling looks to change that; and on July 28 the young company returns to the Bojangles’ Coliseum for the second time since their founding in 2019.
Backed by longtime wrestling fan and Jacksonville Jaguars co-owner Tony Khan, AEW’s executive board is filled with independent wrestling icons like Cody Rhodes, Nick and Matt Jackson, and Kenny Omega. With a weekly primetime show on TNT, Dynamite, and a second set to debut in August, AEW’s existence has inherently altered the landscape of the pro wrestling industry. It’s been twenty years since there was steady national competition to the monolith of WWE, but with a billionaire backer and an all-star roster of acts like Sting, Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley and more, it’s hard not to get excited about the future.
Wednesday’s show marks the third Fight for the Fallen event, an annual special edition of Dynamite that boasts a stacked card and a charity drive. The company announced a $100,000 donation this week to the Charlotte-based non-profit Safe Alliance, dedicated to supporting domestic violence and sexual assault survivors. AEW will also donate a portion of T-shirt sales to the organization alongside an online charity drive.
“Giving back to the community and helping make a difference in people’s lives is an ongoing goal for AEW, especially with our annual Fight for the Fallen event,” said Tony Khan, AEW CEO in a press statement. “We’re proud to share this donation with Safe Alliance, and through this initiative, we hope we can come together with fans to further Safe Alliance’s important mission.”
Stacked with highly anticipated matches like the debut of the infamous death match icon Nick Gage against the legendary Chris Jericho, and a group elimination match with The Elite facing Adam Page and the Dark Order, Fight for the Fallen is set to be one of the most explosive episodes to date.
All Elite Wrestling’s Dynamite comes to Charlotte’s Bojangles’ Arena on Wednesday, July 28 at 7 p.m.
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