Former Pro Boxer to Make Pro Wrestling Debut at TCW Event

(FORT SMITH, AR) - Bobby Crabtree will return to the confines of a ring, but this time it will be a pro wrestling ring as opposed to a boxing ring on Saturday, July 14 in Fort Smith at the Fort Smith Convention Center.

Crabtree, a former professional boxer with more than 50 career wins, will compete in a tag team match, teaming with the popular TCW International Champion Tim Storm against hated Middle Eastern wrestler Prince Al Farat and Celeb-Reality Star Matt Riviera during TCW Wrestling's Summer Clash. The match, which will be held exclusively for Fort Smith fans and not for television release, is the result of an alleged unplanned situation that occurred on June 2 in which the boxer entered the ring and punched the wrestler.

"At this time, the only comment we will release is that Mr. Crabtree's involvement in the event was not part of our plans for (June 2)," said Brian Thompson, senior member of the TCW ownership team, in the days following the incident. "Several of our security team members allowed Crabtree to get into the ring and eventually into a situation with one of our wrestlers. We do not condone those actions and the security staff members who allowed this will be dealt with accordingly."

According to Thompson, he had no choice but to reach out to Crabtree to appear for TCW at the July event. He has also said that he feels Crabtree's actions shows disrespect for pro wrestling and that Farat has been told to "do whatever it takes" to protect pro wrestling's credibility.

"Fact or fiction, planned or unplanned, the fans can decide for themselves on July 14," said Thompson.

The live event is the latest stop on TCW's "Hot, Live and Otherwise" Tour and will be a national television taping. TCW recently announced television syndication deals on affiliate stations in Memphis and Joplin, Mo with additional affiliates in negotiation phase. The company's shows can also be seen through its website atwww.tcwwrestling.com.

In addition to Crabtree's match, the live event will feature former World Wrestling Entertainment stars Carlito, Big Daddy V and Bushwhacker Luke as well as an appearance by former World Championship Wrestling star "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton.

Also competing at the event will be Tag Team Champions Genetic Perfection, Junior Heavyweight Champion "Golden Boy" Greg Anthony, the 7-foot-tall Titan and more.

Tickets for the event are $30 for front row VIP, $20 for rows two and three VIP and $10 for general admission. VIP ticketholders will be entitled to a pre-show meet and greet with the stars at 4:30 p.m. Also, the event is a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and will be the final TCW live event in Fort Smith this year.

Fans may purchase tickets at D and D Pawn in Fort Smith, Super Sav Drug in Van Buren, the Fort Smith Radio Group, Papa John's Pizza and at the Convention Center Box Office.

Bell time for the show is 6:30 p.m.

Fans can also meet Bushwhacker Luke during a special meet and greet from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the day of the show at POW! Comics and Gaming, 2801 Old Greenwood Road in Ft. Smith.

For more information on TCW, visit www.tcwwrestling.com

Bobby Crabtree Knocks Out Prince Al Farat in Unsanctioned Match

"This past Saturday in Fort Smith, AR, an incident involving former pro boxer Bobby Crabtree and TCW's Prince Al Farat occurred during one of the feature matches of our 'Summer Inferno' event," said Brian Thompson, senior member of TCW's ownership team. "Mr. Crabtree was allowed to enter the ring and eventually knocked out Mr. Farat. This event was not a part of our plans for the evening. Mr. Crabtree was an invited guest and was unauthorized to enter the ring. Our security staff members who allowed this incident to take place are being dealt with accordingly. Local police reacted to the incident in its aftermath and realizing it was not part of the evening's plans helped our security team escort Mr. Crabtree from the building.

"This certainly puts TCW in a unique position," Thompson added. "With our security team allowing Mr. Crabtree to enter our ring, this prevents any legitimate legal recourse. And our fans have now seen an incident that may not have a resolution. With this in mind, we have reached an agreement with Mr. Crabtree to participate as a wrestler in a tag team match opposite of Mr. Farat at our next event on July 14 in Fort Smith. This is an example, in my personal opinion; of an athlete who is a non-wrestler, in this case a former pro boxer, thinking his sport is more physical than ours and that anyone can be a wrestler. Fact and fiction may be blurred, but let me assure you that Mr. Farat has been informed to do whatever it takes to protect the credibility of this business when he is in this tag team match opposite of Mr. Crabtree. So let's see what happens and how the lines of fact and fiction will be blurred on July 14 at the Fort Smith Convention Center. I encourage fans to judge for themselves."

For more information on TCW, visit www.TCWWrestling.com