ROCKINGHAM — The Marching Raiders are once again pairing up with a regional wrestling promotion to raise money for uniforms.
Wrestling With Purpose returns to Richmond Senior High School on Friday, Aug. 14 for “Battle for the Band,” featuring appearances by several in-ring performers who have worked for larger promotions.
According to Raider Band Fans, each uniform costs around $500 and they are trying to purchase 100 of them.
Former WWE wrestler Heath Slater is slated to be the special guest referee in a match between longtime Team Pitbull partners Tre G and Baron Bullard for the WWP Championship.
Slater previously appeared in the RSHS gym for a six-man tag match — with Rockingham’s Pony Johnson and Moore County’s Hangtyme against Team Pitbull — in late 2024 at an event to support the Diamond Raiders baseball team.
Heath Slater poses for the camera during "Deck the Jaws" in late 2024.
RO file photo
Johnson, himself, will be back in action to face “High Definition” Jonathan Russell for the American Spirit Championship.
Two other Richmond County natives will also face off in the squared circle as Tripp Cautious defends his Fighting Spirit title against the masked El Maximo.
Beer City Bruiser, who wrestled three years with Ring of Honor, is teaming up with Bootleggers Inc. to take on Caprice Coleman — who was trained by Matt and Jeff Hardy and has made appearances in the WWE, TNA and ROH — and the New Age Ballers in a six-man tag match.
The other two matches on the card — which is subject to change — are: Team Pitbull’s George South and Johnny Smooth against Unhinged Violence in a tag match; and Aaron CK, Victor Guerrero and Bret Locklear squaring off in a triple-threat match.
South has spent his adult life in the ring, debuting in 1980 and working for the National Wrestling Alliance, World Wrestling Federation (now WWE), World Championship Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Federation and Jim Cornette’s Smoky Mountain Wrestling, as well as various indy promotions.
George South speaks to the crowd during "A Raiders Roar" in April 2026.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
The gym doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with the bell ringing at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $15 for front row ringside seats, $10 for general admission and $5 for students with a student ID. Children 5 years old or younger get in for free.
This will be the second pro wrestling fundraiser for the band this year. In April, WWP’s “A Raider’s Roar” reportedly raised around $5,000 between sponsors, ticket sales, concessions and raffle tickets.
WWP is a faith-based and family friendly company that specializes in fundraisers and charity wrestling events, according to its Facebook page. Many of the events — and beneficiaries — have been in Robeson, Scotland and Richmond counties.
The Rock N Roll skating rink in Rockingham is also hosting a fundraiser on Monday, Aug. 17, with half of every admission — for spectators and skaters— going toward the band.
NOTE: This story has been updated to inlcude a link to a previous article. 4:52 p.m. 6-11-26.
