Source: Jake Stump of the Charleston Daily Mail

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A professional wrestling event scheduled for this weekend has taken on a more solemn purpose.

Total Nonstop Action wrestling’s larger-than-life superstars now are hitting the mat to raise money for coal miners, family members and relief workers affected by the Upper Big Branch mine disaster.

The wrestling event kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena in Huntington. Before the bell rings, fans can meet Kurt Angle, Pittsburgh’s Olympic gold medalist-turned-pro grappler, in the arena plaza starting at 5 p.m.

Angle will pose for pictures and sign autographs in exchange for a monetary donation that will go to the American Red Cross for the relief efforts. He will personally match the total donations received at the three live events.

In the ring, Angle will team up with TNA founder Jeff Jarrett to battle Beer Money in a tag team skirmish.

In a telephone interview Thursday, Jarrett said TNA wanted to aid in the relief efforts in any way possible.

“It’s just a very small way for us to help,” said Jarrett, a former world champion who created TNA in 2002. “In a strange way, we were already running shows in Corbin (Ky.), Pikeville (Ky.) and Huntington this weekend. This is definitely coal mining country. So it’s very natural to try to raise some funds and awareness.”

TNA held an event Thursday night in Corbin with a pre-show meet-and-greet with “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero, Angelina Love and Tara. The wrestling show will roll into Pikeville tonight, when fans can meet The Beautiful People. Donations from those events will also go to the Red Cross.

Jarrett, 42, known as ‘Double J’ when he wrestled for Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Entertainment empire, said he’s wrestled in Kentucky and southern West Virginia countless times and knows how coal mining touches communities.

“I’ve been around and mining is not really a job,” Jarrett said. “It’s a way of life.”

Chris Thomas, public relations manager for TNA, said the talent and staff held a meeting Monday after news of the mine disaster broke.

“It was a collective idea,” Thomas said. “We knew we needed to do something.

“We’re just trying to get the word out to get people to come meet their favorite wrestlers and make a donation to support the miners and their families.”

TNA, which can be seen 8 p.m. Mondays on Spike TV, is no stranger to community relief efforts.

Jarrett said the organization has a solid partnership with the Boys & Girls Club in Tennessee and had held benefits in the past for the Orlando area, which was rocked by hurricanes five years ago.

Attending a wrestling show can also serve as a relief in itself, Jarrett said.

“When TNA rolls into town, it’s really a great night,” he said. “It’s on a Saturday night and the kids don’t have to go to school Sunday morning, but you might get to church late.

“It’s very fan-friendly and fan-interactive.”

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Other scheduled matches include world champion A.J. Styles vs. The Pope; The Beautiful People vs. Angelina Love and Tara; and Brian Kendrick vs. Kazarian. Also making appearances will be Desmond Wolfe, The Motor City Machine Guns, Eric Young, Homicide and Eric Bischoff.

Tickets are on sale at www.ticketmaster.com, the Big Sandy Superstore Arena box office, FYE Music in Huntington Mall, Ashland Town Center, Charleston Town Centre, or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000.