When discussing our local wrestling scene, forgetting to mention Freddie Cornell’s name is nearly impossible. After all, Freddie is the promoter of Big Time Pro Wrestling, which has been entertaining the Jewel City and its surrounding areas for over 26 years.
Thats right, thanks to Freddie, fans and wrestlers alike have had a consistent place in Huntington to enjoy pro-wrestling for nearly three decades.
Upcoming is Big Time Wrestling’s return to Huntington on June 3rd, which is happening two months ahead of schedule.
“We weren’t due to come back into Huntington til mid August,” Freddie told us, “But then I said ‘Let’s just do it June 3rd, we haven’t been there in quite some time, a few months’. So I put a stacked card together.”
Promoters in wrestling are often viewed as greedy and selfish, only out to make money from wrestlers who struggle to make ends meet. Not Freddie Cornell, who goes out of his way to utilize Big Time Wrestling philanthropically.
“We’re happy to do fundraisers for the children Miracle Network, also the Anti Bullying Drugs Association. We do a lot of fundraisers…The Autism Slam. We do fundraisers with by shopping with the kids for Christmas. Last Christmas we helped supply children, I think it was over 5000 kids we helped. It’s all worth it.”
Freddie’s also not keen on taking shortcuts; he emphasizes the importance of value when it comes to price of admission.
“I always tell my guys, as a promoter before the show starts, we don’t care if it’s 50 people out there, 200, or 1000. You give the people their money’s worth. It doesn’t matter if the crowd is low or not. They still pay their hard earned money to come and see our show. So give them the show they came to see.”
Teamwork is vital to the Big Time Wrestling operation.
“My roster is a great roster. They always do it for me, no matter what. From the wrestlers, to the people that help set up, to the people to help pass out the flyers…We’re all a team, and and I thank them for their support, standing behind me and making as successful a show as possible.”
When we asked Freddie what to expect from Big Time Wrestling’s show on June 3rd, this is what he had to say:
“It’s June 3rd at 7pm, doors open for Meet and Greet at 6pm. All tickets are only $10…Everybody that’s supported Big Time, we thank them very much. We’re just going to keep on doing our shows and being successful. June 3rd we are very excited to come back to our home base; there’s nothing like performing in Huntington. These are our roots. These are our roots and we can’t wait to come back.”
HNN is proud to bestow Freddie Cornell with our first ever Huntingtonian of the Month award, for his selflessness and charitable endeavors as promoter of Big Time Wrestling.
Thanks to Freddie for talking with us.
Big Time Wrestling returns to Huntington at the Good Samaritan Church Recreational Center, June 3rd, 2023.
For more information about upcoming events, visit https://www.facebook.com/BIGTIMEPROWRESTLING
