Andrews – Town leaders will pull out the wrestling ring to celebrate the new year.
“We’re going to have another New Year’s Eve party, and it’s not going to have anything to do with animals whatsoever,” Mayor James Reid said. “If weather permits, we’re going to have outside professional wrestling that you will never forget.”
The four-hour event kicks off at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, at Andrews Recreation Park, 160 Park St. The wrestling portion of the event is scheduled to be headlined by Johnny Swinger, a professional wrestler signed to IMPACT Wrestling who is best known for his appearances with WCW, ECW and WWE.
More than 15 wrestlers are expected to compete in the show, including Crystal Fire, Tombstone, Fantasy and Frodo.
Prior to the wrestling show, patrons will enjoy a live band and a womanless beauty pageant, with special appearances by Reid, Mayor Rick Ramsey of Murphy, Mayor Harry Baughn of Hayesville, Andrews Alderman Jonathan Ellison and Tim Radford from WKRK.
“There will be a couple more crossdressers,” Reid said. “There’s always about eight or nine of us. We have a good time with it.”
Patrons can start arriving at 6:30 p.m. The event will conclude with a fireworks show at midnight to ring in the new year. The entire show is free for the public to attend.
“We received sponsorships to pay for this,” Reid said. “The town didn’t spend a nickel.”
Last year on Dec. 31, the Possum Drop was held for the first – and presumably last – time in Andrews after protests by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The event was held in Brasstown for 24 years before that but is not scheduled to take place this year.