Worcester’s own Johnny Pierce muscles into the ring at Leominster High School this weekend, bringing his Cold Hard Truth wrestling persona to “Wrestling for Wishes,” a high-energy event benefiting Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Pierce, a standout pro wrestler since his 2020 debut, is known for his signature characters, the “Cold Hard Truth” heel and “The Throwback Truth” babyface. Training since 2017 at New England Pro Wrestling Academy, he has earned accolades such as the 2023 NCW Breakout Star of the Year and the inaugural SNW World Openweight Champion title.
Wrestling for Wishes, happening Sunday, Oct. 27, at 4 p.m. is billed as a family-friendly event, with Pierce facing off against regional stars such as Dijak and fan favorites including Shockwave the Robot and Mikey Cheese in a seven-match lineup. Not only will the wrestlers perform, but several Make-A-Wish recipients and their families join in special moments throughout the evening, including meet-and-greets and honorary management roles for matches.
“My character is a big bad bully who has trust issues with everyone,” Pierce told the Worcester Guardian. “He is on a search for truth and can’t seem to find it anywhere but inside himself.”
Pierce said he’s particularly pumped for the upcoming bout because he doesn’t get to partake in many matches so close to home.
“It’s a rarity,” he said. “The last time was last November in Leominster but I am hoping that I will continue to gain notoriety and further my career in hopes to bring more matches closer to Worcester. I wanted to be involved with this event when World Of Hurt Wrestling made the announcement because I have really enjoyed working with them at all of their events. To have it be for such a good cause is an added bonus.”
Eighteen-year-old Victoria Morin of Walpole, a past wish recipient, performs the national anthem to kick off the festivities.
Event organizer Dave DeJohn, director of operations at Hannaford Supermarkets, drew on his passion for wrestling and his connection to Make-A-Wish through his work to plan the event.
“The partnership between wrestling and Make-A-Wish is a great fit,” DeJohn shared in a press release, noting how meaningful these events can be for wish families. “Seeing the impact on children and families inspired us to put together a memorable night that blends excitement with a great cause.”
“It’s wonderful to see how communities come together creatively to support wish kids,” added Make-a-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island CEO Sean Holleran said in a statement. “This event is a testament to the incredible impact community support has.”
Tickets, priced at $20, include general admission to the show, with options for meet-and-greets and photo ops. The also features more than 35 raffle prizes, including sports tickets and toys, with all proceeds going toward granting life-changing wishes for children facing critical illnesses.
Charlene Arsenault can be reached at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org
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