ALLEGANY - Some may argue the authenticity of the sport, but there’s no denying that pro wrestling made one Allegany boy’s dreams come true.

Bradley Barton, 9, and his family went to the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena to watch World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstars on Sept. 6. It was the family’s second time traveling to Jamestown to watch WWE fights.

Bradley is a devoted WWE fan, his mom, Karen Barton, said.

“He’s a huge, huge fan of the WWE. He loves wrestling,” she said. “He tapes it all the time and watches it. He’s got tons of action figures.”

Little did the family know, but the third-grader at Allegany Elementary School would greatly improve his view of the wrestling match, all by answering a question.

WWE Diva Eve walked through the crowd looking for someone to ask a trivia question. She selected Bradley, and he was ready.

“I had to answer a WWE trivia question,” Bradley said. “What city was Wrestlemania 24 held in?”

Bradley quickly answered Atlanta, and will never forget what happened next. It’s not everyday that nine-year-olds get to step inside the ring.

As his prize, Bradley was the honorary manager for the wrestler R-Truth in a match against Shelton Benjamin. He got to sit ringside for the match and hold the U.S. Championship belt of Shelton Benjamin. He was also allowed to enter the ring.

“I thought (Bradley and Eve) were just going backstage,” Mrs. Barton said. “I didn’t even really know what was going on. He got to sit ringside and hold the belt.”

Holding the belt was neat Bradley said.

“I was excited I got to hold it,” he said. “It was really heavy. It was really cool.”

Seeing her son in the ring was a surprise Mrs. Barton said.

“When I saw Brad in the ring, I was shocked,” she said. “I honestly don’t even know who won the match.”

Bradley admits to being a little nervous inside the ring.

“My first thought was, ‘Wow,’” he said. “I was really nervous. I was really, really happy and excited.”

Bradley said the memorable night only strengthened his love for wrestling.

“That’s something I’ll never forget,” he said. “I will always be a wrestling fan.”

(Contact reporter Tyler Briggs at tbriggs@oleantimesherald.com)

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