EASLEY – In 1985, a new young tag team burst upon the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling scene, with quick moves, team work and a lot of rock-n-roll music.

More than 20 years later, local fans still get excited when they hear the name, “Rock-n-Roll Express.”

That tag team, featuring Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson, is scheduled to appear on the wrestling card Saturday night in Easley High School’s McKelvey Gymnasium.

Morton was flattered to hear he has plenty of fans in the Easley area, but wasn’t really surprised.

“You’ve got to remember that we wrestled every Monday night in Greenville for several years,” Morton said. “The fans were great then. And I still appreciate them all now.”

Morton said he and his tag team partner have enjoyed a special relationship with the fans over the years.

“Robert and I always put the fans first,” Morton said. “We’re always early for every match. Usually you’ll find us outside talking to the fans before a night’s card.”

Morton began wrestling in 1978, but his career didn’t really take off until he joined with Gibson to form the Rock-n-Roll Express in the Mid-Southern area in 1983. The duo debuted in promoter Jim Crocket’s Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling area in 1985. They won the National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Championship Belts four times, while feuding with teams such as the Koloffs, the Andersons, the Midnight Express and “Ravishing” Rick Rude and Manny Fernandez.

While much of wrestling’s limelight is now with the World Wrestling Entertainment, Morton enjoys traveling the independent circuit, working a tougher schedule than most WWE stars.

“I generally wrestle three or four nights a week,” Morton said. “I’m usually off on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, unless I help train somebody or something like that. Then I wrestle Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. That’s one reason why I live in Bristol, Tenn., so I’ll be in the center of things. It’s close enough for me to drive to cards in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia and a few other places.”

That kind of active schedule works on a body, Morton said.

“It’s a hard business,” he said. “But I love it. It’s the way I make a living. And I don’t go out and give folks a two-minute match. I want to give people what they are paying to see.”

Also making an appearance Saturday night in Easley is legendary star Ric Flair.

Morton had a classic feud with Flair in the 1980s and has worked with him often.

“He’s retired now, and that’s something we’ll all have to do someday,” Morton said. “I’m not ready to do that just yet. I’ll just keep going as long as my body will go. I still depend on wrestling to make my living. Hey, I’m not going to try to fool anybody – I’m 52 years old now. And it hurts a lot more these days. But as long as I can keep going, I want to. I like to get in there with the young guys and let them see if they can keep up with this old man.”

Also included on the card are Buff “The Stuff” Bagwell and the Midnight Express, as well as many other Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling stars.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Bell time is 8 p.m.

Tickets are available at Upstate Carolina Mortgage, Easley Family Auto and at the Easley High School office. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Front row ringside tickets are available as part of the super ticket package, which includes a personally autographed picture of Flair. Other ringside tickets are available for $20. General admission tickets are $12.

The event is a fundraiser for the Easley High School Athletic Booster Club and City of Easley Police Department charities.