Palmetto Championship Wrestling finds its place in Kershaw County
When the lights dim inside Camden’s Old Armory Gymnasium and the crowd begins chanting “P-C-W,” promoter Shane Dorr still feels goosebumps. “Here we go,” he says to himself every time. For Dorr, that roar isn’t just about body slams and championship belts—it’s the sound of something local coming back to life.
A lifelong wrestling fan, Dorr first imagined running his own promotion after attending an independent show with friends in 2014. “We thought, we can do this ourselves,” he recalled. Within a year, Palmetto Championship Wrestling (PCW) debuted at Warrior Warehouse in Columbia before an audience of about 30 devoted fans. Over the next several years, PCW partnered with recreation departments and community venues across the Midlands.
In 2020, Dorr sold the company, but two years later, he and friends Johnathan Winburn and Elliot Poston bought it back with a clear mission. “Our goal was to bring PCW’s total operations home to Kershaw County,” Dorr said.
That homecoming began in April 2023, when PCW partnered with Shane Duncan and Jeremy Murphy at the Kershaw County Recreation Department to stage monthly events at the Old Armory. The partnership runs through 2026, securing a steady calendar of matches on the fourth Saturday of each month.
Since returning, crowds have grown to more than 300 fans per show, roughly three-quarters of them local residents. Families fill the bleachers, kids wave handmade signs, and many fans reserve the same group of seats month after month. “We live, work, and play here,” Dorr said. “It means a lot that our community has trusted and supported us.”
Dorr describes PCW as “entertainment with heart” a mix of athleticism, storytelling, and family fun. “Our shows are like a live-action movie,” he said. “You’ll laugh, you’ll boo, you might even tear up.” He focuses on production values and storylines that keep audiences emotionally invested.
One recent highlight: an eight-year-old girl who spent her birthday at a PCW event. “She was on her feet the entire show,” Dorr said. “Her mom told us afterward she wouldn’t stop talking about it.” For Dorr, moments like that prove PCW is more than just a wrestling company—it’s shared joy in real time.
The wrestlers echo that feeling. Ethan Case, a PCW mainstay and head trainer of the Palmetto Wresting Academy, said the Kershaw County crowd stands apart.
“After 21 years as a performer, you know special energy, lightning in a bottle even, and that’s what we have created here. It’s truly special, and if you haven’t experienced it, you’re missing out!” he said.
Current PCW Mid-Carolina Champion Joiya Blake, a graduate of the Palmetto Wrestling Academy, said she sees her role as bigger than the matches themselves.
“I’m proud to be a woman standing tall in a sport that’s been dominated by men for so long. Every time I step into that ring, I’m not just fighting an opponent. I’m fighting for every little girl in the crowd who believes she can be strong, fearless, and unstoppable. I love being that example for them, showing that no matter how tough things get, you never back down. I’ve made it my mission to stand up to bullies—inside and outside the ring—and prove that real strength comes from respect, resilience, and staying true to who you are,” Blake said.
Behind the spectacle, PCW’s growth depends on strong community ties. Local sponsors such as Jeff Tucker, owner of Northeast Well, and Dhawal Patel, owner of the UPS Store in Camden, help sustain each event. “We couldn’t do it without them,” Dorr said. “We make sure our sponsors benefit too. It’s a win-win.”
Each show follows a precise routine. Dorr’s day starts early with phone calls, errands, and setup. By late afternoon, the ring crew, sound team, and performers have transformed the Old Armory into a small-town arena. At 7 p.m., the lights go down, the crowd roars, and for two hours the community shares one story, told in body language, cheers, and applause.
For Dorr, that’s the real payoff. “We’re so grateful for the warm reception since we came to Kershaw County exclusively,” he said. “It’s been truly rewarding to create wholesome, family fun away from the stresses of the world.”
And as the final bell rings and fans stream out into the night, one thing is clear: in Kershaw County, the show isn’t just back. It’s home.
2 Responses
PCW puts on one of the most amazing productions month after month that my family and I enjoy every month! There is NOTHING like it. I encourage EVERYONE to experience it.