CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – When Billy ‘”BJ” Pace, Jr. was a kid, he and his brother, William Pace, used to dream about being professional wrestlers.
They went by the Pace Boyz, and played wrestling games and dreamed about one day competing in a tag team match.
But Billy Pace Jr. never got to live out his dream.
He was murdered when he was 23-years-old.
Billy Pace Jr.’s body was found in a wooded area on Ross Lane on December 21, 2016. He’d been missing for three days. Following an autopsy, it was revealed he’d been shot twice in the head and his death was ruled a homicide.
Kristopher Michael Martin was found guilty of second-degree murder following a jury trial and sentenced to 20 years in prison on December 4, 2019. Jessica Lynn Summer Simo, is also charged with first-degree murder and is scheduled to stand trial on March 21, 2020, in Judge Jill Ayer’s court.
Each year, the Pace family hosts, “The Fight for Pace Pro Wrestling Show” to honor his memory, raise funds for his children, and bring attention to their fight to bring his killers to justice.
Centering it around what Billy loved, brings back fond memories for his brother. His brother trained and became a pro wrestler. He goes by ‘Tele Thorn’.
“It is an amazing feeling to honor him like this. He wanted to be a professional wrestler pretty bad,” William said. “When I started wrestling back in 2015 we had a lot of talks of him getting (training). The opportunity just never arose.”
“We were extra close as brothers. He was my right-hand man and it means more than the world to me to keep his memory alive with the sport he loved the most.”
The Fight for Pace Pro Wrestling Show will feature seven matches including at 10 man Battle Royal for the William Hensley Memorial Cup and a table, ladders, and chairs main event.
The event will take place on March 7, 2020, at the Clarksville National Guard Armory, 1801 Ft. Campbell Boulevard. Doors open at 6 p.m. The first bell will sound at 7:30 p.m.
Several famous wrestlers such as “The Natural” Chase Stevens, the “Headliner” Chris Michaels, pro wrestling and Memphis legend “Superstar” Bill Dundee will jump in the ring for matches.
The seven big matches will be:
- Honcho Hensley vs. Lt. Falk
- The 10 Man Battle Royal
- Kid Dynamite vs. Jonny Demento (hardcore match)
- The Headliner Chris Michaels vs. Tyler Thorn (#1 contenders match for the Billy Pace Memorial Heavyweight Championship)
- Andrew Thomas vs. Colton Cage vs Zakk Austin (Clarksville Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Championship)
- Chase Stevens & Thorn vs Bam Bam Bundy and Jake Law (Billy Pace Memorial Tag Team Championships)
- The Tables, Ladders, Chairs Match for the Billy Pace Memorial Championship: Tele Thorn with Bill Dundee vs Lucky P. Larson with Billy Pace
Tickets to The Fight for Pace Pro Wrestling Show will be sold at the door and cost $10.
Meet and Greet tickets are $15. The Meet and Greet includes meeting Chase Stevens, Bill Dundee and the headliner Chris Michaels. The Meet and Greet ticket also includes 10 percent off concessions, five free raffle tickets, and front row seats.
Proceeds will go to Billy Pace Jr.’s children, future shows, and a percentage will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project in honor of the National Guard.
“The community support means everything to us but most importantly it’s an opportunity for all of us to get together to celebrate BJ’s life,” said Jamie Pace, his mother.
