For the past 35 years, it has been how Ricky Morton has made a living.

Welcoming fellow wrestlers inside his office — better known as the squared circle — and allowing scores of fans the opportunity to see him perform the craft he loves, the goal has remained the same no matter if performing in the nation’s larger arenas or gymnasiums holding no more than a few hundred people in smaller locales.

Give all a little taste of rock and roll.

Bursting through a curtain with longtime tag team partner Robert Gordon at his side and Queen’s “We Will Rock You” blaring in the background, local residents rose to their feet, many with cameras in hand, hoping to capture a moment they are likely to remember for quite a while.

The Rock ‘N’ Roll Express rolled through Gaffney Friday night, performing along with the Lynx Wrestling Alliance in an effort to raise some much-needed funds for the county Boys & Girls Club.

(Top photo) Ricky Morton wowed the crowd at the event, taking time to mingle with fans and exchange some high-fives. (Left) A member of one of the wrestler's entourage looks on as the action intensifies. (Ledger photos / JOE L. HUGHES II) (Ledger photos / JOE L. HUGHES II) “We may be a little bit older, but we still get that rush of adrenaline as we come out of the curtain to perform,” Morton said. “The fans have been so good to us over the years, and it’s our goal to satisfy them, giving them their dollar’s worth. We love our fans.”

Formed in the 1980s by Morton and Gordon during their stint with the National Wrestling Alliance’s (NWA) Jim Crockett Promotions, the group spent the rest of the decade as one of pro wrestling’s top draws, winning multiple NWA titles and performing with several other organizations, including the American Wrestling Alliance, World Championship Wrestling and Smoky Mountain Wrestling.

Ricky Morton interacts with his fans en route to the ring during the Rock 'N' Roll Express' stop in Gaffney on Friday night. During the 1980s Gaffney was one of the cradles of wrestling for Jim Crockett Promotions, with shows regularly held here. Morton said having the opportunity to return to a site holding such significance was special, knowing some in attendance were part of those crowds many years ago and now are allowing their children and grandchildren to get acquainted with the Rock ‘N’ Roll Express.

“No matter how you slice it, we will always be old-school,” Morton said. “A lot of the older folks in the crowd watched us years ago and are teaching their kids about us. That’s a special feeling; we paved the road for a lot of those here and in other wrestling organizations and as long as we can, the show will go on.”

While the Rock ‘N’ Roll Express was the main attraction, Gaffney residents also were able to see local product Eric “The Electric Man” Bostic defend his Lynx Wrestling Alliance title on home turf.

“While I serve the community with electric service, the goal also is to serve them sports entertainment inside the ring,” Bostic said.

“It was a good feeling to walk out there and see familiar faces, and know you are serving a purpose.”