Eyes wide, the children gasped as the large, often shirtless, men slammed each other into the sides of the wrestling ring in the Wareham Middle School’s gymnasium Saturday night.

The choreographed violence, courtesy of wrestling performance company Top Rope Promotions, was a fundraiser for the Wareham Boys and Girls Traveling Basketball Team.

Seventh-grade girls team manager Joe Hathaway said it was the second year the company put on the show. He said the night went well, though he had been a bit nervous about the amount of money raised earlier in the evening, because he was worried there would not be enough.

Hathaway said he anticipated about $1,500 would go to the team, slightly less than last year’s intake.

“Last time I did the fundraiser, it paid for the whole season for the girls to play traveling basketball in Kingston,” Hathaway said. “It was $1,800 to play in the league.”

But for Hathaway, the night was not just about the money raised.

“After the first time we did [the fundraiser], several of my girls go to see [the wrestlers] with me.” Hathaway said, referring to the company’s regular shows. “I’ve got four that come to wrestling now with me.”

The children who attended all had their personal favorites among the 17 wrestlers at the benefit. Xavier Hendricks, 10, said he liked Anthony White, stage name Tony Atlas, the best.

“I like that guy with the cape,” Hendricks said, referring to White’s costume. “He looks like a beast.”

But the men who are akin to untouchable legends to the children are local guys to some of the adults who attended the event. Event co-organizer and Sinners and Saints tattoo and piercing parlor owner Roger Chouinard said he has known White for several years.

“You just call him up, and he’ll come down, and he’ll do benefits and stuff,” Chouinard said. “You’ve got to pay his expenses ... he’s got to try to make some money for his bills, too. But most of the guys in wrestling -- you give ‘em a call, and they’ll come out.”

Chouinard said he thinks it is important for the community to come out to an event like this, because it gives the area’s children something to do.

“When I was a kid, there was so much going on in this town,” Chouinard said. “A circus even came to this town one time. Now, nothing comes to this town.”