Major MLB Baseball Star & TNA Reach Deal, More

The following was issued by TNAwrestling.com:

CURTIS GRANDERSON SIGNS FOR DUAL ROLE WITH TNA WRESTLING
Detroit Tigers outfielder set to appear at Slammiversary 7 on June 21 at The Palace of Auburn Hills

Curtis Granderson has agreed to a dual, high-profile role at "Slammiversary 7," scheduled for June 21 at The Palace of Auburn Hills, it was announced today.

Granderson, the All-Star outfielder for the Detroit Tigers and a life-long pro wrestling fan, will be an integral part of Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling's 7th anniversary show, airing live on pay-per-view and featuring such stars as Kurt Angle, Kevin Nash, Sting, AJ Styles, Scott Steiner, Jeff Jarrett and reigning TNA World Heavyweight Champion Mick Foley.

Granderson will serve as the Keeper of the Title for the inaugural X-Division King of the Mountain match, which will showcase the high-flying, death-defying X-Division stars.

Granderson also will be a color commentator for that match, alongside Mike Tenay and Don West.

"I am excited to be a part of Slammiversary 7 and TNA Wrestling," Granderson said. "It is a strong organization that provides amazing entertainment to sports fans at a value not provided by most sports entities. The opportunity to work with this historic event was not one I could pass up.

"I am an avid fan of pro wrestling and TNA Wrestling in particular. I have attended numerous TNA shows in Orlando with family, friends and teammates, and it is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. I expect only the biggest and best to come out for Slammiversary 7 at The Palace of Auburn Hills."

Slammiversary 7 features seven matches, including a King of the Mountain Match for the TNA World Championship.

"I take the role of Keeper of the Title seriously," Granderson said. "The X Division's best will by vying for this belt in a King of the Mountain Match, but it won't just be handed to them. I expect all of the competitors to fight a tough match, and I will relinquish the belt once they meet my standards of a champion."

"Slammiversary 7" will mark the 7th anniversary of TNA Wrestling and TNA's return to the Detroit area for the first time since "Bound For Glory 2006," which was the first time TNA held a pay-per-view event outside of the "iMPACT! Zone" in Orlando, Fla.

"We're thrilled and honored that Curtis has agreed to be a part of Slammiversary 7," said TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter. "Curtis isn't just a great baseball player, but a wonderful person, a great humanitarian. His charity, The Grand Kids Foundation, was established in 2008 as an educational-based organization and it does wonders to help needy kids.

"TNA Wrestling is honored to support The Grand Kids Foundation and will be making a sizeable donation to Curtis' foundation at Slammiversary 7, and we strongly encourage all TNA fans to make a donation to The Grand Kids Foundation."

Donations to the Grand Kids Foundation will go towards purchasing school supplies for needy families/kids, books and supplies for schools which do not get the funding they always need, establishing baseball programs as well as providing equipment and facilities in some of Michigan's inner-cities and eventually a scholarship program for graduating high school seniors.

Both of Curtis' parents served as educators in the Chicago area while he was a child. Curtis is one of only a handful of MLB players with a college degree. Curtis graduated from the University of Illinois-Chicago in 2002 with degrees in Business Marketing and Business Management.