MARIETTA — A retired professional wrestler, former baseball star and local pastor are all asking for the community’s support in their efforts to raise money for homeless veterans at an event later this month.

Rocky King, who wrestled with the WCW and NWA for about 20 years, has invited Braves pitcher John Rocker and Roswell Street Baptist Church’s senior pastor Dr. Ernest Easley to participate in the “Wrestling Extravaganza” Jan. 19 at the Cobb County Civic Center to help raise funds and collect “gently-worn” coats for homeless veterans.

King, who was once homeless himself but now lives in Riverdale south of Atlanta, has taken food to the homeless for years.

“The homeless veteran thing really got to me because these guys fought for our country, they come home and can’t get any help,” he said.

The benefit is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. and will feature performances from local singers and dancers and six wrestling matches leading up to King’s match.

King said he chose Rocker to be his partner in the featured wrestling match against Curtis Hughes and Super Star II.

“I met (Rocker) through celebrity golf tournaments, and he likes to come out and support me and whatever project I’m working on whenever he can,” King said. “He found out what I was doing and said, ‘Anytime you could use me, I’ll come out and help you.’”

Easley has gotten to know both King and Rocker as members of his Marietta church, and he will be serving as their ringside manager during the final event of the night.

As a board member of People Accepting Challenges Everyday Inc., which is working with King on the fundraiser, Easley said he was happy to participate.

“We’re teaming up with PACE to expand what they had traditionally done because we have so many homeless veterans living in Atlanta,” he said. “We are trying to raise money through this event, and there will be more events like this in order to provide housing and jobs for homeless veterans.

“We are kind of linking arms to see if we can help these men and ladies who have served our country and for whatever reason that these former soldiers are homeless. It’s a pro-family event.”

Participants can purchase tickets, which are $10 for general admission and $20 for ringside seats, at www.ticketalternative.com or go to rockykingwrestling.com.