Barbecue competition SmokeSlam is announcing that Rescue Smokers from Sycamore, Ga., is this year's grand champion of the second annual three-day festival judged by Memphis Barbecue Network. There were two rounds of judging - a preliminary round and a final on-site round. The preliminary round at SmokeSlam includes both a blind sample entry and on-site presentations. SmokeSlam had 76 teams compete, seeing a 35% increase in team entries from last year.

Whole Hog, Ribs, and Pulled Pork category prizes were awarded across ten places per category, totaling $150,000 in prize money.  Rescue Smokers walked away with $65,000 just for the Grand Prize and Pulled Pork wins. 

This year's top three MBN Winners for Whole Hog include Fireman John's BBQ, Grind City Smokers and Swineantology. Top three MBN Winners for Ribs include Fireside Smokers, Rebel Roaster Review and Ole Booger Bear's BBQ. The top three MBN Winners for Pulled Pork include Rescue Smokers, Poker Porkers and Swine Life BBQ.

In addition to prize money, teams placing first through fifth received trophies forged down the road at The Metal Museum. Sixth through tenth place winners received a SmokeSlam medal also crafted at The Metal Museum.

The 2025 WFC Ancillary Champions included Duck, Bacon, Beef, Wings, Poultry and Seafood. Category prizes were awarded across ten places per category, totaling $40,000 in prize money. Sanctioned by the World Food Championships, each category winner also received a Golden Ticket to the World Food Championships.

The 2025 WFC Ancillary Champions included Smokin' On The River for the duck category, Sweet Cheeks BBQ for dry rub, I Only Smoke When I Drink for seafood, Hotty Totty BBQ Dream Team for bacon, BBQ Team for wings, Sicilian Smokers for poultry and Smoked N Spiced for beef.

Melissa Cookston's World Junior BBQ League returned with 42 kids who competed in four categories for a total purse of $25,000. Totally Bodacious BBQ was named grand champion and took home $12,500.

SmokeSlam and Mempho Presents also donated $5,000 to WJBL again this year to further promote leadership, teamwork and healthy competition through barbecue with youth. SmokeSlam also remains a committed partner to Project Green Fork, which collects and distributes surplus food at SmokeSlam to those who are food insecure in the community.

Source: SmokeSlam