And In This Corner...
Step inside the world of professional wrestling, one interview and story at a time.
The world of professional wrestling will suck you in and keep you right there in the palm of its hand.
The athleticism, talent, and timing. Good vs. Bad. The storylines. The promos and mic skills. The belts. The chance to suspend your disbelief and fully respect the work taking place before you and behind the curtain. It is theatre at its finest. I can only speak from experience. Despite attending my share of independent shows and sold out arenas over the years, I have never stepped inside of the squared circle personally. However, my life-long appreciation, respect, and fandom for the sport dates back to the early 80’s where I consumed everything WWF/WWE and Don Owen’s Portland Northwest Wrestling on KPTV starring Billy Jack Haynes and “Playboy” Buddy Rose, before having my eyes opened widely to other regional promotions like WCW, NWA, AWA, which you could catch on TBS and weekday afternoon viewings with the advent of ESPN.
My first show?
That’s easy. 1986…junior high school…drove up from Corvallis to attend an un-televised house show at the old Portland Memorial Coliseum as part of a friends childhood birthday party. The core memories of the card are a bit hazy all these decades later, but I do recall being truly impressed by The Islanders (Haku - Tama) and their high-flying and hard hitting style. That whole 80’s and 90’s pro wrestling scene from small local to national giant promotions alike remains a fond moment in discovering the sport of professional wrestling. It’s also extremely generational and a billion dollar industry — for those fortunate enough to “reach for that brass ring” —with fans around the world and back again. Recently, I learned that my great-grandfather promoted, hosted, and officiated catch-style wrestling bouts in 1919 and 1920 in Northeast Nebraska, finally confirming that the art of professional wrestling has been in my blood well before I saw guys get color and bleed for the craft they create from ring to ring.
And it’s still going on now. When I am not contributing to Sports Illustrated-High School or authoring a new book, I am writing about professional wrestling.
That’s why I went with a photo I captured at Paul Roma’s wrestling school in Connecticut as the profile photo for this new writing venture, Ring To Ring on Substack. At 66-years old and still toned, not only does the former Horseman, Power and Glory, Young Stallions, and Pretty Wonderful tag team member, and all-around outstanding pro busily teach the next generation of pro wrestlers at Paradise Alley Pro Wrestling in East Haven, Connecticut, but as I recently witnessed (and pro wrestler, Troy Stevens, felt) “Pretty” Paul Roma can still power slam with the best of them.
“It’s not every day you get to meet a WWF/WWE and WCW superstar. And little did I know that there were two 30 minutes from my house. To get years of knowledge from both sides is an absolute blessing,” said independent pro wrestler, “All Go” Nellie Duke, told me in our Q&A with High School on Sports Illustrated.
“I owe so much to Paul and the other veterans at the school who have been there to help.”