"The Best Run I've Ever Had" - Aries prepares for Shelley at Warrior 6
Austin Aries has virtually seen it all and done it all. As one of the most seasoned members of the Warrior Wrestling roster, Aries knows the spotlight is always on him to perform in front of the raucous Warrior Wrestling fans.
Part of what has helped Aries become a mainstay in the world of professional wrestling is his lifestyle outside the ring. A noted vegan, Aries has published his own book Food Fight, which discusses his process of going from someone who grew up in the lands of beer brats and cheese, to one of the most disciplined competitors in the squared circle. It’s been a journey that’s faced several turns, but Aries feels like his dietary choices and work schedule have finally synched up.
“At this point, I don’t really have to plan,” Aries told Warrior Wrestling about his eating plans while working for multiple promotions. “You know when I roll into a town, I’m not going to a Wendy’s, despite their clever social media cat. I’m not going to a steakhouse or Korean BBQ. I’ll find a Whole Foods, I’ll find a vegan café, I’ll stock up on food.”
It’s been quite a lifestyle change for Aries throughout his career, but he believes the knowledge of being on both sides of the argument gives him valuable insight for him to share with those willing to listen.
“I haven’t been that far removed from knowing what it’s like on the other side as I like to say. So, I know what it’s like when you haven’t been educated when nobody has told you what’s important or when you don’t have all the tools or the pieces to the puzzle, it can seem a little daunting. Once you unlock it and have the information and all the tools, it’s not really a chore.”
With a healthy lifestyle fueling his extended career, there have been changes within his profession that have also contributed to Aries continuing to lace up his boots. Throughout his lengthy professional career, Aries has worked full time with numerous promotions such as TNA Wrestling, WWE, Impact Wrestling and others. After spending so much time being a cog in the wheel of the major promotions, Aries is now effectively his own boss.
“I definitely think post-WWE, from a creative standpoint and overall enjoyment standpoint, this is probably the best run I’ve ever had. And you know even financially too. It's probably the best financial run that I’ve had when you take in the money made for the dates I’m working. I’ve been really grateful.”
Aries’ run of opportunities might come as a shock to some in the industry. There was a belief that after Aries left the WWE and had a high-profile exit from Impact Wrestling, his preceding reputation would be too much for promoters to look past. Aries is mature enough to know that some of the reputations he’s developed has been earned but there’s one critique that he wants to make sure everyone knows.
“Let me make something clear, there’s this perception that I quit places. I’ve never quit from anywhere I’ve worked. It’s kind of funny because there’s this idea that Austin Aries takes his ball and goes home. It’s literally never happened once in my career. You know I’ve not renewed contracts. I’ve been terminated. But I’ve never actually quit.”
Aries has found himself in a few precarious situations with his career, most recently with him leaving WWE and Impact Wrestling. Luckily for the professional wrestling veteran, the regional wrestling scene has perhaps never been better. It’s certainly the best it’s been since the years following the death of the territories.
“Coming out of the WWE situation can be a difficult transition. You go through your 90 days. You’re trying to figure out this landscape of wrestling and how you fit in. I’ve been very fortunate to work with a couple of promotions that have been excited to have me come in and work with them on what they’re doing. They’ve given me some creative freedoms to let me be artistic and creative. I’ve picked places that I really want to work with, not do one-offs to see how many t-shirts I can sell. I tell them I want to be here full time to invest in what they’re doing, whether that’s every three months or something in Australia a couple of times a year. It’s been fun for me because you get to sink your teeth into something.”
One thing Aries has sunk his teeth into is training with former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir. The MMA fighter has recently started to dabble in the world of professional wrestling and considering both find themselves in Vegas frequently, the two linked up through a mutual friend in Mir’s podcast partner, Richard Hunter.
“We’ve been working out, hitting the weights,” Aries said. “We’re both at similar points in our careers. You know we’ve been talking about all sorts of ideas. He’s a good athlete, big guy, definitely a tough guy.”
Aries has posted a few images of the two training together with some interesting captions. The two are even running a joint seminar for both professional wrestlers and MMA fighters the weekend of Warrior Wrestling 6. As Mir brings his legitimate fighting skills to the world of wrestling, Aries used that as a talking point when discussing Mir’s transition to the business of professional wrestling.
“It’s very interesting to see in this day of wrestling, maybe I’m just the old guy on the block, but there’s this thing called parody wrestling, as I like to call it. We kind of wink at everyone and we know it’s all a big joke. I just wonder where people like me fit in. You know someone who believes wrestling is something different. I can’t imagine Frank [Mir] flipping on anyone’s dick. I’d be very curious to see what happens if those situations arise. You know for the guys who go out there and just want to make it a big joke, it’s like as long as you have someone to be the Washington Generals, you can always be Meadowlark Lemon.”
Despite these changes in the game, Aries is excited for where professional wrestling is going. WWE has and likely always will be the top dog, but that doesn’t mean there’s no room for other players. Impact Wrestling has carved out a nice niche as a “super indie” promotion, featuring some of the top talents in the world while allowing the athletes to work for additional promotions outside of TV tapings. Ring of Honor continues to be among one of the top promotions for independent wrestlers to work for and New Japan is still among the top destinations for wrestlers in the international scene.
“I feel like right now the landscape of wrestling is really cool,” Aries said. “Everyone is waiting to see what is going to happen with the AEW thing. It’s really put some excitement into the business because it looks like they could possibly be another major player. You see everyone jockeying for positions in WWE, you know they’re going to step their game up. Ring of Honor is out there, MLW is trying to produce something different, you got New Japan and even companies like Warrior Wrestling with what they’re doing. They [Warrior Wrestling] put out a high-quality product with great production values, pay guys well to come out and have a good match and entertain the crowd. When you’re 20 years in, you realize you still have more to do and now you get to drive the ship a little bit.”
Part of driving the ship for Aries has been branching out into other ventures beyond wrestling. This includes some recent appearances doing stand-up comedy on Freemont Street in Las Vegas. For Aries, the transition to stand-up comedian has been somewhat natural and at times, a necessity.
“I can always just go out and say something controversial to make someone mad,” Aries said of his wrestling career. “I have like a catalog of words that if you use them just right, people freak out, but you can stay out of trouble. I’m dipping my toes into the comedy scene. I realized as a wrestler, I’m supposed to stay in my lane and watch what I say. If I cross a certain line or say certain things, people freak out. But if I were a stand-up comedian, I’d just be funny. It’s nice because it’s like cutting a wrestling promo but then nobody kicks me in the face afterward.”
Aries won’t have that luxury on Sept. 1 when he faces another talented veteran in Alex Shelley. Partnered with Chris Sabin, Shelley became one half of The Motor City Machine Guns in Impact Wrestling. He’s also competed in Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling. Shelley has proven to be a terrific tag team star, capturing the tag team titles in TNA, Ring of Honor and New Japan.
After initially retiring in 2018, Shelley returned to the squared circle earlier this year, making an immediate impact in Ring of Honor. Taking a break from his Ring of Honor schedule, Shelley will look to please the raucous Warrior Wrestling crowd by kicking Aries in the face as much as possible.
Catch Austin Aries and many other stars at Warrior Wrestling 6. The main event features Brian Cage defending his Warrior Wrestling strap against Michael Elgin. Warrior Wrestling’s other champion will be in action as well when the ultra-popular Lucha Brothers face off against Warrior Wrestling women’s champ Tessa Blanchard and Daga. Also featured on the card is a Hardcore Open Challenge bout with Frank the Clown and WWE legend, Mick Foley.
Part of what has helped Aries become a mainstay in the world of professional wrestling is his lifestyle outside the ring. A noted vegan, Aries has published his own book Food Fight, which discusses his process of going from someone who grew up in the lands of beer brats and cheese, to one of the most disciplined competitors in the squared circle. It’s been a journey that’s faced several turns, but Aries feels like his dietary choices and work schedule have finally synched up.
“At this point, I don’t really have to plan,” Aries told Warrior Wrestling about his eating plans while working for multiple promotions. “You know when I roll into a town, I’m not going to a Wendy’s, despite their clever social media cat. I’m not going to a steakhouse or Korean BBQ. I’ll find a Whole Foods, I’ll find a vegan café, I’ll stock up on food.”
It’s been quite a lifestyle change for Aries throughout his career, but he believes the knowledge of being on both sides of the argument gives him valuable insight for him to share with those willing to listen.
“I haven’t been that far removed from knowing what it’s like on the other side as I like to say. So, I know what it’s like when you haven’t been educated when nobody has told you what’s important or when you don’t have all the tools or the pieces to the puzzle, it can seem a little daunting. Once you unlock it and have the information and all the tools, it’s not really a chore.”
With a healthy lifestyle fueling his extended career, there have been changes within his profession that have also contributed to Aries continuing to lace up his boots. Throughout his lengthy professional career, Aries has worked full time with numerous promotions such as TNA Wrestling, WWE, Impact Wrestling and others. After spending so much time being a cog in the wheel of the major promotions, Aries is now effectively his own boss.
“I definitely think post-WWE, from a creative standpoint and overall enjoyment standpoint, this is probably the best run I’ve ever had. And you know even financially too. It's probably the best financial run that I’ve had when you take in the money made for the dates I’m working. I’ve been really grateful.”
Aries’ run of opportunities might come as a shock to some in the industry. There was a belief that after Aries left the WWE and had a high-profile exit from Impact Wrestling, his preceding reputation would be too much for promoters to look past. Aries is mature enough to know that some of the reputations he’s developed has been earned but there’s one critique that he wants to make sure everyone knows.
“Let me make something clear, there’s this perception that I quit places. I’ve never quit from anywhere I’ve worked. It’s kind of funny because there’s this idea that Austin Aries takes his ball and goes home. It’s literally never happened once in my career. You know I’ve not renewed contracts. I’ve been terminated. But I’ve never actually quit.”
Aries has found himself in a few precarious situations with his career, most recently with him leaving WWE and Impact Wrestling. Luckily for the professional wrestling veteran, the regional wrestling scene has perhaps never been better. It’s certainly the best it’s been since the years following the death of the territories.
“Coming out of the WWE situation can be a difficult transition. You go through your 90 days. You’re trying to figure out this landscape of wrestling and how you fit in. I’ve been very fortunate to work with a couple of promotions that have been excited to have me come in and work with them on what they’re doing. They’ve given me some creative freedoms to let me be artistic and creative. I’ve picked places that I really want to work with, not do one-offs to see how many t-shirts I can sell. I tell them I want to be here full time to invest in what they’re doing, whether that’s every three months or something in Australia a couple of times a year. It’s been fun for me because you get to sink your teeth into something.”
One thing Aries has sunk his teeth into is training with former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir. The MMA fighter has recently started to dabble in the world of professional wrestling and considering both find themselves in Vegas frequently, the two linked up through a mutual friend in Mir’s podcast partner, Richard Hunter.
“We’ve been working out, hitting the weights,” Aries said. “We’re both at similar points in our careers. You know we’ve been talking about all sorts of ideas. He’s a good athlete, big guy, definitely a tough guy.”
Aries has posted a few images of the two training together with some interesting captions. The two are even running a joint seminar for both professional wrestlers and MMA fighters the weekend of Warrior Wrestling 6. As Mir brings his legitimate fighting skills to the world of wrestling, Aries used that as a talking point when discussing Mir’s transition to the business of professional wrestling.
“It’s very interesting to see in this day of wrestling, maybe I’m just the old guy on the block, but there’s this thing called parody wrestling, as I like to call it. We kind of wink at everyone and we know it’s all a big joke. I just wonder where people like me fit in. You know someone who believes wrestling is something different. I can’t imagine Frank [Mir] flipping on anyone’s dick. I’d be very curious to see what happens if those situations arise. You know for the guys who go out there and just want to make it a big joke, it’s like as long as you have someone to be the Washington Generals, you can always be Meadowlark Lemon.”
Despite these changes in the game, Aries is excited for where professional wrestling is going. WWE has and likely always will be the top dog, but that doesn’t mean there’s no room for other players. Impact Wrestling has carved out a nice niche as a “super indie” promotion, featuring some of the top talents in the world while allowing the athletes to work for additional promotions outside of TV tapings. Ring of Honor continues to be among one of the top promotions for independent wrestlers to work for and New Japan is still among the top destinations for wrestlers in the international scene.
“I feel like right now the landscape of wrestling is really cool,” Aries said. “Everyone is waiting to see what is going to happen with the AEW thing. It’s really put some excitement into the business because it looks like they could possibly be another major player. You see everyone jockeying for positions in WWE, you know they’re going to step their game up. Ring of Honor is out there, MLW is trying to produce something different, you got New Japan and even companies like Warrior Wrestling with what they’re doing. They [Warrior Wrestling] put out a high-quality product with great production values, pay guys well to come out and have a good match and entertain the crowd. When you’re 20 years in, you realize you still have more to do and now you get to drive the ship a little bit.”
Part of driving the ship for Aries has been branching out into other ventures beyond wrestling. This includes some recent appearances doing stand-up comedy on Freemont Street in Las Vegas. For Aries, the transition to stand-up comedian has been somewhat natural and at times, a necessity.
“I can always just go out and say something controversial to make someone mad,” Aries said of his wrestling career. “I have like a catalog of words that if you use them just right, people freak out, but you can stay out of trouble. I’m dipping my toes into the comedy scene. I realized as a wrestler, I’m supposed to stay in my lane and watch what I say. If I cross a certain line or say certain things, people freak out. But if I were a stand-up comedian, I’d just be funny. It’s nice because it’s like cutting a wrestling promo but then nobody kicks me in the face afterward.”
Aries won’t have that luxury on Sept. 1 when he faces another talented veteran in Alex Shelley. Partnered with Chris Sabin, Shelley became one half of The Motor City Machine Guns in Impact Wrestling. He’s also competed in Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling. Shelley has proven to be a terrific tag team star, capturing the tag team titles in TNA, Ring of Honor and New Japan.
After initially retiring in 2018, Shelley returned to the squared circle earlier this year, making an immediate impact in Ring of Honor. Taking a break from his Ring of Honor schedule, Shelley will look to please the raucous Warrior Wrestling crowd by kicking Aries in the face as much as possible.
Catch Austin Aries and many other stars at Warrior Wrestling 6. The main event features Brian Cage defending his Warrior Wrestling strap against Michael Elgin. Warrior Wrestling’s other champion will be in action as well when the ultra-popular Lucha Brothers face off against Warrior Wrestling women’s champ Tessa Blanchard and Daga. Also featured on the card is a Hardcore Open Challenge bout with Frank the Clown and WWE legend, Mick Foley.
Alex Zayne - Turning Some Heads
Sometimes the beauty of innovation is often the simplistic nature of it. For Warrior Wrestling 6 wrestler Alex Zayne, innovation is both simple and complex.
For many wrestling fans, Alex Zayne was a relative unknown prior to this summer. It’s hard to blame them for not knowing who the former Kentucky backyard wrestling star is. Despite seemingly becoming an overnight sensation, Zayne’s career began well before that.
“I had backyarded for a while back when I was 11,” Zayne said. “There was a thing called The BYWLink which was a forum where people posted their clips and highlights. Eventually everyone would get together and put on what we would call Supershows.”
For a lot of professional wrestlers, the career trajectory might start wrestling for a local gym or promotion and then eventually finding a way to latch on with a much larger indie promotion. From there, wrestlers could audition for the chance to eventually work their way into the WWE.
However, Zayne’s career, much like his wrestling style, is anything but conventional. Zayne competed in backyard events and after a stint with local promotions, headed to the backyard once again. Whereas other wrestlers were doing their best to get noticed by executives across the world, Zayne put an emphasis on something different.
“It was more fun and allowed for more creativity,” Zayne said of leaving the indie scene for backyard wrestling. “At the time I was a very, very light weight. It was before the Taco Bell gains. It was restricted what you could do as a small guy in the southern indie scene. Being a small guy it’s like ‘Oh we want to squash you.’ A lot of people just wanted to get themselves over because they know you could make them look good. I’m all for making someone look good if I don’t come out of it looking like a jabroni at the same time.”
There have been quite a few changes from Zayne’s pro wrestling start in the early 2000s compared to today’s climate. The Internet has allowed for wrestling fans to experience more wrestling than ever before. Part of that is understanding that the backyard wrestling culture goes beyond simply crash and smash.
“When I first started people would tell me, ‘Don’t ever say you did backyard wrestling,’” Zayne said. I think a little of it was due to my size too but now with my popularity and the popularity of other people coming from that background rising, it helps establish that brand of wrestling. People are starting to realize that there are people that didn’t just do all the flippy stuff but also cared about the craft of wrestling too.”
No way was this evident than Zayne’s match against Tony Deppen at Game Changer Wrestling (GCW)‘s Backyard Wrestling PPV in July. While fans were busy celebrating the Fourth of July weekend with fireworks, food and family, Zayne was busy setting off his own fireworks across social media.
Competing in front of a select group of fans, Zayne launched himself over the top ropes, doing a 630 senton splash onto Deppen, sending his foe crashing through a door. It was an incredible moment that Zayne suffered seemingly no ill-effects from. Part of that is because it’s something Zayne has done countless times.
Sort of.
“In the yard a lot we used to wrestle a lot on these things called ring bases,” Zayne explained. “They were basically random things you found along the side of the road and built into a ring square with no posts or ropes. A lot of it was made out mattresses, tires, pallets and whatever you could get to make a 16-foot square. I had done 630s running on the bases, so I knew I could complete it if I could just get over the ropes. I had done some stuff like planchas and front flips over the ropes, but it had never crossed my mind to try the 630 until I was driving up to the GCW event. It’s not every day you have the luxury of landing on grass rather than a concrete floor at an indie event, so I wanted to take advantage of it.”
Almost instantly, Zayne’s impressive feat spread through Twitter and social media like wildfire. Although the event did not feature an arena full of spectators, the reach of GCW’s show went well beyond those in attendance.
“I had no idea the magnitude of how many people were watching. In my mind it was a select, invite-only type of event for the people there but I had no idea how many people were watching online. I didn’t even consider GIFs or videos on Twitter going viral\. I was thinking I could post it, and GCW could post it and maybe get some clout from that. I really didn’t think it was going to be anything other than ‘I did a cool move for me.’”
The match also featured a few more impressive spots such as Zayne flying off a roof, only to be hit by a projectile chair in midair. Still, as Zayne explained, he felt as though it would be something for him to post on his own social media channels. The spectacle felt so insignificant that Zayne walked to the back (aka a garage) and prepared to watch the rest of the event.
He checked his phone and noticed a text from his girlfriend. Her Twitter feed, like many wrestling fans at the time, was full of Zayne’s impressive 630 over the top rope. It went well beyond Zayne, GCW and FITE TV.
“I didn’t really check my phone because I had to drive to get to Chicago for Freelance for their show the next night. So, 3-4 hours after the event I’m getting screenshots and tweets from people. It was crazy like Cima was saying, ‘Come to Shanghai,’ Will Osprey saying, ‘Oh fuck off’ and all this stuff. I was like woah, this thing reached higher than I ever anticipated.”
Since then, Zayne has continued to light up social media and continues to see his name frequently requested for bookings from promotions. Among those impressive spots was Zayne launching himself through the air, only for his opponent to literally catch him in a trash can in midair. It was sensational to say the least.
It’s that innovation that has led Zayne to become one of the fast-rising stars across the indie scene. While some would assume Zayne spends hours with a pen and paper trying to figure out new ways to defy logic, Zayne’s method to the madness is much simpler.
“I look around the environment when I’m there and think about what’s not going to be on the show,” Zayne said. “I can go out there and do a front flip over the top rope but so can 95% of the people on the card. It goes back to me being a fan of guys like Mick Foley. What can I do that others can’t?... Like the trash can spot. People probably looked at that thinking I shouldn’t do it because I could break my neck. But in my mind I’m doing a front flip to the floor which is a bump I’ve taken countless times. Eventually the trash can is going to hit me during my rotation, and then I’m going to use that to break some of my fall to the ground so I take less of the concrete than I would have if I had just done the front flip to the floor.”
Zayne will have his work cut out for him at Warrior Wrestling 6 as he faces another guy who has been lighting up the wrestling world in recent months, “The American Psycho” Lance Archer. Although much bigger than Zayne, Archer is another guy who has shown a knack for creativity inside the squared circle. The pairing of these two rising superstars has quickly become a pre-show contender for Match of the Night.
“I think we can definitely turn some heads,” Zayne said. “We both have momentum going into this, him much more so than I do. I think him being agile opens more windows for us out there. It’s sort of like me in that he goes out there to stand out and add something new to the show. There are a lot of big guys out there and he always tries to be different than all of them and I love that.”
With both men looking to test the limits of their own imagination, Zayne is sure that Warrior Wrestling fans can expect one thing from their match at Warrior Wrestling 6.
The unexpected.
For many wrestling fans, Alex Zayne was a relative unknown prior to this summer. It’s hard to blame them for not knowing who the former Kentucky backyard wrestling star is. Despite seemingly becoming an overnight sensation, Zayne’s career began well before that.
“I had backyarded for a while back when I was 11,” Zayne said. “There was a thing called The BYWLink which was a forum where people posted their clips and highlights. Eventually everyone would get together and put on what we would call Supershows.”
For a lot of professional wrestlers, the career trajectory might start wrestling for a local gym or promotion and then eventually finding a way to latch on with a much larger indie promotion. From there, wrestlers could audition for the chance to eventually work their way into the WWE.
However, Zayne’s career, much like his wrestling style, is anything but conventional. Zayne competed in backyard events and after a stint with local promotions, headed to the backyard once again. Whereas other wrestlers were doing their best to get noticed by executives across the world, Zayne put an emphasis on something different.
“It was more fun and allowed for more creativity,” Zayne said of leaving the indie scene for backyard wrestling. “At the time I was a very, very light weight. It was before the Taco Bell gains. It was restricted what you could do as a small guy in the southern indie scene. Being a small guy it’s like ‘Oh we want to squash you.’ A lot of people just wanted to get themselves over because they know you could make them look good. I’m all for making someone look good if I don’t come out of it looking like a jabroni at the same time.”
There have been quite a few changes from Zayne’s pro wrestling start in the early 2000s compared to today’s climate. The Internet has allowed for wrestling fans to experience more wrestling than ever before. Part of that is understanding that the backyard wrestling culture goes beyond simply crash and smash.
“When I first started people would tell me, ‘Don’t ever say you did backyard wrestling,’” Zayne said. I think a little of it was due to my size too but now with my popularity and the popularity of other people coming from that background rising, it helps establish that brand of wrestling. People are starting to realize that there are people that didn’t just do all the flippy stuff but also cared about the craft of wrestling too.”
No way was this evident than Zayne’s match against Tony Deppen at Game Changer Wrestling (GCW)‘s Backyard Wrestling PPV in July. While fans were busy celebrating the Fourth of July weekend with fireworks, food and family, Zayne was busy setting off his own fireworks across social media.
Competing in front of a select group of fans, Zayne launched himself over the top ropes, doing a 630 senton splash onto Deppen, sending his foe crashing through a door. It was an incredible moment that Zayne suffered seemingly no ill-effects from. Part of that is because it’s something Zayne has done countless times.
Sort of.
“In the yard a lot we used to wrestle a lot on these things called ring bases,” Zayne explained. “They were basically random things you found along the side of the road and built into a ring square with no posts or ropes. A lot of it was made out mattresses, tires, pallets and whatever you could get to make a 16-foot square. I had done 630s running on the bases, so I knew I could complete it if I could just get over the ropes. I had done some stuff like planchas and front flips over the ropes, but it had never crossed my mind to try the 630 until I was driving up to the GCW event. It’s not every day you have the luxury of landing on grass rather than a concrete floor at an indie event, so I wanted to take advantage of it.”
Almost instantly, Zayne’s impressive feat spread through Twitter and social media like wildfire. Although the event did not feature an arena full of spectators, the reach of GCW’s show went well beyond those in attendance.
“I had no idea the magnitude of how many people were watching. In my mind it was a select, invite-only type of event for the people there but I had no idea how many people were watching online. I didn’t even consider GIFs or videos on Twitter going viral\. I was thinking I could post it, and GCW could post it and maybe get some clout from that. I really didn’t think it was going to be anything other than ‘I did a cool move for me.’”
The match also featured a few more impressive spots such as Zayne flying off a roof, only to be hit by a projectile chair in midair. Still, as Zayne explained, he felt as though it would be something for him to post on his own social media channels. The spectacle felt so insignificant that Zayne walked to the back (aka a garage) and prepared to watch the rest of the event.
He checked his phone and noticed a text from his girlfriend. Her Twitter feed, like many wrestling fans at the time, was full of Zayne’s impressive 630 over the top rope. It went well beyond Zayne, GCW and FITE TV.
“I didn’t really check my phone because I had to drive to get to Chicago for Freelance for their show the next night. So, 3-4 hours after the event I’m getting screenshots and tweets from people. It was crazy like Cima was saying, ‘Come to Shanghai,’ Will Osprey saying, ‘Oh fuck off’ and all this stuff. I was like woah, this thing reached higher than I ever anticipated.”
Since then, Zayne has continued to light up social media and continues to see his name frequently requested for bookings from promotions. Among those impressive spots was Zayne launching himself through the air, only for his opponent to literally catch him in a trash can in midair. It was sensational to say the least.
It’s that innovation that has led Zayne to become one of the fast-rising stars across the indie scene. While some would assume Zayne spends hours with a pen and paper trying to figure out new ways to defy logic, Zayne’s method to the madness is much simpler.
“I look around the environment when I’m there and think about what’s not going to be on the show,” Zayne said. “I can go out there and do a front flip over the top rope but so can 95% of the people on the card. It goes back to me being a fan of guys like Mick Foley. What can I do that others can’t?... Like the trash can spot. People probably looked at that thinking I shouldn’t do it because I could break my neck. But in my mind I’m doing a front flip to the floor which is a bump I’ve taken countless times. Eventually the trash can is going to hit me during my rotation, and then I’m going to use that to break some of my fall to the ground so I take less of the concrete than I would have if I had just done the front flip to the floor.”
Zayne will have his work cut out for him at Warrior Wrestling 6 as he faces another guy who has been lighting up the wrestling world in recent months, “The American Psycho” Lance Archer. Although much bigger than Zayne, Archer is another guy who has shown a knack for creativity inside the squared circle. The pairing of these two rising superstars has quickly become a pre-show contender for Match of the Night.
“I think we can definitely turn some heads,” Zayne said. “We both have momentum going into this, him much more so than I do. I think him being agile opens more windows for us out there. It’s sort of like me in that he goes out there to stand out and add something new to the show. There are a lot of big guys out there and he always tries to be different than all of them and I love that.”
With both men looking to test the limits of their own imagination, Zayne is sure that Warrior Wrestling fans can expect one thing from their match at Warrior Wrestling 6.
The unexpected.
Meet the Challenger...
From the moment Michael Wardlow showed up to Warrior Wrestling 4, something felt different. In his first appearance with the promotion, he showed up in regular street clothes and shared the spotlight with numerous other local stars from Freelance Wrestling. Now, at Warrior Wrestling 4, Wardlow was wearing a suit and was featured in a big singles competition against Impact Wrestling’s Moose.
Whereas Wardlow mainly became “one of the boys” throughout the evening, at Warrior Wrestling 4 he greeted everyone as they arrived and looked to help other new stars find their way around the Warrior Wrestling backstage area. If one weren’t aware, they’d probably think Wardlow was a representative from the promotion itself.
The hulking heavyweight had reason to feel excited to be at Warrior Wrestling 4. After a standout showing in the Freelance Free For All at Warrior Wrestling 3, Wardlow was coming back for one of the biggest challenges in his life. He was positioned in a feature bout against Impact Wrestling’s Moose in what was billed as a battle of hoss athletes.
To the surprise of some, Wardlow and Moose put on an entertaining bout that featured the expected power moves but showcased the athleticism of both men. The fact that he was able to go out and put on an entertaining scrap with another athletic big man was the perfect building point for Wardlow’s case to receive a title shot.
“For starters, I am so sick of hearing commentators and people say ‘I wonder how much is left in his gas tank,’” Wardlow told Warrior Wrestling. “Do you guys not know who I am? My goodness. I guess I’ll have to keep showing it to everyone. My gas tank is endless. I’ll go all day with anyone. There’s a reason I scream ‘All day!’ right before I go in there and murder someone one.”
Wardlow will have the opportunity to prove that statement once again at Warrior Wrestling 5 when he faces off against current Warrior Wrestling champion, Brian Cage. Warlow came out to stare down the current champ after Cage defeated The Rascalz at Warrior Wrestling 4. The two behemoths squared up to one another as Cage raised the Warrior Wrestling belt. Given the crowd reactions, it was only a matter of time before these two faced one another inside the squared circle.
For Wardlow, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime for numerous reasons. One is the chance to wrestle someone of Cage’s level. Indeed, Cage is something of an anomaly in the pro wrestling industry. He has the size to compete with any heavyweight, and the speed to move with cruiserweights. It’s an opponent Wardlow has been training day and night for.
“He is obviously a physical specimen. He’s a freak of nature,” Wardlow said of wanting to face Cage. “I like to challenge myself. I appreciate the challenge of wrestling Brian Cage. I know he’s a big dude who can move like a cruiserweight and I can appreciate that because that’s exactly what I am. He’s been in the ring with some of the best in the world and I look forward to that challenge.”
The chance at securing another premier title is also a driving point for Wardlow as he heads into Warrior Wrestling 5. Although a relative newcomer to Warrior Wrestling and the Midwestern scene, he’s been tearing it up across the East Coast. Named as the IWC (International Wrestling Cartel) Wrestler of the Year in back-to-back years, Wardlow became just the second man (WWE superstar Elias) to hold the IWC World Heavyweight Championship and the IWC Super Indy Championship at the same time. It’s an impressive achievement that showcases just how talented of a pro wrestler Wardlow is.
“Right now, there’s a championship around my waist and there’s one on my right shoulder,” Wardlow said. “But my left shoulder is a little empty. I’m not going to stop until I look like a mummy and I’m just wrapped head to toe in title belts. You can call me the belt collector or whatever you want, the name is Wardlow and I’m going to dominate this whole wrestling promotion. I’m coming after it all, I’m not playing around.”
Motivated by having titles wrapped around every inch of his impressive physique, having the Warrior Wrestling title in his possession would mean something a little extra to Wardlow.
“That Warrior Wrestling belt is the most unique I’ve ever seen and it’s on an absolute monster,” Wardlow said. “It’s clear the promotion is top notch and to be the top guy for a top-notch company like Warrior Wrestling would mean everything for me… I don’t care about anything in life other than winning wrestling championships. At this point in my life, it’s what I live for. It’s the reason I’m hitting the gym twice a day and busting my ass to make myself better. I’m absolutely obsessed. I’m coming for everything that I’ve always wanted because that’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
Part of what has helped Wardlow reach the level he’s currently at is undoubtedly due to the love and support of his mother. The fact that he has the chance to defeat one of the best professional wrestlers in the world, capture a prestigious title and do so on Mother’s Day is not lost on the title challenger.
“My mother is amazing. She is a big reason why I want to be so successful,” Wardlow said. “She pretty much raised me single handily. I know it wasn’t easy for her and I have so much that I owe her, and still need to give back to her. It’s a big reason why I’m so motivated and dedicated to being successful in this business. She means the world to me. It would make it that much sweeter to win the title on Mother’s Day.”
Come out to see if Wardlow can topple the seemingly unstoppable machine known as Brian Cage and take the Warrior Wrestling title at Warrior Wrestling 5 on May 12. Tickets can be purchased online at WarriorWrestling.com.
Be sure to follow Wardlow’s journey on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The Man with War in his Name
Professional wrestling, like many occupations, is all about first impressions. From the moment a wrestler walks in front of a crowd, there are a few precious seconds to make an impact, to win over the crowd by having them cheer or boo. And at Warrior Wrestling 3, Michael Wardlow did exactly that.
In a match filled with some of the most popular stars from local promotion Freelance Wrestling, Wardlow entered during the middle of the match. As he made his way out to the ring, one of the fans ringside could be heard saying, “Wardlow? Who is Wardlow?!”
Almost immediately, Wardlow turned around and responded.
“You’re about to find out,” he yelled.
The hulking heavyweight entered the ring and was almost immediately attacked by everyone in the ring. A few power moves later and the ring had been cleared of any adversaries. It was an impressive showing right out of the gate for the surging wrestler. Despite the showcase of strength, it’s the days before he was crushing opponents in the ring that helped pave the way for his success.
“I was hooked when I was around 4 or 5 years old, when Bret Hart was at the top of his career,” Wardlow said.
Considering his impressive size and physique, it seemed odd that this guy who could pass for a NFL linebacker somehow got hooked on wrestling by Bret Hart. After all, Hart was supposed to be the guy who paved the way for smaller wrestlers to rise to the mountaintop.
“Contrary to what people believe, I wasn’t born 6-foot 3-inches and 260-pounds,” Wardlow said. “I was always the runt until my senior year.”
Once he was hooked, wrestling became more than just something to watch in front of a television. As most young fans do, Wardlow began to practice the moves he saw his idols performing. He may not have been inside a wrestling ring, but Wardlow’s path to be a professional wrestler was already beginning.
“I was practicing wrestling moves and holds on pillows and just about anything I could get my hands on,” he said. “During the first season of Tough Enough, I watched these guys do drills and work out, so I took out a mat and basically began practicing taking bumps just like the people on the show.”
It would take some time before Wardlow would eventually become the heavyweight he is today. As he explained, a growth spurt in his high school junior year combined with weightlifting his senior year helped him go from the runt to the big guy in the room. Wardlow’s time as being the scrappy underdog would eventually help him not only appreciate the progress he’d made in the weight room, but also add another level to his professional wrestling career.
“I believe it was an advantage that I was the runt because I became scrappy,” Wardlow said. “I was mimicking moves Rey Mysterio and other small guys did. Being a smaller guy, I learned how to do aerial and athletic moves. And what’s more dangerous than a big guy? A big guy who can move and has the scrappy mentality of a runt.”
His scrappy mentality comes through in the ring and while talking about his successful run across the indie wrestling scene. Voted as the Wrestler of the Year of the popular IWC (International Wrestling Cartel) promotion in back-to-back years, he made
sure to show some appreciation back to those who’ve supported him.
“At the end of the day, we are nothing without the fans,” Wardlow said. “The amount of support I’ve received is mind blowing. It’s surreal to be given so much love and support.”
Propelled by a strong support system from his family and fans, Wardlow has achieved quite a bit during his young career. Just one day after his Warrior Wrestling 4 appearance, he has the opportunity to be the only person besides WWE’s Elias to ever hold the IWC Super Indy and Heavyweight titles at the same time.
But before he has the chance to make IWC history, he’ll have the opportunity to showcase his rare combination of strength, athleticism and charisma when he takes on Impact Wrestling’s Moose. The former professional football player made his in-ring debut in 2014 and like Wardlow, has achieved quite a bit of success in a relatively short amount of time.
“It’s surreal experience to step into the ring with someone I see on tv,” Wardlow said. “He’s a big strong athletic guy. I don’t think
I’ve been in the ring with someone close to my level. He’s the biggest challenge I’ve faced so far.”
Part of overcoming that challenge is exactly what’s driving Wardlow to achieve new levels of success after a great 2018 campaign. Putting on an impressive performance against another giant of a man like Moose will almost certainly gain some extra attention from the larger promotions in the pro-wrestling scene. Whatever comes next, there’s no question that the man simply known as Wardlow is ready for it.
“I was ready for this many years ago,” Wardlow said. “I quit my job so I could train twice a day to put in the work to be where I’m at today. I have size, athleticism and charisma. I have every piece of the puzzle you’d want when putting a professional wrestler together… There’s a reason I use Wardlow as my ring name. It’s because it’s the name on my birth certificate. It’s real. Everything about me is real. Moose and everyone else is in for a shock come March 15 because 2019 is the year of Wardlow!”
Catch the heavyweight class between Moose and Wardlow along with a stacked card at Warrior Wrestling4 on March 15 at Marian Catholic High School. Some of the best professional wrestlers in the game today will be in action and meeting fans at the Fan Fest. Check out the remaining ticket options available and get your ticket to an amazing night of entertainment.
Follow Wardlow on Twitter (https://twitter.com/wardlow_1) , Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/wardlow_1) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/warinhisname/)
In a match filled with some of the most popular stars from local promotion Freelance Wrestling, Wardlow entered during the middle of the match. As he made his way out to the ring, one of the fans ringside could be heard saying, “Wardlow? Who is Wardlow?!”
Almost immediately, Wardlow turned around and responded.
“You’re about to find out,” he yelled.
The hulking heavyweight entered the ring and was almost immediately attacked by everyone in the ring. A few power moves later and the ring had been cleared of any adversaries. It was an impressive showing right out of the gate for the surging wrestler. Despite the showcase of strength, it’s the days before he was crushing opponents in the ring that helped pave the way for his success.
“I was hooked when I was around 4 or 5 years old, when Bret Hart was at the top of his career,” Wardlow said.
Considering his impressive size and physique, it seemed odd that this guy who could pass for a NFL linebacker somehow got hooked on wrestling by Bret Hart. After all, Hart was supposed to be the guy who paved the way for smaller wrestlers to rise to the mountaintop.
“Contrary to what people believe, I wasn’t born 6-foot 3-inches and 260-pounds,” Wardlow said. “I was always the runt until my senior year.”
Once he was hooked, wrestling became more than just something to watch in front of a television. As most young fans do, Wardlow began to practice the moves he saw his idols performing. He may not have been inside a wrestling ring, but Wardlow’s path to be a professional wrestler was already beginning.
“I was practicing wrestling moves and holds on pillows and just about anything I could get my hands on,” he said. “During the first season of Tough Enough, I watched these guys do drills and work out, so I took out a mat and basically began practicing taking bumps just like the people on the show.”
It would take some time before Wardlow would eventually become the heavyweight he is today. As he explained, a growth spurt in his high school junior year combined with weightlifting his senior year helped him go from the runt to the big guy in the room. Wardlow’s time as being the scrappy underdog would eventually help him not only appreciate the progress he’d made in the weight room, but also add another level to his professional wrestling career.
“I believe it was an advantage that I was the runt because I became scrappy,” Wardlow said. “I was mimicking moves Rey Mysterio and other small guys did. Being a smaller guy, I learned how to do aerial and athletic moves. And what’s more dangerous than a big guy? A big guy who can move and has the scrappy mentality of a runt.”
His scrappy mentality comes through in the ring and while talking about his successful run across the indie wrestling scene. Voted as the Wrestler of the Year of the popular IWC (International Wrestling Cartel) promotion in back-to-back years, he made
sure to show some appreciation back to those who’ve supported him.
“At the end of the day, we are nothing without the fans,” Wardlow said. “The amount of support I’ve received is mind blowing. It’s surreal to be given so much love and support.”
Propelled by a strong support system from his family and fans, Wardlow has achieved quite a bit during his young career. Just one day after his Warrior Wrestling 4 appearance, he has the opportunity to be the only person besides WWE’s Elias to ever hold the IWC Super Indy and Heavyweight titles at the same time.
But before he has the chance to make IWC history, he’ll have the opportunity to showcase his rare combination of strength, athleticism and charisma when he takes on Impact Wrestling’s Moose. The former professional football player made his in-ring debut in 2014 and like Wardlow, has achieved quite a bit of success in a relatively short amount of time.
“It’s surreal experience to step into the ring with someone I see on tv,” Wardlow said. “He’s a big strong athletic guy. I don’t think
I’ve been in the ring with someone close to my level. He’s the biggest challenge I’ve faced so far.”
Part of overcoming that challenge is exactly what’s driving Wardlow to achieve new levels of success after a great 2018 campaign. Putting on an impressive performance against another giant of a man like Moose will almost certainly gain some extra attention from the larger promotions in the pro-wrestling scene. Whatever comes next, there’s no question that the man simply known as Wardlow is ready for it.
“I was ready for this many years ago,” Wardlow said. “I quit my job so I could train twice a day to put in the work to be where I’m at today. I have size, athleticism and charisma. I have every piece of the puzzle you’d want when putting a professional wrestler together… There’s a reason I use Wardlow as my ring name. It’s because it’s the name on my birth certificate. It’s real. Everything about me is real. Moose and everyone else is in for a shock come March 15 because 2019 is the year of Wardlow!”
Catch the heavyweight class between Moose and Wardlow along with a stacked card at Warrior Wrestling4 on March 15 at Marian Catholic High School. Some of the best professional wrestlers in the game today will be in action and meeting fans at the Fan Fest. Check out the remaining ticket options available and get your ticket to an amazing night of entertainment.
Follow Wardlow on Twitter (https://twitter.com/wardlow_1) , Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/wardlow_1) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/warinhisname/)
Sammy Guevara
Returns to Warrior Wrestling
Overnight success stories are a rarity in professional wrestling (or sports entertainment) but Sammy Guevera is one that fans will point to. But it didn’t happen overnight, it just felt like it.
Guevera started training to step inside the squared circle in August of 2010 at WWE Hall of Famer Booker T’s academy. After just a couple of months learning the ropes, Guevera was called into Booker’s office.
“I remember getting called into his office and having him ask me if I was ready for my first match,” Guevera said to Warrior Wrestling staff. “You’re never really ready for anything new until you go out there and do it. So I said, ‘hell yeah I’m ready!’ Even though on the inside I was thinking, ‘I don’t know about this.’”
It was the start of a tremendous run that as Guevera’s social bios state, allowed a kid to live his dream.
“As soon as I saw it [pro-wrestling], I was like how do I do this. And that was at like 11 years old,” Guevera said. “I turned on an episode of Smackdown and saw Batista & Rey Mysterio wrestle MNM and my life changed forever. Maybe I could’ve been a doctor? But that wrestling bug got me.”
The Houston-native would work his way through the Indies, wrestling for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), Major League Wrestling (MLW), Lucha Underground and Lucha Libre AAA. It would be at Triplemania XXVI, the equivalent to Wrestlemania, where Guevera would win the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship after defeating Australian Suicide, ACH and Shane Strickland.
“I feel like every year has been escalating more and more,” Guevera said. “Some people think I’ve only been wrestling for like a year and I’m like ‘if only!’”
Guevera was a trending name in 2018, showcasing an extraordinary amount of athleticism with the charisma to back it up. It’s part of the reason Guevera was brought in to Warrior Wrestling 3 and featured in the War of Attrition Match to crown the first Warrior Wrestling championship. It was a star-studded affair with popular wrestlers such as Rey Mysterio, Brian Cage, Jeff Cobb, Austin Aries, Rich Swann and The Lucha Bothers (Pentagon Jr. & Rey Fenix).
“2018 was super cool. I got to get in the ring with Rey Mysterio again and be a part of that crazy main event match at Warrior Wrestling 2,” Guevera said.
While 2018 was a major success inside the ring, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Guevera.
“I had one of my first major injuries last year but luckily I was only out a month,” Guevera said. “While I was injured, I signed a contract with Aero Lucha but after 4-½ months they cut everyone’s contract. I had signed for 3 years but it’s crazy to think if that hadn’t happened, the AEW opportunity wouldn’t have been possible. It’s crazy how life all kind of works out.”
On February 7, Guevera was announced as the newest addition to the All Elite Wrestling (AEW) roster. The promotion, recently launched by Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks, is one that fans believe can become a major force in the world of professional wrestling. Indeed, rumors have been swirling regarding WWE’s fear (or lack thereof) regarding the upstart promotion. Whether they can present themselves to be a real threat to the king of the mountain remains to be seen but one thing is certain, they’re grabbing everyone’s attention.
“I had another contract offer as well but I didn’t really want to sign anywhere but AEW,” Guevera said. “I feel like it could be something big. I wouldn’t want to sign anywhere else right now. I’m more concerned with growing the Sammy Gueverra brand if you will. They have some guys who aren’t as known like me, like Joey Janela and MJF. So, I thought, this seems like the place to be.”
While AEW is the place for Guevera to grow his brand, the place to catch the up and comer in action is at Warrior Wrestling 4 on March 15. In a feature bout, Guevera will be facing a familiar foe in the hometown favorite, DJZ. Although the two will square off inside the ring, Guevera might want to say thanks to his Warrior Wrestling 4.
“Back in 2014, I saw DJZ had a shirt on with a cute looking bear DJ shirt. I was thinking, you’re a bad guy but you have this shirt that people are going to buy because they think it’s cool. I thought he was a genius!”
Using that idea, Guevera went to work on designing something that fans could not only wear proudly but also represent himself. As Guevera puts it, there’s a little bit of him in everything he does and that’s the case with his defacto logo, a panda bear.
“It’s my favorite animal,” Guevera said of his choice. “I honestly don’t know why. They’re a bear, so they could kill you but at the same time, whenever I see them they’re just super chill munching on bamboo.”
Guevera is hoping to channel the “kill you” part of a panda bear as he returns to Warrior Wrestling. The two have squared off before but the fact DJZ will be on his home turf definitely adds an X-factor to the matchup.
“He’s a crazy dude. I’m a crazy dude. I think that it’s going to be something special,” Guevera predicts (spoiler?).
If you’d like to help grow the Sammy Guevara brand, show your support across all of the major social media networks. Twitter - @sammyguevara, Facebook – Sammy Guevara (BestEver), Instagram - @sammyguevara and on YouTube – Sammy Guevara (sammyhighv2).
Tickets are going fast for Warrior Wrestling 4 as the promotion brings another stacked lineup to the Chicagoland area. SCU faces oVe, Eddie Edwards takes on Austin Aries, Brian Cage defends his Warrior Wrestling title against all members of The Rascalz, Britt Baker faces local favorite Kylie Rae, Jordynne Grace returns to take on another local favorite in Lisa Marie Vachon/Victoria and much more!
Guevera started training to step inside the squared circle in August of 2010 at WWE Hall of Famer Booker T’s academy. After just a couple of months learning the ropes, Guevera was called into Booker’s office.
“I remember getting called into his office and having him ask me if I was ready for my first match,” Guevera said to Warrior Wrestling staff. “You’re never really ready for anything new until you go out there and do it. So I said, ‘hell yeah I’m ready!’ Even though on the inside I was thinking, ‘I don’t know about this.’”
It was the start of a tremendous run that as Guevera’s social bios state, allowed a kid to live his dream.
“As soon as I saw it [pro-wrestling], I was like how do I do this. And that was at like 11 years old,” Guevera said. “I turned on an episode of Smackdown and saw Batista & Rey Mysterio wrestle MNM and my life changed forever. Maybe I could’ve been a doctor? But that wrestling bug got me.”
The Houston-native would work his way through the Indies, wrestling for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), Major League Wrestling (MLW), Lucha Underground and Lucha Libre AAA. It would be at Triplemania XXVI, the equivalent to Wrestlemania, where Guevera would win the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship after defeating Australian Suicide, ACH and Shane Strickland.
“I feel like every year has been escalating more and more,” Guevera said. “Some people think I’ve only been wrestling for like a year and I’m like ‘if only!’”
Guevera was a trending name in 2018, showcasing an extraordinary amount of athleticism with the charisma to back it up. It’s part of the reason Guevera was brought in to Warrior Wrestling 3 and featured in the War of Attrition Match to crown the first Warrior Wrestling championship. It was a star-studded affair with popular wrestlers such as Rey Mysterio, Brian Cage, Jeff Cobb, Austin Aries, Rich Swann and The Lucha Bothers (Pentagon Jr. & Rey Fenix).
“2018 was super cool. I got to get in the ring with Rey Mysterio again and be a part of that crazy main event match at Warrior Wrestling 2,” Guevera said.
While 2018 was a major success inside the ring, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Guevera.
“I had one of my first major injuries last year but luckily I was only out a month,” Guevera said. “While I was injured, I signed a contract with Aero Lucha but after 4-½ months they cut everyone’s contract. I had signed for 3 years but it’s crazy to think if that hadn’t happened, the AEW opportunity wouldn’t have been possible. It’s crazy how life all kind of works out.”
On February 7, Guevera was announced as the newest addition to the All Elite Wrestling (AEW) roster. The promotion, recently launched by Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks, is one that fans believe can become a major force in the world of professional wrestling. Indeed, rumors have been swirling regarding WWE’s fear (or lack thereof) regarding the upstart promotion. Whether they can present themselves to be a real threat to the king of the mountain remains to be seen but one thing is certain, they’re grabbing everyone’s attention.
“I had another contract offer as well but I didn’t really want to sign anywhere but AEW,” Guevera said. “I feel like it could be something big. I wouldn’t want to sign anywhere else right now. I’m more concerned with growing the Sammy Gueverra brand if you will. They have some guys who aren’t as known like me, like Joey Janela and MJF. So, I thought, this seems like the place to be.”
While AEW is the place for Guevera to grow his brand, the place to catch the up and comer in action is at Warrior Wrestling 4 on March 15. In a feature bout, Guevera will be facing a familiar foe in the hometown favorite, DJZ. Although the two will square off inside the ring, Guevera might want to say thanks to his Warrior Wrestling 4.
“Back in 2014, I saw DJZ had a shirt on with a cute looking bear DJ shirt. I was thinking, you’re a bad guy but you have this shirt that people are going to buy because they think it’s cool. I thought he was a genius!”
Using that idea, Guevera went to work on designing something that fans could not only wear proudly but also represent himself. As Guevera puts it, there’s a little bit of him in everything he does and that’s the case with his defacto logo, a panda bear.
“It’s my favorite animal,” Guevera said of his choice. “I honestly don’t know why. They’re a bear, so they could kill you but at the same time, whenever I see them they’re just super chill munching on bamboo.”
Guevera is hoping to channel the “kill you” part of a panda bear as he returns to Warrior Wrestling. The two have squared off before but the fact DJZ will be on his home turf definitely adds an X-factor to the matchup.
“He’s a crazy dude. I’m a crazy dude. I think that it’s going to be something special,” Guevera predicts (spoiler?).
If you’d like to help grow the Sammy Guevara brand, show your support across all of the major social media networks. Twitter - @sammyguevara, Facebook – Sammy Guevara (BestEver), Instagram - @sammyguevara and on YouTube – Sammy Guevara (sammyhighv2).
Tickets are going fast for Warrior Wrestling 4 as the promotion brings another stacked lineup to the Chicagoland area. SCU faces oVe, Eddie Edwards takes on Austin Aries, Brian Cage defends his Warrior Wrestling title against all members of The Rascalz, Britt Baker faces local favorite Kylie Rae, Jordynne Grace returns to take on another local favorite in Lisa Marie Vachon/Victoria and much more!