“You have to look the part and then have the confidence to back it up,” says Fyfe. The most important factor to fitness is to fully accept your body as it is and then discover who you want to be.

Enter Snowbird, inspired by Anne Murray’s 1970 song, signifying the era of wrestling’s entrance into pop culture and to Springhill, the hometown of both Murray and WWF star The Mongol (Newton Tattrie). Signature move: the camel clutch. I’ve got the stealth and reach of a crane, as innocent and as fresh as fallen powder. But it’s only a matter of time before I go for the eyes.

Coordination is a skill. Some wrestlers wing it and ring it; others meticulously plan each match. The best way to start training is to watch a lot of wrestling. Then practice with a wrestler or a friend who loves wrestling. I learned a few choke holds, the Boston crab and leg drops with The Grapplin’ Graboid (AKA Adrian Bruhm), while thinking about what it takes to become a champion.

Lincoln Steen, a TCW heel and wrestler of over 14 years, says respect makes a good wrestler: “Respect for those who paved the way. Respect for those in the ring. Respect for the fans. After that, it’s about showmanship and athleticism. You need to be an athlete.” But being an athletic wrestler requires more finesse and coordination than it does a six-pack.

“I’ve been in the ring with 400-pounders that had better wind than some of the hard-body athletic-looking characters,” says Steen. “Being in shape and looking like you are in shape are two very different things.

“Wrestling isn’t fake. Sure it’s meant to entertain, but even the most basic of matches, with minimal impact, takes its toll on the body,” Steen adds.

Avoiding danger is part of the art, as are the rivalries and alliances, and the pace and details of the storytelling. But wrestling also needs its audience.

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New Year - New Adventures

June 10th, 2019

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The Year in Review

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June 10^th, 2019

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May 27^th, 2019