This is the first blog written in a while. For various reasons I
have not been as active in the wrestling world as I would have liked to have
been this year and didn’t feel it appropriate to continue writing this until I
was.
I must admit I was annoyed at myself for a few things regarding my
return to wrestling. Having taken a step back recently I kept finding myself
asking the question - have I failed? I know I know, we’re not meant say failed,
but had a ‘learning experience’, but that doesn’t stop the fact it can be
frustrating when you don’t achieve the results you had hoped for. That said I’m
still going and this journey is far from over, so let’s have a look at some of the things that have been going on.
All
Star
I have recently started doing the camps for All Star again wrestling
as my terrifying alter ego ‘the Russian Nightmare’ Radik Anenco, who just to
confuse you all is now sometimes called Boris Koslov (for some reason
announcers always struggled with the Radik name and I also recently discovered
it isn’t even a real Russian name – you know because all other aspects of the
gimmick are so truthful!)
I had one week up in Scotland wrestling Davey Blaze of ICW fame,
which went well and was good to get back into the swing of things. I’ve also
been wrestling my old nemesis El Ligero - including three brutal ladder matches
on the Butlins camps that left me battered and bruised. Apart from one earlier
this year I am new to ladder matches, but found these so much fun and it was
great to do the main Butlins run with All Star that finishes with a show of
well over 1,000 watching in Skegness.
Megaslam
I have also made my debut with a new company Megaslam who run
similar style holiday camp shows. I recently ticked another box on my checklist
as I got to wrestle one of the best wrestlers in the country James Mason. With
over 10,000 matches under his belt and a true expert in British wrestling it
was an honour to wrestle such a legend.
As well as Radik wrestling Ligero, David ‘the Grappler’ Graves and Toxic
Jack I have also wrestled as good guy JC Thunder! But JC you said you hate been
the good guy I hear you cry, well yes this was once true, but this actually
went well and the ‘Yorkshire lad’ JC Thunder was very popular against (due to
confusion on the run sheet as I swapped gimmicks) the ‘Russian Nightmare’ Dara
Diablo. This may be the closest I ever
come to wrestling myself!
TGW
TGW is the wrestling promotion I started and one in which I put so
much work into. I think that showed in the four shows we did have in terms of
show quality. I rather excitedly booked 10 shows this year, as I was so keen on
running a promotion with monthly shows with engaging story lines. However, the
hours upon hours of handing out flyers and sticking up posters was not enough.
The shows did not draw as well as I would have liked and then the real nail in
the coffin was when we lost our venue.
I am currently not able to start TGW until the beginning of next
year now. There may be a few changes, but the goal remains the same - a
wrestling promotion with good wrestling and good storylines. Seems simple, but
there are so many shows going on in the UK at the moment that fail to achieve
this.
True Grit must live up to its name and keep fighting until it comes
good!
Grapple
This one is actually a venture I had no intention of becoming
involved with when I returned to wrestling, but I am really glad that I did. Grapple is a wrestling school
in Leeds that I am now co-owner of with long time friend Paul Clarke. We have
made some big changes over the last year or so. We now have World of Sport
legend Marty Jones and one of the UK’s current top talents El Ligero as
trainers. We have updated the facilities and have recently installed a new 16ft
wrestling ring. Our shows have improved loads and will continue to do so. It is
taking time, but I am proud of what is being done.
I have also really enjoyed taking part on the Grapple shows. The most
recent ones were matches with David Graves and the ‘Ugandan
Warrior’ Nsereko. Both guys have improved so much since I first met them and
both these matches were great fun! Expect big things from these two in the next
few years. Check them out below:
JC Thunder vs. David ‘The Grappler’ Graves
JC Thunder vs. ‘The Ugandan Warrior’ Nsereko
Final
thoughts
So upon reflection to think I’ve failed is over the top and now I am
wrestling again those thoughts have died down. TGW will be back and Grapple is
heading in the right direction. Me as a wrestler - well I had a poignant moment
whilst climbing that ladder dressed in Russian spandex in front of all those
people (as you do!). If I’d never made that step to re-hash my childhood dream
I’d never have experienced this moment and all the other cool things I’ve done
in the last year or so. I will look back on these moments fondly and despite all the hard work and any set backs it makes it seem all worthwhile.
Thanks for reading!
JCT
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