Wrestling: Ohio is a hotbed for talent on national, international stages
If you’re looking to scout pro wrestling talent, Florida is a good location, and the tri-state area in the Northeast is solid, too, but when asking top talent their origins, the Buckeye State seems to be a common response.
Ohio has produced quite a bit of pro wrestling stars on a national and international level. Must be something in the water…or Roman Burger.
Here’s a list of past and present wrestlers from Ohio who you may know.
Abyss
Dean Ambrose
Alexa Bliss
Tony Borne
Dana Brooke
Big Bully Busick
Sami Callahan
Ethan Carter III (EC3)
Crimson
Jake Crist
Caylen Croft
Matt Cross (M-Dogg 20/Son of Havoc)
Angelo Dawkins
Danny Doring
Derrick Dukes
Bobby Fulton
Charlie Fulton
Jackie Fulton
Sawyer Fulton
Johnny Gargano
Jackie Gayda
Jeff Gaylord
Jerry Grey
Wildcat Chris Harris
Jessicka Havok
Samantha Heights
Chris Hero (Kassius Ohno)
Holidead
Faye Jackson
Kasavubu
Lou Marconi
Linda Miles
Dr. Bill MIller
The Miz
Derick Neikirk
Nick Nero
Nevaeh
Briley Pierce
Brian Pillman
Madison Rayne
Raymond Rowe (War Machine)
Perry Saturn
Macho Man Randy Savage
Shark Boy
Al Snow
Vivian St. John
Sassy Stephie
Michael Tarver
Les Thatcher
Shag Thomas
Zachary Wentz
Frankie Williams
Dezmond Xavier
Dolph Ziggler
Recently, Ohio’s Matt Cross (aka Son of Havoc on Lucha Underground and M-Dogg 20) responded to the question, “How come Ohio breeds so many good pro wrestlers?”
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Cross said: “It definitely does and at somewhat an alarming rate. I don’t know if I can theorize why [chuckle]. I suppose our other sports’ teams are so notoriously bad and have been for so long that we needed to find an area where we could just excel in [chuckle].
“The wrestlers of the world — or at least the Cleveland and Ohio based ones — have stepped up where maybe the other teams have slacked.
“It really is incredible. You have like Dolph Ziggler and EC3 and Ray Rowe and myself and Johnny Gargano and Sami Callihan, and the list goes on and on. There’s so many guys [and girls] out of Ohio and so many out of Cleveland. It is strange. Maybe that will be a future topic of discussion or book or something. It’s worth exploring.”
In August, Ohio’s Johnny Gargano discussed Ohio wrestlers.
Gargano said: “I think Ohio makes a certain type of person — like we’re used to adversity; we’re used to being told we’re not going to do something and then proving people wrong.”
In June, Ohio’s EC3 responded about some from Cleveland.
EC3 said: “Cleveland has sprouted off some pretty good talent…Al Snow’s from Lima, so that doesn’t count for Cleveland.
“Gargano, Ziggler, Miz, myself [do], and a few others I’m probably leaving out. We’ve all had different paths to wrestling success. Miz came from MTV, and he always loved wrestling. Ziggler was an accomplished amateur and loved wrestling. Gargano was a guy from the independents who caught fire at the right time and was in the right place at the right time in NXT.”
Their in-ring/on TV success inspired other locals.
In a January 2016 interview, Ohio’s Dana Brooke said: “It’s a small world. Dolph Ziggler’s high school [St. Edward High School] was our rival [Holy Name High School], and my neighbors actually grew-up with Mike The Miz, and they went to Normandy [High School in Parma]. I knew of him, because we would watch ‘The Real World’ [on MTV] when Mike was there.”
Maybe it’s not the water but rather the food.
Some famous Ohio wrestlers whose father/family is in the food business in Ohio.
EC3 (Kirtland City Tavern – Burgers, American fare)
http://www.kirtlandtavern.com/
Johnny Gargano (Gargano’s – Italian)
The Miz (Mr. Hero- Burgers, Subs)
Maybe it’s the lightning.
Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling birthed many wrestling stars for the indies and bigger stages since the 1990s. Respected wrestler/coach JT Lightning trained and/or booked them. Cross dubbed Lightning the Godfather of Cleveland wrestling. Lightning died in 2011 from throat cancer, but his legacy lives.
Next: Ranking The Top 10 Female Superstars Of 2017
NOTED: Ohio’s LeBron James is a WWE fan, and when he won NBA titles for the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers, WWE sent him a replica WWE title belt.
NOTED: Cleveland’s own Drew Carey is a WWE Hall of Famer in the celebrity wing.
NOTED: Mr. Baseball Bob Uecker, who portrayed a broadcaster for the Cleveland Indians in the hit comedy movie “Major League,” is also a WWE Hall of Famer in the celeb wing.