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LPW x CWS 8: The Tournament For Salvation

by Ryan Gagne October 27, 2023

written by Ryan Gagne

About 24 hours ahead of LPW 20: Planet Slammet, Janet, the stars of Clandestine Wrestling Society (CWS), and Love Pro Wrestling (LPW) took to the mat at the South Edmonton Common Rec Room with the opening rounds of the Tournament for Salvation. Although the general public was unaware of the prize at the finale in November, the fans who ventured out in the snow were treated to some entertaining bouts, with the finalists determined in less than two hours of action.

Even though a handful of these tournament matches were short affairs, there were many developing storylines during the show, so without further ado, let’s get to the highlights.

Taryn From Accounting punches her ticket to the semi-finals, beating Berat Gorani

Two familiar foes, Berat Gorani and Taryn From Accounting, faced off against one another in the night’s first match. After the opening bell, each competitor got in some offensive moves and pinfalls before Gorani took control of the match, nailing Taryn with everything in his arsenal. Eventually, Taryn did her best John Cena impression for Halloween, finally ending Gorani’s attacks in a quick turnaround, nailing the Number Cruncher to advance to the semi-finals.

Marz the Specialist showcases his resiliency in edging Sheik Shabaz in quarter-final action

In the night’s second bout, Marz the Specialist took on Gorani’s tag team partner, Sheik Shabaz, in another tournament matchup. Once the two superstars locked up in the ring, Marz landed the show’s first highlight reel move when he clotheslined Shabaz out of the ring and then dove through the ropes, landing in the front row. Despite being on the wrong end of the move, Shabaz seemed energized upon returning to the ring, taking the fight to Marz, who didn’t have any answers.

At one point, it appeared to be curtains for Marz, who took a missile drop kick from the top rope but found the strength to hit a running knee that Shabaz barely kicked out at two and a half. Ultimately, with momentum seemingly on his opponent’s side, Marz tried to use the tag team championship as a weapon, only to land a low blow instead to secure the pinfall and pass through to the semi-finals.

Jared Rogers upsets Scramble Champion Jack Pride in an entertaining contest

Jared Rogers continues to carve out his legacy at LPW with a massive win over Scramble Champion Jack Pride, who came to the ring looking upset and holding a set of keys for some reason. Of course, Pride attempted to use the keys without rhyme or reason to attack Rogers, who was in the mood for a wrestling match, not a street fight. Eventually, referee Stuart Garvey managed to get things under control, which was when Rogers landed a handful of offensive attacks, leaving Pride looking for answers.

Although he was distracted, Pride had no response to Roger’s relentless attack, which included another spot in the crowd with the underdog nailing a kick through the ropes. As Pride turned his attention back to the keys, he left himself vulnerable for a small package roll-up, resulting in a three count and Rogers earning a spot in the final four. Even though it was confusing to follow Pride’s motives, there’s no denying Rogers his moment as he earned his spot with a solid offensive attack.

Steven Crowe advances in the tournament with a win over Wolfboy Will Mantla

As one of the brightest stars in CWS, Steven Crowe advanced to the semi-finals after eliminating Wolfboy Will Mantla in a short match with plenty of action. Immediately following the opening bell, Crowe took the fight to Mantla, who didn’t counter much and found himself kicking out of several pinfall attempts. Even though he spent more time defending than attacking, anytime Mantla managed to get some moves in, they were enough to throw Crowe off his game. Although each competitor landed significant blows to one another, Crowe picked up the victory off a counter, landing him in a coveted semi-final matchup against Rodgers.

Grand Champion Zoë Sager, with Reid Matthews, talk smack to the RADz

The wrestling world will tune into the main event featuring Grand Champion Zoë Sager and Lumberjack Larry Woods on Friday night at LPW 20. However, a night before the epic showdown, the two competitors met in a tag team match after Sager came out to mock Woods for being a loser most of his career. Although no one from the RADz, including Woods himself, came out to tear the mic out of the champion’s hand, she talked about how their upcoming match would be another failure in his career, and eventually, the RADz would realize they couldn’t beat her.

The RADz lose a critical tag team match ahead of a championship showdown on Friday night

As expected, TY Jackson and Sager started the tag team match, engaging in some quick maneuvers before Woods tagged in, forcing Sager to abandon her attack. Despite everyone in attendance waiting for a preview of Friday’s night main event, Sager immediately tagged Reid Matthews, and he suffered a heavy beatdown, which included several double team spots. Eventually, Jackson and Sager met again, with the champion trying to cheat (again).

However, their interactions were short-lived, with Woods and Matthews tagging back in and executing some great sequences before everyone got involved in the match. By the end, Jackson got Matthews down in a pin, but before the referee’s hand could reach three, he broke the pin with a low blow. As Jackson tried to regain his barrings, Matthews rolled him up for a pinfall, leaving the RADz to walk away empty-handed just 24 hours before the faction’s biggest match to date.

Crowe secures his spot in the tournament final with a pinfall victory over Rogers

Earlier in the night, Crowe and Rogers picked up wins to advance to the Tournament of Salvation semi-finals. During their second night match, the pair didn’t waste anything mounting an offensive attack against one another, with each landing damaging blows to begin the contest. Although he could have been deemed an underdog for the second straight contest, Rogers kept knocking Crowe down with countless moves, but The Rhinestone Cowboy wouldn’t stay down. After a suplex from the top rope, Crowe landed a decisive blow to Rogers’ campaign to be in the tournament finale, securing a three count to become the first wrestler to advance to the finals.

Nothing is more certain than death, taxes, and Taryn From Accounting in the Finals

As the first challenger who came to the ring for the match, Taryn From Accounting was not expecting a sneak attack from Marz the Specialist, who ran in from the crowd to nail Taryn from behind before the bell even rang. Although she had time to compose herself, Marz launched a relentless assault, keeping Taryn down without any opportunities to mount an attack until several minutes into the contest.

Eventually, the tide turned, and Marz found himself in trouble when Taryn began to counter his moves and flipped the script on the cocky guy already thinking about winning the tournament instead of focusing on his current challenge. Although he landed the match’s best move with a toss from the top rope, both competitors eventually went down for a lengthy count after a double clothesline. Upon returning to their feet, Taryn had Marz right where she wanted him, landing her finisher for the second time on the night to punch her ticket to the all-CWS finals.

God’s Gift to Wrestling and CWS Founder Michael Richard Blais introduces the Champion of Salvation belt

According to social media, hours before LPW x CWS 8 went live, CWS Founder Michael Richard Blais announced that he would be in the crowd watching the Tournament of Salvation and would eventually tell everyone what the winner would receive at the next event. After a passionate speech about all the performers of CWS and the partnership with LPW, Blais unveiled the Champion of Salvation title belt, which will be awarded to the tournament winner and defended at upcoming CWS events. Additionally, the belt can be cashed in for an LPW title shot, and a new champion can again be crowned through a tournament format. As fate would have it, two of CWS’s top stars, Taryn From Accounting and Steven Crowe, will battle to become the promotion’s first-ever champion in November.

Upcoming LPW Events

Although it is cold outside and getting to events takes a little longer due to road conditions, LPW is still moving forward at full speed, hosting a Rocky Horror Picture Show theme event on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, at 7:00 pm at the Rec Room in South Edmonton Common. As mentioned, the main event will feature LPW’s top prize, but with six other exciting matches on the card, there’s no telling what could happen in one of the promotion’s biggest shows of the year. Whether you are watching from your couch or attending in person, don’t miss a chance to watch the best professional wrestling show in Alberta.

Check out the preview for LPW 20: Planet Slammet, Janet here.

October 27, 2023 0 comments

Get To Know: Thaddeus Archer The 3rd

by Pluggo October 27, 2023

written by Pluggo

We got ourselves a bonus Get To Know this week as I’m joined by one of the greatest managers in Canadian wrestling history. He’s out of Edmonton,Alberta, Canada none other than Thaddeus Archer The 3rd. The manger of Se7en has a lot on his plate this week as he is faced with a Manager leaves town matchup at LPW 20: Planet, Slammet, Janet on October 26th. With all that going on it didn’t stop Thaddeus from swinging by and discussing his historic career from his start in this business to who has influenced the way he manages his clients and much more. So let’s not waste any more time and Get To Know, Thaddeus Archer The 3rd:

At what moment did you realize you wanted to be in the Wrestling business?

I never really thought I could get into the business outside being a writer, and even then when I stopped pursuing my dream of being a writer/author, never thought I could be a part of it. But probably wanted to from the Attitude era on.

How did you get started in Wrestling?

Very untraditional but I started a backyard in a bar company. I didn’t know how to get into wrestling. Someone found me at one of our events and asked me to ring announce for actual pro wrestling and been around ever since.

Who would you say is your biggest influence in wrestling?

Bobby The Brain Heeanan, without any hesitation. But I’ve studied many managers for years, WCW Paul E Dangerously and Memphis era Jimmy Hart are some other favorites.

It’s hard to just have one favorite wrestler. Who is on your Mount Rushmore of Wrestling?

Whenever someone asks me I throw managers in there. So Heenan, Heyman, Sherri Martel and Jimmy Hart.

Who is currently your favorite Manager in Wrestling?

Currently active, Paul Heyman. The wiseman, he just gets all of it and adapts as he goes. He’s done some of his best work in years with the Bloodline storyline

I have to say I’ve been pretty impressed with Prince Nana of late, who I never found that great in ROH, but he’s been doing a great job in AEW even outside of his dance.

What is the most important part of the manager role in your opinion?

Letting the talent shine. No better to articulate it but knowing when to be part of things and when to let the wrestlers do their thing. Managers get too much attention; takes the focus away from the action.

What one match of yours that you are most proud of?

Well I’m not a wrestler so can’t say any matches I’ve been part of were great from my standpoint. I’m very proud of the work I did in Dr.Kyotos retirement match, I have had the utmost respect for Dr.Kyoto for years, in fact he was the first ever Indie manager I saw live and in a sense showed me that there was an opportunity to do it at a local level. I tried to do my best to make his farewell match in Alberta the best experience.

Who is your dream Wrestler you’d love to manage for?

BVD. Brandon Van Danielson. Who isn’t currently wrestling, but I appreciate everything about him. The think the juxtaposition between how we look would make for some fun stuff and he’s an incredible wrestler. As for someone active, if he wasn’t influenced by his idiot friend ala the RADz, I think Rich King has a ton of potential. I don’t know if I like him but I like the cut of his jib.

Who’s that up and coming wrestler no one is talking about but should be?

Marz the Specialist, times a million. I mean I could say the same about Jack Pride but he’s more seasoned. Marz is young, hungry, dedicated and bursting with talent

What advice do you have for anyone thinking about getting into wrestling?

Train. Get to a training school and train. Feel what it’s like to bump, learn some basics. It’ll paint you a basic picture of how it all works and if you’re not in shape it’ll help get you there and motivate you. If you have trained, always show up. If you’re not going to wrestle and be a side character make sure you’re there to help every show and you never know what might come up.

Favorite venue you have performed in?

The Saddledome in Calgary. Working in front of thousands of people, in a venue that WWE had only ever worked in, in front of one of my idols growing up, Bret Hart and getting dragged out by security across the ice… priceless.

What’s your prematch routine or superstitions?

A tradition I’ve done for years, almost since I first started managing, is like William Regal. I wipe my feet before I entering the ring.

My Mount Rushmore of wrestlers has Regal in it. I was obsessed from him from the moment I saw him work. When I saw he did that and found out why he did I knew that would be something I’d do. It’s a sign of respect to everyone that’s putting their bodies on the line in that ring and paying respect to it.

I’m sure the car rides are long so what’s on your play list?

I’m notorious for a very eclectic taste in music. The podcast Coverville is a favourite source of free and interesting covers. Mostly punk, metal and old country though.

What food spot are you hitting up while on the road? What are you ordering?

I’m a sucker for supporting local business so I’d probably do a bit of online research on the way and find out the places the locals are gushing about

What do you say to the people who say wrestling is fake?

I’d probably laugh and say everything is fake nowadays, right?! I don’t really care to entertain those people. There’s no greater joy in wrestling than watching someone take their first bump. No one in that scenario will ever think wrestling is fake.

What is the one thing you would change about the wrestling business?

Tribalism. I try to change that already just through simple discussion. Let your people like what they like and not like what they don’t. To quote the boss “Don’t yuck anyones yum”.

If you weren’t in the wrestling business what would you be doing?

What I’m doing when I’m not at wrestling shows, spending time with my family.

What are your goals the rest of 2023 and into 2024?

Continue Se7ens dominance of LPW, but first the Judge must go.

When you brought Se7en together what was your thought process on picking out this group that has made huge waves in LPW?

Pride was what brought Se7en together. Throughout time there has always been a Se7en, in fact Jack Pride had already had an iteration of Se7en before that he wanted me to join. What had changed was that it truly was the time and place for this group. We had some of the best talent and we were all aligned with how we wanted to accomplish that through Pride.

When it’s time to hang them up, what do you hope people will say about your wrestling career?

That I was one of the best managers and/or content producers of my era for Indie wrestling in Canada. The Archer Report unintentionally became a key part of my career but I love having another creative output.

Where can the fans see you perform next?

As of now LPW 20 and 21 on the last Friday of October and November respectively. Love Pro Wrestling is currently the only place I’m plying my tremendous skills, but I am open to bookings elsewhere. I can manage, do colour commentary or interview!

By the time readers may see this you might be out of Love Pro Wrestling as the match against the RADz a losing Manager Leaves LPW match. What’s your mindset heading into that match?

Simple, to win, by any means necessary. There are only two outcomes here and there is only one I’ll accept, I need to win.

Does being involved in another Manager leaves LPW Match with Dr. Kyoto give you an advantage over Ben Oomen or is the unpredictable nature of these match something you can’t predict?

It certainly has given me experience in the ring. I’ve only ever been in a handful of matches during my long career but it’s put me ahead of Ben who really hasn’t had any. Nothing is unpredictable if you understand all the variables. This one, though, has more depth than my match with Dr.Kyoto because the RADz are a very tight unit. They will put everything they have into retaining Ben.

What can the fans expect when they come out and see you live in person?

They will hate me. And me hate them in return.

Where can fans go to follow you on Social Media?

@thaddeusarcher3 on FB and Twitter @thaddeusarcher on IG and Thaddeus Archer the Third or TA3TVv on Youtube

A huge thank you to Thaddeus for taking time out this week to tell his story. Make sure you shoot him a follow on all his social medias. Definitely do yourself a favor and check him out when he comes to a town near you. As always keep it locked here for your latest Get To Knows featuring the best independent Wrestlers from across the planet!

October 27, 2023 0 comments

LPW 20: Planet, Slammet, Janet!

by Pluggo October 26, 2023

written by Pluggo

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: LPW is coming coming off the heels of the biggest event in our history, or something to that effect. When you have Speedball Mike Bailey showing up and putting on a banger with MRB, plus a match of the year frontrunner in Zoe Sager vs Judas Icarus (my opinion) and a brand new Challenge Champion in Travis Williams being crowned, it’s damn hard to argue that LPW 19 wasn’t the biggest show in company history. That doesn’t mean we are satisfied here at LPW, though, and LPW 20 is about to show you that this is just the beginning of the promotions getting even bigger and better!

It’s now time for LPW 20: Planet, Slammet, Janet! Don’t sleep on 20, baby. We have debuts, returns, career-defining opportunities, and even a couple of LPW careers on the line. So buckle up, because Friday night at the Rec Room will be a night to remember – or forget, if you’re Ben Ooman Or Thaddeus Archer.

Reid Matthews vs Dean Richtor

We will never know what a Matthews win at LPW 19 would have meant for this card. He had one job: To keep The RADz’ names off the Grand Championship contract. One has to wonder if the Intangible camp isn’t overly thrilled, and this has now become a bit of a “prove your worth” match. You know Reid is going to come out of the gate swinging to show Zoe Sager last month was simply a fluke.

Don’t for one-second think Dean is just going to sit back and take a beating to help Matthews get back in the bosses’ good graces. After a solid showing last month, Rictor is back and looking to get that statement win in LPW. This has all the making of a knock-down drag-out fight as both men have something to prove and neither are the type to back down from anyone.

Rose vs Seleiza Sparx

We have one of my favorites returning in ROSE, who is always a fun person to watch. She’s taking on the debuting Seleiza Sparx out of Toronto. All I’ll say about this one is, if you are looking for two awesome wrestlers to add to your must-watch list, I think at the end of their match you will have found two! I’m very excited to see what these two bring to the Rec Room on Friday.

The RADz with Ben Ooman vs Se7en with Thaddeus Archer The 3rd

Losing Teams Manager must leave LPW

First and foremost, I just can’t believe we are looking at the possibility of LPW without Ben or Thad in it. That’s what happens when you’ve pushed LPW management, and most notably Spencer, to the edge. Every damn show these two teams have to be separated because they simply can’t stand one another and being the top team in LPW means that much. They have derailed matches, shows, backstage areas, you name it. It’s become a war zone.

In the past couple of months, we have seen the RADz have some issues with being on the same page while Se7en has seemingly figured out their own issues and has been rolling. As if dealing with Se7en wasn’t bad enough, the RADz’ own Larry Woods has a massive Grand Championship Match later that night. Will that be on their minds? Will TY Jackson be fully focused knowing that was supposed to be his shot? What will Ben be wearing? (I hear it’s dope.) So many questions on the RADz side. For the first time in LPW history, they don’t feel like the favorites. That said, don’t ever count them out as they always seem to come up with a plan.

Se7en looks to put an end to Ben Ooman behind TJ Cannon and Marz The Specialist. I spoke to Marz in my latest “Get To Know” and he assured me that regardless of what happens, Se7en will continue to run LPW but I’d have to imagine having Thaddeus in the fold would be the outcome they would prefer.

LPW Tag Team Championship

Para Lira vs Son of Irish and Jared Rodgers

The second Son of Irish came out to help Rodgers while Para Lira was beating him down at LPW 19. I jumped and said, ‘Yes, please! Give me this tag match!’ Wouldn’t you know, I got what I wanted! Damn, is this how Batista felt? Anyway, I’m getting off track. After coming up short in his latest LPW Challenge Championship defense, losing to Travis Williams, SOI looks to capture Tag Gold with the rookie sensation Rogers.

Para Lira has had this loaded division in a chokehold for months now and doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon. You can dislike how they keep the title, but you can’t argue with the results. Can they overpower this newly formed tag team and keep the crowd out of it? We will see. All I know is Irish and Rodgers, talented as they are, it’s going to be an uphill climb if they hope to have their hands raised Friday night.

Scramble Championship Match

Jack Pride vs Wolfboy Will Mantla vs El Asesino Vs Sasquatch

What was originally supposed to be a conspiracy and a Sasquatch in the mix has now become a Waltz and Cruz for Jack Pride, Wolfboy and El Asesino. Now don’t let those names fool you as it won’t be a Waltz in the park for any of these competitors as Maurice Waltz joins the mix as an up-comer in the Canadian scene. Add in a Riley Cruz and you have yourself a damn good scramble match.

Now, can the Man of Two Minds keep his mind on the prize considering the stakes involved with his Manager Thaddeus Archer the Third? That said you have to expect Pride will be leading by example and setting up Se7en for a potentially huge evening. The bigger question? What will the Man of Two Minds be rocking this spooky season? Last year’s Joker-inspired gear was fire as the kids say.

Clandestine Society vs ReLoaded and Liiza Hall

The gold standard in LPW for factions goes up against ReLoaded, who stood out in their LPW 18 debut, and Liiza Hall, who always shows out in an LPW. This is just one of those matches where you throw out a build, a story, or even a beef and just put badass people in a ring and see what they can do. This match has massive potential to steal the show, as all the parts are simply fantastic professional wrestlers.

LPW Grand Championship

Zoë Sager vs Lumberjack Larry Woods

The stipulation was very clear from the beginning. If TY Jackson wins at LPW, the RADz get a Grand Championship Title shot. After months of pleading and refusing to take no for an answer, TY did it. He beat Zoe’s insurance policy in Matthews, and the stage is set. TY gets his shot…or did he? Well when TY went to sign the contract, it was already signed by Larry.

Emotions ran high amongst the group but ultimately TY gave Larry his blessing and here we are. At this point in the night, where will the RADz’ heads be, will they have lost their manager? Will Ben be there to celebrate a win and does winning cure all? Will having the Grand Championship with them will be enough to right the ship? There’s a lot on the line for the RADz Friday.

For the Intangible Zoe Sager, this is just another LPW show as Grand Champion. While she wasn’t thrilled about it being Larry and not TY when I spoke to her about it for the LPW Show over on Patreon, the outcome is expected to be the same as it was against everyone else who’s stepped to Sager since she beat MRB for the belt.

Another great night is ahead for Love Pro Wrestling. We will have answers to so many questions as this card is loaded with so much story and compelling matchups.

So whether you are going to be at the Rec Room in Edmonton or watching, as I will be, on Twitch.tv/LoveWrestlingCA, enjoy and have a good time!

October 26, 2023 0 comments

Get To Know: Marz The Specialist

by Pluggo October 24, 2023

written by Pluggo

What’s a more killer way to return to the Get To Know Spotlight interviews than to chat with none other than Reid Matthews? …..Wait. I already talked with Reid, so is this a part two? It couldn’t be. *Scratches my head in confusion* Oh yes, that’s right! I had to triple-check it, but I’m almost certain today’s guest is none other than Marz The Specialist out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

All jokes aside, Marz is one of my favorite independent wrestlers in the world. I first came across Marz while he was wrestling for Love Pro Wrestling and was immediately drawn to his style. I couldn’t do this series without having him on. We chatted about his influences in wrestling, being a member of Se7en, his upcoming match at LPW 20 against the RADz and so much more. Without further ado, let’s Get To Know Marz The Specialist.

At what moment did you realize you wanted to be in the wrestling business?

The first moment I saw Edge wrestling in the ring, which I believe was my second time ever watching wrestling. Oddly enough, it was during his weird Kane feud in 2010, but my child brain didn’t know what was happening besides he was good in the ring and cool.

How did you get started in wrestling?

I started training back in 2021 and quickly started doing the independent shows that were running around the end of COVID-19 times. So not a lot of variety at the time, but I was lucky that I started when everyone was in one place, so I could meet and pick everyone’s mind.

Who would you say is your biggest influence in wrestling?

Biggest influence is easily Bryan Danielson/Daniel Bryan. Looking at how I portray myself in the ring, my moveset, and a lot of my mannerisms, I think it is a pretty easy tell.

It’s hard to just have one favorite wrestler. Who is on your Mount Rushmore of wrestling?

I always say I have two Mount Rushmores, personal favorites and just the general Mount Rushmore. My own is Bryan Danielson, Edge, Eddie Guerrero, and Mick Foley, whilst the all-timers are Stone Cold, Hulk Hogan, John Cena, and The Rock.

Who is currently your favorite wrestler?

Current favorite is still probably Bryan Danielson or Edge. It has been flipping a lot recently.

What one match of yours that you are most proud of?

Nailing down to absolutely one is so hard for me, so I’m going against the question and doing a few! Me and Steven Crowe, literally all of them. My best opponent if you ask me. Our first banger at LPW 4 is still one I bring up to this day, and I absolutely adore our Iron Man Match. Myself and TJ Cannon, specifically our 2 out of 3 falls in Winnipeg and even more our LPW 15 match, which is also to many the dumbest match on my body. Myself and Reid Matthews, our feud of summer 2022 ending with our 3 Stages of Hell is probably my favorite string of matches with a person. Any time me and Shaun Moore are together, specifically at Big Visions Wrestling. Finally, The Short Kings, myself and Reid, vs Jordan Oasis and Malik Melo at WrestleCore. Quite possibly the most adrenaline I’ve ever had in a match.

Who is your dream match?

Bryan Danielson is the easy answer. Travis Williams is definitely up there because it still has somehow never happened. But the impossible dream match is probably Kurt Angle.

You’ve mentioned Danielson a few times as his career seems to be winding down according to him. What is your favorite match of his career?

That’s a tough one for me, but I can narrow it down to two for sure, with two honourable mentions. Honours go to the WrestleMania 30 Main Event Triple Threat and Summerslam 2013 main event vs John Cena. I remember watching WrestleMania 30 at 14 years old with a good friend of mine in a movie theater, so not necessarily a live crowd but still a good chunk of Canadians out here enjoying wrestling. And the theatre erupting in YES’s when he won is something I’ll never forget. The John Cena match has less of a story, it’s just a match I used to study a bunch.

The top two for me are vs Brock Lesnar Survivor Series 2018 and vs Zack Sabre Jr at WrestleDream. Maybe recency bias on the latter, but as a man who goes by “Technical Tactician,” I can’t pass up two of the best technicians going at it. And the Brock match for the longest time was my favorite, I remember watching with my family, all getting mad at another Brock Lesnar squash. How wrong we were! I absolutely love this match.

Who’s that up-and-coming wrestler no one is talking about but should be?

Honestly, Riley Cruz and Jared Rogers are the two off the top of my head. Jared has worked so hard since I first saw him step into a ring at a Clandestine mini-camp. Riley had a match with me at PPW in Saskatoon and for less than 10 matches in, absolutely blew me away. Keep an eye out for them.

What advice do you have for anyone thinking about getting into wrestling?

My advice isn’t anything special really. Open mind, take in as much information as possible, and be open to taking in that information. Being stubborn kills learning opportunities. And just work as hard as possible.

What is you favorite venue to perform in?

Favorite venue is easily the Saddledome for the PWA Battle at the Dome. It meant so much to be able to perform on that stage in front of all those people. I even had some people who I haven’t talked to in years message me about it because they were there and happened to see me. An incredible day.

What’s your pre-match routine or superstitions?

Biggest one I can think of is after I’m done wetting my hair and getting everything ready I start pacing around just getting in the zone to get into the match. Pure mental game for me.

I’m sure the car rides are long so what’s on your playlist?

I have a very large variety of music I listen to. Rock, punk, pop, video game music, and a lot of wrestling themes. Me and TJ Cannon like to joke that Steven Crowe’s “Rhinestone Cowboy” theme kept us alive on many late-night drives.

What food spot are you hitting up while on the road? What are you ordering?

Everyone who knows me knows the answer is Denny’s. Absolutely love all-day breakfast, and anything brunch wins my heart. My go-to’s are either breakfast sandwiches or the Slam Burger.

What do you say to the people who say wrestling is fake?

I don’t get the “wrestling is fake” complaint. I watched fight scenes in movies, games, and cartoons and that’s what I always compare it to to those that aren’t sports-oriented. “You watched Game of Thrones? You know the fight scenes aren’t them actually fighting and that those stories are told by actors, not real soldiers, kings and queens?

” Wrestling is melodrama, it’s tragedy, triumph, it’s love, it’s heartbreak. Wrestling is my favorite form of storytelling in the world.

What is the one thing you would change about the wrestling business?

I guess what I would change is less purely wrestling and more so an entertainment and workers rule. For me, though, I wish there was less risk with travel and work in other countries. Travel is one of my favorite parts of wrestling, and most Canadian wrestlers know how hard it can be to expand beyond the borders.

If you weren’t in the wrestling business what would you be doing?

It’s honestly hard for me to say. I love entertainment so I would probably still do something acting or skit-wise but besides that, I would probably pursue something full-time in the fitness industry.

Who knows, I still might, to supplement my wrestling career. For now, I’ve done some classes, but nothing beyond that.

What are your goals for 2023?

For the rest of 2023, it’s to try and get out as much as I can to other provinces and entertain as much as I can. Into next year I want to slowly start expanding into different countries and see how far I can go. America is the big one but I would also love Japan or Europe!

When it’s time to hang them up, what do you hope people will say about your wrestling career?

Everyone who knows me knows I want to be the best in every aspect of the word. I want to be the best in the ring, the best flyer, the best technician, the best entertainer, best talker. I don’t know how to explain it, but it all stems from the desire to be remembered. When I’m long gone and passed I want future generations to talk about me for years to come. The idea of being just a little blurb in the course of history doesn’t sit right. I want people to mention my name for generations to come.

Where can the fans see you perform next?

Every month at Love Pro Wrestling and Clandestine Wrestling Society and at the time of writing this, I’m also going to PPW in Saskatoon this weekend!

What has it been like to be a part of Se7en, one of the fastest-rising factions in Canada?

Like I said previously, I love storytelling. And for me, that story we were able to tell upon Se7en becoming a thing, with the initial three months of me still being how I’ve always been, to the turn on Steven Crowe in May after the match with TJ – that is what I love, not just being in a group with two of my best friends, but to expand myself into something I never thought of and tell unique stories that the fans can engage in. That night of the turn, the whirlwind we brought everyone on is something I love.

Speaking of Se7en, you guys have a pretty huge matchup against the RADz coming up at LPW 20. The losers’ manager has to leave LPW. Are you prepared for life after Thaddeus Archer The 3rd or is that simply not an option?

By no means is this to discredit what Thaddeus does for us, but if something were to happen to him, or any one of us really, we’re all more than capable of handling ourselves and going through whatever we need to.

That being said, though, there’s no need to worry about it. Thad isn’t going anywhere, but Ben will have a one-way ticket to a retirement home once LPW 20 is over this month.

What can fans expect when they see you wrestle?

When one comes out to see me, they can expect to see someone who will give his all every time. Like I’ve stated before, I think wrestling is the best form of storytelling, and I want to tell an engrossing story every time I’m out there. I want everyone to feel engaged and want to make sounds, boo or cheer, towards what’s happening in the ring. And to that end, people can expect me to put my body on the line in crazy stunts and moves, a technical showcase, a show of power and high-flying combat, a little bit of everything, really, to put on the best show.

Where can fans go to follow you on social media?

I’m on Instagram, Tiltok, and Twitter (X, ew) @MarzSpecialist and Facebook Marz the Specialist. You can also find me and Reid’s comedy skits and podcasts on YouTube and Spotify – Short Kings on both platforms!

This was a blast and an honor for me, so a huge thank you to Marz The Specialist. Please make sure to follow him on all his socials and chat with him live when he comes to a town near you. Or, as he said, catch him at the end of the month at our home promotion Love Pro Wrestling. As always, keep it locked here for future interviews with the best independent wrestlers from all over the planet.

October 24, 2023 0 comments

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