Win. Lose or Draw.

Somewhere along the way as I began the push to June 27th (Yes, the Blaze Pro Wrestling: Never Give Up event) I found my energy and motivation beginning to flag. 

BPW Presents !

Not because I don't wanna have the higher profile match, but simply because ... well crap, pick your reason.

Old. Tired. Working nights. Daddy duties. Literary convention. Plotting my next novel. Living arrangement issues. Regular aches and pains.

You know.

Life.

Let me tell you, no motivational "What are you willing to give up? What are you willing to Sacrifice?" speech or video you see being shouted in your face by those really swell people online who look super happy and fit  is gonna be able to wipe away LIFE and how it can drag you down.

Don't misunderstand. I'm in a very good place, there are so many things and people I am grateful for ...  I am truly happy.

That don't make shit any easier though.

Getting to ring training before work was more of a slog than it should've been. Props to the crew that showed up to work hard. I'd come in with every intention to push my pace; get us running, doing footwork and grappling drills, working on more complicated sequences.

Lotsa Grey Here

Not to say what we worked on wasn't good. I remain incredibly proud of this group and the progress I see them making every damned week. They all worked super hard and added to their collective toolboxes. 

I just expect more of myself.

Somewhere my therapist is probably making space on the couch for my return. Wanting to have another in depth discussion about how "everyone has limits" and how "No one expects me to be more than who I am."

The thing is though, is that I always expect more of me. 

I'm told that every athlete goes through this feeling (and yes, I am referring to myself as an athlete - suck it all my haters and their masturbatory podcasts). Where no matter how much one still has to offer to their chosen sport, the realization that they'll never be as good as they used to be is tough to swallow. Hell, its the reason why high level athletes often get cut and traded well before they think they're ready to hang it up.

Sometimes they prove people wrong and lead teams to greatness. Others blow out their Achilles on the

Fuck This Guy

first sequence and prove their haters right. 

I guess that's what's bugging me going into this match. Mentallo is out there on the road right now, still working at the top of his game. A top level athlete making the towns, having 50-plus matches a year (at minimum) still paying the price and giving crowds main event quality matches.

And I'm struggling to get through 45 minutes on the cross-trainer 4-times a week.

Look, as I write this it's 3AM. My body clock is an absolute mess and I'm trying to ignore some aches and pains that Advil isn't managing.

So, most of this feeling is just internal self-doubt.

And fear.

Man, that's hard to write. 

True though.

I'm afraid that I'm gonna metaphorically (I hope) blow out my Achilles on June 27th.

The version of me that was able to keep up with and go hold for hold, step for step with the top flight wrestlers who were often half my damned size is long gone. I've adapted and adjusted to remain competitive and relevant for a long time.

The ability to do that has always come through hard work. Battling my "War of Dad Blog", spending time in the gym, trying not to eat terribly and just... just putting in the effort.

Half Assed Effort Gets Half Assed Results.

I try to do everything with my Whole Ass.

Uh... You know what I mean.

Look, if you made it this far into my rambling please take this thought away.

In two weeks I plan to be the best version of myself possible. It will not be the version of myself I'd like to show you all, that man is about a decade behind me. However, I believe I've got more to give. The BPW office, crew and trainees have shown me more support and encouragement than I've received in wrestling - probably ever. And THEY Believe I've got more to give.

In a tough, carny industry where there's so much back-talking and politicking I want to repay their kindness and love by bringing my Best Effort to the Ring.

Win. Lose or Draw. 

*****

I'll post more gym updates in a day or so for anyone interested. I also wrote out some gym fundamentals the other day for a beginner, so I can make a version of those available to anyone who might be interested.

Back to work.

AK

LINKS

Thank You

I've tried a few times to be clever and verbose with this like I'm prone to doing a few times already. And as much as I'd like to blame fatigue, the trauma of concussions past, or some early onset dementia ... the fact remains is that I don't have any witty words, here.

So, thank you.

Last Friday - prior to the start of the Blaze Pro Wrestling: Anarchy in April event - I was "lovingly ambushed" by the entire crew and roster, called to the ring and presented with a very classy plaque, celebrating my goofy self for surviving 30 Years in the Wrestling Industry.

To say I was moved would be an understatement.

I'm sure that there is / will be video footage of the moment. So brace yourself to see a giant man struggling to keep it together for a good minute or so.

It was a lovely surprise - and this is from a guy who famously hates being surprised.

Anyways. 

To Billy. To Diamond. To Tony.

To everyone who works with BPW. To every one of the trainees and veterans who show up to training every week and works their butts off to get better - inspiring Me to Stay Better. 

To everyone who's ever shared a ring with me- yeah, even those of you who think I'm a jerk, a Liberal Leftie, or just the shits in general - you know who you are, enjoy your podcasts.

To the people in attendance last Friday, hell to everyone who's ever bought a ticket either to explicitly see me (or begrudgingly stayed once they saw I was on the card).

To my family. To my loved ones. To my little girl.

Thank you.

I'm not done yet. The long, winding road is getting closer to it's destination. But that final stop isn't here yet.

Looking forward to getting my boots back on and doing this all again.

That said, let's make it official with an actual plug:

June 27th, 2025
BLAZE PRO WRESTLING

Winnipeg, MB
440 Tissot St

MAIN EVENT for the PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP
"The Zombie Hunter" MENTALLO vs "The Outlaw" ADAM KNIGHT

Mentallo and I have trained together, travelled the roads together, flown to foreign countries together,  battled on two different continents dozens of times over the past quarter-century. Mentallo remains one of the greatest athletes and wrestlers I know and one of my favorite opponents.

The truest lesson I've learned in thirty years? Nobody deserves anything in the wrestling business. 

So, I have two months to make damned sure I've earned this opportunity to shine at Mentallo's level once again.

Stay Tuned.

AK

LINKTREE 

BPW Anarchy in April: This Friday!

 

THIS FRIDAY !!!

Blaze Pro Wrestling presents "ANARCHY IN APRIL" LIVE from the St Louis Centre at 445 Tissot St in Winnipeg MB. Doors open at 630 bell time 7PM. Get there early because this show is SOLD OUT so seating will be very, very limited.

It's going to be an exciting night of action. An evening of debuts. And most importantly an evening of New Champions being crowned.

In the main event of the evening the inaugural Blaze Pro Wrestling TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS will be decided as 4 teams battle in a single elimination, Round Robin Tournament to determine who will be taking home the gold.

Rookie sensations EL DIABLO BLANCO and THE STEEL STUDD will be teaming up to test their mettle again veteran brawler REGGIE GALLAGHER and the always dangerous CORY DIAMOND. Back at BPW: NO REGRETS in February, Diamond let his frustrations get the better of him in his battle against fan favorite MUSTACHIO, accepting the help from his old friend Gallagher. Together, the reformed Teammates laid a tremendous beating on the man from the Mushroom Kingdom until Studd and Blanco arrived to save the day.

As such, the BPW Office is giving both these teams the chance to settle their differences in the Opening Round of the Tag Title Tournament. Will the young upstarts have the wherewithal to counterbalance the weight of THE COMPANY.

In other First Round Action, the war between BIG CLIFF and ADAM KNIGHT seems to have reached its breaking point. These two super heavyweights have been battling across Manitoba since the summer of 2024 at every BPW Event. After Cliff enrolled the assistance of his MASKED MENACE to upset the balance, BILLY BLAZE came forward to team with the 30 year veteran Knight. Back at NO REGRETS these two teams engaged in a wild brawl, culminating in an unfortunate disqualification after Knight lost his temper and laid hands upon the referee.

Whether its the ending of a Grudge Match or the prospect of becoming Champions motivating these four men, one thing is for certain - this match will be a difficult one to keep inside of the ring..

SWEET DEBUT

Also in action, making her official in-ring debut will be BPW trainee KANDY KHAOS as she takes on the mysterious ZAMIL. These two had a brief encounter at NO REGRETS leading to the signing of this match. 

KHAOS will be a perpetual underdog every time she steps into the ring, often facing larger opponents. But her trainers are excited for her to show the world just how hard she's been working and even more importantly, how hard she's gonna hit when she get her chance.


PROVINCIAL TITLE ON THE LINE

The reigning and defending BPW Provincial Champion MENTALLO continues his wrestling adventures This Friday in Winnipeg after many matches on the road. The world travelling Lucha-Resu specialist will be taking on the Massive, 375lb "BOSTON BRUISER" KEVIN O'DOYLE . These two men are no strangers to each other, having battled across the provinces in recent years. But it's always a spectacle to see the Massive O'Doyle step into the ring against the high tempo offence of The Champion, Mentallo.

All of this and More - This FRIDAY in Winnipeg!


****


Sometimes I like to dust off my promotion writing skills, you know. Do a bit of the Hard Sell. Feel free to use this to plug and push the event anywhere and everywhere you like.  It's gonna be a lot of fun. If you've got a ticket, fantastic. If you know someone who has them, do you best to buy one off of them.  This is going to be a special show.

Recap to follow next week. 

AK

ALL MY LINKS

Some very old school Indy Wrestling

 

Because sometimes it's important to remember where you started. Namely in front of about 30 kids in a community centre on a Wednesday night in 1998. Wearing a mishmash of grungy crap and having no regard for your body or the rules of engagement.

Yknow. Being in your 20s.

Enjoy. 

AK