Classic Wrestling

As the final episode of A Bridge Podcast Season 2 wrapped up, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. We had scheduled the remaining episodes for distribution in the coming weeks, and I was looking forward to a break from the relentless production schedule. The constant juggling act of my various roles in the entertainment industry was sucking the life out of me, and I needed a reprieve. With more time on my hands to pursue my own creativity, I decided to step back from the hustle and grind of the “dream” and focus on something that had brought joy to my childhood – classic wrestling. I remember growing up, renting VHS tapes from the video store across the street from my childhood apartment, and losing myself in the world of larger-than-life characters, epic battles, and endless entertainment. As Tom “Special T” Frazier and I dove into the editing process for “The Complex,” our Industrial World Wrestling brainchild, I decided to join the WWE Network to gain access to the extensive library of wrestling content that had once captivated me. I needed something to ground me, something that would bring me solace during a time when alcohol had seeped into every aspect of my life, and my drunken ego made it difficult to maintain any semblance of happiness in my role as a producer. I would spend hours watching old matches, marveling at the athleticism, storytelling, and sheer spectacle of it all. The nostalgia washed over me like a warm embrace, reminding me of simpler times when my biggest worry was whether my favorite wrestler would come out on top. For a while, my newfound obsession with classic wrestling provided a much-needed escape from the pressures and expectations of my career. It felt good to lose myself in something that wasn’t about chasing fame, fortune, or the next big thing. Late at night, after Brenna and Alenna were asleep, I’d pour myself a drink and settle into my favorite spot on the couch, scrolling through the WWE Network’s seemingly endless catalog of matches, documentaries, and behind-the-scenes footage. The alcohol, which had once fueled my ego and driven me to the brink of self-destruction, now served as a bittersweet companion during these late-night wrestling marathons. As I continued to indulge in my wrestling obsession, I started to see parallels between the larger-than-life characters of the wrestling world and my own alter ego, King Roach. Both were driven by ambition, a desire for greatness, and a relentless pursuit of their goals. But just like the wrestlers I admired, I too had to confront my demons and find a way to maintain my sense of self, despite the pressure and temptation to give in to them.