Thomas Brewington is a hero to many outside the wrestling ring. As a spokesperson for Dropkick Depression, he has been open and honest about his personal struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts. His honesty and candor have helped those who struggle with depression see they are not alone, and his efforts have helped others to better understand what life is like for people who battle depression on a daily basis.
Thomas Brewington is a real hero – outside the ring. Inside the ring, he’s a real jerk, and he’s one of the wrestlers reinventing kayfabe.
Kayfabe, as it once existed, is indeed gone, but it is far from dead. It is evolving into something new. As previously discussed on this blog, Mr. Darius Carter is inventing it in his own way by refusing to give shoot interviews or sell T-shirts. And as much as Sami Callihan stunned the world when he smashed Eddie Edwards in the eye with a baseball bat, he stunned fans and colleagues even more when he refused to apologize for it, owning it on the best episode of Talk Is Jericho I’ve heard all year.
Which brings me to Brewington. A fan who attended a show not too long ago shared this note on Facebook:
To which Brewington gleefully replied:
“It was me.”
As word spread and fans and friends began to voice their reactions on Facebook, Brewington took things even further, posting countless spoilers on his personal page revealing the endings to everything from “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” to Wrestlemania III to “John Tucker Must Die.” He also left fans with this warning:
Kayfabe is not dead. It’s evolving, and even in 2018, a great heel can make even the smartest of marks hate their freaking guts.
This is Aaron Williams, “The Baddest Man Alive.” Aaron had a great weekend because he just won the Pro Wrestling Blitz Heavyweight Champion.
These are my pals Eric Emanon and Thomas Brewington. They had a great weekend as well. They are now the New Phoenix Gemini Tag Team Champions.
And this is the King of Dayton and proud member of Ohio Is 4 Killers, Dave Crist. Dave had a great weekend too. He pinned John Wayne Murdoch clean to become the new IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion.
Why am I telling you about these gentlemen? Because I want you to know them. I want you to follow them. I want you to support them.
As a WWE fan, I know you are aware just how many independent wrestlers have become part of the world’s largest wrestling promotion. A.J. Styles, Kevin Owens, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Cesaro all had stellar careers in the indies before making it to NXT and WWE. If you’re also following NXT, then you’re already following the rise of Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, Cassius Ohno (aka Chris Hero), Ruby Riot (aka Heidi Lovelace) and the other indy “darlings” the WWE has snatched up recently.
I want you to know that the independent wrestling promotions that Gargano, Ciampa, Hero, Lovelace, and the others left behind are not dying off like the old territories the WWF killed in the 1980s. They are thriving. They are growing not only in popularity, but in quality. I want you to know this because I want you to become a fan.
Yes, it is true, the independent scene is full of green wrestlers, spot monkeys, and guys who only care about getting their s*** in, but there are many men and women and tag teams still working the independents who could easily fill any spot on the NXT or WWE roster right now.
Independent wrestling is growing. There are more promotions in more places than there have been in a generation. Your local promotion(s) may run monthly or weekly, which means you can see live wrestling far more often than you are now with the WWE.
True, the crowds and venues are smaller in the indies, but that also means tickets are more affordable, and your access to the wrestlers is greater. You’re closer to the action and at a much better price, and the heels can actually hear you when you call them names.
And here’s the best part: you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to meet your favorite stars. The T-shirts at the gimmick tables are half of what you’ll pay at a WWE show. Everyone is happy to shake your hand and take a selfie – except maybe Mr. Darius Carter.
I’m not telling you to give up the WWE. I enjoy the Network and NXT as much as any fan. But make no mistake: the WWE and NXT would not be what they are without the INDY scene that has come to be. I’m offering you the chance to see more live wrestling. I’m asking you to give guys like Aaron, Dave, Eric, and Thomas a chance. I want you to get out there and discover other guys like Matt Riddle, Ron Mathis, The Hitman for Hire Mr. Grim, Desmond Xavier, Zachary Wentz, Gary Jay, Chip Day, Murder One, Timmy Lou Retton, Matt Cross, Michael Elgin, Menace, Facade, Jake Crist, Sami Callahan, and Jimmy Rave. I want you to discover the other ladies who fueled the “women’s revolution,” like Kelly Klein, LuFisto, Su Yung, Samantha Heights, Leva Bates (remember Blue Pants?), Mickie Knuckles, Rachel Ellering, Taeler Hendrix, Candice LeRae, Veda Scott, Mia Yim, Allisin Kay, Jessicka Havok, and Jordynne Grace. I want you to discover the amazing tag teams packing houses across the country including the Hooligans, Viking War Party, War Machine, OI4K, and the Carnies. You can even find comedy wrestlers, guys like Colt Cabana, Space Monkey, and the notorious party animal, Joey Ryan.
There’s never been a better time to get into independent wrestling than now. Search a few of these names on YouTube. Find and follow them on Facebook or Twitter. Then find a promotion running in your area. I’m not asking you to trade one for the other. Just get out and support the superstars of tomorrow, today. They will not let you down.
Please support these guys by buying their merch AND going to their shows. If they’re not working anywhere near you, you can find Aaron Williams on Rockstar Pro Network and the other guys on High Spots.
The wrestling business is filled with men who turned to the squared circle after spending most of their lives on the gridiron. From the early days of Bronco Nagurski to the WWE’s Big E, many football players have found a second career and a second chance in wrestling.
Mike Orlando grew up playing football. He played in college and even got a look from the NFL team. Deep down, Mike was never a sports fan. He got into football for one reason: he wanted to look like a wrestler.
Orlando grew up watching the WWE, idolizing the character of the Ultimate Warrior while admiring the technical brilliance of Chris Jericho and Triple H. Orlando recognized the excellence Jericho and Triple H brought to the ring, so when his football days were over, he went to wrestling school to follow in their footsteps.
Orlando’s first stop was Old Time Wrestling in Glassboro NJ. Under the tutelage of former ECW official Jim Molineaux, he learned the basics of how to work in the ring as well as the etiquette of the locker room. Orlando then made his way to the Sanctuare, Jon Patrick Trosky took him under his wing. “This was the deciding factor of my life in wrestling as he took me from a boy playing wrestler and made me into the worker you see today.”
Orlando has worked with a number of stars in his young career including Mike Verna, Dalton Castle, EC3, Chris Masters, and Matt Macintosh, but ask him to name his best match and he’ll tell you, “My best match is yet to happen.” Orlando carries the college football mentality that you are only as good as your last play. He is focused on learning and improving with every opportunity given to him in the hopes it will lead to the ultimate goal: a match at Wrestlemania.
Ask him to name a dream opponent and Orlando goes right back to his days as a fan. “Jericho or Triple H. I’m going to go on a whim and say Jericho and myself would be out of this world. I admire his work so much inside and out of the ring.”
“Mike is a hard worker, with a bright future,” says Thomas Brewington of the Indy Card Mafia. “He has all the tools to make it to ‘the show,’ and has earned everything he’s been given to opportunity to attain.”
Orlando currently holds the Sanctuary Heavyweight Championship, the UPWA Carolinas Championship, and the IWA Vintage Heavyweight Champion. He’s a regular at Sanctuary, ECPW, UPWA, EVOLVE, and CZW. “People can see me work everywhere. You never know where I will show up next. I pride myself with having as many matches a week as possible.”
Time will tell of his Wrestlemania dream can come true. Orlando knows it won’t come easy, and he remains grateful for everything that has happened thus far. “I hope in the next five to ten years I’m blessed to be doing this amazing job on a main stage. I want to make a living off of this forever. As long as I’m doing so, I’ll be happy.”
Very happy to share the news about a new film starring Thomas Brewington of the Indy Card Mafia. “Project Wrestling: Chasing Dreams” is a documentary about life in today’s independent wrestling scene. In his own words, “I want to have a positive influence on professional wrestling and leave the sport better than when I got in.”
Thomas Brewington’s story can be seen for free right now on YouTube.
By all accounts, The Rick’s had a rough year. He was forced to temporarily change the name of his promotion. Financial troubles forced him to go on hiatus. Then he and his family lost everything when their home was flooded.
But all is not lost for The Rick. His friends came together to do a benefit show, and his beloved Duke Blue Devils won the national title. The Rick knows he’s been blessed, and this Christmas, he’s bringing the gang back to do a little giving themselves.
Destination One Wrestling returns from hiatus Friday night at The Arena in Jeffersonville. D1W was known for bringing a fast paced show featuring some of the best indie stars from across the country, and this weekend will be no different.
D1W Champion Ron Mathis, who has spent the year collecting title belts, will be in action defending his title against Cassius Cutcher.
The Madness of Trip returns from New York to take on Rockstar Pro’s Kyle Maverick.
Trip’s partners in mayhem, Eric Emanon and Thomas Brewington of the Indy Card Mafia will be in triple threat tag team action against the Hoosier Daddies and Detroit Versus Everybody.
D1W favorite Lennox Norris faces Mitch Johnson, one of the hottest heels you’ll ever hear on the mic.
More matches still to be announced!
Christmas is only a few weeks away, so The Rick made Friday’s show a Toys for Tots benefit. Bring a toy to donate, and take $5 off the price of admission. Simple as that. It’s a great way to do some good and enjoy a night of terrific wrestling this Friday night.
The wrestling business is filled with men who turned to the squared circle after spending most of their lives on the gridiron. From the early days of Bronco Nagurski to the WWE’s Big E, many football players have found a second career and a second chance in wrestling.
