Welcome to my first blog entry! For those who do not know me, my name is "Big Bear" Benjamin Boone. I'm an independent wrestler based out of Toledo, Ohio. I was trained in Cleveland, Ohio by the late J.T. Lightning and Johnny Gargano, and have been wrestling since 2007. Each week, I aim to discuss my thoughts, feelings, and other topics associated being an up and coming independent wrestler.
Naturally, when approached to write a blog, my first thought was "What do I write about?" As I was brainstorming ideas, I came across a tweet from Cherry Bomb (a phenomenal wrestler and friend, give her a follow on twitter @cherrybomb). This is what she tweeted this morning:
Seeing that blew me away. And it got me thinking… she is absolutely right! We are on the cusp of something truly amazing right now in professional wrestling. People like Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins, EC3 (among more) are youth leaders of a movement in the major wrestling organizations. And on the independents, people like the Young Bucks, Johnny Gargano (among many more) are creating waves. There is an excitement and buzz about our sport, being at a high that hasn't been reached in some time. For each of these people (like a Kevin Owens, Young Bucks, or EC3), how much time did they dream of the life they're living? How much work did they have to put in to get to where they are at now? To answer both questions, LOTS of time were spent visualizing and actualizing their dreams.
I share Cherry Bomb's sentiments about being happy for these people and making waves. Some of these people I do not know, and others are good friends. Their victories are mine too. That said, I often analyze if my dreams are reality? In my 8 years of being an independent wrestler, I have been a part of some really cool scenarios. Things like wrestling a match with Scott Steiner (one of my favorite wrestlers in high school) in Newfoundland, Canada immediately spring to mind. Sitting in a pizza restaurant with Roddy Piper and hearing stories about Vince McMahon Sr. and the territory days is something I would have never envisioned! Perhaps the most surreal was being in Dennis Stamp's first match in 24 years in Cleveland, Ohio's AIW! You couldn't even write something like that!
With those moments, I have much more I want to do and experience before I can say my dreams became reality. I cannot rest on the laurels of what I have done in order to improve my future. I'm 29 years old, so I go knowing that many more cool and surreal experiences are around the corner if I continue to put in the hard work. In the meanwhile, for people like me on the scene improving and getting out, I'm taking Cherry Bomb's advice of never giving up. And like Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote, "Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn." Who knows what will lie in store next!
Thanks for reading! You can add me on Facebook, I have a very public profile. I'm also on Twitter and Instagram @BenjaminBoone1. And tune into my periscope @BenjaminBoone1!
Catch me in action this Sunday in:
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