This time last year, I was just a guy who walked into a wrestling school not knowing what I’m getting into. I was not a fan of the sport since I was a kid like any of the other guys in that little training facility in Rancho Cucamonga, California. I was a guy who went to his first wrestling show, an independent wrestling event in West Covina, California and immediately fell in-love with it. That show featured my friend and fellow skate-boarder Jackson Cade. Jackson Cade introduced me to that promoter of that show and his trainer, Scott Hayes. Scott Hayes invited me to try it out and the rest is history.
Scott put me through a lot of hardship. He broke me down mentally, physically and emotionally and really prepared me for the sport in case I decide to go through with it. To make the story short, I’ve loved the challenge that he presented to me each and every day I got through in between the ropes and I’ve developed a passion for it that I’ve only had so far that time for skateboarding. Right then and there, Ryan Lopez the skateboarded faded into obscurity and Ryan Kidd the high-flying, fearless professional wrestler was born.
After six months of training, Scott booked me in one of his shows. I wrestled my first match and I blew everyone away. People couldn’t believe that it was just my first match. They said I looked like I was doing it for years when I stepped in the ring and wrestled that night. Scott booked me every month since then and within a couple of months, I became one of the top pro wrestlers in the Southern California independent wrestling scene. I then started getting booked outside of Southern California. I branched out to Northern California, Washington, Oregon, anyplace they want me to be, I’m there. I’ve learned a lot in those first six months I was wrestling in and around the West Coast.
Then someone suggested to me to send my tape to Pro Wrestling X, an elite pro wrestling promotion based in Crown Point, Indiana. I was hesitating at first because I’ve heard about PWX from fellow workers and they’ve all said that some of the best wrestlers in the world wrestle for PWX. I’m just six months into my rookie year so I don’t know how I’m going to be able to cope up wrestling people who are miles away in experience compare to me. But thankfully, Scott and Jackson talked me in doing it so I did. A few days later, I found myself in an plane on my to Toronto, Canada for a try-out match with PWX. I went in there and did my thing and that’s it… That was the start of my journey.
That journey has taken me all over the United States and Canada wrestling some of the best professional wrestlers in the Western Hemisphere if not the world as after I signed with PWX, my career blew up and I then signed by an independent promotion based in the East Coast called Frontier Grappling Arts Wrestling. I’ve found success in both promotions as I am now one of the most popular wrestler on their respective roster.
I’ve had one hell of a year. I’ve traveled up and down the roads and fought hard to prove myself and show the wrestling world what I can do inside and out of the ring. I’ve had a wonderful journey so far. I’ve met a lot of new people. Met some new friends and made some enemies too. 2012 was a great year but I’ve only just began. 2013 will be a much better year and I can‘t wait to see what the year has in store for me as my journey has now taken me almost full circle. On January 20, my first anniversary in the sport of pro wrestling, I will make my return to my roots… I’m coming back to wrestle in the West Coast. But this time I’ve reach the Holy Grail of all of combat sports… I’ve reach the Sin City.
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[The famous Los Angeles-based radio station KROQ 106.7. “Make it Stop” by Rise Against is currently playing as we see the DJ for this timeslot, a guy in his mid-thirties wearing a Rancid t-shirt and jeans. In front of him across the DJ booth is the man we are all familiar with. He is wearing an light blue A Day To Remember t-shirt and a pair of ragged faded black jeans. They were both laughing at something as Ryan jammed to the song a little bit as it winded down to its end. The DJ then grabbed his headset as an intern handed Ryan’s his. Ryan put his headset on as they await for their cue. The song ended and the station ID played as the DJ made his intro.]
DJ: World famous KROQ 106.7 and you just listened to Rise Against’s “Make It Stop”. And as I promised you at the beginning of the show, we have ourselves a special guest here today. He has been making waves in the independent wrestling scene in the Midwest and the East Coast and this Sunday, he is bringing his brand of exciting pro wrestling to the West Coast as he will be making his debut at the Las Vegas-based promotion Sin City Wrestling. One of Southern California’s favorite son… RYAN KIDD!!
[The group of four people inside the studio that consisted of the producer, a couple of interns and the engineer all cheered for him. Ryan pulled the microphone closer to him as the cheers slowly died down.]
DJ: Ryan welcome to the show. So glad you could join us today.
Ryan: Thank you. I’m really stoked to be here today. It’s a dream come true for me to be interviewed on this station. I’ve been an avid listener of KROQ since I was a kid and it’s really awesome to be here live on-air on the radio station that I listened a lot growing up.
DJ: Thank you for kind words. First of all, how are you today?
Ryan: I’m doing great. I’m still a bit banged up from the brawl I had with AJ Fairchild last Wednesday at PWX’s Adrenaline show and still getting headaches here and there as an effect of the Piledriver to the ladder I took from AJ at FGA’s DVD taping…
[The DJ cut him off.]
DJ: Yeah I actually read about that while I’m doing my research about you. That was nasty, man.
[Ryan nodded.]
Ryan: It is. But I’ve recovered well and this Sunday I’m back inside the ring again.
DJ: And that match will be your debut match for Sin City Wrestling in which where you’ll be facing Daniel Tyler on their Climax Control show to be held at the Grand Ballroom of the Riverside Hotel and Casino in Laughlin, Nevada.
Ryan: Yup. I cant wait. I’m really excited to be going back to my roots and wrestling here in the West Coast again. What’s really interesting is though I’ve never really met Daniel Tyler personally yet nor have I been in the ring with him ever… But he’s somewhat familiar to me due to my connection to his sisters DanI and Tiami.
DJ: That’s right! You do know and work with them!
[Ryan nodded.]
Ryan: Yup. I knew and worked with Tiami in PWX in which where she was a former PWX World Tag Team champion with Jessica Harmony and young Dani just signed a contract with Frontier Grappling Arts Wrestling. So yeah it is a small world after all when you think about it. Who would’ve known that my first match in SCW will be against their brother.
[The DJ nodded.]
DJ: Yeah that really is mind-boggling…
Ryan: Indeed it is…
DJ: Anyways, I’ve done some research on Daniel Tyler and it looks like you have your work cut out for you. Besides the obvious size advantage and the experience advantage he has on you, this guy seems to be a really, really skilled technical wrestler. Now you’ve said before that you are not the most technical wrestler out there so with that said, how would you approach this match against him? What is your game plan for this match?
Ryan: I’ve watched some tapes and I’ve studied what he can do in the ring. Daniel Tyler is no slouch and you’re right… I do have my work cut out for me. But I’m ready. I’ve been in similar situations before where I’m going in to a match as the underdog and I’ve proved myself just by simply doing what I do best and that is to utilize my speed and by being smart and doing whatever I can to outwork my opponents in the ring. Yes, I may not be as experienced as Daniel but I’ve been all around the block this past year and I’ve been in the ring with some of the best wrestlers in the world. Win or lose, I’ve learned a lot from those past encounters and I’ve improved by leaps and bounds due to those lessons learned and I’m still working hard on improving more. I’m not stopping until I am the best wrestler in the world.
DJ: How important is this match to you?
Ryan: It’s very important. Despite it being a debut match, this is a big opportunity for me. An opportunity to make an impact almost immediately in SCW. An opportunity to show the promoters of SCW that they didn’t make a mistake in signing me to a contract. An opportunity to prove myself to them that I have what it takes to make it here in SCW. And I’m going to do whatever it takes to do that. I’m going to do whatever is necessary to put my name out there even if it takes me sacrificing my own body.
[We can see the intensity on Ryan’s eyes as he stare down the DJ.]
Ryan: I had a great 2012 and I’m hell-bent on making 2013 an even better year. I’m ready to be a top guy in this sport and my journey to the top will continue this Sunday night at Climax Control against Daniel Tyler.
[The DJ nodded as he composed his thoughts.]
DJ: Do you have any last message to the fans out there or even to your opponent this Sunday night.
[Ryan smirked.]
Ryan: I want to say something to Daniel Tyler. I want to say is I hope he is training hard. I hope he’s not taking me lightly. I hope he’s not spending all his time trying to antagonize every woman he sees. I hope he’s getting ready as much as I do for this match. I’m going into this match with a mission in mind and I’m going to do everything I can to accomplish that. You might have all the physical gifts, the skills and the pedigree in the world, Daniel but I can guarantee you that you will not deny me my heart and determination to become the best in this sport. I’m really excited.
[The DJ nodded as we can see the producer motioning a cutthroat gesture to signify that they are out of time for this interview.]
DJ: Well that’s all the time we have folks! If you are in the Laughlin, Nevada area, don’t forget to check out Ryan Kidd in action on Sin City Wrestling’s Climax Control show at the Grand Ballroom of the Riverside Hotel and Casino this Sunday night. We’d like to thank you Ryan for being here with us…
[Ryan cut him off as he answered.]
Ryan: Thank you too. It was an honor being here.
DJ: Meanwhile here’s Fozzy’s “Sandpaper” and we’ll be back with more music.
[Fozzy’s song “Sandpaper” began to play in the background. I removed my headset and put it on the table in front of me. I then stood up and shook the DJ’s hand. We then gathered around and took pictures with everyone to cap off my visit.]
