Wrestling for a shot at the WWE

[Guest Trivia247]

Wrestling for a shot at the WWE

 

By IAN ROMBOLETTI

Staff Writer

 

NATICK, Mass. -- The flashing lights from the cameras, the thunderous roar from crowd, and the gravity defying maneuvers are all fuel for a professional wrestler trying to make his way to the top.

 

"I had always been a huge fan of wrestling growing up. It always seemed larger than life to me," said Jonah Adelman, who is one of the featured stars in the upcoming Yankee Pro-wrestling event in North Adams, Mass. on Saturday.

 

Growing up in Natick, Mass., Adelman was a three-sport athlete in high school. He played football, lacrosse, and wrestled, but all the while he dreamt of entering pro-wrestling's squared circle, he said.

 

"My favorite wrestler was Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka. I knew I wanted to be a pro wrestler, but I had know idea where to start," he said.

 

Eventually, Adelman would attend Union College, in New York, where he played linebacker the school's football team, while majoring in sociology. He learned that the MTV wrestling show "Tough Enough 3" was holding auditions and jumped at the opportunity, he said.

 

Chosen from a field of 150 applicants, Adelman made the final cut for the television show, which gives a World Wrestling Entertainment contract to the one of the 13 contestants. Being an athlete for most of his life, he was shocked at how much skill was needed to be a pro-wrestler, he said.

 

"I don't think anything could prepare me for how hard it was. I came in with a cocky attitude of having had success in football, but the maneuvers were very hard to master. It was a humbling experience," Adelman said. Wrestlers have to keep in mind the choreography of the match while executing maneuvers, which is a mental challenge that often gets overlooked, he said.

 

Although Adelman did not get the WWE contract, he was one of the top four finalists. The exposure from "Tough Enough 3" enabled him to sign on with the smaller wrestling producers. This gave him the chance to meet some former wrestling stars that he used to admire, he said.

 

"It was an honor to meet Brutus 'the Barber' and the other guys I watched growing up. I'm still a big fan and I watch what they do to learn as much as I can about the sport," he said.

 

His goal is to make it as a WWE star one day, and he trains constantly to remain at peak performance.

 

The six-foot-one-inch, 250-pounds, Adelman wrestles in three shows weekly and does weight training five-days-a-week. He bench presses 315 pounds in sets and squats 405 pounds as part of his work-out routine, he said.

 

Even with the abuse his body endures from wrestling matches, 23-year-old Adelman keeps the dream of wrestling for the WWE in his sights at all times, he said.

 

"My main goal is the WWE. The day that I know my body can't take it anymore is the day I stop pursuing that goal."

 

* Link: Original article/Bennington Banner

[Guest CoreyLazarus416]

In the words of myself and TripleBHoward in the AIM WWF Chat...

 

REP YO MASSHOLEZ~!!!!~!~!~

[Guest Vitamin X]

The six-foot-one-inch, 250-pounds, Adelman wrestles in three shows weekly and does weight training five-days-a-week. He bench presses 315 pounds in sets and squats 405 pounds as part of his work-out routine, he said.

Holy fuck I bench not much less than this guy and squat more than he does and I'm like 75 pounds lighter.

 

WWF HIRE ME NOW~!!!!!!!!!

[Guest Coffey]

I think the key there was that he does that much bench in sets. Not just once or twice.

[Guest Basswitch]

I admire Jonah the same way i admired Chris nowinski. Granted Jonah may not be a great wrestler, but he lost the competetion, and unlike Jack or Kenny from TE 2, and a shit load of other contestants, he has actually been working towards his goal, and has been learning valuable things along the way

[Guest Galactic Gigolo]

Greg Matthews is slowly learning the trade in CZW. Comparing his initial stuff in late 2001 to what he accomplished recently, he's definetly getting better.

 

Kind of unrelated, but I think Hyatte put it best: "With Nidia, Maven, Nowsinki, and Josh all having WWE contracts, it just shows that none of the Tough Enough finalists are losers... Except Taylor."

[PsychoDriver 0]

I admire Jonah the same way i admired Chris nowinski. Granted Jonah may not be a great wrestler, but he lost the competetion, and unlike Jack or Kenny from TE 2, and a shit load of other contestants, he has actually been working towards his goal, and has been learning valuable things along the way

Kenny's been wrestling in SoCal's Revolution Pro and UPW lately. He is actually a pretty good wrestler, more than anyone can say for most of the "Tough Enough" kids. WWE picked the wrong winners in TE2 for sure.

[Mecha Mummy 0]

I heard Taylor was training in Japan or something, right?

[Guest TheGame2705]

She's been working in ARSION.