journey of wrestling

Sign in to add this item to your wishlist, follow it, or mark it as ignored

Online interactivity

Buy Journey of Wrestling

About this game, system requirements.

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows 10 or later
• Processor: An Intel Pentium 4 processor or later that's SSE3 capable
• Memory: 512 MB RAM
• Graphics: Intel Integrated Graphics
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Storage: 300 MB available space
• Additional Notes: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system

More like this

What curators say, customer reviews.

You can use this widget-maker to generate a bit of HTML that can be embedded in your website to easily allow customers to purchase this game on Steam.

Enter up to 375 characters to add a description to your widget:

Copy and paste the HTML below into your website to make the above widget appear

Popular user-defined tags for this product: (?)

Sign in to add your own tags to this product.

Wrestle Inn

We provide wholly original, quality and consistent content that encapsulates and celebrates the diverse pro-wrestling landscape we love so much., journey of wrestling review: a nostalgic homecoming.

I love wrestling.

I love video games.

When I was a kid, wrestling video games were heaven. In particular, The Smackdown vs Raw series was my adrenaline, sparking my wildest dreams with endless storytelling possibilities. And perhaps my favorite part of the earlier titles was the General Manager mode.

GM mode provided endless hours of fun. I could buy out as many wrestlers as I could with my budget, plan segments to drive up match ratings, and boost audience interest in my dream match-ups. I played it for hours and hours, always starting a fresh file with even more ambitious ideas than the previous playthrough—I truly loved it.

And I’ll be honest: I haven’t touched a wrestling video game in a while, at least not in a few years. The 2K formula isn’t my cup of tea, and I miss the variety and depth that older games provided.

But every once in a while, I feel the itch to relive those days, the carefree hours spent sitting in front of my bulky CRT monitor not only had a profound impact on my childhood, but also on my own tastes in storyline development and characterization in pro wrestling.

I am so thrilled to say that Journey of Wrestling brings all of these nostalgic flavors back into my life and more.

Journey of Wrestling is a booking simulator that allows you to take charge of a promotion, its PPV events, match cards, show segments, and all the good, juicy stuff in between! It was a warm, welcoming hug to my wrestling soul, and a journey (haha) that was quite memorable.

While JoW has a free trial of the game available, I 100% recommend diving in and purchasing the paid version for the full experience. You can unlock many features that enhance gameplay, including unlimited factions, ratings wars, the ability to run multiple promotions at once, local multiplayer, and sandbox mode. Almost everything I discuss going forward is available in the paid version of JoW. For $15, it’s an absolute steal for what you get.

As someone who hadn’t played a simulator game in years, I felt right at home with the customization options available, and I appreciated JoW’s accessibility to newcomers of the wrestling booking genre. General manager simulators can be overwhelming for the inexperienced, but JoW ensures that you understand the game’s mechanics before you dive in, such as its recommended tutorial mode. It’s catered towards teaching new players the fundamentals of booking, gradually introducing each of the components you’ll need to run a successful show. The promotion size is also perfect, allowing players to easily transition into JoW’s booking style. 

Already familiar with the gameplay? You can skip the tutorial and jump straight into the other scenarios when you begin a new file. This was another aspect of JoW that I was impressed with: the depth and scope of stories to select from. There’s something here to satisfy every kind of wrestling fan’s tastes. 

Are you frustrated with the lack of direction and build in modern day wrestling? You can take control of WWE, AEW, Impact, and more as you see fit! Is your brain constantly buzzing with “What If?” storylines from the Monday Night Wars? You’re the brains of the 90s now, as you shape those dreams into reality with the Attitude Era scenario. If you’re a wrestling history buff, there’s even a scenario that touches on the WWWF’s early years. JoW hosts original stories too! Resurrect WCW from the dead, take control of a mid-1980s women’s promotion, or conquer Mars as the leader of the Martian Wrestling Alliance while also fighting off mutating martians.  Seriously, you can!

All of this is to say that JoW demonstrates wrestling booking’s versatility. Playing more than one story is absolutely encouraged, motivating players to take discrete approaches. Each scenario you select is stored in a save file, so you can run more than one promotion at the same time. You can cater your own Journey in Wrestling to your storytelling and roster tastes; no one playthrough of this game is going to be the same for each player, and I love this so much.

Before you start a file, you can adjust your simulation’s parameters to make it as challenging or broken as you want it to be. Whether you decide to draft your own roster, play with other friends in local multiplayer, or activate sandbox mode to set everything loose, you can create your own experience—-your own Journey of Wrestling.

So how did my own journey turn out? First, I decided to play through the tutorial to familiarize myself with how JoW played. Since I already knew the basics of booking, I was able to get in the groove of the game immediately, and once I felt comfortable navigating JoW’s interface, I started a new file and opened up my own version of AEW—-Caro’s All Elite Wrestling Simulator.

And oh my goodness, this is where the fun REALLY began.

Journey of Wrestling truly shines when your imaginative ideas run free. I wanted to see how far I could take my version of AEW via JoW’s sandbox mode. It granted me many options from the start: the entire roster, all medical and training facilities unlocked, and unlimited points to spend on contract signings and legends.

The first PPV I booked for AEW was Double or Nothing. I didn’t have any story beats planned, so I went with the flow of what I felt would make a compelling, consistent show. Some of my favorite highlights include: 

• Moxley and Eddie Kingston stealing the show with a fantastic opening match 
• Brian Pillman Jr. winning the FTW Championship during the Casino Battle Royale
• Kenny Omega and Orange Cassidy main eventing the show with a 6 Star exploding barbed wire death match
• Cody Rhodes losing a handicap match to Death Triangle in a Chuck E Cheese Brawl match (5 stars!)

This also a great time to note that I planned Kenny Omega vs Orange Cassidy weeks before they even hinted at it for the actual, real life, Double or Nothing event. 

After the critical acclaim that DoN received, I was left with many storylines to pursue, and I arrived at a crossroad regarding how to proceed with my simulation.

Would it make the most logical sense to make a realistic portrayal of how I think AEW should proceed with the rest of 2021? Would I inhibit my imagination, paint a realistic picture of AEW’s rivalries and stables?

I wanted to go completely off the rails.

Once I got the alert that Nick Jackson was injured for the summer, I knew what had to be done. And everything snowballed from there.

So I broke up the Young Bucks.

Then, I smushed Matt Jackson and Cash Wheeler into a tag team called CA$H MONEYY.

I made Matt and Nick Jackson feud with each other once Nick returned from his injury. In retaliation, Nick and Dax Harwood created a tag team together—they are all still feuding.

I created a new title called the A E S T H E T I C championship, only defendable in Stadium Stampede matches. Maki Itoh is the current holder of the belt.

Speaking of, I made Maki Itoh face turn and become the biggest star of the women’s division.

I let a 130 man battle royal main event an original AEW Dynamite event I created. Tickets were only on sale for 10 minutes, sold out in 1 minute, and said main event match miraculously left no one involved with sustained injuries. Michael Nakazawa won the whole match to claim the TNT Championship

I booked Marko Stunt and Chris Jericho in a steel cage match for Fyter Fest’s main event, garnering 3 stars and a win for Marko.

I fired Chris Jericho in a segment the next night.

I made Cody Rhodes lose so many 1-on-10 handicap matches that his popularity tanked to the point where a retirement ceremony on Dynamite was justified.

I hyped Kenny Omega and Eddie Kingston as the feud of the summer, in which the peak of the rivalry included Kenny getting slimed by Eddie.

I made Kenny Omega and David Arquette fight for the AEW World Championship in an exploding barbed wire deathmatch. I am pleased to announce that in Caro’s All Elite Wrestling, David Arquette is the current world champion.

I could go on about everything else I did, but I can only talk so much without making this review too long. I listed these particular moments out to illustrate how your imagination has no limits in Journey of Wrestling. If you’re looking for a fun wrestling game to play, I definitely recommend it! And if you’re new to booking simulators, but feel overwhelmed about taking the plunge, at least try it for free before committing to the paid version.

A big thank you to Journey of Wrestling for providing Wrestle Inn with the paid version of this game! This is definitely a game I look forward to revisiting as my creative juices spark with new ideas.

For more information on Journey of Wrestling, and to purchase the full game, visit: www.journeyofwrestling.com

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

• Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
• Subscribe Subscribed
• Copy shortlink
• Report this content
• View post in Reader
• Manage subscriptions
• Collapse this bar

Editor’s Note: I originally wrote this for another wrestling site I created, Pro Wrestling Wire . I decided to add it here to have everything in one spot. Enjoy!

Pro wrestling and simulation games can be a fun combination, and this  Journey of Wrestling  review proves just that.

I’ve been playing Adam Ryland’s  various wrestling simulation games  for years (TEW, EWR, etc.), but admittedly, it’s not the most versatile gaming option available for wrestling fans in terms of accessibility.

So, when I randomly stumbled upon Journey of Wrestling on Reddit, it was obvious that it was a viable alternative.

Let’s jump into the Journey of Wrestling review.

To be clear: This is not a review that aims to knock the TEW series. However, noting the similarities and differences is necessary for wrestling fans curious about what Journey of Wrestling has to offer. TEW has become the gold standard for simulation games, so it’s understandable why it’s a part of the conversation.

One area where Journey of Wrestling shines is its simplicity. It doesn’t require the ins and outs of looking at hundreds of stats or thousands of available wrestlers, making it one of the most ‘pick up and play’ wrestling games ever.

Your goal? Build your company’s reputation and put on the best shows that you can. Even better, booking matches and shows is an incredibly simple task.

Whereas in TEW games, the screen is filled with numerous options and information, the Journey of Wrestling screen contains only the essentials. Pick the wrestlers you want for the match or segment, and boom, it’s on the booking sheet. You can take care of the rest (pick winners) once the actual show begins.

The game is also very easy to navigate with only five main tabs: Dashboard, Book, Play, Manage, and Menu.

Dashboard gives you an overview of roster alerts, staff tasks, injuries, and upcoming shows. Book is where you book your matches and segments. Play is for when you’re ready to start your next show. Manage is where you can immerse yourself in your roster, feuds, job goals, and other fun stuff. Menu sends you back to the main Journey of Wrestling screen.

Much like TEW 2020 has mods for different eras in wrestling history, so does Journey of Wrestling.

When starting a new game, you can choose from numerous scenarios made by members of the Journey of Wrestling community.

Want to take over the WWF right after the Montreal screwjob and dive into the Attitude Era (this is the one that got me hooked on the game)? You can do that. Prefer to stick to the current era with WWE, AEW, NJPW, or another company? You can do that too. There are also options to play an NXT-based scenario, a 1994 scenario, and lots of other scenarios involving both real and created companies.

Scenarios are constantly updated with tweaks, and you can even filter them by Top Rated, Popular, New, and All to find the right one for you.

Of course, if you find that you love Journey of Wrestling and want to create your own game world, you have that option with the Create Scenario button on the main page.

Creative Points

I love the creative points aspect of Journey of Wrestling, as they allow you to further expand the options available to you within the game.

You earn creative points based on certain achievements within matches and shows, and these give you the opportunity to add more gimmick matches, better TV show segments, and things like that.

For example, after putting together some quality shows in my Attitude Era save, I earned enough points to finally have the Hell in a Cell Match as a match option.

Naturally, I used that for a match involving Mick Foley, and he was thrown off the top of the cage by Shawn Michaels. All it needed was Jim Ross’ commentary, and it would have been perfection.

But that’s just one aspect of what creative points can do. They play a role in other fun tasks involving booking and management.

Versatility

Perhaps one of the biggest things that works for Journey of Wrestling is the fact that it can be played anywhere.

Whereas a game like TEW 2020 can only be played via download on a PC (or Mac with the right software), Journey of Wrestling is a browser-based game. That means you can play it on your desktop, laptop, iPad, and mobile device.

Ease of use is important in an era where millions of apps and websites are competing for a person’s attention. Luckily, all you’ve gotta do is type in JourneyofWrestling.com, and you can start playing. It’s that simple.

Admittedly, Journey of Wrestling has replaced Reddit as my go-to entertainment option when laying in bed.

Sorry, Reddit. I still love you.

Journey of Wrestling is free for the basic version of the game. For the full version, it’s a one-time payment of $15 (US). It has a free trial if you want to try before you buy.

I started off playing the free version and loved it so much that I eventually bought the full version. If you’re a casual fan that just wants a fun game to play every now and then, the free version may be all you need. If you want a little more depth (but nowhere near the level of TEW 2020), the full version will more than meet your needs.

Among the features that are offered in the full version: Staff and Facilities management, sandbox mode, multiple game saves, special segments, custom segments, random events, and so much more.

Plus, paying the $15 for the full version gets you access to all future paid features.

When comparing the prices for Journey of Wrestling and TEW 2020, I’m not sure there’s a a perfect way to do it. They’re different games that offer different things, and for my money, they’re both worth it.

Journey of Wrestling Summary

If you find yourself with a hectic schedule and need a wrestling game that you can play literally anywhere that has an internet connection, Journey of Wrestling is an excellent choice.

It’s a simple alternative to TEW 2020 (and cheaper), yet still packs an incredible punch when it comes to fun and replayability.

The game offers lots more than what I’ve mentioned, which is part of the beauty of it. You discover little things along the way that make it an even more awesome experience (the Help section on the main page offers more specifics on how the game works).

Even if you’ve never played a simulation wrestling game, Journey of Wrestling is so incredibly easy to play and understand that anyone can have fun with it. And again, the replayability is just outstanding.

So, if you’re searching for your next pro wrestling gaming adventure, Journey of Wrestling is a great game for casual and hardcore fans alike.

And while I’d love to tell you even more about it, I’ve gotta get back to the game so I can work on the feud between Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock.

For more of my show reviews, visit the Pro Wrestling Reviews section!

Blake’s WWF Raw Is War 1/22/01 Review: The Waiting Game

Tew 2020 exploring the cornellverse: 5ssw, blake’s wrestlewar 1989 review: flair vs. steamboat, part 3, most popular, blake’s wcw superbrawl viii review: the sting vs. hogan rematch, blake’s mid-south wrestling 1/23/82 review: mr. olympia goes for gold, blake’s wcw souled out 1998 review: bret hart’s in-ring debut, blake’s wwf monday night raw 1/27/97 review: shawn’s attitude, blake’s mid-south wrestling 12/25/81 review: persian club challenge, recent comments, latest articles, blake’s aew full gear 2023 review: mjf vs. jay white, blake’s saturday night’s main event 10/13/90 review: oktoberfest, blake’s mid-south wrestling 5/8/82 review: dibiase wants revenge, popular posts.

• Reviews 159

WrestleBlake features pro wrestling reviews, columns, rankings, gaming, and much more.

Contact: [email protected]

© 2023. WrestleBlake.

Journey Of Wrestling Booking Simulator Coming Soon To Steam

By Matt Black

The online booking simulator Journey of Wrestling is about to take another big step in the game’s development as it makes its way to Steam in 2024.

If you grew up playing games like Extreme Warfare Revenge, you’d be thrilled to learn that a new wrestling booking simulator video game called Journey of Wrestling is on the rise.

Journey of Wrestling first launched as a beta in 2017 as a web browser game and has been in constant development ever since. The game recently launched an offline mode at the end of January and will soon be coming as a standalone game to Steam.

Some of the basic features of Journey of Wrestling include:

Book Anything:

• With over 5,000 scenarios to play and the ability to create your own, you can book anything you could imagine. Tell your stories with the help of unique Segments, Feuds, and Match Finishes.

Easy To Play:

• An intuitive UI makes it simple to book events and the direct gameplay lets you run your promotion with ease. Browser-based and mobile-friendly, the game runs on all devices.

Fun Features:

• Run drafts, play the Ratings War against competitors (or your friends in local multi-player), buyout companies or trade with them, manage your staff, view deep stats and work around random events.

You can play the game right now in your web browser by clicking here . You can also support the game’s future development on their Patreon page here .

READ MORE: WWE 2K24 Interview with Visual Concepts’ Bryan Williams and Lynell Jinks

Have you tried Journey of Wrestling yet? Are you excited to play the game when it releases on Steam? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.

Matt Black has been covering wrestling video games since WWE Warzone from Acclaim. Coverage of wrestling video games eventually lead him into the world of wrestling news. Matt is a fan of every wrestling company and enjoys the current state of the industry in 2024.

Share article

We would like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates.

Help Support Our Website!

Fightful has been reporting all the latest breaking news from the wrestling world since 2016.

Ads have played a big part in being able to keep our content free for all to enjoy.

Please consider allowing ads on our site, and help continue to support Fightful.

Journey Of Wrestling, Wrestling Booking Simulator, Releases Offline Mode; Steam Release Coming Soom

Journey of Wrestling updates.

The wrestling booking simulator, Journey of Wrestling, recently launched an offline mode,

The offline mode which is currently playable in-browser, is the base for an upcoming Steam release, which will allow players to download the game and store it in their library along with other purchases.

JoW Offline Super fast, available offline with unlimited saves, 20 competitors and more! JoW Offline is the same game but runs locally, so its much faster and allows for higher limits. You can access it the way you did before, in your browser at https://www.journeyofwrestling.com/ This offline version is the base for the Steam release, which will come next and allow you to download the game. JoW Offline is available for all users, with the same restrictions as before for free users. Features Faster everything, especially simulations and loading company stats. Unlimited save slots (JoW Paid), up to 20 competitors, 500 roster superstars (sandbox mode), 25 faction superstars and unlimited traits (acquirable in-game). Import your previous saves by clicking 'Import Saves' under 'Continue'. Saves are stored locally in your browser and backed up to the cloud. Runs on your device, so you can play without an internet connection. Other Book talent multiple times per event. Gimmick matches show up in both singles and multi. New 'Backstage Brawl' random event. New gimmick characters (veteran, giant, mobster). Wrestling on Mars will be added soon. Cash in (now) option removed while booking. Allow cashins for any title. Remove limit in simulator. 'Change username' option removed. And many more small improvements and bug fixes.

For those who would like to support the game, you can check out Journey of Wrestling on Patreon .

Fightful Gaming will keep readers of today on all things happening in the world of combat sports gaming.

• The Inventory

Journey of Wrestling

Journey of Wrestling Screenshots and Videos

All the Latest Game Footage and Images from Journey of Wrestling

Discover Games

A wrestling booking game that's easy to pick up and play with accessible depth.

More from Mahin

Journey of wrestling news.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Remaster Hailed As The Definitive Version Of An All-Time RPG Classic

Early reviews praise the Switch's update to the beloved GameCube sequel

Granblue Fantasy Relink : The Kotaku Review

Cygames' latests gives well-worn RPG tropes a new lease on life

Persona 3 Reload : The Kotaku Review

The remake shows how far Persona has come, and how far it has to go

60 Games Have Already Been Killed, And 2023 Ain’t Over Yet [Update]

You can add Gran Turismo Sport , Only Up! , and the PS5 exclusive Side Bullet to the graveyard

Advertisement

Elon Musk's Mom Can't Stop The Mark Zuckerberg Cage Fight In New Game

Whoever wins, we lose. Let them fight. Other memes about terrible monsters fighting. Etc. Etc.

The Samurai Yakuza Game Will Guest-Star A World-Famous Wrestler And An Internet Hottie

Hideo Kojima’s internet boyfriend Rahul Kohli will also fight alongside AEW's Omega

The Best Manga Of 2022 That You Should Read

The Otaku of Kotaku ’s favorite manga of 2022 include One Punch Man , Hell’s Paradise , and more

Jim Sterling: From 'Pathetic Edgelord' To YouTube's 'Princess Of Pansexual Pandemonium'

James Stephanie Sterling speaks on The Jimquisition and their caustic, decade-long journey covering the video game …

The Week In Games: Skateboard Around The World

OlliOlli World hits basically every platform alongside an explosion of Switch ports and Sifu , too

Powerful Free Steam Game Captures The Consequences Of Housing Inequality For People Of Color

The point-and-click narrative game Dot’s Home shines a light on this often-overlooked injustice

Journey of Wrestling: Wrestling management sim makes its way to Steam

By max everett | may 9, 2024.

Journey of Wrestling is officially coming to Steam . The online wrestling management sim launched in 2019 and is currently available to play on mobile and desktop browsers. It has seen constant updates and additional features including offline play.

Journey of Wrestling is coming to Steam! Wishlist to stay updated for its release! https://t.co/kSiN2yYmYD — Journey of Wrestling (@JowMahin) April 29, 2024

Journey of Wrestling's creator, Mahin, told Daily DDT about the game hitting Steam:

"Seven years after it first launched, JoW will be launching on Steam. Release date will be announced soon," he said. "New features will include 30+ Steam Achievements, like Backyard to Global, visual improvements that will improve the UI and make it look more modern, the ability to leave and form your own company mid-game, and of course the game can run completely offline.

But Steam also opens new doors. Post launch, I'll work on workshop support so you can add mods, Steam Deck support so it works with a controller, leaderboards, and more.

It's been a long journey, but I'm really excited to refine the formula that I think makes JoW work, which is ease of use and creativity, and expand on it in new ways."

Existing players on the browser platform can access the ability to leave a new company mid-game as part of early access through Journey of Wrestling's Patreon. The game is currently available to play as two versions, a free trial with limited features and a paid version that unlocks all features. Features released via early access are exclusively available to JoW Patreon subscribers.

Back in February, Mahin told Daily DDT about getting JoW off of the ground after starting development in 2017.

"I was learning to program, learning Python by myself. The advice was to make little projects to get better, and I thought what better than to make a little wrestling game? I've been passionate about wrestling since I was a child, and loved playing general manager mode in wrestling video games. So I made a little program that ran in the terminal...I thought it was pretty fun, and found myself playing for hours that week.

I forgot about it for a while then. And I don't remember why, but maybe a year later I thought: 'Why not put it up for people to play?' . So I coded a web version and added some features like making your scenario, but it was still pretty bare-bones. You didn't have weekly shows, or segments, or feuds, or even gimmick matches. But I released it anyway, and well, forgot about it again. A few months later, I noticed that people were playing it, asking for more features, and realized there were some legs to this project. So I started fleshing it out, and I've been working on it ever since."

Mahin further told existing players on X that those who have already bought the paid version of the game on browser will not be expected to pay for the Steam version.

Journey of Wrestling

FloWrestling Radio Live

Air force special warfare jr nationals, womens national duals 14u & 16u: gr/wfs, aau scholastic duals, melee til midnight, u17 & u20 european championships, malecek team camp, u17 pan-american championships, western states championships, uww beach world series - france, kids freestyle & grecoroman national ch, rocky mountain national, bison duals, u20 pan-american championships, usmc/usaw 16u and junior nationals, helen maroulis part of deep 57 kg olympic wrestling 2024 field, a full preview of the women's freestyle wrestling event in the 57-kilogram weight class at the 2024 paris olympic games..

American Helen Maroulis has gold on her mind in a tough weight class this summer, but reaching the podium won't be easy.

Maroulis is in the 57 kg field and fans can watch her compete at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on August 8-9 on NBC or Peacock. Wrestling takes place at Grand Palais Éphémère in Champ de Mars. FloWrestling will have on-the-ground coverage, and a live watch party during the Olympic wrestling competition.

Here's what to know about the 57 kg field. 

The Olympic Gold Medal Favorite: Tsugumi Sakurai

Japan’s Tsugumi Sakurai is the favorite based on results, but she is hardly a lock to win the Olympic Games. Her teammate, Risako Kawai, won two Olympic gold medals and three World titles in weights ranging from 57 to 63 kg. Sakurai represents the next wave of Japanese superstars, and she already has three World titles by age 22. 

The Japanese star is a control wrestler who doesn’t force scoring opportunities. She is excellent from a two-on-one, likes to keep the match in close quarters, and can dominate without scoring lots of points. She is different than her world-champion teammates Yui Susaki (50 kg) and Akari Fujinami (53 kg) who end matches early. Sakurai will stay patient and frustrate opponents with constant pressure.

Her 2023 World Championship finals against Moldova’s Anastasia Nichita is how Sakurai wrestles. She controlled the tie, maintained position, and eventually scored a second-period takedown off a two-on-one. Sakurai won, 3-2, but gave up a late takedown when she wrestled from space. The best way to defeat Sakurai is to create space or to control the tie. Both are easier said than done. 

China’s Yongxin Feng defeated Sakurai, 4-2, in the finals of the 2024 Asian Championships and provided the playbook for wrestling the three-time World champion. Feng shot off the whistle, scored within 10 seconds, then secured a gut wrench for a 4-0 lead. That forced Sakurai to chase for the remainder of the match, which isn’t her strength. Feng gave up a late takedown when the match was secured. Watch Sakurai's 2023 World Championship finals match below

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Already a subscriber? Log In

Tsugumi Sakurai At The Worlds

The american: helen maroulis .

Helen Maroulis continues to write the record book in the United States. The 32-year-old has competed in 11 Senior World Championships, becoming the first American woman to make three Olympic teams. In 2016, she became the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in women’s freestyle wrestling, and in 2021 was the first to win multiple medals when she secured bronze. 

There’s a good chance she’ll earn her 10th Senior World medal in what will likely be the final competition of her career. 

“Every Olympic quad has been different. Every tournament is different,” Maroulis said after the 2023 World Championships. “Every single (World Championships) is special. For the last two years, it’s almost like I can count the number of tournaments I have left, and that’s so crazy. Basically it’s Worlds, Olympics, and the (Olympic Trials). I’m not doing anything else unless it contributes in some way to that 2024 goal. 

“All these nerves and this weight cut and sitting in a hotel room — you get this three more times. It’s been 25 years that you’ve been doing this. It puts a lot of things into perspective for me.” 

Putting Maroulis’ wrestling career takes more than a numerical evaluation. Winning nine World/Olympic medals, including four gold, is an important piece of her legacy, but her accomplishments transcend wrestling. Winning the 2016 Olympics over 16-time World and Olympic champion Saori Yoshida of Japan catapulted her into superstardom. She became the face of women’s wrestling and her public battles with concussions and PTSD have only added to her fascinating journey. 

On the mat, Maroulis is a cerebral wrestler who excels at match strategy. She may drop a match or two during the season but makes adjustments for the events that matter the most. Her performance at the 2017 World Championships was Maroulis at her best. She outscored five opponents 52-0 using a diverse range of offensive and defensive techniques. 

The Olympic field is competitive, but Maroulis is in the mix to win a third Olympic medal. 

Helen Maroulis At The Worlds And Olympics

The canadian olympian: hannah taylor.

Hannah Taylor didn’t medal at the 2019, 2022, and 2023 World Championships but won bronze medals at the 2019 and 2021 U23 World Championships. She qualified for the Olympics by winning the Canadian Olympic Trials and reaching the finals of the Pan-Am Olympic Qualifier. 

Taylor is a right-leg lead who digs underhooks with her left arm. Her shots are from space with no set-up and she utilizes step-outs to win matches. She’s all about hand-fighting and getting her opponent to the zone. The 26-year-old needs the tournament of her life to medal at the Olympics.  

Growing up on Prince Edward Island, Hannah Taylor dreamed of becoming an Olympian at age six. Learn more about her 20-year journey, including three U SPORT titles at Brock University. 

The Paris Olympic Games Wrestling Contenders 

Moldova’s Anastasia Nichita is at the top of her game after winning the 2022 World Championships at 59 kg and a silver at the 2023 World Championships at 57. Her unorthodox style will be a nightmare for anyone she faces in the bracket. She likes to create chaos and typically comes out on top in scrambles. She also has an air-tight gut wrench to end matches early.

Nigeria’s Odunayo Adekuoroye is the tallest wrestler at the weight and presents a unique set of challenges. The 30-year-old has won four Senior-level World medals, including bronze in 2023. Following two previous losses, she had a memorable 13-0 win over Maroulis at the 2021 Poland Open. Adekuoroye was ahead of Nichita 8-2 in the first round at the 2020 Olympics before getting pinned and eliminated from the tournament when Nichita didn’t reach the finals. Nichita won by 10-0 tech in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Worlds. 

Kexin Hong qualified China for the Olympics but that doesn’t necessarily mean she will compete at Paris. Yongxin Feng defeated Sakurai at the Asian Championships so she would be the top contender if she competes. Zhang Qi won the 2023 World Championships and defeated Japan’s Risako Kawai at the Asian Championships. Will she move down and take the spot? China has options. 

Iryna Kurachkina of Belararus won a silver medal at the 2020 Olympics but finished seventh at the 2023 World Championships. She qualified through the European Olympic qualifier. Poland’s Anhelina Lysak was a bronze medalist at the 2022 World Championships and India’s Anshu Malik won silver in 2021. 

2020 Through 2023 Olympic Quad

The 2024 olympic wrestling field.

These women's freestyle wrestlers qualified their countries for the 2024 Olympic Games.

Worlds Gold - Tsugumi Sakurai (JPN) Silver - Anastasia Nichita (MDA) Bronze - Helen Maroulis (USA) Bronze - Odunayo Adekuoroye (NGR) 5th Place - Anhelina Lysak (POL)

Continentals Qualifiers Pan-Ams - Luisa Valverde (ECU) Pam-Ams - Hannah Taylor (CAN) African & Oceania - Rckaela Aquino (GUA) African & Oceania - Chaimaa Aouissi (ALG) Euros - Sandra Parszewski (GER) Euros - Iryna Kurachkina (BLR) Asians - Kexin Hong (CHN) Asians - Anshu Malik (IND)

Last Chance World Qualifier Olga Khoroshavtseva (RUS) Giullia Oliveria (BRA) Aurora Russo (ITA)

FloWrestling Archived Footage

Video footage from all events on FloWrestling will be archived and stored in a video library for FloWrestling subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.

Join the College Wrestling Conversation on Social

• Follow us on Twitter @flowrestling .
• Follow us on Instagram @flowrestling .
• Watch us on YouTube @flowrestling
• Like us on Facebook .
• International
• Division II
• Helen Maroulis
• Simon Fraser
• Simon Fraser Women's Wrestling

Related Content

Jun 6, 2024

Apr 21, 2024

Feb 23, 2024

Feb 22, 2024

Feb 16, 2024

Oct 30, 2023

Oct 9, 2023

Journey of Wrestling Is the GM Mode That WWE 2K Fans Have Wanted for Years

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

10 Best Game Boy Games You Can Play on Nintendo Switch

10 best retro disney games, ranked, final fantasy tactics remaster is reportedly real.

With WWE 2K22 's official announcement bringing the series back  after the disastrous  WWE 2K20 , many wrestling game fans have started speculating on what a potential GM Mode would look like in the game. GM mode, or General Manager mode, used to be an annual feature in the  Smackdown Vs. Raw  series of games that let players assume control of either Smackdown or RAW and try to book better storylines and matches than the other show. This feature is a widely requested fan favorite that many have wanted to see come back.

It's currently unknown if GM mode will be featured in  WWE 2K22 . Given how much of an overhaul the title will have to be, compared to  WWE 2K20,  and how  many wrestling games are already providing competition to 2K's flagship wrestling series, the developers may have put their focus elsewhere. If wrestling fans want to play a GM mode-styled booking game that feels like the spiritual successor to the  Smackdown Vs. Raw  game mode, then they should look no further than the browser-based  Journey of Wrestling .

RELATED: Five Ways AEW’s Console Game Could DESTROY WWE’s 2K Series

One of the biggest appeals of  Smackdown Vs. Raw 's take on a booking simulator is how accessible and easy to understand it is. Wrestling booking simulators are often incredibly complex and cover everything from talent contracts to paying for broadcasting deals.   Smackdown Vs. Raw  focused on creating the actual matches, which is why most players play booking simulators anyways.  Journey of Wrestling  keeps things somewhere in between a GM mode and a more complex management simulator. There's a clear focus on creating storylines and trying to book compelling match cards. Players do this by utilizing their roster's charisma and work rate stats, along with using the right story segments and match-types, balancing both the storytelling and athleticism of a match.

However, players also need to keep track of their finances in the form of creative points. These creative points are used to add gimmicks to matches, upgrade their company's facilities and hire new talent, among other things. Creative points are rewarded for having successful feuds and for putting on compelling matches, allowing players to put on even better shows and make even more creative points.

Journey of Wrestling 's simplicity is possibly one of its biggest draws. It feels effortless to jump into a game of  JoW  and start booking shows, making it possibly one of the most accessible booking simulators out there. Much like  Smackdown Vs. Raw 's GM mode, it's clear that  Journey of Wrestling  was designed so that both casual and hardcore wrestling fans are able to jump in and learn the game's inner workings without much hassle.

RELATED:  WWE 2K22 Drops Gameplay Teaser During WrestleMania 37

Another beloved feature of  Smackdown Vs. Raw 's GM mode was the ability to go head-to-head with a friend in a rating war to try and out-book them.  Journey of Wrestling  features a local co-op mode that players can easily turn into an online multiplayer using desktop sharing programs like Parsec. Whilst it's not as directly competitive as  Smackdown Vs. Raw 's GM mode, players can still track their ratings and number of fans in-between shows to see who's the best booker.

One of the more notable downsides of  Smackdown Vs. Raw 's GM mode was that players were often limited to whatever wrestlers were signed to WWE at the time.  JoW  features dozens of fan-made scenarios that cover multiple different eras of wrestling. Players aren't limited to mainstream companies either, since they can freely play as any company that's featured in the scenario that they've selected to play. Everything from the Monday Night Wars to the early territorial days of wrestling is available as community-created scenarios in  JoW .

Journey of Wrestling  is available to play for free, though there is a one-time payment that'll give players access to far more features, such as managers and the ability to create scenarios. There's a fairly active community that keeps scenarios updated and is constantly creating new scenarios to play. The game's developer also provides frequent new features and updates to constantly expand on what's possible, making  Journey of Wrestling  one of the best GM mode-like games available.

Keep Reading:  Snoop Dogg Steps Back Into the Ring for WWE Champions 2021

• CBR Exclusives

Iowa wrestling adds twin brothers to 2025 recruiting class, both ranked in the top-100

Iowa wrestling has made a pair of additions to its 2025 recruiting class in twin brothers Ty and Jarrel Miller.

Jarrel Miller was the No. 18 recruit at 190 pounds per Flowrestling. He is a 2022 Fargo champion, a three-time Ohio state finalist and an Ironman finalist in 2022, beating some tough competition in his past. Per Matscouts, Miller is the No. 57 recruit overall in the 2025 class.

"I am more than grateful to announce my commitment to the University of Iowa," Jarrel Miller said in an Instagram post. "It’s been a long journey with wrestling, and it’s just a dream come true for me to get this far. I want to thank my family for everything they do for me and for all the love and support. I also want to thank my coaches and teammates for believing in me. Thank you to coach (Tom) Brands and (Ryan) Morningstar for believing in me."

Miller's twin brother, Ty, also has chosen the Hawkeyes. He took a visit in late May with Jarrel and was on the same page as his brother. Ty Miller wrestled most recently at 175 pounds and ranks at No. 86 overall in the 2025 class per Matscouts. He is a Ironman All-American like his brother, taking 7th this past year in one of the toughest high school tournaments in the country.

"I’m blessed to announce that I will be going to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Iowa," Ty Miller said in an Instagram post. "I want to thank my family, friends, coaches, and all those who have supported me along this tremendous journey. I am excited to see what the future holds for me. Go Hawks!"

Embedded content: https://www.instagram.com/p/C8Uodm_xI85/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Jarrel projects at 197 pounds for the Hawkeyes, while Ty projects around 184 pounds. Jarrel and Ty are both much-needed depth additions for Iowa with senior Zach Glazier being the only 197-pounder currently on the roster. Ty will compete for time in the future with guys like Angelo Ferrari and Gabe Arnold at 184.

Jarrel and Ty are the third and fourth additions to the 2025 class, joining Leo DeLuca (No. 7 overall in 2025 per MatScouts, No. 27 pound-for-pound according to Flowrestling) and Colorado native Leister Bowling.

While the 2025 class begins to take shape, Iowa is also getting to work on its 2026 class. June 15 was the first date of contact between college coaches and the rising juniors, meaning commitments for that class could be coming as the summer progresses and as we enter the fall.

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at  [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at  @EMcKown23

Say his name: How Joe Hendry became the biggest viral star in wrestling

If you’re one of the millions who mindlessly scroll on TikTok, there’s a solid chance you’ve stumbled across a video of a dapper Scottish man with his slick silver hair quickly turns toward you while a Gospel-like song utters this sensational proclamation: “Say his name and he appears. I believe in Joe Hendry.”

In a profession where entrance music can be the launching pad of a stellar career, Joe Hendry has catapulted himself to stardom. It has a simple message informing the world of how prestigious Hendry is and how the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling star is loved everywhere from America, Scotland, Canada and Mexico. But the melodic tune has caught on not only with those who follow wrestling, but with people who have no interest in the business. 

Safe to say they do, in fact, believe in Joe Hendry. And yes, they’re waving their hands from side to side.

“I'm just very grateful for the way that wrestling fans have embraced the fun of what I'm doing,” Hendry told USA TODAY Sports. “I've always tried to make stuff that would appeal to non-wrestling fans as well. So it was really cool to hear about people who are not necessarily into wrestling, seeing it and wondering what it's all about. That was always the goal.”

The making of Joe Hendry, viral wrestling star

How Hendry got to this point isn’t your typical wrestling journey. Most stars today had their wrestling starts early in life and it was the only thing they cared about.

For Hendry, his passion was music. It started when he was 15 years old and his dad got an Apple computer. With it, Hendry played around with GarageBand and spend hours making songs. He eventually figured out how to record his own bass and guitar on the software. Not long after that, he was making his own melodies. Mix that in with his songwriting, and Hendry became an artist.

“I spent 10 years focused on pretty much nothing but music,” he said. 

Wrestling didn’t come into the picture until Hendry was around 25, and while that may sound late to some, it actually was a blessing for him. Instead of jumping right into it, Hendry observed wrestling as a fan, and one thing stood out to him: entrance music was key.

That's evident still today. Roman Reigns has entrance music that encapsulates his title as "Tribal Chief." At WrestleMania 40, fans went ballistic when the music of John Cena and The Rock hit, along with the bell of The Undertaker played throughout the stadium. Fans sing Cody Rhodes’ theme song and scream “WOAH” at the top of their lungs. Jey Uso gets arenas jumping the moment “Uso” blares through the speakers. What do they all have in common? Massive support.

“If you think about the wrestlers that are most over, they often have the best wrestling theme songs because ultimately professional wrestling – and in my view – all forms of live entertainment, is about audience interaction,” Hendry said. “This person has a really cool entrance song, and that appears to be half the battle of getting over.”

Hendry understood the potential when he was with Insane Championship Wrestling in his home country of Scotland. People could watch matches on-demand, but he realized they could also be found on YouTube, which could reach a worldwide audience. He made sure clips that involved his music were published, and they began to go viral.

People weren’t seeing whether he won or lost matches, and that was fine with Hendry. With his popularity rising, he managed to present himself as a top talent. The lessons he learned were that wrestling is all about moments, create magic, promote yourself and “make yourself undeniable.”

The making of 'I believe in Joe Hendry'

Hendry made several themes that parodied popular songs like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “We Will Rock You” early in his career, but when he was with Ring of Honor in 2019, he made the song “I Believe in Joe Hendry.”

He knew it was a great tune. Whenever it was played during rehearsals, other stars and the backstage crew would jam out to it. When the song was introduced to an audience, it became an instant success.

When he joined wrestling promotion TNA, the popularity of the song continued to grow. The crowd began doing the double clap after the first lyrics. Hendry continued to make tweaks to the entrance video, adding to the epic spread of its popularity. He added him smiling at the beginning, the inspirational poses in the wilderness and the guitar solo performance. 

Then in April, the entrance went viral on TikTok. Millions of views on social media, one million views on YouTube and memes everywhere. Knowing his stardom was through the roof, Hendry released the song as a single. He campaigned, and it eventually broke the top 10 for the United Kingdom official singles sales and downloads in May. 

All the eyes on Hendry translated to more people watching TNA and elevating him to a top talent. He even did his own concert, similar to his idol The Rock, where he dissed rival TNA group First Class with a parody of “Higher” by Creed . Just like his idol, it was an accomplishment that gave him another boost.

The memes are all over wrestling social media now, but Hendry has a secret: he and his team have made most of the memes that have gone viral. He said his brother recently quit his job, and since he needed work, Hendry told his brother “just make memes" for him.

Thanks to the success of his entrance song, Hendry said he can’t leave the house or hotel now without people recognizing him and basking in his glory. He says “it has been a little bit surprising." Turns out, those 10 years of just music are paying off.

“I kind of was worried that was wasted time in a way. But really, it's been absolutely critical to what's going on now,” Hendry said. “It's very cool that both of my passions are coming together. I'm a very lucky individual.”

Joe Hendry in WWE?

While the transfer portal has been all the rage in college sports, the “prohibited portal” has taken the WWE world by storm. The company made a partnership with TNA that allows TNA stars to appear on WWE in a rare deal for the massive wrestling company. The latest example was TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace appearing in the 2024 Royal Rumble and challenging Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women’s Championship this past weekend. 

Hendry said Grace did an “unbelievable job” in her WWE appearance and she helped elevate the TNA brand. Grace also is just one of many possibilities with the partnership between the two brands. 

“Having that unpredictable element of excitement on the shows, and amongst the fan base is what this business is about. This business is about fun,” Hendry said.

But with this possibility, WWE fans are now craving only one thing. They want to see Hendry in WWE.

He hasn’t been shy about the opportunity either, practically teasing fans on social media everyday. He’s mentioned he wrote a song for The New Day, and when Raw commentator Pat McAfee said “say his name and he appears” during a recent broadcast, Hendry responded with a photo of himself.

Also adding to the speculation, WWE hosts Clash at the Castle on Saturday in Hendry’s home country. The hype surrounding a possible Hendry appearance is at an all-time high.

“Professional wrestling is all about giving the fans what they want, and fortunately for me, I think what the fans want is for me to achieve more,” he said. 

There is no official word whether Hendry will appear at Clash at the Castle. TNA will be in Chicago for the Against All Odds event on Friday, a show he said he “give(s) you my word” he will there. TNA has a show Saturday in Chicago as well, but Hendry’s appearance for that hasn’t been confirmed. There's also the chance of him showing up during an upcoming episode of NXT.

So will Joe Hendry be in WWE? Say his name and find out.

“This is what I'll say," Hendry said when asked directly about the possibility. "If people do say my name, I tend to appear. And ways to say my name are chanting, ‘We believe.' Saying, 'I believe in Joe Hendry'"

“Wrestling is at its best when absolutely anything can happen.”

Cookie banner

We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy . Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use , which became effective December 20, 2019.

By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies.

Follow The Ringer online:

• Follow The Ringer on Twitter
• Follow The Ringer on Instagram
• Follow The Ringer on Youtube

Site search

• House of the Dragon
• What to Watch
• Bill Simmons Podcast
• 24 Question Party People
• 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s
• Against All Odds
• Bachelor Party
• The Bakari Sellers Podcast
• Beyond the Arc
• The Big Picture
• Black Girl Songbook
• Book of Basketball 2.0
• Boom/Bust: HQ Trivia
• Counter Pressed
• The Dave Chang Show
• East Coast Bias
• Every Single Album: Taylor Swift
• Extra Point Taken
• Fairway Rollin’
• Fantasy Football Show
• The Fozcast
• The Full Go
• Gambling Show
• Gene and Roger
• Higher Learning
• The Hottest Take
• Jam Session
• Just Like Us
• Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air
• Last Song Standing
• The Local Angle
• Masked Man Show
• The Mismatch
• Mint Edition
• Morally Corrupt Bravo Show
• New York, New York
• Off the Pike
• One Shining Podcast
• Philly Special
• Plain English
• The Pod Has Spoken
• The Press Box
• The Prestige TV Podcast
• Recipe Club
• The Rewatchables
• Ringer Dish
• The Ringer-Verse
• The Ripple Effect
• The Rugby Pod
• The Ryen Russillo Podcast
• Sports Cards Nonsense
• Slow News Day
• Speidi’s 16th Minute
• Somebody’s Gotta Win
• Sports Card Nonsense
• This Blew Up
• Trial by Content
• Ringer Wrestling Worldwide
• What If? The Len Bias Story
• Wrighty’s House
• Wrestling Show
• Latest Episodes
• All Podcasts

Filed under:

• The Ringer Podcast Network

Bobby Bones Joins to Talk About His Hobby Journey. Plus, Peter Steinberg on the State of SGC.

Mike and Jesse dive into a variety of hobby topics with their guests

Share this story

• Share this on Facebook
• Share this on Twitter
• Share All sharing options

Share All sharing options for: Bobby Bones Joins to Talk About His Hobby Journey. Plus, Peter Steinberg on the State of SGC.

Mike and Jesse are joined by Bobby Bones of The Bobby Bones Show to talk about his journey in the hobby (6:28). Later, the president of SGC, Peter Steinberg, joins the show to talk about what the last few months have been like for SGC and what their plans are going forward (45:09).

Hosts: Mike Gioseffi and Jesse Gibson Guests: Bobby Bones and Peter Steinberg Associate Producer: Carlos Chiriboga

Subscribe: Spotify

Next Up In Sports Cards Nonsense

• Mike Throws a Tantrum and Jesse Can’t Say “Onion”
• Going Undercover at GameStop With Clever Cuban Cards
• Mike and Jesse Bury the Hatchet
• Top 10 All-Time NBA Players. Plus, What Resonates With Our Audience With Adam Gray and Joel’s Sports Cards.
• Interviewing the Owner of the World’s Greatest Griffey Collection
• Line Look Aheads, Over- and Underreactions, and NFL Offseason Story Lines

Sign up for the The Ringer Newsletter

Thanks for signing up.

Check your inbox for a welcome email.

Oops. Something went wrong. Please enter a valid email and try again.

DeChambeau Wins It, Celtics and Panthers Look to Close Out, and Betaches

Plus, Game 5 Stanley Cup best bets

The ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 Premiere and ‘Presumed Innocent’ Episodes 1 and 2

Can you properly engage with this ‘HOTD’ episode without doing some light reading about the plot beforehand? What are improvements the show has made since its first season? Plus, ‘Presumed Innocent’ and its stacked cast.

Black Country Music With Alice Randall

Plus, whether or not Taylor Swift is a country artist comes into consideration

CM Punk Ruins Drew McIntyre’s moment! WWE Clash at the Castle Recap.

Plus, Damian Priest’s breakout match as champion, Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles’s "I Quit" match, and more!

The Hurley Family Press Tour, Klay’s Unfollowing Spree, and Kerr Kriisa’s Callout

Tate Frazier and J. Kyle Mann discuss the latest on the Lakers’ head coach search, the Hurley family press tour, Kerr Kriisa’s Luka Doncic conspiracy, and more

Will the Celtics Win It Tonight? Plus, U.S. Open and Davis-Martin Recap.

The East Coast Bias recap the Mavericks’ Game 4 win in the NBA Finals and preview Game 5

• FanNation FanNation FanNation
• Swimsuit SI Swimsuit SI Swimsuit
• Sportsbook SI Sportsbook SI Sportsbook
• Tickets SI Tickets SI Tickets
• Shop SI Shop SI Shop
• Free Agency
• Wrestling Wrestling Wrestling
• Home Home Home

Alex Shelley’s Entire 20-Year Wrestling Career Was Leading to This Moment

• Author: Justin Barrasso

SI.com’s Week in Wrestling is published every week and provides beneath-the-surface coverage of the business of pro wrestling.

Alex Shelley’s big moment

For the very first time in his illustrious career, Alex Shelley was announced as the new Impact Wrestling world champion June 9.

Shelley defeated Steve Maclin at Against All Odds in a captivating bout, reaching the pinnacle of Impact after a ferocious climb. Following his career-defining victory, a celebratory dinner was awaiting the new champ.

Whatever the meal lacked in glamor, it replenished in memories.

A 21-year veteran of the craft, Shelley’s celebration was held at Waffle House. The new face of Impact ate four scrambled eggs, two chicken breasts, steamed hash browns and whole wheat toast, which is exactly what Kevin Nash ordered for him the first time they went to a Waffle House 17 years ago before a trip to Gold’s Gym.

Waffle House was a request from Yuya Uemura, who is on sabbatical from New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Uemura specifically asked for Shelley’s guidance during his time in the U.S. Having once been the only foreigner on tours 19 years ago, Shelley takes a great deal of pride in looking out for Uemura, both in and out of the ring.

The remainder of Shelley’s evening was spent in a compact hotel room. That is where he aired out his gear and went to bed—but not before setting his alarm for seven the next morning to work out.

“This is a gift,” says Shelley. “It’s not an obligation. It’s something I am lucky to do. If you want to be champion of a major promotion, you need to outwork everyone. That’s what I want; so I’m grinding.”

Shelley has been a whirling dervish ever since, which is no different than his schedule before winning the belt. After defeating Maclin two weeks ago, he wrestled the next two nights. Then, this past weekend, he flew to New York on Friday for a show, only to return home the next day just long enough to hop in the car and make the three-hour trek to Dayton, Ohio, for another match. After that he drove to Cincinnati, caught a flight to Los Angeles and wrestled again.

Despite the arduous travel, he found time every day for another grueling workout.

“I want this,” says Shelley. “I’m not going to stop.”

Shelley is 40-year-old Patrick Martin. You are forgiven for thinking he is younger. He has tapped into wrestling’s fountain of youth. That is largely the result of an unrelenting commitment to health and fitness, which shows instantly in his muscular frame. Yet another key characteristic to Shelley’s success is his passionate devotion toward pro wrestling.

A secret of Shelley’s work is his knack for embedding joy into all matches. While he is primarily known as one half of the famed Motor City Machine Guns , he is also one of the most dedicated singles performers on the indies. His weekends are spent touring different cities and towns, wrestling 30-minute bouts to a different audience every week. Such intense commitment is not a requisite; Shelley could earn a living while doing a whole lot less. But for someone who, up until recently, worked 40-hour weeks as a physical therapist and then scratched and clawed in the ring on the weekends, it is all part of the signature routine for wrestling’s truest working-class hero.

“I think back to Ric Flair and Harley Race defending the belt in multiple cities in one night,” says Shelley. “Those guys didn’t take nights off. Kevin Nash is another one. That stretch he had as WWE champion was insane. He said something that always stuck with me when he said, ‘I could either sleep or I could work out.’ If you find a gym, you take it. CM Punk took care of me on the road 20 years ago. If he passed a gym, he worked out. That’s part of how he left his imprint on the business. They led by example, and that’s what I plan to do.”

Shelley’s Motor City Machine Guns partner, Chris Sabin, is now Impact’s X Division champion. 

Courtesy of Impact Wrestling

Shelley is unique in pro wrestling. Trained by Sabu, mentored by Nash, looked after by Yuji Nagata in Japan and Dr. Wagner Jr. in Mexico, he is now passing on endless knowledge to the current generation of wrestling’s rising stars.

There is a new piece of knowledge Shelley can offer. After a run in Impact that originally began in 2005, Shelley can mentor the next generation on what it means to carry a major promotion as its champion.

“It’s taken me years and years and years to reach this point, but I’ve never lost sight of the fact that wrestling is what I love,” says Shelley. “I like the grind. I find joy in it. Doing this at a high level, there is nothing like it.”

Impact’s history cannot be told without Shelley, and now neither can its world title lineage. The morning of June 9, Shelley awoke in the comfort of his own bed. He started his day with a workout, then ate a healthy breakfast laid out precisely to the gram.

There was a different energy in the air on that particular day. He did not rush off to sit and wait at the airport, instead making a solo three-hour drive from Detroit to Columbus. After taking every avenue necessary over the past two decades to ensure he would belong in pro wrestling—earning a business degree with an HR concentration, entering physical therapy and becoming a strength and conditioning coach—his drive to the venue was smooth. Listening to Spotify, clearing his mind along the way, he made great time en route to the Ohio Expo Center.

Upon entering the building, it dawned on Shelley that he was approaching a very rare milestone.

“When I walked in, everything slowed down and became fluid,” says Shelley. “That reminded me it was my moment. It was my match and no one was going to take that away from me. I wasn’t going to believe anything until it happened, so it was surreal for me even as it was happening.”

Shelley and Maclin closed out the Against All Odds card that night. The show’s title change, it appeared, occurred earlier in the card, as Motor City partner Chris Sabin defeated Trey Miguel to win the X Division title. It was a genuine surprise to see Shelley upend Maclin for the world title, a legitimately unexpected moment for one of wrestling’s most dynamic talents.

But there were no extra nerves when he stepped into the ring. No second guessing. Feeling at ease when he heard the bell ring, Shelley owned the moment as soon as he locked eyes with Maclin.

“The bell rings, me and Maclin lock eyes, and that’s when I knew, ‘I’ve got this,’” says Shelley. “I’ve been doing this for two decades. I’ve been doing 30-minute matches every weekend for almost two years, and about a year and half of that was while I was working full time in physical therapy. There was no doubt. So as soon as I walked in the ring, I felt at home.”

Just a shade past the 22-minute mark, Shelley connected with a superkick. He then hit a picturesque Shellshock for the victory, crafting one of the industry’s most satisfying and uplifting finishes since Kofi Kingston won the world title four years ago .

Returning to the back, Shelley shared a host of intimate moments with the members of the Impact locker room, and he was greeted with a standing ovation as he returned with the belt draped over his shoulder. He also received hundreds of congratulatory texts, which he was unaware of until the next morning (“I was so tired I didn’t even check my phone,” says Shelley).

The cellphone was an afterthought while he was hugging and chatting with people who have become extended family. Eventually, he checked his phone—and was flooded with a whole other deluge of emotions.

“I was very grateful that people watched the match and shared the moment with me,” says Shelley. “I’ve heard from a lot of people I was close with over the past 20 years. People from all over, including WWE and Japan and AEW. I didn’t even recognize some of the numbers at first. It was mind-blowing, it meant the world to me and I responded to every single one of those texts.”

Since winning the belt, Shelley quickly moved nostalgia to the background. His focus is the present, beginning with a title defense this Friday against Brian Myers at Impact’s Summer Sizzler show in Atlanta. The future is also quite eventful. On Saturday, Shelley will team with Sabin in a tag match against Nick Aldis and Lio Rush. Then there is a rematch against Maclin at the end of the month in Australia. He will headline the next pay-per-view, Slammiversary in July, against Aldis. All the while, Shelley will need to keep viewers engaged in Impact, shining a light on an incredibly talented roster while adding significance to the world title.

Shelley’s journey to the top of the company is a rare tale. He did not just take the road less traveled in wrestling; he embraced it. Buoyed by a strong past, he now seeks to build an unforgettable run as champ.

“This isn’t about what happened before,” says Shelley. “It’s all about what’s happening in the moment. What I have is now, and I’m going to do my best with everything I’ve got.”

The (online) week in wrestling

• The latest chapter in The Bloodline saw The Usos break free from the grip of Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman. Every week, those involved in this story line continue to elevate it to new heights.
• CM Punk is back , delivering an outstanding promo on Collision before stepping back into the ring.
• Bron Breakker lost to Seth Rollins last night, but the foreshadowing was clear: He has what it takes to carry the company in the ring.
• Incredible to think we will have the chance to watch Bryan Danielson wrestle Kazuchika Okada this Sunday.
• Matt Cardona and Steph De Lander continue to bring innovation to the indies. Beware—it does contain some NSFW language.
• I think this tweet speaks volumes about the importance of allyship.

Logan Paul added to the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match

Logan Paul is the newest entrant into the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match.

No, it doesn’t make sense. Unlike everyone else in the field, Paul did not wrestle a qualifying match to enter. Instead, he explained during his promo on Raw that he made a phone call to the upper brass and forced his way into one of WWE’s most exciting matches. Depending on how this plays out, it could be a brilliant move.

Paul is a natural heel. He plays the role so effortlessly, which is aided by his overflowing charisma. A significant factor is that he is also a draw, and he adds considerably more interest to the match. There are plenty of ways this could turn out—everyone could work together to prevent him from winning, or he could deliver a surprise ending by seizing hold of the briefcase. While LA Knight seems like the best choice, every moment with Paul would be must-see if he wins. He also has history with world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins, who he owes a receipt after losing to him this past April at WrestleMania .

Ultimately, the inclusion of Paul makes the match more interesting. Suddenly, there is a new wild card to win the match.

Tweet of the Week

The Rock opened up on the passing of his father, wrestling great Rocky Johnson.

Justin Barrasso can be reached at [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter @ JustinBarrasso .

Latest News

John Cena Nearly Takes Down Pitcher in Electric Savannah Bananas Debut

SI:AM | Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Is Back in WWE, and Not Everyone Is Happy About It

Pat McAfee Returns as Full-Time Commentator on ‘Monday Night Raw’

WWE Founder Vince McMahon Resigns Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations

WWE Considered Signing Tim Tebow After He Was Cut by Patriots