Georgia Wrestling History: View from Inside the Ring

VIEW FROM INSIDE THE RING

THE TALENT POOL IN GEORGIA
– Rob Adonis

October 16, 2008

Over the past ten days, I have had six singles matches with a variety of opponents. I have noticed a common bond between all the wrestlers I have faced. The incredible depth of talent that is currently entertaining wrestling fans in Georgia is nothing short of awesome.

A couple of weeks ago Prime Time Pro Wrestling hosted a much awaited confrontation between Bulldog Raines and me. Raines is another guy who really took me to the limit and forced me to look deeper within myself to find the ability to hang with him. A great gimmick, a strong wrestling knowledge, and solid in-ring work ethic is what you get with Raines. He should be enjoying a career under contract working with a full time wrestling company.

That same weekend, I wrestled Derrick Driver on television at the NWA Anarchy Arena. Driver is half my size and took me to the limit from bell to bell. This guy was incredible, and so is his partner Stephen Walters. Speed, accuracy, knowledge, and skill were the driving force that really made me look at the Driver & Walters team in a whole new light.

Then there was Sal Rinauro. Rampage Pro Wrestling fans saw Rinauro and me face off in, what turned out to be one of my favorite matches. My goal is never to permanently damage my opponent, but to incapacitate them long enough to get the win. With Rinauro, it became a chess match. Rinauro is another who is used by the larger companies on a regular basis, but has never been offered a deal. I don’t think that many of these companies realize, in the midst of wellness policy violations, Rinauro is a real “straight edge” wrestler. No drinking, smoking, or drugs in this guy’s routine. He is just a pure talent who has chosen the cleaner road less traveled.

David Young versus me is one of those matches I always bring a video camera to tape with. Not because I’m in it, but because Young is. I have never had a bad match with Young. Prime Time Pro Wrestling hosted this battle, and a battle it was. Another guy who has had breaks, but never been used for what he could be used for. Young is so good; he winds up being the guy who builds stars. In my book, he should be the star.

Bull Buchanan is the toughest guy I have ever been in the ring with. Southern Extreme Championship Wrestling hosted us in a number one contender’s match for their heavyweight championship. Bull is the best true heavyweight in Georgia. We have wrestled for over a year and he continues to astonish me with his in ring intellect. I don’t know a better application to strong psychological wrestling than Bull. He is one inch taller and I am seventeen pounds heavier, but he is always able to maneuver me in that ring the way he wants. I must admit that I have learned so much from the epic beatings Bull has bestowed upon me. I totally understand why he works in Japan so many months out of the year.

Finally, my last match pitted me against Orion Bishop. This guy was very good. He did not have much to say. We were in a round robin tournament for Rampage Pro Wrestling’s heavyweight championship. So backstage, prior to the match, we had no heat because we were picked at random to wrestle in the tournament. He was a very quiet and determined guy. He was strong as an ox and very fluent. He worked over my left knee like a man possessed. Painful as it was, he impressed me with his in-ring work.

I have had the pleasure of working with countless other great wrestlers in the ring, but from a wrestler’s stand point, these are six guys to keep your eye on. The common denominator lies within their skill and execution. These gentlemen also put “professional” in professional wrestling. Like them, hate them, cheer them, or boo them – make no mistake that professional wrestling in Georgia is better off because of them.