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by Les
Honig
As the center of Southern California indy wrestling, it is not unusual to see the hottest prospects pass our way and make an even larger name for themselves before moving on to unprecedented sports entertainment greatness. Such has been the fate of a growing list of phenomenal talents who find themselves in the training ring at Ultimate University for varied amounts of time; an honor roll that boasts names like John Cena, Spanky, Paul London and Victoria.
Add to this collection of amazing talent the name of one Tony Stradlin, who with each passing week distinguishes himself more and more as a name separate from most others here; already with incredible ring credits and with a mat credibility that immediately identifies him as someone extremely unique and special.
The extraordinarily charismatic 23 year-old Santa Monica native with the same drive and dedication that distinguishes some of the aforementioned UPW talents, has caused all his Ultimate U classmates to now regard him as a role model they can learn from and emulate.
Like them, however, life started out without the clear prospect of such a promising future; only with an early centering on pro wrestling as a full-time passion. With a dad, uniquely gifted in his own right, (a high school football player who was severely injured during Vietnam War combat; only to lose a foot when he encountered a hidden land mine, but to courageously become a successful kempo karate teacher on his return home), Tony began learning martial arts at the tender age of 4. Still, he became even more fixated on the sport of pro wrestling, continuing his love of squared circle conflict right through high school; and deciding as he entered college that this was the only life path to pursue.
Originally beginning studies to become a veterinary ophthalmologist, it was upon his 19th birthday that he decided to actively pursue wrestling training instead; and he sought out the best that the field had to offer; Shawn Michael’s famed San Antonio school. The day he received his acceptance in the mail, he packed his car and was off for six months of life-altering in-ring education.
Crediting much of what he knows today to the daily mentoring of this legendary performer and teacher, Tony is quick to admit that he found the direction that helped
launch him on his later non-stop vision quest.
“I learned so much from Shawn. He was a truly great instructor,” says Stradlin without hesitation. One of the most unique benefits he discovered during Shawn’s intensive sessions was his concentration on the approaches needed to make it to America’s leading federation, WWE.
“Many indy guys love doing leaps off the top rope but we were never allowed to do this. Our concentration was on mat wrestling and the kinds of skills needed to execute basic moves and the way to sell them to an audience.”
When Shawn decided to make a return to WWE in the later part of 2000, the school was forced to slow down and eventually close but the skills that Stradlin learned in those six special months would not ever be forgotten.
First relocating to Indiana briefly while fellow friend, roommate and trainee Todd Sexton moved to establish his own name in Georgia’s NWA Wildside, Tony soon joined his buddy to form a Wildside face, then heel tag team called TNT, where he was a “crazy short-tempered lunatic type of guy while Todd was the more serious wrestler.”
Those first months, as catalogued earlier in last September’s Student of the Month piece, were personally trying for the super-dedicated Stradlin, who lived out of his car and in a succession of temporary residences until he could find long-term lodging with Sexton and several other friends.
Still, successes continued for Stradlin in his new Southern base, and it was these victories that led him onto a pivotal TNA/NWA televised card where he was to meet the Ballards in ring competition and to gain the crucial tip that greener pastures might lie out West here in UPW territory; considering our high visibility with Titan Wrestling talent agents.
After fulfilling his commitment to a huge Christmas NWA card, it was therefore time again for Stradlin to widen his already expanding wrestling base, so he packed up his belongings and made the drive back here to his original home area, arriving at the
R1 Center to begin his Southern California efforts here in Ultimate Pro Wrestling.
Immediately recognized as someone who had already established undeniable independent squared-circle credentials, it was not long until he began to make serious waves in training sessions and soon in light shows and major venue appearances.
When asked how this latest of experiences has complemented his already extensive list of ring credits, Tony responds quite positively. For him, there is only one major goal: to make it to WWE someday and he feels that his hard work and never-be-satisfied attitude here can only help.
“Right now my main concentration is on gaining size and muscularity,” which he is doing with the help of Shane Roberts (Makoa), who has taken on the role of his trainer and workout advisor. He hopes to leave the ranks of cruiserweights as he builds his already impressive frame from its current 210 pound state to a muscular 225 or 230. Further, he continues to work on the “little things” that his mentor, Shawn Michaels, once told him to focus on; all related to how to draw an audience in and keep them focused on the match story being told.
To that end, he really appreciates the experience of training with his three favorite classmates, L’il Nate, Mike the Miz and Andrew Hellman, who he points to as special talents because they “care most about making a match a success rather than just making themselves look good.”
Now with a crucial Mat Wars victory under his belt as well as valued time as a fill-in Saturday training instructor, Tony Stradlin is continuing his long ascent to the top of the UPW ranks and hopefully, to one day having his already impressive presence move from the Ultimate Pro big screen to the WWE weekly Titantron where future fans everywhere can also enjoy this compelling talent’s striving for continual mat
excellence.
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