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7 Days into 2018

Well here we go, entry number 2. We are officially seven days into 2018, and I feel like now things are about to get started again for myself, after the Xmas Break and New Year celebrations. This week was a lot of the first of 2018 in some ways. First ‘Wrestling Drills Class’ of 2018, for those who have no idea what I am talking about. Some time ago now, I started running a wrestling class, that really focuses on the in ring cardio portion of wrestling. Even if you haven’t wrestled in a wrestling ring, anyone who watches wrestling, will realise like any sport that it requires a lot of stamina & agility. Myself and guys like Gabriel Kidd, Alex Gracie, LJ Heron, Visage, Garrett Bond among others, began to really push ourselves in this area, focusing on drills that we’d seen used in WWE try outs or the NXT Performance centre, along with HIIT Cardio workouts such as card workouts.  Towards the end of 2015 I started to become quite close with another UK wrestler on the scene, after admiring his promo ability, I got the chance to wrestle him one on one, this being ‘Savy Sid Scala’. Before I move on, I will also add that I think in terms of gimmicks on the independent scene Sid Scala is one of the top ones around, plus in terms of dedication and thinking about his craft once again Sid tops the charts in those areas. The reason I bring my friendship up with Sid, Is he became interested in taking part in these ‘Drills Classes’. He started to make the bus journey from London every week, just so he could do these classes with us. From there, I think this inspired other wrestlers from other parts of the country to start coming down. It’s really built a close group and friendship between a group of guys who may not have had the opportunity to spend as much time as we do together now. Names like Amir Jordan & David Graves for example travelling from Leeds, both who in my opinion are all ready in the process of having break out years for themselves in 2018. Both incredibly dedicated and skilled and have a lot to offer, which a lot of people are finding out currently. Then Saxon Huxley, who I met at a local show a couple of years ago. The first time I met him, I liked the way he carried himself and knew he was someone I could get on with. From being around each other from the WWE UK stuff, I can very easily say Saxon has become one of my best friends. Such a top gent, he loves professional wrestling and works bloody hard at it, and deserves all the success that will come his way. The reason I bring the background of this class up, for anyone reading this, is that this kind of stuff showcases what can be great about pro wrestling. Putting together a group of guys, different ages, different experience levels, different backgrounds but all who are dedicated and want to push each other to help them succeed. This Tuesdays class saw myself, Gabriel Kidd, David Graves, Amir Jordan, Visage, JC Thunder (Great Guy, Hard Worker) & some new faces Kip Sabian (Another guy that I’ve really enjoyed getting to know), Joe Nelson (One To Watch For Sure), Miles. Putting in a good start to the first class, looking forward to pushing myself along side these guys and others for the rest of the year.

Wow, I’ve just looked back and realised there’s a lot of paragraphs dedicated to one topic. Not sure if that’s a good or bad things. I will let you decide. Also as I finished my first blog entry, I mentioned I was going to take my Elevation class that evening in Leicestershire. That was fun, to see a lot of the guys for the first time this year, everyone worked hard and we kicked things off well. Once again, another thing I’m looking forward to this year, is seeing the Elevation students continue to grow as performers and seeing where this year takes them.

There seems to be a class/seminar theme to this blog. So I’ll end on talking about today (Sunday Jan 7th). My first wrestling gig of the year, I was asked by ‘Falling Star Wrestling’ based in Kings Lynn to come down and take a seminar for them. I will also add, by no means, do I think I know it all, when it comes to professional wrestling. That’s why I still continually train and try and attend seminars with professionals such as Marty Jones, Dave Taylor, Johnny Saint, Ricky Steamboat, Rockstar Spud among others over recent years. What I can do, when I’m asked to come down and help out at a school, is try and pass down knowledge that has been given to me. I can also try and help people not make the mistakes that I did. Don’t get me wrong, we all make mistakes inside and outside of professional wrestling, it’s apart of life. Though having some experience in a field, allows you to try and help people from not making the ones you have made. I try and stress whenever I give my opinion on something, that, that is all it is an opinion and my opinion alone. That doesn’t make it right or wrong, whether you take the advice or not, is down to the person. As for anybody reading this blog, I could ask you all “Who are your favourite professional wrestlers?” or “What is your favourite movie of all time?” I’d bet money, that we would all have different answers to those questions. That’s why I lot of us love wrestling in the first place, is the fact that it is subjective. We don’t all have to like the same thing, because there is enough variety, that there will be something or someone that we do like. So I can’t hate someone for example for not liking me, it’s there opinion, there entitled just as I am to mine.

In regards to the class I was very impressed with the students who took part. They listened to what I had to say, they implemented a lot of the advice that I gave them, and as the class went on, in the small window of time we had together, I noticed improvements. There was definitely some faces in there, that I’d be be very interested to see where things take them in the future. I don’t want to leave out any names. The two females in the class I though had unique looks and did fantastic, one being Ashleigh who did a great job of portraying her character without me ever seeing it before. There was a young man there named Jack who I would later find out, is only 13 Years Old!!! Who was very impressive, reminded me a lot of Joe Nelson in the sense, that he seemed wise above his years, especially for someone so young. There was plenty of others who stood out, Falling Star definitely have some good young up and coming talent, and truly was a pleasure to be apart of their academy today. Thankyou for having me guys. (Photo From Todays Class At Bottom Of This Post) Well I think I will close it on that. Tomorrow I start the first workout of a new 6 week workout plan, that my good friend and fellow WWE UK Star Tucker has given to me. Wish me luck, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this, if not, sod you ;). Until next time. P.S Thankyou to Shaun & Pat for their company today, especially to Shaun for driving. Top Gent

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1st Entry - A Blog By Joseph Conners

First of all, thank you for finding your way to this blog. I guess to start things off, would be answering the question “Why now have you started a blog?” It’s something that I have considered doing at times, but have never gone through with. I’ve always enjoyed writing and as a child I wanted to be a writer in some form, obviously life gave me other plans ;)

But throughout my childhood, I used to love writing short stories usually about subjects that I was most interested in at the time. So much so that as a kid, I got a typewriter for one of my birthdays :) (my handwriting is atrocious) 

I think like many of the things I’ve been drawn to in my life, whether it be writing, playing an instrument, comedy, film & of course professional wrestling. It’s the creative element that I love, the creative process is one of the major factors of what got me into Professional Wrestling in the first place & my love for movies.

In regards to movies, on my personal Facebook, I like to talk about movies I’ve seen at the cinema and usually write a brief review on my opinions of the film that I’ve seen. The reason I started doing that, was more for myself, as I could look back and see which films I’d seen over the year. (I have a CineWorld Card & When I Have Free Time Will Try & Get To The Cinema).

In regards to my musings on movies I’d seen, over time, more and more of my friends, started asking for my thoughts on the current releases. Or would ask me my opinion, on what I thought was worth seeing at the time. 

So from that, I did consider writing a little movie review blog, as just a side project aside from wrestling. More for something else for me, as a creative outlet, and just something for me to put my mind into. Though never went ahead and did it. Especially as my laptop broke, and I didn’t have the patients to do one on my mobile phone. However at the end of 2017 my laptop got fixed, and starting into 2018 as I enter what will be 12th year in professional wrestling. As my followers & likes continue to grow on my social media platforms, I thought maybe the the time is right, to create something that provides a little more insight into my world. As you can tell from this very first blog, my mind can be all over the place. Plus there’s a good chance at times, my grammar will not be at it’s best (Hey, I said I like to write, I didn’t say I was any good at it) :). Though I will do my best to make sure I check through, and correct mistakes I may have made.  This may not just be exclusive to what is going on in my wrestling life. Even though wrestling makes up the majority of who I am (And I wouldn’t change that) I will try and include other things going on.  If you find this blog of interest, let me know what you may be interested to hear about. Like I say this is my first time, doing anything like this. So give me some feedback :) I’m impressed that I actually managed to finish this first entry. As Leo the cat has continuously been trying to climb over me & the laptop through out. Funny how whenever I want his attention I get none of it, but when he wants mine, I become his new climbing frame. In about an hour, I set off to Enderby to take my Elevation Wrestling class, with a great bunch of guys & girls, as I try and help them start off the year well. So they can achieve the goals they’ve set out for in 2018. I’ve got or two of those myself, that I’m looking forward to checking off myself. Well guys, Until next time.

Twitter: @josephconners  Instagram: joseph_conners

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Back To The Ring

Beginning to write this at 00.18 at I guess what would technically now be Monday. I want to make sure, I keep up with this blog, I didn’t feel I really had anything of major interest that I could post about during the week. After taking the seminar with FSW the previous Sunday. The week just gone would be my first in Ring Wrestling dates. Friday would be for Elevation in Newbold Verdon, a show close to my heart as I get the opportunity to watch people, I’ve helped or currently helping on their wrestling journeys. I wrestled a match against ‘Joshua’ someone who has been on quite a journey from when he first started training. Once again I mentioned last week, if people are looking for motivation or an insight if you’re thinking of considering being involved in this sport, then Joshua is a perfect example of somehow who used wrestling to help turn his life around. When he first came to wrestling, he was reserved, suffering from some previous troubles in his life, lack of confidence, and was over weight. 3 years later at 40 years old, his athleticism, determination, hard work, continues to improve each week. He’s now becoming someone other trainees look up to. He gets in his head from time to time, as we all do, but I’m very proud of what he has accomplished thus far. He is once again another great example of positives that can come from wrestling I didn’t get a chance to watch a lot of the matches on Friday, but it was great to watch Brady Phillips & Johnny Alpha have a great Main Event to end the show. Brady Phillips calls himself “Britains Best Kept Secret” trust me with performances and improvements he continues to make, he won’t have to use that name for too long. Johnny Alpha is another one, who’s dedication, hard work, continues to blossom. It was a fitting night to see him capture the Elevation Championship on Friday night, a true reward for all his hard work.

Then moving onto today, I returned at Progress Wrestling. A place where I am certainly not the most liked man on their roster :) to challenge for the WWE UK Championship against “The Bruiserweight” Pete Dunne in his hometown of Birmingham. I don’t want to say to much about the match, for those who weren’t in attendance it will be on Progress On Demand Channel. What I will say this was a hard fought match, and as I write this currently I know I have been through a war. Hopefully fitting of what people want to see from a WWE UK Championship match. I was also reminded through Facebook & Twitter, that is exactly 12 months ago that I entered the WWE UK Championship Tournament with 15 other men. Cannot believe an entire year has gone by, since that groundbreaking weekend. I look back with fondness, at a truly special couple of days to be involved in. But I also look to the future, as my work is clearly not done. Those are the stages I want to make sure you see me on. I don’t plan on taking any steps backwards. As we are all ready 2 weeks into January, things are starting to get moving again now. I have some exciting opportunities coming up, and more are beginning to present them self. So I certainly sit here, writing this blog, filled with a lot of optimism of what is on the upcoming radar. This week coming up, I’m looking forward to continuing my new work out plan with my best friend Gabe. This is week 2 of 6, so am looking forward to seeing how I react to these workouts. I’ve got my Wrestling Cardio Class on Tuesday (Which I talked about in the previous blog entry). I’m also hoping to try and get to the cinema a few times this week, after I saw my first movie of the year last week. That being “The Greatest Showmen” which I highly recommend, it was thanks to Nathan Cruz who had nothing but positive things to say about the movie on Facebook, that really sold me on it. As musicals go this was great, I love Hugh Jackman anyway, but he’s great in this, as is Zak Efron and the rest of the cast. If you are looking for a fun movie, that’s going to put a smile on your face, check this one out, enjoy the movie & the soundtrack it’s cracking.  Fims I’m hoping to see soon are ‘ Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’, ‘The Darkest Hour’ & I still need to see the new ‘Jumanji’. So if I can get a couple of those in that would be great. I also have a full weekend of shows, I will be defending my BWR Championship on Friday night for them in Grimsby, then I’m in Middlesborough for EPW, & I finish up flying out to Glasgow for my ICW return. A good week ahead for sure. I look forward to it. Once again a bit of a skattered blog, but I told you it’d be like this. Plus cut me some slack it’s not 00.42 and I’m quite beat up as I write this. Keep posted on all my social media for updates, on everything Joseph Conners. Hope you enjoyed this entry. Until Next Time

* Just After My Match At Progress, with my “Everyones Welcome” Progress T-Shirt

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Showtime

As I write this, I have just returned home in the last hour. After flying back from Glasgow, finishing up a fun weekend of wrestling.  Of the blogs that I have done so far, I haven’t really talked a lot about my shows that much. So after a weekend on the road & in the air, thought I’d make this one a little bit more wrestling related. Even as my Cat Leo rubs his hand against me trying to get my attention as I will persevere and get this typed :) :) So on Friday night, I returned to Grimsby for ‘British Wrestling Revolution’. BWR started last year, have to fully commend the team who run BWR, all great guys and are working hard to make their vision for their promotion a reality. They have been nothing but professional with me, and I want to help them in anyway I can to make the promotion a success.

I’m currently the BWR Champion, and made my second successful title defence against Bubblegum. After the match, I would take to the microphone as I laid out a challenge to Pete Dunne to come to BWR & challenge for my Championship (this time me, putting up the Gold as opposed to him, like at Progress just last week) I feel one of my strengths is being on the microphone. By no means am I in Mick Foley, Ric Flair, The Rock etc etc etc territory but it’s something I’ve never been afraid of, and am always wanting to get better on. I also enjoy cutting promos off the cuff, which is what Friday was, just what came to me at the time. I was happy with the promo, as sometimes a Champion laying out a Challenge can be quite generic, and I felt I was able to put some intensity into the delivery and focus on my verbiage to help sell the match in early March.  Onto Saturday, made the journey to Middlesborough for EPW, Where I would meet the rest of the team half way. Billy (Wrestler & Top Bloke) mentioned in his text, when we were arranging a meeting place, that it would be a “Tight squeeze, but we’ll be ok”. I didn’t really think about that last sentence too much, until arriving to meet Billy & the rest of the team. Billy like myself drives quite a small car, and it was packed out with myself, Harri, Mad Dog (Ring Announcer) & Cyanide. I’ve been in some tight packed car journeys but it’s been a while and this one certainly met that criteria. With Billys car also struggling to survive speed bump after speed bump, I was unsure if ‘Po’ (The Name of Billys Car) would make the journey. But alas we made it. The show was packed out, as the spectacle EPW had promised would be a ‘Game Of War Match’ (War Games To You And I) with two rings set up through out the evening. I’ve competed in a War Games style match before, with the cage set up, but that was in one ring. This would be 2 rings side by side without a cage. It’s only now, I wish I’d have chased one of my opponents around the rings, just for my own amusement :) I wrestled earlier on the card against ‘Big Bubba’ one of the regulars on the EPW Cards, who has always come across as a top bloke and hard working. I also saw bits and pieces of his matches, and for a bigger guy he can be move and was someone I wanted to work with. He gets a lot of work for EPW, but I think if he was able to branch out a bit more into some other promotions alongside EPW & the other places he competes, he could do well for himself. This match was also a test, as mentioned with the two rings being set up, I feared that it would cut off some of the crowds view of the matches before the Main Event, but I think we did a decent job of working around that. I then competed in the Main Event, as previously mentioned ‘Game Of War’ Match. The Games on offer certainly weren’t Ludo, Monopoly or Jenga unfortunately, it was an all out mayhem type of match, where even I, had no clue what was going on :). As mentioned Alex Cyanide was on the team for this show. Someone who I have never wrestled, but whenever I see him at shows always gravitate towards to have a chat with. This show was no different, now don’t get me wrong inside the ring, he is one heck of a tough big man wrestler. However outside it, I always find him to be a gentle giant and a pleasure to talk to. I look forward to the next time bud. Then onto Sunday, where I made my second appearance for Insane Championship Wrestling at the Garage in Glasgow. Anyone who follows British independent wrestling won’t need any introduction to ICW, much like PROGRESS they have done an amazing job building up their promotion and have gone from strength to strength as each year goes by. So it was a pleasure to make my first appearance last summer, and really enjoyed coming back last night. However that all most didn’t happen, as with the snowfall we suffered in England, my flight to Glasgow kept getting delayed to the point where I was unsure if I’d make it for my match. Though my fears of arriving at the venue, and having to put my boots on and get straight in the ring (something that has happened on more than one occasion) didn’t become a reality.  I had an enjoyable first time meeting with ‘DCT’ in front of the ICW faithful. Plus after last night, I look like I’ve made a new enemy in ‘DCT’. I enjoy making new enemies, so I’d class that as a job well done. 

I would Tweet out later that night, that my journey to ICW is not to rely on any reputation I may or may not have, but to build a reputation for myself in ICW and not just make up the numbers. I will make sure I prove that theory correct.

So that’s been my weekend in a nut shell, as mentioned I’ve been home long. My flight was on time, bus was on the time so no complaints there. I’m going to chill for a little bit before meeting up with Gabe Kidd and get a workout in, and then we are going to watch the ‘25th Anniversary Of RAW’ tonight Live.  Until Next Time..

Picture Credit - BWR & Brett Hadley.

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At The Movies

Once again sat here currently at 1.19am, this year haven’t done so great on getting early nights. Never been the strongest sleeper, I guess that’s one of the issues of having an over active mind. Cannot complain to much, as a lot of my creativity comes from having this over active mind at times, but doesn’t do me the best in the land of zzz. Anyhow, I’ve just done a thirty minutes session on my exercise bike, and done some meal preparation for tomorrow. Instead of just sitting here with a cup of green tea and watching ‘Six Days & Seven Nights’ on DVD (Random 50p Pick Up From CEX) I thought best time to write my fourth entry. I think I will maybe stick with movies as most of the topic for this one. As this week, after my first weekend back in the ring. I said to myself and wanted to catch up and see some of the films, I’ve wanted to check out at the cinema. Which I have done, 3x this week. Of course I have got everything else I have needed to do done as well, gym sessions, training sessions and other boring bits and bobs, that go into day to day life. As I believe I mentioned previously in one of the other entry's, I have a Cineworld Card. Basically you pay a monthly subscription fee, and then it allows you to see as many films at their cinemas for that month. I’ve had mine now, for I think 4 years, and I love it. Having the card gives you the opportunity, to see films that you perhaps may not have seen, due to the price of admission. I’m a bit of a ‘fantasist’ I’d (which I’d say most wrestlers are). For me films are my other passion to delve my mind into and get into that escapist world. Plus there is such a correlation between film & wrestling. Personally I’ve gotten a lot of inspiration for my own character traits from characters from movies I’ve seen, sometime purposely and other times subliminally. January in particular is usually a great month for cinema, as a lot of the films come out around December & January as it’s Award season for movies.  This week I have seen  ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ ‘Jumanji -- Welcome To The Jungle’ ‘Darkest Hour’ Three completely different films, and I really enjoyed them all on their own merits.  ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ is a film I saw a trailer for in late 2017 and could just tell it’d be the kind of film I’d be interested in. It’s got Frances McDormand & Woody Harrelson leading the cast. Story about a mother who is looking for redemption & to find the culprit of the person or persons who killed her daughter. She is angry at the police force (lead by Harrelson) for seemingly having no leads, and being no closer to solving the crime. The story doesn’t follow any kind of formula, and all the characters are interesting. Really good dark at times, funny at times, sad at times movie. It’s gritty and you’re interested by all the characters pretty much from the moment the film starts.  ‘Jumanji’ was just what I was hoping for, the easiest word to surmise this ‘FUN’. The cast lead by Dwayne Johnson is awesome, Jack Black in particular is a stand out and is hilarious through out. They did a great job of taking elements from the original Jumanji, but then putting a nice modern spin on it with the video game concept as opposed to the original board game premise. Nothing but good stuff to say about this one as well. ‘Darkest Hour’ went to see this today with my Dad, first time I’ve caught up with him this year. Always great to catch up with my Dad, who I’ve continued to form an even stronger relationship with as the years go on. We’ve always shared a love for films, and I’ve always enjoyed watching them with him. So since last year we’ve made it a semi-regular thing to meet up, grab lunch and then check something out at the cinema. I’d personally say this is my favourite film, I’ve seen of the films we’ve checked out together. If anyone doesn’t know, this is the story of Winston Churchill (played by Gary Oldman) from when Churchill became prime minister for his first run of office, during World War II. As mentioned Oldman plays Churchill, his performance is truly memorising as is his physically transformation as Churchill (the make up team deserve huge credit for this). The film, is just over 2 hours long and at no point did it drag on, I wanted to keep learning about Churchill and would have been interested to find out even more. From watching the film, I learnt a lot of stuff, that I had no clue about in regards to decisions and proposals that were made during that period. Oldman has to be in strong contention for an Academy Award for this one, I very much look forward to re-watching this one again. Well I guess that’s enough of me being Roger Ebert for now. I will say though, two films in particular I am very much looking forward to checking out, in the coming weeks are ‘The Post’ & ‘Downsizing’ both of these look brilliant. However I will have no time this weekend, as tomorrow or I guess this evening, I travel to Grimsby to make my 2nd title defence as BWR Champion. BWR is a promotion that started last year, and are doing a great job making consistent head way in a very short period of time. I am very happy to currently represent them as their Champion, and want to help their great team, continue their momentum into 2018, My opponent is Bubblegum, who is one of the best in the UK without a doubt, I believe this may only be our third ever singles match, in the 11 plus years that i’ve known him, so I’m looking forward to this one. On Saturday I make a journey to Middlesborough for EPW. Then on Sunday I return to ICW catching a flight to Glasgow to wrestle ‘DCT’. Very much looking forward to returning to ICW, hoping to make an impression there and to continue making appearances for them this year. What they have built as a promotion is fantastic, as shown by their fan following & all their success when it comes to drawing huge houses in big arenas such as ‘The Hyrdo’. So I’ve got a good weekend ahead of me, plenty of miles to cover and am looking forward to getting in the ring with some top talent.  I think that’s the perfect way to finish off this one. Until next time. Upcoming Shows 19/1/18 - BWR, Grimsby  BWR Championship Match Conners (C) Vs Bubblegum 20/1/18 - EPW, Middlesborough Opponent TBD 21/1/18 - ICW, Glasgow Conners Vs DCT