Mr. Wrestling

The Way It IsMr. Wrestling is a veteran star of the OSCW with a ring history that goes back decades. He's done several headline runs, having worn every title belt within the promotion, and remains consistently popular among the fans despite his weakening abilities.

## Professional Wrestling Career

### Early Years

Little is verifiably known about Mr. Wrestling's early in-ring career because of his adoption of and obsessive commitment to the *enmascarado* tradition shortly after going professional, but based on his style and history fans have pieced together several theories. It seems likely that he began wrestling at a young age, something Mr. Wrestling has confirmed himself as having been a varsity wrestler, and his nostalgic fondness for Canadian Championship Circuit Wrestling (CCCW) indicates that his earliest matches would have been working the regional circuits in Canada.

Grainy fan-recorded footage from 40-year-old CCCW matches has been recovered that seems to show a young, unmasked Mr. Wrestling in some very early bouts, but the quality of the video is poor and the veracity of the footage is in dispute.

### Consejo Universal de Lucha Libra (CULL)

Mr. Wrestling made his first appearance in the persona that he'd become best known for nearly 40 years ago in the CULL in Mexico. At the time known for his incredible physique and technical skills, he stood out as a hulking foreign *técnico* who's willingness to take hard bumps and attention to his opponent's safety soon earned him a reputation among the established *luchadores* as a reliable professional. It was during this time that he would develop what would become the foundation of his signature style, adding the high-flying aerial maneuvers popular in Mexico to the muscle-based grappling he was already known for, and establish lifelong connections in the Mexican filmmaking community.

### Canadian Championship Circuit Wrestling (CCCW)

Having established a reputation for reliability and professionalism Mr. Wrestling was scouted by CCCW, who purchased his contract as a long-term investment in the rising young talent. Eager to work in his home country and grateful for the chance at professional legitimacy Mr. Wrestling leapt at the offer, making his official Canadian debut within days of his CULL contract's dissolution and spending the next years faithfully serving his new federation. Gradually becoming a main eventer and several times wearing the title belt, Mr. Wrestling became synonymous with CCCW and came to represent to federation as an unofficial spokesman; honoured by the role at first, he eventually came to realize "irreplaceable" was another word for "unpromotable". Multiple stars were routinely pushed ahead of him, in many cases only for them to leave and sign on with bigger rival promotions, leaving Mr. Wrestling to attempt to salvage a sinking brand largely on his own.

At last unable to accept the lack of professional growth, Mr. Wrestling declined to renew his contract with CCCW after fifteen years; CCCW was bought out shortly after.

### New Pro Japan Wrestling (NPJW)

With his reputation cemented and his popularity at it's peak Mr. Wrestling sought an opportunity to increase his international visibility but was consistently turned away from the major American promotions, and so he signed on with NPJW. His unbroken *enmascarado* mystique and gallant Face persona endeared him to the people of Japan, but his theatrical wrestling style combined with a tendency to oversell the opponent's moves weren't popular among pro-wrestling fans, and overall his time with the NPJW amounted to an unremarkable but educational few years.

### Central Alliance Wrestling (CAW)

By the time Mr. Wrestling returned to North America, CCCW had been absorbed into CAW along with most other Canadian independent promotions; Mr. Wrestling was in a federation he no longer recognized and working under management he did not agree with, but was contractually unable to wrestle anywhere else in the country. It was during this time that Mr. Wrestling first adopted the "corporate stooge" Heel persona in response to the owners' lack of appreciation for creative input, a radical change in style that reduced his bankability under a crushing wave of anti-authority attitude-era personalities.

This rankling against management drew the attention of some CCCW stalwarts who, blaming Mr. Wrestling for the collapse of their former federation, organized an "accident" that would lead to a career-defining leg injury witnessed by millions on PPV television.

### Old-School Championship Wrestling (OSCW)

After several years of background subterfuge and contract negotiations, David Panache was able to release Mr. Wrestling from his contract with CAW and bring the aging veteran over to the OSCW roster. The two men had frequently crossed paths in the past both in and out of the ring, and had developed a mutual respect for one another based around their shared years of experience in the business. While Panache had already become a competent booker and promoter, he saw in Mr. Wrestling a legacy and legitimacy that would attract the sort of "old-school" fans he was counting on with the rebrand from "Old South Championship Wrestling". The gamble paid off, and Mr. Wrestling has been an asset to the federation on both sides of the camera ever since; he has worn multiple OSCW titles and been part of many memorable moments over the years.

Mr. Wrestling has spent the the last several years of his career with OSCW, during which time he has feuded with several legends that have since gone onto work behind the scenes or into outright retirement, the Gremlin being the only currently working wrestler in the roster that can approach the length of his record.

With his age catching up to him, Mr. Wrestling has devoted more of his efforts to building up the next generation of OSCW's talent and selling them to the crowd, scouting new performers and educating the roster on in-ring traditions and the business of wrestling. This dedication to fostering the future of OSCW has affectionately earned him the nickname of "Wrestle Dad" among the younger talent, as much for his commitment to their improvement as for his insistence on making terrible jokes in the locker room and on the tour bus.

#### Notable Feuds & Matches

> **"OSCW: Bash at the Bastille"**: During the finale of this PPV, Mr. Wrestling hoisted his young rival Anthony Walsh in a Gorilla Press, including a few repeated presses simply to show off his superior strength. Much had been made by Walsh of the age difference during the lead-in to the fight, and Mr. Wrestling's perfect form - harkening back to similar spots he had performed in his youth - electrified the crowd to chants of "You Still Got It". The spot has since gone down in OSCW history as "The French Press" (Legendary Moment: Body).
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> **"OSCW: World Studio"**: Mr. Wrestling seemed outmatched during the Main Event match against Necris, with the veteran apparently failing to have learned to respect the ghoul's superior grappling abilities despite numerous defeats. Following a series of exhausting exchanges, Mr. Wrestling stripped the turnbuckle to reveal that he had replaced a ring post with a silver column, then rammed Necris into it and wrapped her into a Tree of Woe position; "weakened" by the silver, Necris was choked out by a massive Outside-The-Ring Forward Headlock. This finish directly inspired the "Limited Edition Stretch Necris" action figure, a rare and highly sought after collectible among fans. (Legendary Moment: Finisher).
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> "OSCW: Bash at the Bastille": During the finale of this PPV, Mr. Wrestling hoisted his young rival Anthony Walsh in a Gorilla Press, including a few repeated presses simply to show off his superior strength. Much had been made by Walsh of the age difference during the lead-in to the fight, and Mr. Wrestling's perfect form - harkening back to similar spots he had performed in his youth - electrified the crowd to chants of "You Still Got It". The spot has since gone down in OSCW history as "The French Press" (Legendary Moment: Body).
> "OSCW: ???": Mr. Wrestling seemed outmatched during the Main Event match against Necris, with the veteran apparently failing to have learned to respect the ghoul's superior grappling abilities despite numerous defeats. Following a series of exhausting exchanges, Mr. Wrestling stripped the turnbuckle to reveal that he had replaced a ring post with a silver column, then rammed Necris into it and wrapped her into a Tree of Woe position; "weakened" by the silver, Necris was choked out by a massive Outside-The-Ring Forward Headlock. This finish directly inspired the "Limited Edition Stretch Necris" action figure, a rare and highly sought after collectible among fans. (Legendary Moment: Finisher).
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>

## Endorsements & Business Ventures

### Chokehold Acres

Following its legalization in Canada, Mr. Wrestling invested in a 250 acre farm specialized in growing multiple unique strains of high-quality cannabis used in the production of numerous recreational products. Strict advertising laws in Canada and inconsistent cannabis laws internationally make it difficult to market the brand at events or brand it more obviously to benefit from Mr. Wrestling's existing fame, so Chokehold Acres remains a minor player in the industry.

### Grapple Ranch

"*Leave the ego at the door.*" - inscription on the entry stone of the ranch.

"*Weep when you train that might laugh when you fight.*" - inscription on the opposite side of the stone, seen when leaving the ranch.

In addition to his in-ring work, Mr. Wrestling is a long-time owner and operator of the "Grapple Ranch", a private training facility where he keeps in shape and educates rising talent. Consisting mostly of uncultivated farmland and corrugated iron sheds, the Ranch is known as one of the harshest wrestling schools in the world; the curriculum is based around old-school, low-tech weight training, hours-long technique drills, and extended sessions of full-force submission conditioning, often administered by a favoured student when Mr. Wrestling is on the road. David Panache has described Grapple Ranch as being "like a garden of pain".

Graduating from the Grapple Ranch is considered an impressive accomplishment, often mentioned in the introductions of rookie wrestlers.

Mr. Wrestling seldom accepts payment for his training services, doing it instead for the love of professional wrestling.

## Other Media

### Acting

Mr. Wrestling's crossover popularity has led to several television and movie roles, though his notable lack of acting talent and unwillingness to adapt his personality to the requirements of the role ensure that he's never enjoyed breakout success. His movies are considered cult classics in certain circles which, combined with the limited print run typical for any of his titles, means that his work is more commonly sought out for collectibles than quality viewing.

Despite the consistently low box-office his movies remain popular among diehard wrestling fans, particularly in Mexico, where he continues to film as often as his schedule allows.

### Filmography

Television Performances
 Beach Patrol
 North and South
 CAW Presents: Saturday Morning Wrestle Detectives

### Music & Radio

#### "Pardon?"

A recurring bit of pre-recorded trash-talk produced individually and licensed in bulk to whatever stations will carry advertisements for that week's wrestling show, "Pardon?" segments have a long shelf-life on Canadian FM stations as comedy filler and commercial padding.

The spot always follows the same format: Mr. Wrestling tells the story of a time that a fellow wrestler had an encounter with his wife and says something unintentionally inappropriate, which leads to Mr. Wrestling growing frustrated and growling the title. When the mistaken speaker repeats the offending line, the story devolves into a cartoonish description of violent puns levelled against them by Mr. Wrestling, followed by Mr. Wrestling apologizing for his over-reaction and shoe-horning in his catchphrase.

The popularity of this segment has led to stadium chants of "Par-don!" by the fans, particularly when a performer is cutting a live promo that is going either particularly well or particularly badly.

## Personal Life

### Legal Issues

#### Dragonmaster Lawsuit

During the "OSCW: Castlemania" show at Faire Thee Well in Sarasota, Florida, Mr. Wrestling unofficially reprised his role from the Dragonmaster film, wearing an identical costume and reciting iconic lines from the film in promos and during interviews. Having done so without consulting the OSCW legal team, it came as something of a shock when the studio owners of Dragonmaster sued Mr. Wrestling and the promotion over unlawful copyright usage, claiming damages of upwards of $20 million. However, because he was billed as and referred to as "Sir Wrestling" during the entire run of the show, the case was eventually settled out of court for a sum of $500,000, with reports suggesting that half of the settlement was paid out by OSCW and the other half by Mr. Wrestling himself.

## Relationships

#### Panthera

since meeting the two have been best friends on and off camera and formed the formidable tag team Beauty and the Beast

#### Behemoth

As the top Heel of Behemoth has been Mr Wrestling's main antagonist and the two rarely spend more than a few minutes in eachothers prence before a fight starts. in Spring of 2021 Behemoth threatened to unmask Mr Wrestling on camera and in the act Mr Wrestling tried to stop him and ended up releasing Otto Mann from Larry's control.

#### Yankee

Mr Wrestling was among the first see Yankee's talent being wasted as a jobber and work try puthim over as a real competator.

#### Cave Dave

In Autumn 2020 he took a vacation to France and a caveman frozen in a iceburg the two wrestled for 3 days and 3 nights and then in the end the prehistoric man was dubbed "Cave Dave" and joined as Mr Wrestling's enforcer Mega Wrestling.

## Awards, Championships & Honours

* OSCW Heavyweight Champion, Season 2
	+ Won from Behemoth in a Title vs. Career Last Man Standing match at "OSCW: On Tour"
	+ 6 Defenses, including Season Ending PPV
* OSCW Heavyweight Champion, Season 3
	+ 3 Defenses
	+ Lost to Anthony Walsh at "OSCW: Bash at the Bastille"

* OSCW Tag Team Champions with Panthera as "Beauty & the Beast", Season 2
	+ Vacant Title Won in the Battlebowl at "OSCW: the Battlebowl on the Bayou"
	+ 2 Defenses
	+ Lost to the Dead & the Damned in a Screwjob Finish at "OSCW: The Gang Breaks Down Outside of Philly"

## Trivia

* Well Mr Wrestling has taken the OSCW champion title many times but never held the Pan-Am title. Something Mustafa Camacho will never allow people to forget
* A qualified demon hunter due to repeated bouts againt Behemoth
* Mr. Wrestling's mother never taught him to read as he asked why C is sometimes pronounced S and sometimes K and she told him "tha's just the way it is". This Kayfabe was established by Panache as a joke with how he has refused to wear his reading glasses backstage