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We are living in wild times. World Wrestling Entertainment is stockpiling talent. All Elite Wrestling is signing talent to be on standby. Ring of Honor gave an in-ring contract to a man in his 50’s. Then there are other promotions who are trying to sign whoever is left. What does that mean for the independents? It means the depth of talent that was bursting at the seams a year ago has thinned out. Even if that is the case, there are a number of outstanding talents that are still under the radar and ready for prime time. Here are a few candidates.
KRIS STATLANDER
When you ask the average wrestler about their background, they tell you how much they loved wrestling as a child and how they knew they always wanted to get in the ring someday. For Kris Statlander, her journey was a lot different in more ways than one.
“I didn’t watch wrestling as a kid,” she told me. “I was training as a stunt double and started being a manager for some of my friends. During those two years, I still didn’t even know what wrestling really was.”
Eventually, she found her way to the Create-A-Pro Academy on Long Island and trained under Pat Buck and Curt Hawkins in 2016. Given her history as a stunt double and having trained in gymnastics, it seemed to be a natural physical fit, but with no knowledge of wrestling, it may have been difficult for her to adapt.
“There’s genuinely never been anyone like her,” said Buck. “She’s only one of two women who have ever completed our program and we have had many sign up. She’s also the only woman to pick it up so naturally and outshine most of the men. She’s easily one of the top three people I have ever trained.”
Beginning her career wrestling in the tri-state area in 2017, she made her New England debut for Women’s Wrestling Revolution in January of 2018. While she didn’t immediately click in the eyes of the fans, she had athletic qualities that made her stand out and helped her build toward her status as a main eventer with Beyond Wrestling.
“She was on our radar after a tryout match and you could tell she was going to be a cut above not only women but men as well,” said Drew Cordiero, owner of Beyond Wrestling and Women’s Wrestling Revolution. “After great matches with Matt Cross and Kylie Rae, it was obvious that she was a main player in Beyond. She’s going to be able to call her own shots if things keep going this way.”
Dubbed “The Galaxy’s Greatest Alien” she started off with over the top alien spots that she acknowledges she needs to slowly transition away from over time.
“It really started off as a play-off of myself and me growing up,” Statlander recalled. “I never felt like I fit in with anyone else, but felt really curious about things. I wanted something that made me feel different character wise and this felt right. I’m just going with the flow and making changes as I go along.”
Having made an appearance as an enhancement talent on Smackdown Live and winning a chance to appear as an extra at a recent NXT taping, she is quickly appearing on everyone’s radar. With her blend of unique movements, strong athleticism and a unique in-ring personality, Statlander has made great strides in a short period of time. With women’s wrestling being at the forefront of various promotions, it won’t be long before one of the major companies signs her on the dotted line.
CHRISTIAN CASANOVA
For some wrestlers at the beginning of their careers, the idea of getting into the business and attaining any success is far-fetched. For Christian Casanova, it took falling out of love with the business in high school and a chance opportunity to fall back in love to realize it wasn’t as far-fetched as he thought.
“A buddy of mine said let’s do the Fantasy Camp at the New England Pro Wrestling Academy,” Casanova recalled. “And right away I was hooked. I signed up for training that month.”
Starting in August 2014 under the watchful eye of Head Trainer Brian Fury, Casanova’s evolving journey in professional wrestling has seen its share of ups and downs. The one thing that remained consistent since his debut were his obvious positives.
“He’s a really hard worker and really athletic,” Fury said. “He picked up things pretty quickly and he puts in more hard work than most. That set him apart from other students.”
Starting off as a Michael Jackson knockoff known as “The Thriller of New England,” he was able to make a start in New England promotions, however, it was a persona that had a shelf life.
“I knew pretty quickly that it was good for him to have something at the beginning of his career to get him on shows and to have a little life,” Fury said. “But I knew after he was comfortable and was able to get out there that he needed to get rid of it.”
Having worked for a couple of years in his home promotion of Chaotic Wrestling as a babyface, he turned heel in November of 2016 and changed his look and character completely. Now dubbed the “Top Talent,” Casanova became what he describes as “that cocky, entitled brat” you might see on certain record labels or on certain sports teams that you can’t stand. It has been the start of an ascent to top promotions in New England.
“He’s athletic with an incredible amount of charisma,” said the former Stokely Hathaway (now known as WWE NXT's Court Moore) in comments made prior to signing with WWE. “One thing that sets him apart is that like me, he’s open to criticism and doesn’t blow it off. When Randy (Carver, promoter of Maine’s Limitless Wrestling) pitched the idea of working with him, I thought it was a perfect fit. It’s been a real pleasure.”
In addition to Limitless, Casanova has had star making performances with Northeast Wrestling.
His biggest matches were Rey Fenix in April of 2018 and Rey Mysterio & Darby Allin in August of 2018. In each instance, he showed that he was not being carried, but rather he was an equal.As far as where he goes next, everyone agrees that travelling outside of New England is the next step to success.
“Once he decides to branch out he can be anywhere he wants to be,” Hathaway said.
“BIG BACON” BRAD HOLLISTER
When people are looking for a hobby in high school, they will try a number of things. Brad Hollister tried professional wrestling.
“I started to do amateur wrestling at 15 because I thought it was going to be professional,” Hollister laughed. “I wasn’t going to do a sport in the spring so I started training.”
Initially training under Antonio Thomas in 2008, he described his first few years in the business as “boring” because he worked so infrequently. He didn’t start to get more regular bookings until 2011 when he also picked up his nickname.
“It started with a promo by Ryan Waters when he called me a thick cut piece of bacon,” Hollister said. “Then (Ring of Honor star) TK O’Ryan started calling me Bacon casually and it caught on from there.”
Known for his explosive power, Hollister has slowly made his way across New England. Having called his first few years on the independents as a “huge learning experience,” he said he realized early that he needed to travel more and make his way to as many places as possible.
“The sky is the limit for him,” said Ring of Honor World Champion Matt Taven. “I wrestled him early on in his career and I could tell that he was going to be really good. From there we built a relationship and his confidence has grown leaps and bounds.”
His wrestling journey has given him some high profile matches with Northeast Wrestling, where he is their current Heavyweight Champion. Names like Bandido, Jack Swagger, Matt Riddle and Cody Rhodes are just some of the talent that he has shared the ring with. It has helped up his game considerably in the last year alone.
“He doesn’t really need to improve,” Taven remarked. “He needs to learn new recipes to make the same meals. His overall storytelling, presence and demeanor in the ring is growing and that’s coming across to the crowd. Plus, he’s the life of the party in the locker room. He’s a magnet and a joy to be around.”
In addition, Hollister doubled down on wrestling by making it his full-time focus having left his position as a Social Emotional Specialist for the Holyoke Public Schools this past December. It’s a decision he did not make lightly, but one that he believes will put him in the right direction.
“A few of my kids are in high school now,” he said. “I’ll still keep in touch with the ones I worry about. The parents loved me because I had a mohawk and tattoos. I didn’t look like every other teacher.”
HONORABLE MENTION: REFEREE KEVIN QUINN
Some people start things in life later than others. For Kevin Quinn, beginning his referee career at the age of 45, it was not lost on him that his chances of “making it” were miniscule.
“I was getting into the business when most people were getting out,” Quinn said. “I work with a lot of young guys, so that’s why I work so hard in the gym and why I am at the New England Pro Wrestling Academy (NEPWA) twice a week so I can compete at the level that they do.”
It has been his hard work, dedication and attention to detail that made him one of the premier referees in independent wrestling. Having started in 2011, he trained under Beau Douglas at the Bell Time Club for two years before moving to train under Brian Fury at NEPWA where he started to branch out and come into his own. That hard work has not gone unnoticed.
“He’s come such a long way since he started,” Fury said. “He’s always at the school working hard, asking questions, helping out and he puts in the work. He’s really become maybe the best referee in New England.”
Which bares in mind the question: what exactly does a referee do other than make counts and enforce the rules? There are things like conveying how much time has passed to the workers, checking if they’re okay as the match goes on and even remembering spots if necessary. The most important thing they do, however, is doing all of this without being noticed.
“The role of the referee is vital because a great ref is one you know is there but you aren’t focused on during a match,” said George Carroll, Senior Talent Coordinator of Major League Wrestling. “Nearly every time Kevin comes through the curtain he asks me how he did and I tell him I didn’t notice him and that’s his job.”
Having refereed such big matches as Kurt Angle vs Cody Rhodes in a steel cage match and Kenny Omega vs Rey Fenix, both for Northeast Wrestling, he has become a highly trusted asset both inside and out of the ring for various organizations in New England. It remains to be seen if he can catch on with a bigger promotion, however, he has the skill, dedication and work ethic to work for any company in the world.
“Whenever it’s his chance to step up that is when Kevin shines,” Carroll added. “He carries himself with respect outside and especially inside the ring where he needs it.”
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