Grappling with success

At the end of each day, he stands up and shakes the hands of the men administrating the beatings.

And then he comes back a couple of days later, wanting to do it all over again.

Tierney is just one of about 30 who partake in Bodyslammers Pro Wrestling Gym, a school designed to teach wrestlers the ins and outs of professional wrestling.

Osgoode resident Wayne Cryderman, who is probably more well-known under his wrestling persona Crusher Kline, is the man behind the school. He believes there’s a lot more to professional than the actual wrestling. It’s also about respect.

“It’s more important than inside the ring,” he says. “These guys know they are representing me and Bodyslammers. They get dressed up in suits when you go (to wrestle on a card). That’s what you do. There’s a certain way you meet and greet each other. There’s a real huge respect for each other. There’s a type of etiquette and respect behind the scenes.”

That’s why Cryderman has all his trainees shake every other wrestler’s hand before and after a training session.

“It’s all about trust,” he said. “I’m trusting you to throw me around, and you’re trusting me to throw you around.”

For a complete beginner, Cryderman has seven simple words for them before they start training.

 “Whatever you think you know, forget it,” he says.

As wrestlers practice moves in the ring, he points out that wrestlers always attack the left side of their opponent’s body. An armbar will be put on the left arm, a leglock will be put on the left leg and so on. That may not be something that the casual fan would pick up on, but it’s something every wrestler must know.

The cost for a beginner at Bodyslammers  is $2,000. For a trained wrester, it’s more like a gym membership, where they can pay a monthly fee or a walk-in fee.

While $2,000 may seem like a lot of money, the potential wrestlers are paying for more than training: they’re also paying for the list of contacts Cryderman has made in 14 years of wrestling.

He’s been an assistant trainer with Al Snow — who spent 14 years with the WWE and ECW — and head trainer at four different wrestling schools.

In only a few short months, Cryderman’s students have already had a taste of the big time. Six of them were sent to tryout with the WWE when it were in Ontario and Montreal a few weeks ago. A couple of students made it on WWE television playing security guards assigned to Smackdown’s general manager Teddy Long.

Greely’s Dave Tierney was one of them.

“It was such an amazing day,” he says. “When it all ended, it made me realize I want to get there.”

A wrestler since 2001, Tierney has been with Bodyslammers since it opened in June.

“Wayne is the best trainer in town,” he said. “It’s not just the wrestling. He teaches you in the back, respect and how to treat other people.”

Tierney will be one of the wrestlers putting on some matches at the Rideau Carleton Raceway on Oct. 3. This will be the first of monthly cards put on by Bodyslammers trainees.

The cost in advance is $12 per person, and $10 for those under the age of 12. At the door, the cost is $15 per person, with the price for those under the age of 12 remains $10. A family pack of two adults and two kids can be $30.

Tierney says he’s been a fan of wrestling since he was a kid, and always dreamed of becoming a professional wrestler.

Cryderman says most of his students are like that.

“Obviously, everyone who gets into wrestling is a wrestling fan,” he says. “It’s a different kind of lifestyle. You need to have the love for it.”

For Cryderman, he says there are other reasons he trains up-and-coming wrestlers.

“You can never get it out of your blood,” he says. “This is my way to stay in it.”

For more information on Bodyslammers or its monthly wrestling card, visit http://ragewrestling.net.

tom.collins@metroland.com