The Boss Man, Part I

I have been debating posting about my experiences in the wrestling industry. However with the #SpeakingOut movement that was sweeping across Twitter last week, I felt that I really needed to put it out there. Here we go.

Everything at first seemed great. I wasn't being charged to train in the ring. I didn't have to sign a contract with the promotion. The promoter genuinely seemed excited to have me in his facility training. But things started to take a turn quite quickly.

Not even a month into my training and about four days with my first wrestling concussion, he came to me with an offer-to manage him during a video called "Andrei for Mayor." Of course I said yes. He ended up having me do a lot more in the ring than just walking out with him and cheering him on. I splashed a guy off the ropes in heeled shoes. Like what could be better?

I remember after the shooting of the video, things really got a little strange. I went into practice that Sunday afternoon and being asked why I hadn't added him on Facebook yet. Thinking nothing of it, I added him right there while we were talking and that was it. After practice though, the messages on Facebook started. At first at the time, I truly didn't give it much thought. I mean, I thought it was a little weird but nothing alarming.

The next time at practice, which was a Tuesday, things got a little awkward for me to say the least. I got to practice early ahead of everyone as I was working downtown Indianapolis at Anthem. I would get off work at 4:30pm and because I lived about 45 minutes away, I would just go to the arena early and sit in the parking lot. On this particular day, he happened to show up after I had and came to my car window. He told me to come on in. Naturally, I obeyed.

We started talking about my job and my tattoos. He then changed the subject to camping. He told me that he tries to always go camping at least once a year and that I should go with him. I just chuckled and said that I didn't know about that. It would be just him and I and not in Indiana. It would be somewhere in a teepee, naked. Yes you read that right. He wanted me to go camping with him in a teepee where we're both naked.

I had no idea what to say because I didn't want to piss him because I knew that he could truly be a dick. I mean, I saw that thousands of times at practice and on Friday nights at the show how he could be if someone pissed him off or if he didn't like the person. I definitely didn't want to be that person. I just kind of laughed it off and kept saying that I didn't know and that it would be something that I would have to think about. The answer was no and would always be no.

When I replied with the "I don't know", that seemed to persuade him to keep on about it. To try and get my answer to be yes, he told me that if I went with him that he would have somebody come in and paint a giant Patriots' emblem on the wall at the arena. Again I laughed it off because I just was extremely uneasy and uncomfortable. I was then told not to say anything to anybody and that the camping would be between just him and I. Luckily I was saved by the fellas coming in as it was finally time to get ready for practice. I waited to change in the bathroom once everyone arrived instead of changing when I first got there with just us two.

After that practice and the offer, I decided that it would be best if I took a little break from training and figure out if I wanted to continue training there or go somewhere else. I did just give myself a concussion a week ago and still didn't feel quite right so I found it was time to see my neurologist. Seeing Dr. Xhang helped give me that excuse on not being able to practice. There were times that I would still go and just observe but most days I didn't due to my migraines.

Look for part 2 in the coming days..