This week’s Evo Spotlight focuses on “The” John Skyler. One of the newest additions to Pro Wrestling Evo, Skyler really impressed at the Evo Eight 2012 event in a fantastic opening matchup with Zack Salvation. I was able to speak with Skyler about his wrestling influences, favorite matches & opponents as well as hear some of his thoughts on Pro Wrestling Evo & his career to this point. If you haven’t seen or heard much of The John Skyler get to know more about him now as it’s time for the spotlight to shine on……
“The” JOHN SKYLER
Hometown: Columbia, SC
Wrestling Influences: Shawn Michaels, Terry Funk, Mr. Perfect, Bret Hart, Chris Jericho, Eddie Guerrero, Brian Pillman, and The Freebirds
Favorite Opponent(s): Steven “The Fever” Walters, Zack Salvation, Phill “Gunner” Shatter, Bob Keller, CW Anderson, Timber, and Josh Magnum
Favorite Matches :vs Steven Walters from NWA Anarchy, vs Zack Salvation (Steel Cage Match in Chester, SC), vs Bob Keller- Hair vs Career I Quit Match, OSCW WarGames 2011 (Team Keller vs Team Skyler)
Promotions/Regions Worked: Pro Wrestling EVO, NWA Anarchy, Champions With Attitude, Alternative Pro Wrestling, Action Packed Wrestling, New York Wrestling Connection, Southern Heritage Championship Wrestling, Championship Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Revolution, Smoky Mountain Wrestling, Old School Championship Wrestling, Peachstate Wrestling Alliance, too many others to list. But various promotions in the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, as well as competing in the NWA Future Legends Cup in 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia defeating Reid Flair in the opening round and wrestling Zack Salvation and ROH’s Kyle O’Reilly in the Finals. Also wrestled in Las Vegas, Nevada for the Cauliflower Alley Club.
Titles Held: CWA Television Champion (2 Times) CWA Cruiserweight Champion (2 Times) CWA Tag Team Champion (With Billy Brash), APW Tag Team Champions (with “The Modern Classic” BJ Hancock), NCW Heavyweight Champion (2 Times) APW Heavyweight Champion (2 Times), OSCW Unified Tag Team Champions (With “The Fabulous Playboy” Bob Keller), RWA Heavyweight Champion.
Trained By: “The Fabulous Playboy” Bob Keller
How did you get started in Wrestling? I always wanted to be a wrestler from when I first saw it on television as a kid. I remember the moment that got me hooked was an early episode of Monday Night Raw, when Mr. Perfect through Shawn Michaels through the windshield of a car. From that moment on I was hooked. But I started going to indy shows as a fan from when I was a kid up until about 2005/2006. And after a while I just decided I was going to give it a shot. Guy by the name of Timber asked me before a show one day when I was setting up the ring, if I wanted to get inside and bump around and give it a try. So he taught me a few things and he and many others felt like I was a natural at it, so I researched schools around my area and found the Eastern Pro Wrestling school, and got in contact with the head trainer there, Bob Keller. I trained there about 4 or 5 months, and continued to travel with Bob and set up rings at shows, until one day I got thrown on a card because a handful of guys no showed. They needed someone to fill in and told me I was third match. So on July 6th, 2008, I had my very first match in Big Bear Lake, West Virginia, against a guy named Bill Bain and got killed in about 2 or 3 minutes, and ever since then it has been a non-stop roller coaster ride. I keep traveling and learning and getting better, and keep pushing myself each and every time I step into the ring. It’s easy too when you have veterans to learn from like The Rock N Roll Express, The Barbarian, Gunner, CW Anderson, Lodi, Luke Gallows, Jim Duggan, Bill DeMott…each and everyone of the following guys have taught me something in one way or another. And as long as you are willing to listen, they are willing to help. That’s been a big factor I feel, in my success, is just the old adage of “shut up and listen.”
Thoughts on Pro Wrestling Evo or it’s Talents: After making my debut in Pro Wrestling EVO it is clear that this is one of the top promotions in all of Independent Wrestling. I am not saying that because I was asked to, or I am trying to be a walking infomercial for PWEVO…I am saying because I believe it and it is the truth. After I wrestled in the EVO 8 Tournament, I sat back and watched the entire show as a fan, and was completely blown away by the product the locker room produced. From top to bottom, EVO provides wrestling fans with a little bit of everything and definitely produces a show that gives any fan their complete money’s worth. There is a great cross-blend of your old school wrestling, with a new innovative, athletic, car crash style that fans are used to seeing today. I was amazed at watching guys like Zack Salvation, Cedric Alexander, Caleb Konley, Jake Manning, and several others perform and how they pushed themselves to their very limit. I stood back in awe and watched Chiva Kid do things I never thought were humanly possible. I was also amazed at the promo work of EVO Champion Marcellus King and how he carried himself like a champion and spoke like a champion. It is nice to see everyone in the locker room push themselves, and out-do each other, because in the end the people that win are the fans.
Evo Year In Review:
John Skyler participated in several promotions throught the north & southeast in 2011 but didn’t land in Pro Wrestling Evo until 2012. Skyler debuted alongside 7 of the most talented workers in the southeast at the 2nd annual Evo Eight tournament . His opponent in his debut match was a man he knew very well, Zack Salvation. From the opening bell it was obvious though this was his first time in Pro Wrestling Evo, the fans knew the name of “The” John Skyler. Skyler laid it all on the line, displaying talent, heart, & the right amount of attitude in his Evo debut before losing to eventual tournament winner Salvation. Skyler not only impressed the Evo crowd but EVO owner Patrick Wright as Skyler will be back on March 9 for Pro Wrestling Evo ‘EPIC’ to face Caleb Konley for the PWI International Ultra J Title.
What is your 2012 Mission Statement? 2012 for “The” John Skyler will be my break through year. Whether it is in EVO, anywhere else in the United States, or anywhere overseas, I am going to break through the glass ceiling, and do things people never thought I could do. I have been told my whole life that I would never “make it” that I was too small, or whatever….well now is the time to prove everybody wrong, prove the doubters wrong, and prove to myself that I belong with the very best, the very elite of professional wrestling. By the end of 2012, I want any and everybody to be able to pick up a wrestling magazine and know exactly who John Skyler is.
Thank you to John Skyler for taking time to participate in this edition of Evo Spotlight. Look for more on John Skyler’s future with Pro Wrestling Evo at www.prowrestlingevo.com See his pro wrestling evo debut at Evo Eight 2012 at www.evoondemand.com starting Feb. 13 and Keep up with his appearances elsewhere via twitter @TheJohnSkyler
Are you a Pro Wrestling EVO talent? If so please contact me at the email below for your turn in the spotlight.
Jeremy Polk
Justjer17@aol.com
@The1andonlyJer
