RhodyRaybo's blog

Today marks the 5 year anniversary of my very first match. It was July 5th, 2011 when I had my first wrestling match. I remember it very well. The guy traveled almost 2 hours to come wrestle and brought his puzzle mats with him. We went at 20 minute intervals...20 minutes brawling then 20 minute break. He was pretty good, though I hadn't seriously wrestled in many years at that point. I used muscles that I never knew existed and boy, was I paying for it for the next several days. I vowed never again, but when the pain subsided I began itching for another one.

That first month was interesting. For a newbie at that time I had quite a few matches that first month. There were 5 different opponents. The first guy I never saw again. The second guy is active on these sites, but his availability to wrestle is sketchy at best. Every time I contact him these days he's got either a trip planned or some charity or theater event planned or very busy with his elderly parents. The third guy was also very strong and did a number on me, but I never heard from him again after that. His profile came down a few months later. The fourth guy only lasted about 15 minutes, but we was quite strong. We fought a few more times in the last five years, though not recently. I actually talked to him on the phone recently after I texted him and he told me he had arthritis and his father was dying, so no more fighting for him. Sad, he was strong and skilled. And the last guy, I still joke about. We wrestled several times over the next 3 years or so. It was so sad...he was strong, he knew his moves, and he was nearby. But he had issues. He always smelled of liquor. And the last time we rumbled, he showed up in pantyhose. Uh, even all the gay guys I've wrestled steer clear of that! I heard from him recently and he seemed to admit that he has a bit of a problem, and would like to wrestle in a group match sometime. Time will tell if that ever happens.

The remainder of the calendar year had it's ups and downs. During that time I wrestled with a few guys that I wrestled many times after that, 3 I still wrestle with up to this day...Pecs44..who was always pushing me to wrestle my hardest and increase my endurance, Rassle4fun...who showed me the wild and crazy side of wrestling and how much pure fun you can have with it, and Ringmaster. On the down side, I had 2 injuries during that time, I had my first (of two) groin injury which kept me wrestling on the light side for a few months and my first wrestling-related back injury. Both kept me out of commission for a couple weeks each.

In the months that followed I wrestled many other guys, but it was before my first anniversary that I wrestled for the first time...Twisterman!!!! He has been the guy that I have wrestled with more than anyone else. 12 percent of all my matches have been with him, and I have enjoyed every one of them. He's a great wrestler and a great friend! There are others that I give honorable mention to....Txbigb, Average Joe, Kevinj8664, RIwrestlebuddy, Rugbybrawn45 (who also tries to push me to work harder), Adonisnick, MAwrestler, DB (no longer on this site), JK (not on this site), and RD (also not on this site). Some of these others I don't wrestle with anymore or only once or twice a year, but I have had such a blast with all of them, they really do have a place in my wrestling heart.

Well, that's it. I actually have a match scheduled for my "anniversary", a small jobber from NJ who likes to be trampled on but gives great massages. Meeting him at his hotel room. Should be a fun time.

Peace out to all lovers of this sport!!!