Ortonville – One local young man is learning firsthand the art of professional wrestling.
Justin Barger, a 2002 Brandon High School graduate, recently finished a yearlong training period with Andrew D’Arcy of Blue Water Championship Wrestling (BWCW) in Port Huron, MI.
Although he can now wrestle ? ‘Right now, I can start getting booked for independent shows in Michigan and even outstate,? he said ? the 20-year-old Barger is concentrating on his studies at the University of Michigan-Flint, where he is pursuing a degree in television broadcasting/production.
‘Right now, I’m not wrestling at all,? Barger said. ‘I’m waiting until the semester is done to start again.?
Wrestling is a popular diversion for many people, particularly on Monday and Thursday evenings, when World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) presents Raw and Smackdown, respectively.
However, for those people who watch those shows and get the idea they want to try and become a wrestler, D’Arcy has some words of caution.
‘It’s not for everyone,? he said. ‘It’s a very small percentage of people who are determined enough to make it through. We do pay our prices and pay our dues. Only about five percent of our students make it all the way through.?
D’Arcy has been in the business since 1995, when he first broke in under the tutelage of current WWE wrestler Al Snow. He operates BWCW with Sean Casey (a former WWE wrestler), and competes in Michigan, Ohio and Canada under the name Edible Michael Barnes.
He cautions those looking to break into the business not to expect big paydays.
‘If you’re in it to make a dollar, you’re in the wrong company,? D’Arcy said. ‘I’ve driven as much as 16 hours for $60, and I used more than that in gas money.?
He said BWCW strives to run a family-oriented program and bring back an ‘old school? approach to the business.
‘Back in the 1980’s, everything was clean, there were no finger gestures or swearing,? D’Arcy said. ‘We run a clean program and we don’t have any hardcore matches. If you’re a parent and want to bring your son or daughter to the show, you want to know it will be clean.?
It is that ‘old school? approach that Barger is learning right now. In the ring, Barger goes by the moniker Sweet Tooth, which he credits to younger brother Ben, 18.
‘He came up with it when I was in high school and we were backyard wrestling,? Barger recalled. ‘There’s a video game called Twisted Metal, and Ben said I reminded him of the Sweet Tooth character in that game.?
Barger first took up wrestling in the summer of 2000 when he and a friend of his, Ken Parks (a 2000 graduate of BHS), started wrestling in their backyard, with another friend of theirs, Anthony Nick, filming the event.
‘I’ve been watching it since I was little, but I never thought about doing it when I was little,? he said. ‘I always liked the cruiserweights, the guys with all the quickness.?
Barger has the potential to become a top-notch cruiserweight if he continues to apply himself and learn his craft, according to D’Arcy.
‘Justin’s been with me for a year now and he’s progressing real well,? D’Arcy said. ‘The thing he had to do was listen. His grasp of the art came quickly. I’d like to see him become a leader.?
Barger’s current favorite is none other than Battle Creek, Mich. native Rob Van Dam, a current WWE wrestler. Although Barger has not met Van Dam as of yet, he has met former World Championship Wrestling (WCW) wrestler Buff Bagwell, who performed in a show that D’Arcy was presenting.
‘He told me to stick with it ? don’t stop, keep practicing,? Barger said of Bagwell. ‘He also said try to get booked (wrestling at different shows) as much as possible.?
In the matches he has worked so far, Barger has performed as a ‘good guy? in an underdog role against bigger wrestlers. He said his two big moves are ‘The Blazer? (which he described as a swingout version of the Rock Bottom, a move used by WWE’s The Rock) and the Northern Lights suplex.
Barger said he is getting plenty of support from his family ? parents Ron and Linda Barger and siblings Katina, 27, Matt, 25, and Ben.
‘No one in my family is into it like I am, but my parents enjoy watching my matches,? he said. ‘They like the fact I’m doing something athletic. They were worried I might get hurt, but once they found out I was getting trained, they were okay and really cool with it.?
Other people looking to break into the wrestling business should seek the best possible training, according to Barger.
‘Get training from someone with good credentials, and find the best training for the money,? he said.
D’Arcy said he requires a $200 down payment from people looking to be trained, plus $75 per month, which comes to a total of $1,200 once students complete the yearlong program. In return, D’Arcy said students get to work shows and get experience in the wrestling business.
Like Barger, D’Arcy said those looking to break into the business should get top-notch instruction. ‘Go find a wrestling school with credentials that back up their business,? he said.
According to D’Arcy, only two wrestling schools possess those credentials: his own and the House of Truth, operated by Truth Martini in Detroit.
Details: www.bwcwstars.com.