Jay Cal’s View #154 Happy Life Day

Lizmark vs. Blue Panther

Rest in Peace to a Lucha Libre Legend, Lizmark. Joey Ryan’s Dong Style continues to dominate the headlines. Brian Zane gives some great advice on becoming a wrestler. Ricardo Rodriguez is training wrestlers in India. News regarding Championship Wrestling from Hollywood and all of the events scheduled for the week. And for all my fellow Star Wars Nerds, Happy Life Day. May the Force Be With You. Always.

RIP Lizmark
Lizmark was a phenomenal luchador whose wrestling career spanned nearly four decades in which most of his career was spent in CMLL but would also spend time working for AAA as well as working for All Japan Pro Wrestling in the 80s. His in ring style was considered flashy when he debuted in 1976, however it helped to usher in generations of wrestlers who would take bigger risks in the ring and would continue to become flashier. Lizmark didn’t spend a lot of time working in Southern California, but did show up from time to time. Bart Kapitzke said “I’m so very sad to say that yet another great has passed away. We lost Lizmark today. He was a very humble and awesome lucha libre legend. I’m going to miss him.” Lizmark would be somewhat of a regular at Bart’s Alternative Wrestling Shop, taking part of autograph signings. But did compete from time to time in the area; WPW, FMLL, PILA, with his last match in Southern California was at NTW/NTLL’s Legends Again Event on December 3rd 2005. At that point he was 57 years old. He teamed with Super Muneco to take on Los Chivos. Lizmark announced was near retirement in June of 2006  although would continue to wrestle matches all the way to 2013. Lizmark died due to respiratory failure on December 16, 2015, at the age of 66.

Lizmark vs. Blue Panther

Lizmark vs. Blue Panther

Joey Ryan’s Dong Style Breaks the Internet… again.
Remember when Joey Ryan was just a wrestler. Yeah, me either. For anyone that gave Joey crap about the silly spot in Japan, looks like Joey knows what he’s doing. Getting an endorsement deal for YouPorn. I for one congratulate Joey Ryan, the king of sleaze, but more importantly hustle.

What does it take to be a wrestler
Above is a video of Brian Zane talking about what it takes to become a wrestler. Which must have been a common theme this week, because Jesse Hernandez recently shared this article on social media about what NXT General Manager (and amazing wrestler in his own right) William Regal’s Essential notes on Becoming a Pro Wrestler. Wrestling schools can only take you so far. Be it the School of Hardknock, SoCal Pro’s School, Kayfabe College, Brian Kendrick’s School, CWFW’s school and Santino Brother’s Wrestling Academy, you still have to learn how to brand yourself, market yourself, essentially learning how to wrestle is only part of what you have to do to become a good wrestler. But I feel like for the aspiring pro wrestlers both Regal’s article and Zane’s videos are definitely worth watching.

Ricardo Rodriguez in India
Many fans will remember Alberto Del Rio’s personal ring announcer Ricardo as SoCal’s Own Chimaera. The one time IWL Tag Team Champion and New Wave Pro Wrestling Champion with Eric Watts and former Vendetta Pro Tri-Force Champion along with former WWE World Champion the Great Khali has been working to help launch Continental Wrestling Entertainment. CWE will be the first ever pro wrestling training facility. Ricardo was hands on in training nearly 75 students for their first event. It will be interesting to see if someone from the CWE ends up making it globally. Thanks to Vendetta Pro Wrestling for bringing this to my attention

United Wrestling Network
The next round of Television Taping of the New Year is set for January 10th at the Oceanview Pavilion in Pt. Hueneme. Admission to the event is FREE. The Taping is set to include: Hollywood Heritage Champion “Pretty” Peter Avalon, United Tag Team Champions Cold Cold World w/ Caesar Black, United Wrestling Network Television Champion “Main Event” James Morgan, Rocky Romero, Eli Drake, Joey Ryan, YUMA, Ryan Taylor, Kevin Martenson, Hobo, Bateman, Big Duke, Jervis Cottonbelly, Jarek 1:20, and many more.

CWFH released episode 238 (airing December 12th 2015) on  Patreon, which featured Hobo vs. Bateman w/ Jarek 1:20, Kevin Martenson w/ YUMA vs. JR Kratos, and ‘The American Kaiju’ Devin Sparks vs. Leo Blaze and in the Main Event CWFH Hollywood Heritage Tag Team Champions Timothy Thatcher & Drew Gulak vs. Cold Cold World. They made the match up between Martenson and Kratos available for free. Remember the United Wrestling Network powered by Patreon has over 100 hours of Championship Wrestling from Hollywood Video On Demand.

Upcoming SoCal Events
AOW “Ghost of Christmas Bash” in 29 Palms, December 19 @ 5:00 PM
Grace OC Church presents “Winter Warzone” in Anaheim, December 19 @ 7:00 PM
WWE Live Holiday Tour in Inglewood, December 19 @ 7:30 PM
MWF Lucha Libre in Los Angeles, December 19 @ 8:00 PM

The views and opinions expressed in Jay Cal’s View are those solely of the author.  These views do not necessarily reflect the views of the website.  As always please email Jay Cal with any questions, comments, or concern.