Charisma Is Over Rated.
–Joey Ryan
UPW.com Circa 2002
How ironic that in 2002, that was Joey Ryan’s infamous quote on the UPW.com website. What a difference a decade makes in the world of professional wrestling. Ryan has become one of the most charismatic wrestlers of this area and his talents have taken him to south beach, or rather Orlando. Rumors have it that on December 1st, “Hollywood’s Own” Joey Ryan will be making his final appearance for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Joey was one of the founding fathers of Pro Wrestling Guerrilla and has been a mainstay in Southern California since finishing 3rd for the Rookie of the Year Award in 2001.
I’m not sure what it is about Joey Ryan that I’ve always felt a drawn to. We both have all kinds of love for the Los Angeles Angels. I don’t know if it’s that we’re pretty close in age. Maybe it is because he is a life long wrestling fan. Maybe because he did an interview with me for my fledgling website. Or maybe, when he broke into wrestling, I was first becoming a fan of independent wrestling scene. But for me, Joey will be sorely missed. Joey will more than likely still make appearances here and there, as he is still the EWF Heavyweight Champion, but he’ll no longer be competing for PWG and it is likely he’s finished with CWF Hollywood, both brands he had a big hand in helping to establish.
Back on March 19th, 2002, Joey Ryan did an interview with Travis Gray for the site and it was quite the stir that Joey whom was an original from the School of Hard Knocks was working dates with WPW, UPW, and essentially anyone that would have him. A more humble Joey Ryan was destined for greatness and arguably proved himself to be one of the top wrestlers in Southern California over the past decade. Joey Ryan has held Tag Team Championships with Scott Lost at CWA, PCW, WCWA, WPW, AWS, and PWG. Ryan has been the PCW MAXimum Champion, the PCW Heavyweight Champion, the WCWA California Champion, the WPW Cruiserweight and WPW Hardcore Champion, as well as the WCWC West Coast Champion. Joey Ryan is also currently the Empire Wrestling Federation reigning and defending Heavyweight Champion. But where Joey Ryan gained the majority of his notoriety was with Pro Wrestling Guerrilla and the National Wrestling Alliance.
Joey Ryan was the PWG Heavyweight Champion when the title had its first two defenses outside the United States as part of the PWG European Vacation with defenses in Germany and England, from that point forward the title was referred to as a genuine World Heavyweight Championship. Joey Ryan, along with Karl “The Machine Gun” Anderson kept the NWA World Tag Team Titles relevant after the NWA/TNA Split by winning the championships and defending them across the United States as well as in Australia. Joey also gained much notoriety competing for the California based MTV’s Wrestling Society X, teaming with Disco Machine as that 70’s Team, being a trainer on the CMT’s Hulk Hogan Celebrity Wrestling, working with Lucha Va Voom as the “Sleazy” Joey Ryan, working several shows in Ring of Honor and several appearances in the WWE.
Nearly a year ago, Joey received a huge opportunity to be apart of the Ring Ka King group. Ring Ka King was a TNA Brand of International Wrestling that featured the likes of Joey Ryan, Little Guido, Matt Morgan, Scott Steiner, Brutus Magnus, mixed with the biggest names of wrestling from India. Joey was able to parlay his experiences with Ring Ka King and the aforementioned PWG, WSX, ROH, NWA Hollywood/CWF Hollywood to get on the radar of TNA. Joey isn’t the only Southern California native to end up in TNA. Samoa Joe and Frankie Kazarian have also held prominent roles with TNA.
Joey has been a pivotal character in the Southern California scene and will be sorely missed. I know I’m rooting for “Hollywood’s Own—Forsaken—Technical Wizard” Joey “Magnum” Ryan to bring sleazy back to TNA and for all of his 87% outs there. I hope everyone heads out to PWG’s
Thank You Joey! Best of Luck!
