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IZZY HIGH/AMERICAN KICKBOXER ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT!
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Subject:
What a Life.....
Current mood: enlightened
I have been very fortunate in life. For 18 years, I've been able
to live out my childhood dream as a Pro Wrestler. I've gotten to hang out with my heroes, travel across the country on somebody
else's dime and gain a family...in a time that I really needed it.
Recently I have had some health problems that
I had chosen to ignore until a month ago.
I have had over 15 concussions in my lifetime. One when I was a child
in an abusive household that left me hospitalized and my head swollen to over twice it's size. Because of these concussions,
I have started having seizures. Not the big ones you see on most things talking about seizures, but these kind of just shut
me down completely.
So last month, I was hospitalized. After a series of tests, the results are I have scar tissue
on my brain. I was informed that continuing wrestling could possibly be fatal if I take another bad blow to the head.
Yesterday,
I wrestled what looks to be my last match. Honestly...I have no regrets or complaints at all. Kid Hybrid was my last match
and let me explain why it was so special for it to be him in the ring with me in the last one.
Kid started training
with me a few years ago and much like myself, he looked way too small to be a wrestler. The one thing you can never measure
though is heart, and he had more than you could ever imagine. He rates up there with the other students I hold so dear - Drake,
Zay, Vortexz, OMG, Die Hard, Dave Nebraska and Poison Apollo.
He trains guys with me weekly and does EVERYTHING
that is asked of him and then some. I can be an asshole but these guys best interests and well being is my only concern and
Hybrid gets that.
After the match, he continued to thank me for everything. That is very humbling for myself
because he is the one that needs to be truly thanked. For a while, I was just hating being a teacher/sensei. The students
lacked drive/determination and this guy inspired me to keep coming back, not to give up and to believe again that there are
guys wanting to hear what this old bitter asshole had to say. For that, I am forever greatfull!
I will continue
to train guys with Truth Martini. Honestly, I can't think of a better gym to work at. The respect I recieve from Truth and
the trust he has in my training practices is very uplifting. My goal is to make everyone realize that in the Michigan area,
there is only one Real Pro Wrestling Dojo that matters and that's ours.
To Johnny Delicious: Thank you for everything
man. You bust your ass for me and I couldn't have dreamed of having a better manager.
To Randy: I love your heart
and desire...please don't change your attitude a bit.
The 20th was a night I didn't want to end. Having my great
friends and neighbors with me helped alot in a time that was very troubling. I was able to walk away feeling like I had done
my job correctly and am at peace with what I have to do.
For everyone reading this, thank you for your interest
in a guy that was "way too small to be a wrestler" and it has been an honor to perform for all of you.
Thank
you ALL.
Peace.
- American Kickboxer
KID HYBRID REFLECTS ON AMERICAN KICKBOXER'S FINAL BOUT
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Subject:
American Kickboxer
Current mood: thankful
The feeling was different then that of most shows... I had done
my stretches, put my tights on, laced up my boots, and I began folding my bandana to tie around my head. This was all apart
of my normal routine at shows, but tonight wasn't a usual match for me. It wasn't about trying to look good or trying to tear
it up, hell, it wasn't about me period. It was about honoring a man who has gave everything to and for the professional wrestling
business; A man who is not only a fellow co-worker, and not only my trainer, but also someone who I'm happy to be able to
call a good friend. I know him as Frank, but you all may know him as American Kickboxer or Izzy High.
Due to
medical reasons, after 18 years in the business, he had been forced to call it quits and Sunday was slated to be his last
match. When originally approached with the idea of having his last match with him, I was taken back... "Out of everyone, me
?" I thought to myself. I mean I guess it went with the storyline but still, it was a great honor that I nervously accepted.
I really didn't know if I'd be able to live up to his standard of a match, which I knew would be set very high considering
it would be his last one.
No time to worry; This was it. Showtime was upon on us and our match was about to begin.
I walked through the curtain pretending not to ackowledge the fact that this could be the last time Frank and I would be in
the ring together. He made his way out and into the squared circle, where we stood face to face, nose to nose, man to man.
What happened after that will be up to interpretation of everyone who witnessed it to say what they thought of our match,
but I know I enjoyed it. I tried to give everything I could within context to make it everything that Kickboxer would of wanted
it to be.
After the match, we slowly built up to our feet. We looked at each other, and after a few moments,
we hugged in what was a very emotional moment for the both of us. After that, he got on the mic, and cut an even more emotionally
REAL promo about his previously mentioned retirement, which at that time was news to most the fans. Shouts and chants of his
name began ringing out as tears slowly fell down the face of not only fans, but both his and my own. Here is a man that has
literally given everything he has to the artform, and broke in at at a time when small guys were never even given a chance.
He deserved to go out the way he did; With the applause of fans and the other workers in the back.
There was
lots of blood, sweat, and tears last Sunday, but personally, I wouldn't change it one bit. I can only hope I did him justice
in the ring that night. It was an honor and a privledge to be in there with him for that, and I appreciate everything he has
ever done for me in my own career. Frank is a great worker, but is also a great human being. Getting to be in there with him
for what looks to be his last match as of now (hopefully not, and he will someday return) was an awesome feeling for me. In
my eyes, that night was for American Kickboxer, Izzy High, or just simply Frank.... And it's a night I'll always remember.
-Kid
Hybrid
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