The Heart Of A Champion

Hello everyone.

Anyone who has ever been involved in sports for a lengthy time knows their beginnings.  Also, they know there comes a time when it's time to step aside.  This blogger has been through that as a runner.  It's not an easy decision, especially when you want to do it on your own terms! 

This blogger, like many of the Pinoy Wrestling fans were surprised of an announcement this past weekend during Dexcon's Pinoy Wrestling weekend.

Saint John Martin, the founder of World Underground Wrestling Philippines back in 2019, announced that he would retire after one more match.  That would be against Singapore Pro Wrestling's - Dr Gore at Dexcon's Peksman show at the Brawl Pit Bulusan this past Sunday.

Saint John Martin is more than a wrestler and founder of a promotion in this blogger's book.  Wrestling was his lifestyle in his six years in the ring and out.  WUW-PH came along at a time right before the covid pandemic broke out.  The promotion was able to survive when numerous wrestling promotions around the world didn't.

My first time seeing him live was at the MWF Noche Buena show in December 2022.  Despite what appeared to be a slight knee injury after landing off the ropes, he was able to continue in a match against El Kapitunero.

This blogger would next see him wrestling two straight nights in August 2023.  He defeated Migs Valdez in a banger of a match at an MWF event.  He would follow it up and was successful in an eight person tag match put on by Dexcon the following night at the Brawl Pit Bulusan.

His biggest highlights certainly was having the chance to wrestle in Japan.  Also, he and Ken Cifer would win the World Underground Wrestling Tag Team Championships at the MWF Noche Buena show in December 2023.  It was an emotional evening for many reasons.  They held the belts for a record 454 days and defended it successfully on at least five occasions.

Some fans may feel that six years as a wrestler is not a long time.  However, any time a performer puts his or her body on the line, whether a mat or a ring, the body can take only so much.

Several fans and friends have shared with this blogger what Saint John Martin has done for pinoy pro wrestling, the wrestlers, staff, and the wrestling community.  Having a chance to meet him in August 2023, he was gracious, open, caring and has a vision of what wrestling should be in the Philippines.

Whatever he does moving forward, our hopes are that it will be a successful one!