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Up against the best

Posted: October 12, 2015 in Entertainment, Professional Wrestling
Tags: Doug Williams, FCF Wrestling, festival, Jessica Love, movie, Night Visions, Nordic Fitness Expo, Pro Wrestling, Rumble in Rauma, Spandex Sapiens, StarBuck, Steinbolt

The past couple of weekends have been great wrestling extravaganzas here in Finland, featuring strong cards of internationally-flavored excitement and action.

On October 3 in the western coastal city of Rauma, I wrestled the UK’s top grappler Doug Williams (ex-TNA/ROH/NOAH star) in a truly classic, catch-as-catch can pro showdown between two vets of the game. I have to say, that I heartily enjoyed working against the ultra-talented Doug Williams, who is without question one of the premiere talents in Europe today in all of professional wrestling. Our match was technical, complex and very trying. In the end, Williams beat me fair and square, hitting his “Bombs Away” top rope kneedrop on me for the pinfall win, as I failed to kick out before the fatal three-count. I have no qualms in losing to a man the caliber of Williams, as this match could have gone either way, but on this night, Doug walked away with the victory and all my respect goes out to the man as a stellar athlete in our game. Check out these stellar pics of the match taken by FightSport magazine photographer, Marko Simonen!

This past weekend on October 9 in the city of Lahti, FCF Wrestling featured the official warm-up for the 2015 edition of the gigantic Nordic Fitness Expo, with a night of wrestling action at Ace Corner Finland. The motorcycle-themed restaurant setting was a truly special and unique, intimate place to hold the gig, as the spirit of Americana was alive and well in the confines of Ace Corner, which is part of the Finnish Motorcycle Museum (unique in the world, featuring the only Harley-Davidson ever produced in Japan, the Rikuo model from the first World War era). At this event, I was scheduled to face The Beast from Sweden, who is the reigning Swedish pro wrestling champion, a man whom I trained earlier this year. However, The Beast pulled out of our match – a true low blow – refusing to defend his title against me in our scheduled match, citing supposed restraints imposed on him by his sports supplement sponsor. In his stead, Gothenburg’s Steinbolt came to Lahti to face me in a Sweden vs. Finland encounter, which was spirited to say the least! After Steinbolt trash-talked the Finnish people and downplayed our country in a pre-match promo, I promised to make him scream for his life and tap out. And tap out is what he did, after I finally managed to lock him into a sharpshooter, after I thwarted his dropkick off the second rope, and thus I was able to pay homage to another great Canadian wrestling hero, Bret “Hitman” Hart.

StarBuck battles Steinbolt in Lahti in a battle of Finland vs. Sweden!

I have to say that I am truly excited about the next Finnish wrestling event, upcoming on Thursday evening, November 5 in Helsinki. This special weekday gig will be in conjunction with the world premiere of the Spandex Sapiens documentary drama movie, telling of my wrestling career and persona. This movie has been five years in the making, filmed on three different continents, across seven countries, and finally it is here. After much delay, the Night Visions movie festival in Helsinki will feature this slamming world premiere on the evening of November 5, after which the Spandex Sapiens Afterparty & Wrestling Show will take place at Gloria Cultural Arena in Helsinki.

By the way, the artwork on this year’s Night Visions poster was done by me!

In the Spandex Sapiens film, my main counterpart and antagonist is Finnish transsexual wrestler Jessica Love, who represents the liberal, free-thinking spirit of our modern age, while I represent the traditional role of conservative masculinity and black and white absolutes. It’s a major clash of ideals and values, in addition to personas, as Spandex Sapiens is set to really rattle a few cages and I am sure that the critics will have a field day with the powerful viewpoints expressed herein. But hey, it doesn’t matter what they say about you, as long as they get the name right! On the evening of November 5 as the wrestling action heats up at Gloria Cultural Arena, Yours Truly battles it out one more time with Jessica Love to honor the elements of the movie itself. Make plans to be there for this historical evening!

A monumental match for the ages!

Posted: September 25, 2015 in Entertainment, Professional Wrestling
Tags: British, Doug Williams, England, Finland, historic, match, Pro Wrestling, Rumble in Rauma, StarBuck

On October 3, I will be facing a wrestler whom I have a boatload of respect for. We are talking about a man who has done things right, straight from the outset of his career. A man that stood out like a beacon in the post-World of Sport dark days of the British pro wrestling scene around the turn of the century, due to his outstanding, physical style and intensity. I’m talking about Doug Williams.

Doug Williams is a world-traveler and time-tested veteran in the wrestling business. He long wrestled for Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan before heading out to TNA Impact Wrestling, where he captured the X-Division and tag team championship (with Magnus). Williams wrestled extensively for ROH (Ring of Honor) in the States prior to his jaunt in Japan, and it was in ROH that he captured their PURE title, a championship that was established to exude the excellence of the pure wrestler prototype — no bells and whistles, no gimmicks needed.

Doug Williams has faced the best of the best in the pro wrestling industry, and today, he stands as the “International Ambassador of British Wrestling” and the living hallmark of the traditional British wrestling style. I’ve equally faced the absolute best in the pro wrestling industry, from former ECW champion Steve Corino to former WWE US champion Tajiri to arguably one of the greatest wrestlers ever out of Europe in Dave “Fit” Finlay to the world-renowned former NWA TV champion, Keiji “The Great Muta” Muto. But never have I faced the best out of England.

On October 3 at Rumble in Rauma, the Finnish wrestling fans are going to be in for a treat. They are going to witness a historical first, when the best out of England meets the best out of Finland. Two men — two gladiators — who will go out there with their respective national pride, as sportsmen, and grapple in what is sure to be a classic, memorable bout for the ages in the annals of not only Finnish wrestling, but European pro wrestling on the whole.

Don’t miss out on this one if you are living in Finland. Make plans to join FCF Wrestling for Rumble in Rauma on October 3 at Ooperin Juhlatalo, with a showtime of 20:00 for this monumental card, which will also feature FCF champion Valentine defending against former Danish champion Chaos; Swedish GBG champion Harley Rage defending against Finland’s transsexual superstar Jessica Love; Europe’s top female wrestler Alpha Female of Germany vs. Regina vs. Julia Kyy in a women’s Triple Threat match; high-flying Englishman “Flash” Morgan Webster and Swedish high flyer Timmy Force against the massive team of King Kong Karhula and Pyöveli Petrov; and much, much more!

A veteran rivalry

Posted: August 26, 2015 in Entertainment, Professional Wrestling
Tags: FCF Wrestling, festival, Helsinki, Pro Wrestling, Ricky Vendetta, Snacky Slam, StarBuck, Stark Adder, veteran, We Love the 90s

This coming Saturday, August 29 in Helsinki, FCF Wrestling and the Snacky fast food franchise will hold the last installment of SNACKY SLAM – the finale in a four-show series over this past summer in the capital region of Finland – right next to Kalasatama in the Sörnäinen suburb of Helsinki. Right next door, during this final SNACKY SLAM event, the Kalasatama premises will host something called the We Love the ’90s festival. The SNACKY SLAM card takes place at 14:00 this Saturday upcoming, with a huge attendance expected flowing in from the festival.

In the main event of this grand finale SNACKY SLAM card, I will be facing Finnish ring veteran, Stark Adder. It was Adder to whom I lost the Finnish wrestling championship in May 2006 after my first reign as champion, dating back to my tournament final win over Adder in October 2005.

Just over a week and a half ago at the SNACKY SLAM event in the Niittykumpu suburb of Espoo, I faced Adder again for the first time in a long time. We had one hell of a dandy match, which was sabotaged by Ricky Vendetta, who had just recently broken up his Constrictors tag team with Adder, turning on his former mentor and going his own way. In Espoo, Ricky Vendetta attacked Adder in the middle of our match, causing me to get inadvertently disqualified for his blatant actions. Obviously, this was no way to end a phenomenal battle between two of Finland’s oldest dogs in the game.

Both Adder and I went to FCF General Manager Tuho Torvinen and asked for Vendetta to be banned from this coming weekend’s SNACKY SLAM event, as we will step into the ring one more time to settle the score. This time, we don’t want anyone with any personal agendas on site. Adder and I have an issue to lay to rest, and it will be done fair and square, in the center of the ring, with no one sticking their nose into our business.

Photographer Kari Helenius captures the classic battle between Adder and I in May 2006

It’s damn hard to get two more technically sound, catch-as-catch-can style grapplers that Adder and StarBuck in Finnish pro wresting today. Experience speaks for itself, and you would be foolhardy to miss out on this coming mat classic this coming Saturday afternoon in Helsinki, as all SNACKY SLAM events are free, outdoor shows open to the general public.

Come on out this Saturday afternoon as FCF Wrestling closes the summer season of 2015 with a bang at the last SNACKY SLAM in Helsinki’s Sörnäinen district at 14:00 in the afternoon!

For all your wrestling news go here!

Caged Fury!

Posted: August 24, 2015 in Entertainment, Professional Wrestling, Travel
Tags: cage match, Chaos, Denmark, DPW, Impact Wrestling, Ken Anderson, Ken Kennedy, Pro Wrestling, StarBuck, The Beast, TNA Wresting, WWE

This past Saturday night in Randers, Denmark, I stepped into my first cage match in my 21 years in the pro wrestling business.

Truth be told, I have been looking forward to wrestling a cage match all my life, as when I was a teenager, I used to watch tons of these kinds of matches on television. I was enamored by the cage match above all other kinds of “gimmick” matches in pro wrestling.

I recall sitting back and seeing the NWA [National Wrestling Alliance] put on the War Games double cage matches in the summers between 1987-1989 as part of the Great American Bash July-August national tours. I remember Ric Flair falling to Ronnie Garvin in a cage match in Detroit back in the latter half of 1987, only to win it back in a cage re-match at Starrcade that very same year in Chicago. Then there was Hulk Hogan vs. “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndoff inside of a steel cage on WWF’s Saturday Night’s Main Event on NBC, as I would stay up way past my curfew back in those days to watch spellbound as the muscular heroes and villains battled it out inside the steel.

Alas, in 1994, I became an active professional wrestler, a raw rookie at the time with great hunger and a drive to spread my wings in this fantastic wrestling industry. My ambition and travels would take me to places like Egypt, Japan, Poland, Estonia, Spain and many points in between, spanning 19 countries and four continents to date, before I would be able to grapple inside the structure that always caught my imagination as a strapping young lad: the steel cage.

This past Saturday night in Randers, Denmark, the dream of wrestling inside the steel cage came true, thanks to Danish Pro Wrestling [DPW]. What was originally billed and slated to be me vs. multi-time Danish wrestling champion Chaos, was changed just two weeks prior to the event as me vs. The Beast from Sweden, and Chaos vs. Mr. Anderson from TNA (ex-WWE, Ken Kennedy).

As I have extensively documented here on my website and blog, I have been actively training and coaching The Beast since February of this year, as the Swedish phenom has taken the wrestling world in the Nordics by storm. I understood that I was prepping a dangerous man with all the tools to be a mega-star in the industry, at 1.93m tall and 115kg of pure muscle. I never saw the inevitable day coming this quickly, when I would have to step into the ring to face my prized protege, but I took to the change of plans like an old pro would and should. Win, lose or draw, it was just business this past Saturday when The Beast and I stepped into that steel cage to do battle.

I have to say that with 21 years in the game under me, I had the decided veteran’s advantage, which played greatly into my favor against the relative inexperience of The Beast. However, what he lacked for in experience, The Beast more than made up for in aggression and quickness. For a man that stands 1.93m tall, this guy moves like a panther. It was quite challenging to negate his agility and speed, and I had to pull a few old hat tricks to get the duke in the end. And yes, you read and understood that right: StarBuck beat The Beast inside of the steel cage when all was said and done.

This was The Beast’s first pinfall loss since debuting this past February in pro wrestling. However, even as The Beast himself knows, there is no shame in falling to time-tested, world-traveled veteran like myself. With more experience and miles down the line, it very well might be another story. Yet, this past weekend, history was made. The Beast found out that all men are mortal, and for every predator out there, there is another animal that will take them down. This is what we call the law of the jungle.

So summa summarum, all my respect goes to The Beast for putting up the fight of his career so far. This was nothing personal, just business. The Beast was put on the spot by DPW when the promotion changed plans from StarBuck vs. Chaos to StarBuck vs. The Beast. I do not have a personal agenda or beef with The Beast, and this cage match and its result does not pose any issue for me in my dealings with the man.

However, I do have an issue with Chaos. Not only did he prefer to disrespect me by choosing to change the advertised card from StarBuck vs. Chaos in the cage to Mr. Anderson vs. Chaos, but DPW also rubbed that salt of this swerve into my open wound by putting me in the cage with them as special referee after my match against The Beast. I barely had time to even drink before officials shoved a referee’s shirt in my face and told me to gear up and go back out to officiate the main event between Chaos and Anderson. Being the pro that I am, I suited up and went out to do my job.

However, I did not let sleeping dogs lie. When Chaos hit his trademark moonsault on Anderson, I counted one, two … and then nothing. I simply got up and turned around, showing everyone that if I was shafted in my scheduled and advertised match Denmark’s most beloved superstar, then I could play the game also. Chaos took exception to my actions, as I knew he would, and in turn, I superkicked him into oblivion, putting him down for Anderson to claim the winning pinfall.

So the bottom line is this: Chaos still has a date with destiny with his old nemesis StarBuck. He might have engineered the card to stroke his own ego this past weekend, but now, he has a little thorn in his side also. Sooner or later, Chaos is going to have to step into that ring with me, because his hurt pride won’t let this one go. And next time, there will be no change of plans at the last minute.

(Photos by Jytte Kristensen)

Caged with The Beast!

Posted: August 17, 2015 in Entertainment, Professional Wrestling, Travel
Tags: cage match, Chaos, dangerous, Denmark, DPW, mentor, Pro Wrestling, protege, StarBuck, The Beast

Wow … I got the news about a week back, that my upcoming, highly-anticipated cage match – the first of my long wrestling career – would be changed from me facing multi-time Danish champion Chaos, to me facing the breakout rookie star whom I have trained over the course of this year, Sweden’s hottest new property, The Beast!

The Beast stares down Harley Rage in a big match in Gothenburg, Sweden

I receive this news with mixed emotions. Firstly, I have taken a vested interest in prepping and coaching The Beast for his trek from the submission wrestling and MMA field into the world of pro wrestling. I took The Beast on as my pet project, proving that under my coaching, I could mold a superstar out of the man. I saw a world of potential in the guy when Stockholm wrestling promoter Chris Salhgren sent him to me for training at the beginning of this year. After all, he had an impressive resume already built up by the time that he was sent my way.

The Beast had gone to a time-limit draw in MMA against Sweden’s top export in that sport, Alexander Gustafsson, only to lose narrowly by judge’s decision. He had been a top star on the Swedish version of the reality competition show Gladiators, and he had nabbed the bronze medal in the 2014 Swedish national submission wrestling championships. In other words, I had one hell of an athlete to work with in my quest to mold him into a pro wrestling powerhouse.

I have to admit: I didn’t see this one coming. I’ve even formulated a friendship in addition to my mentorship with the man. I have seen first-hand how disciplined and strong this guy is. It’s downright scary. I have a lot of respect for The Beast, and I am sure that the feeling is mutual.

However, on August 22 in Randers, Denmark, I have been scheduled to meet this man inside of a 16-foot high steel cage, the first such match of my long and storied wrestling career. In truth, I have waited my entire life to wrestle inside of the cage. Ever since I was a youth, the cage matches between Ric Flair and Ronnie Garvin, Hulk Hogan and Paul Orndorff, the War Games matches of late 1980s NWA lore and such have been amongst my favorites. Before the eventual day comes that I have to hang my boots, one of my penultimate goals has been to grapple inside the cage, and now that day is here. But I never expected it to be against someone that I took on as my personal project.

The coach and the protege.

Initially, I was slated to face and old foe that I have grappled against many times in the past in Chaos. He and I have battled it out many times, and our matches have always been slobberknockers. I was firmly in the understanding that he and I would make wrestling history on August 22 in Denmark. However, just a week back, those plans went out the window, as the Danish Pro Wrestling [DPW] booking committee decided to change the card and put former TNA/WWE star Mr. Anderson (Ken Kennedy) against Chaos, with me against The Beast under them.

Now that’s all fine and dandy, I really have no problem with that. However, this does mean a change in my personal approach and coaching as it pertains to The Beast. He has now become a foe, an adversary, regardless of how indirectly that all transpired. I simply cannot afford to walk into the cage on August 22 against this man and teach him all that I know. That simply would not make any sense nor would it work in my favor.

I’ve faced big men like the executioner-like Pyöveli Petrov, who have fallen to finishers like my superkick (photo: Jarmo Katila)

From here on out, The Beast is on his own. I’ve given him the foundational tools that he needs to work with. However, come August 22 in Randers, Denmark, it will be a trial by fire for The Beast. Sure, he might have me outweighed by almost 20kg. He’s got a good 15cm height advantage on me. He’s much more powerful than me, he’s arguably more explosive and his reach exceeds mine. Yet, with all of these things against me, there are some things that he doesn’t have over ol’ StarBuck.

Firstly, The Beast does not have the experience that I have. I’ve been all around the world, a champion all over. I’ve faced them all, from big to small, both rookies and vets. I’ve learned to navigate through all kinds of waters. Secondly, I have a diverse bag of tools in my repertoire to draw from. I am not a one-trick pony. I can spot an opening anywhere, and I will not fail to expose a weakness when I see one. Thirdly, I have only taught The Beast what he needs to know, as in the role of the student he has been on a need-to-know basis. In the initial stages of his career, he needs to grasp the basics. Right now, The Beast owns a very rudimentary set of tools. I wouldn’t have done him any favors, had I force-fed him more knowledge than he could chew at any given point. That puts me in the driver’s seat, despite the imminent threat that he poses on the surface going into this huge cage match.

August 22 is going to be monumental in both of our careers. For me, it will be my first cage match, one that I have looked forward to all of my career. For The Beast, it will be the supreme test for him, as he will have to face his mentor before being ready and equipped enough to tackle my kind of professional experience.

Whatever happens on August 22, I just want The Beast to understand that it’s nothing personal. This is just business. Let the chips fall where they may.

SLAM Sports Canada interviews StarBuck

Posted: August 6, 2015 in Entertainment, Life, Professional Wrestling, Travel
Tags: Akira Nogami, athlete, Canada, champion, Finland, Fumi Saito, interview, Japan, Pro Wrestling, SLAM Sports, SMASH, StarBuck, WNC, WWE, Yoshihiro Tajiri

I did an extensive interview with my birth country Canada’s top internet sports media, SLAM! Sports, for their website. Journalist Blaine Van Der Griend went to extensive lengths, cross-checking and getting the low-down from some influential people that have seen my pro wrestling career sparkle in Japan. This piece of media is really a treat, folks. The gloves come off here, so sit back, take 15-minutes and read some good inside stuff: http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2015/07/05/22488981.html

Thanks again to SLAM! Sports for this feature, and a big shout-out to all my Canadian compatriots out there! Reach for the stars, eh!!!

Finland beats Russia via Estonia??

Posted: July 24, 2015 in Entertainment, Professional Wrestling, Snacky
Tags: Cold War, fight, Finland, Helsinki, historical, Ivan Markov, Kristina Karjalainen, Miss Estonia, Pro Wrestling, Russia, Snacky Slam 2015, StarBuck

Wow! How did this come about?! Like the title reads, Finland beat Russia via Estonia, or should I say, an “assist” from Miss Estonia, in yesterday’s monumental and historic Finland vs. Russia encounter in Helsinki at Snacky Slam between myself and Ivan Markov.

Russia’s premiere wrestler and former 3-time Russian champion Ivan “Locomotive” Markov brought his wife Natalia along as his flagbearer and second at ringside, so the Snacky promoter decided to even the odds by putting Miss Estonia, Kristina Karjalainen, in my corner as both a second at ringside and as the Finnish flagbearer.

Miss Estonia Kristina Karjalainen bears the Finnish flag

Natalia Markov interfered and got involved in our match on several occasions, just as I was about to turn the tide against her husband, Ivan. Again and again, I was thwarted by Natalia’s timely interference in this No-DQ/No-countout match. It looked like the odds were stacked against me until Miss Estonia decided to do something. Well, actually, she did something twice.

Natalia and Ivan Markov

When Natalia raked my face with her nails as I was beating down a hailstorm of fists on the head of her man, Kristina Karjalainen took to the fore and got right up in Mrs. Markov’s grill. A hellacious catfight broke loose, with both women looking to tear the hair out of each other’s scalps, before the referee finally separated the women.

Kristina Karjalainen and Natalia Markov got into it too!

After Ivan had jump-started the match by attacking me with his Russian flagpole before the bell, I had to fight for my life in the underdog role, as he poured the heat on heavy. The match was very physical, with big bombs being thrown to and fro, back and forth, before Miss Estonia finally turned the tide of this new Cold War.

Wailing away on the head of Ivan Markov

Getting up on the ring apron, Kristina removed the robe she had on and got Ivan’s attention from the ring apron. Ivan and everyone else stood in shock as Miss Estonia did a flirtatious little thing of her own in front of the former Russian champion, and as he turned back around, I was able to hit him with a superkick to the face. I was so wasted by this point that Markov didn’t go down and he tried one last rally, which I thwarted, hitting him with another superkick, which set him up directly for my world-famous finisher, the spike piledriver.

Miss Estonia got Markov’s attention using her beauty pageant charms

The referee counted the academic pinfall as Natalia watched on from the ring apron in disbelief, urging her man to kick out. He did not, however. The match was over after 15-minutes of slobberknocking action. It was one of the greatest victories of my professional life, as I was able to stand with my fellow countrymen and put down the Russian Locomotive in our nation’s capital.

My spike piledriver put away Ivan Markov in this heated COLD WAR match

Finland’s top newspaper Helsingin Sanomat ran a full front page advert about the Snacky Slam event on the day of the event and I was called by the country’s number one rock radio station, Radio Rock, for a quick pre-match interview one hour before showtime.

Victorious after a truly hard-fought battle

Finland has a good reason to be proud this weekend, as the jubilation of the live audience on hand was tremendous when Ivan Markov was put down for the 1-2-3. Thanks to Snacky and to everyone that came out to see history in the making yesterday in Helsinki at Snacky Slam!

All photos by Marko Simonen (www.markosimonen.com)

No Excuses and No Days Off

Posted: July 6, 2015 in physical training, Professional Wrestling, Travel
Tags: athlete, body, bodyweight, determination, fitness, goals, health, hybrid training, kettlebell, training

I once heard a tremendous quote that I have often recalled throughout my life, that says “There are no such things as excuses, only reasons why things don’t get done.”

As some of you might or then might not know, in addition to being a professional wrestler, I am also a rock vocalist in three separate bands: Overnight Sensation (hard rock), Angel of Sodom (thrash metal) and Crossfyre (southern blues rock).

I just came home a few days ago, back to Finland, after spending the last two weeks on the road, through the Baltics, down to Poland and Germany, for a set of gigs with Crossfyre. Before I left for this recent tour jaunt, I got word that I’d be having a match against Russia’s premiere wrestler, Ivan Markov, on July 23 in Helsinki. I knew that I would have to train on the road, utilizing every possible opportunity to get some body work and conditioning in.

After all, this is going to be a very important match. I loaded up one 16kg kettlebell, two 5kg plates equipped with handles and three different resistance power bands. This, plus my own bodyweight and a plethora of training knowledge, were all I had to train with for two weeks, while on tour.

My tour training equipment, sans the smallest resistance power band…

I recall doing the same kind of training five years ago, when I played across Europe with Crossfyre, which was just before my pro wrestling debut in Japan. That definitive time period was a breakthrough opportunity for me, when I was to make my first foray in the Land of the Rising Sun, in my first match there against Hajime Ohara back on July 24, 2010 in Tokyo. After that initial match, and the subsequent second match I had, later that same night, against former WWE superstar “The Japanese Buzzsaw” Tajiri, my career was made in Japan. I became a superstar there, literally overnight. That was, beyond a shadow of a doubt, one of the finest moments of my professional athletic career.

Now, five years later, I am on the edge of another critically important moment in my wrestling epoch. On July 23, I will be defending the honor of the country I represent, Finland, against the imposing threat of big Russia in the first-ever wrestling war between our countries. I absolutely must be in shape for this coming battle, and my entire training approach changed considerably when I heard the news that Ivan Markov had called me out and challenged me to a match on Finnish soil. Especially, considering the history between our countries, and the fact that Finland used to be under Russian rule in years past by the Czar, this is a huge, milestone moment upcoming in athletic history in the Nordics. Plus, Ivan Markov is bigger, younger and stronger than me, so I have to up my ante to face this coming challenge.

Take a look at the bodyweight and hybrid training montage that I compiled from the tour we were on. I hope it inspires you also! It just goes to show, that when there isn’t an actual gym nearby, there is still no excuse to get in an effective training routine, regardless of the circumstances.

“The Rebel” StarBuck vs. “Locomotive” Ivan Markov is upcoming on Thursday, July 23 at SNACKY SLAM in the Pukinmäki suburb or Helsinki, as a free media event, open to the public, at 13:00 in the afternoon, located at Snacky fast food restaurant, Malminkaari 2a, 00720 Helsinki. The event is open to all ages, free of charge.

A new Cold War?

Posted: June 25, 2015 in Entertainment, Professional Wrestling, Social commentary
Tags: Cold War, Finland, Ivan Drago, Ivan Markov, Pro Wrestling, Rocky IV, Russia, Snacky Slam, StarBuck, Sylvester Stallone

A few days back, I got word that Russia’s number one wrestler, Ivan Markov, set out to openly challenge me on Finnish soil. I was in the midst of preparations for my southern rock band Crossfyre’s tour of Poland and Germany, which we left for today, when I heard the news.

A lot of folks who don’t live in Finland probably aren’t aware of the political climate between Finland and Russia in the wake of the EU embargos set forth, following the situation with the Ukraine, or the slant that the media in this country constantly feeds to its citizens about the tensions between our countries. Needless to say, there is a constant picture of an imminent threat to Finland’s independence lingering in the air. Big Russia vs. little Finland.

Ivan “Locomotive” Markov has initiated the first step in the next Cold War!

Anyone who knows anything about Nordic and Baltic world history knows that Finland used to be under Russian rule by the Czar. We are, after all, neighboring lands and Russia’s reach used to far exceed what is today, although they are still the biggest, single country in the world.

Things in Russia have been arguably restless over the past year, as their war with the Ukraine has caused a lot of unrest with neighboring countries and even with the rest of the world. It’s like Reagan vs. Gorbachov all over again, with a new Cold War on the horizon. Only this time, it’s Vladimir Putin against the rest of the world.

In the midst of these troubled times comes one who calls himself the “Locomotive”, Ivan Markov, who is looking to assert himself in the name of his country and leader, in an effort to claim dominance in the name of Mother Russia. Not only does Markov call me out personally, he goes on to spite and belittle the country in which I pioneered the sport of professional wrestling. The same country my parents were born in. This, simply, will not do.

I’ll be honest: Markov reminds me a lot of another Ivan, that being Ivan Drago from the acclaimed ‘80s movie, Rocky IV. If you look at the man, he is an impressive physical specimen. I have no idea what he’s been having for breakfast – if you get my drift – but it sure ain’t what this ol’ boy has been having. I’ve spent 27 years of my life in the gym as a natural athlete, whether healthy or busted up, and I know the difference between organic and non-organic. Markov and Drago… these Ivan’s have a lot in common.

So here I find myself on the road, driving down through the Baltics on my way to Poland for a set of shows with Crossfyre, and I know that I’ll have to be in the shape of my life to face Ivan Markov, because believe you me, I am accepting his challenge for a fight on July 23 in Helsinki! I know I don’t have much time, and the touring schedule and road life doesn’t allow for such luxuries as well-equipped gyms and optimal training hours to give me a platform for preparation.

Training like Sylvester Stallone in Rocky IV, only this time I am in Poland!

Therefore, I left home this morning ready to train on the road, Rocky-style. I took the few training aides that would fit in our jam-packed Crossmobile tour van: a kettlebell, a set of power bands and two 5kg plates with in-built handles. That’s it. Everything else is bodyweight conditioning. Oh, and I even grabbed a few Muscle&Fitness magazines to help keep my head in the game.

Chin-ups in Germany!

Ivan Markov might be younger than me. He might be bigger than me. He might be crazier than me. But there’s one thing he has to know, going into this Finland vs. Russia showdown in Helsinki on July 23.

Markov needs to know what Belgium’s acclaimed Bernard Vandamme – whom I beat for the prestigious Eurostars European championship twice – said about me: “StarBuck was not the biggest guy around, he wasn’t the most agile, and he wasn’t a high-flier, but he had a bit of everything, and he knew how to combine those qualities into one impressive formula for success.”

Ivan Markov should be taking notes. He should be brushing up on his pro wrestling history. He should under no circumstances sell short the caliber of wrestler that he is up against, come July 23. All Ivan Markov needs to do is read one single page on Wikipedia, or look at my contributions and track record in one of the most contested markets for wrestling on the planet, that being Japan. Or then, look at the list of notable names in the wrestling industry that have fallen to “The Rebel” StarBuck simply over the past decade, and then, he will have a more clear understanding of the man that he has chosen to call out.

I found an old barn, made do with whatever was hanging around, and got busy!

When Finland’s Snacky fast food restaurant chain owner Jukka Nieminen heard that Markov had issued a challenge to fight me, he stepped forth, offering a platform for this mega-match to take place. Last year, FCF Wrestling orchestrated an event in Helsinki’s Pukinmäki suburb, along with Snacky and the nation’s leading tabloid magazine, 7 Päivää. That event was called Snacky Slam and this year, Nieminen expressed that he wanted to do it again.

Therefore, on Thursday, July 23 at Snacky in Pukinmäki, Helsinki – outdoors under the sun and free for all to see – I will battle Russia’s top wrestler, Ivan Markov, with both nations’ national pride at stake.

This is going to be one for the ages. The next Cold War!

The rise of The Beast

Posted: April 10, 2015 in Entertainment, Professional Wrestling
Tags: coaching, Daniel Atterhagen, FCF Wrestling, Goldberg, Ken Shamrock, StarBuck, STHLM Wrestling, The Beast, WWE

It was early February this year when an impressive brute of a man from Sweden came to me for training. His name was Daniel Atterhagen, and at 1,92m tall and weighing 115kg, he was a former Gladiator (the TV show) and now he was in the process of changing lanes in his life. He wanted to become a professional wrestler.

The Beast has a mean game face.

Nicknamed “The Beast”, Daniel undertook to my coaching like a fish to water, learning incredibly fast. In a matter of mere days, I could already see that this guy was going to become something special in the world of pro wrestling.

Daniel already had a background in submission wrestling prior to coming to me for professional schooling, sent by STHLM Wrestling promoter Chris Sahlgren. He even took the bronze medal in the Swedish national submission wrestling championships in December 2014. His MMA career saw him go to the time limit with Sweden’s most prized MMA export, Alexander Gustafsson of UFC fame, only to lose by judge’s decision.

The Beast made his professional wrestling debut outside of his native country here in Finland at FCF Wrestling’s biggest annual flagship event, Talvisota IX, on February 7 this year in Helsinki. It was there, that after a very brief initial schooling period, he already took and demolished his opposition in a handicap 2-on-1 match. From there, Daniel went on to lay waste to the opposition in Sweden mere weeks later, further impressing in his young pro wrestling career.

With less than five pro matches under his belt, The Beast was already touted as the “next big thing” out of Sweden, with the explosiveness of Goldberg and the game face of Ken Shamrock, garnering the attention of the world’s premiere pro wrestling monolith, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Can you believe that?!? I think the pro wrestling world should be taking notice.

The coach and the protege.

And so it is, that Daniel “The Beast” Atterhagen will get his WWE tryout at the O2 Arena in London, England this coming weekend on April 18-19. I have never had a student in all of my years in the pro wrestling industry whom I have coached, who has risen as fast as The Beast and gotten a WWE tryout in the same short time.

I have to say that I am proud of Daniel for the effort, commitment and determination that he has put in after changing lanes in his personal life and choosing the new path of pro wrestling.

Now is your chance to go claim the big one. Make it count!

The Beast knocked out rookie Make Smooth at Talvisota with this chokeslam.

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