Posts Tagged ‘Finland’

This summer, I will be hosting and coaching the very first SLAM! Pro Wrestling Boot Camp 2020, just in time for the market to free up enough from the COVID-19 restrictions that participation will be possible and legal.

We have a superb training hall reserved in the Hannus suburb of Espoo, Finland, right beside Helsinki.  The place is located beside Länsiväylä motorway and public transport by bus takes you right beside our training hall.  In addition, a huge, new Lidl food store is next to our establishment and Iso Omena shopping center, voted the top shopping mall in Finland not too long ago, is only 1km away.

This summer, under the auspices of Yours Truly, you will be able to apply yourself to learning all aspects of the grappling game inside the squared circle: from chain wrestling and submissions, to bumps and falls, to ring positioning and rope work, to throws and lifts, to character presence and mic skills, and beyond… you will be able to learn the ins and outs of the world of professional wrestling from one of the masters (even if I say so myself), and the most highly-acclaimed professional wrestler in Northern European history: “The Rebel” StarBuck.

Folks, I have taught talents now since 2003 in seven different countries: Japan, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Russia.  Many of my students have gone on to wrestle extensively abroad all around the world.  The lessons you will learn from me are lessons passed down from the old school, where fundamentals and realism are key.

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StarBuck teaching a wrestling camp in Denmark 2014, with participants from 4 countries.

If you would like to be a part of this groundbreaking opportunity in Finland, hit me up at info@slamwres.com and tell why you would like to be involved in this intensive summer course.  Be sure to attach a recent photo full-body of yourself and prepare to train twice weekly for the next three months, every Monday and Thursday night.

This is your chance… grasp for the brass ring and make it count!!!

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Get ready for the real deal, this is true-grit, honest, world-class pro wrestling coaching!

 

Ahoy, mates!  It’s the middle of the month and we’re under a week away from the Maiden Voyage of my new enterprise SLAM! Wrestling Finland.  I began this trek in the summer of this past year and now, on November 24 in Kotka, Finland, we’ll hold our first debut offering at Power Tech Group‘s Greatest Little Christmas Ever event.

We have the UK’s top professional wrestler, James Mason, coming in.  We have Russia’s and Sweden’s premiere female wrestlers (respectively) coming in also, Natalia Markova and Helena Sixt.  In addition, we have a top cast of the finest, hand-picked Finnish professionals, both veterans and upstarts alike, in action at this big debut event!

SLAM Kotka square INSTA main matches graphic alt

I’ll be facing James Mason, who is one of the toughest, craftiest competitors I have ever wrestled against.  I equate him to being the James Bond of professional wrestling.  It’ll be a true test and a damn hard rock to climb against Mason in Kotka, as when I wrestled him last in Hannover, Germany back in October 2017, he out-wrestled me and pinned me in the end after a very spirited struggle.  This will be chapter two for us on November 24!

I also just got back from Germany, where this past weekend on Saturday night, November 17, I wrestled at DWA Harley Night in Wittorf.  As the reigning DWA World Heavyweight Champion, I met the challenge of Joe E. Legend, who wrestled for a time with WWE back at the end of the 1990s also.  We had a solid wrestling match, one that didn’t quite go Joey’s way at the end as he found himself on the receiving end of my jumping spike piledriver, which had him starting up at the lights for the referee’s three-count when all was said and done.  This was my first title defense after winning the DWA World title back on September 1.

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Head on over to our SLAM! Wrestling Finland Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages to check out our journey up ’til now.  There’s pictures of the first-ever SLAM! ring being build at Power Tech by metal industry engineers and workers.  It’s a helluva story, and I’m sure you’ll be delighted to join us, so smash the follow and like buttons and jump aboard with us as we head on toward November 24 in Kotka!

Shoorin' the Shizzat

I’d also like the share the big news about my new podcast called Shootin’ The Shizzat, co-hosted by Canadian-born wrestling referee Dylan Broda and myself!  Dylan is originally from Canada, just like myself, and we talk pro wrestling for an hour to tickle your ears.  It’s an eye-opener in many ways, whether you are a fan or in the wrestling business yourself.  Good gab and current content, worth checking out!

 

A heated rivalry has been brewing for over a half a year now between myself and former Danish wrestling champion Chaos.  This issue stems back to last summer, back on August 22 in Randers, Denmark, where I was scheduled and booked to face Chaos in the first-ever cage match of my 20+ year pro wrestling career.  This was a landmark for me personally, something that I was highly looking forward to, until the rug got pulled out from underneath me.

In a baffling turn of events, Chaos lobbied with his DPW (Danish Pro Wrestling) organization to get his scheduled match on August 22 with me changed to him vs. Ken Anderson of TNA Wrestling.  It seemed that Chaos opted to let his ego do the talking when the situation presented itself, and thus, as a “consolation prize”, DPW sent me into the Anderson-Chaos match as a special guest referee.  This was a true slap in the face to me both personally and professionally.

So in a case like this, what do you think I opted to do?  You guessed it: I took matters into my own hands and righted a small iota of personal wrongs with some vigilante justice.  I refused to count the pinfall when Chaos had Anderson down and out after a moonsault and then I proceeded to superkick Chaos’ teeth down his throat, enabling an easy win for the former Mr. Kennedy of WWE.

Ken Anderson wins

This didn’t sit well with Chaos, and I certainly can understand that.  But then again, he drew first blood in all of this by pulling out of our scheduled match.  He should have been well-prepared for what happened, after his organization put me in there as a referee for his match.  He could have lobbied to have me out of the picture completely, and just hope that I didn’t take offence and attempt to do something about it.  But no.  Chaos walked willingly right into the lion’s den and got what was coming to him.

So now, it’s become personal.  Chaos has a stick up his ass about the way that I handled my business, and I am less than happy about how he handled his business initially with me.  So what does he do?  Chaos sets up a couple of crowbars to take me out and make a hit, performing his dirty work for him.  Norwegian tag team champions Bjorn Sem and Hannibal dished out a very painful beatdown on my person back in January following a wrestling show at Helsinki’s Pressa Nightclub, as you can see in the footage below.

So once Chaos had sent me his receipt for what happened last summer in Denmark via the Norwegians, I thought to organize a little receipt of my own to the SOB a few weeks back when he worked a card in Sweden.  Take a look…

So here we are, and eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.  I issued a challenge for Chaos to meet me, man to man, at FCF Wrestling’s Talvisota X (Winter War 10) event in Helsinki, Finland on March 19 at the Töölö Sports Hall to settle this thing between us.  No more messengers, no more “telescope” receipts.  This time, it’ll be just he and I, inside of the squared circle, and the fists will do the talking that night.  I’ll even be a good sport and let Chaos present any stipulation he wants for our match, should he have the brains for it.  All I know is that on March 19, it’s going to be two time-tested, ornery veterans against one another, with a collective amount of over 40 years of experience between us, tearing apart the ring that night.

May the best man walk out of Winter War with his hand held high.

StarBuck vs Chaos Talvisota X Winter War 10 FCF Wrestling

All ages
19:00 doors
20:00 showtime

TICKETS IN ADVANCE / AT THE DOOR
Regular ticket
16,50 € / 20 €

Students, retired folks, army personnel, unemployed persons
11,50 € / 15 €

Kid’s ticket (7-15v.)
11,50 € / 15 €

Ringside tickets
27 € / only sold online prior to event!

Kids under 7-years of age come in free!

Online ticket sales come to an end on 18.3.2016 at 12:00 noon.

Online ticket sales through: TIKETTI

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Just this past week, I was asked to take part in top Finnish stand-up comedian Niko Kivelä’s new promotional video, which fires up his upcoming comedy tour across Finland over the next few months.  There was some crazy shit going down, with the tattooed Hellsinki Rock Girls models and a band known as the Horse Attack Sqwad, amongst others, on hand.  For anyone who doesn’t know, the Horse Attack Sqwad have a gimmick where all the guys wear horse heads and all the songs are about horses.  It’s messed up fun.  I got to be myself, pumping out shitloads of 16kg kettlebell presses over the takes of the video, which, let me assure you, had my delts and traps about to explode!  Real volume training till failure, over about 30-minutes of back-to-back takes on film.  Check out the finished product…

Niko recalled meeting me about 10-years back when he was part of a radio show that I was on, so this was a reunion of sorts to boot.  Niko has a tour across Finland, starting at the end of this month, so be sure to check him out live when he is in your area!

Niko found his way into a sleeperhold, but don't ask how!

Niko found his way into a sleeperhold, but don’t ask how!

“Kolmas MINÄ toden sanoo” TOUR

26.2.2016    Lahti
27.2.2016    Järvenpää
2.3.2016    Vaasa
3.3.2016    Seinäjoki
4.3.2016    Jyväskylä
5.3.2016    Kotka
10.3.2016    Iisalmi
11.3.2016    Kuopio
12.3.2016    Joensuu
17.3.2016    Kajaani
18.3.2016    Varkaus
19.3.2016    Tampere – iso
31.3.2016    Hyvinkää
1.4.2016    Kuusankoski
2.4.2016    Turku
8.4.2016    Lappeenranta
9.4.2016    Porvoo

Niko Kivelä Kolmas Minä tour

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14.4.2015    Nurmijärvi
15.4.2016    Raahe
16.4.2016    Kokkola
21.4.2016    Rauma
22.4.2016    Pori
27.4.2016    Salo
28.4.2016    Espoo/Sello
29.4.2016    Hämeenlinna
4.5.2016    Kerava
5.5.2016    Ylivieska
6.5.2016    Oulu
7.5.2016    Rovaniemi
8.5.2016    Kemi
12.5.2016    Kuusamo
13.5.2016    Mikkeli
14.5.2016    Lohja
19.5.2016    Helsinki

Tickets available: www.suomenstandupclub.fi/kaikki-esitykset

www.nikokivela.fi

This past weekend on Saturday, January 16 in Helsinki, FCF Wrestling started the grappling year off with an event called Wrestling Show Live, at which I experienced something I usually don’t run into almost anywhere.  I got mugged.

I had one hell of a dandy match, teaming with Finnish ring veteran Stark Adder, to do battle with current FCF champion, Valentine, and Ricky Vendetta.  I have to say that all four of us were on fire that night, and the capacity audience on hand at Pressa Nightclub responded accordingly.  In the end, Adder eeked out a surprise win over Vendetta, leading into what I am sure will be a long-awaited singles match between the two of them, formerly known as the team of The Constrictors, at the biggest annual event in Finnish pro wrestling on March 19 in Helsinki, Talvisota X.

Wrestling Show Live FCF (1)

Adder pins Vendetta

Wrestling Show Live FCF (2)

Yours Truly controls Valentine

After our tag team win, we let the dust settle and the sweat cool down, taking care of business post-match, hitting the showers, getting dressed and heading back on home.

Well, this is when the proverbial shit hit the fan.

FCF’s documenting film crew was shooting random extra material for a possible DVD release down the road as I exited the building, heading to my car, with my wrestling bag in tow.  I certainly didn’t expect to see Norway’s tag team champions, the behemoth-like Gods of War – Bjorn Sem and Hannibal – waiting, as it were, for me on the other side of the door.  The video below speaks for itself and shows what happened in the ensuing moments…

As you can hear on the video, Bjorn Sem says “Greetings from Chaos.  This was a receipt for last summer in Denmark.”

For anyone who doesn’t know, I had a cage match scheduled against my old foe and former Danish wrestling champion Chaos in Denmark last August 22.  At the last minute, Chaos got our scheduled match changed to him against former WWE/TNA wrestler Ken Anderson.  To add salt to that wound for me, which was already a slap in the face, Danish Pro Wrestling put me into the match as special guest referee.  Well, I let Chaos and DPW know exactly what I felt about being shut out of competing in that cage match, as I lambasted Chaos with a superkick, following which Ken Anderson easily pinned the man.

Referee

I got relegated to officiating, as Chaos tried his luck against TNA’s Ken Anderson.

I admit, my temper got the best of me, but no one messes with my professional pride.  Chaos should have honored his booking commitment and wrestled me inside of that steel cage, but instead, he wanted to test himself against someone that he had never wrestled against before in Ken Anderson.  I just refused to let it slide.

Well, I guess I should have known better.  I should have guessed that my actions my come back to bite me in the ass down the line.  And down the line was the night of January 16 in Helsinki.  Chaos sent out an obvious hit on my person, and the chosen hit men were the Norwegian tag team champions.

Chaos

Chaos is obviously looking for a fight.  Mean, nasty, ornery.  That’s me, too.

Now, however, Chaos has got to know that I won’t let sleeping dogs lie.  We’ve fought each other tooth and nail over the years, and I have to admit that Chaos is one of the nastiest, hardest hitting badasses I have ever come across.  The man is a former Danish national amateur wrestling standout, in addition to being one of the hardest hitters in all of pro wrestling.  Yet, he should know who he double-crossed in Denmark this past summer to set off this series of events.

Chaos needs to be looking over his shoulder now, because the next one is on me.

 

One week from today, it’ll be time to lace up the proverbial boots and step into the pro wrestling ring for the first match of 2016.  Just this past week, on January 7, I passed my 22-year mark since my first live wresting match as an active competitor.  Now, here in 2016, this old dog is still alive and kicking.

Hell, I’m sure there are some that would just wish an old warhorse like me would die out and fade away, but that just ain’t happening.  Not yet.  I will be the one to dictate when and where, barring serious injury or an Act of God.

side buck

There are days that I wonder how long I will want to keep up actively wrestling.  There is a limit to all things, a bump card that keeps filling up, and every year, I just have to find a way to wrestle smarter and navigate better.  It’s a challenge, but one that I embrace.  After all, at heart, I am a fighter.

At 42-years of age, I look at many contemporaries in our business and size myself up against them.  Old friends like Chris Jericho are a mere couple years older than me, and still in good stride, able to compete at the highest level.  My old wrestling coach Lance Storm of Storm Wrestling Academy in Calgary, Canada, gets in the ring daily with his wrestling students and has actual matches against them to help them improve, and Lance is three years my senior.  Heck, when I lost the SMASH championship title to Dave “Fit” Finlay in 2011 in Tokyo, the legendary Irishman was just over 50 at that point, and he ran me ragged!

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Dave Finlay was an absolute beast inside of that ring past the age of 50!

Alas, here in 2016, I sit at my desktop computer, writing this blog, and I ponder my own situation.  I’ve been at this grappling game for a good number of years now, putting in the miles, flying here and there, up against the best competition around the globe.  I look at a guy like Keiji Muto in Japan, a man whom I look up to greatly for his legacy and longevity in our business, and see how beat up his knees are past the age of 50 now.  I think of guys like Triple H, in his mid-40s now, wrestling a very limited schedule, with only a few shots a year at most.  And then there is The Undertaker, who continues to hang on, also grappling a mere few times a year, as everyone asks when his last Wrestlemania moment will be.

As a veteran, it’s hard to hang it up, because at the heart of it all, we are all fans of this game.  Look at Terry Funk, the legendary old NWA World champion and hardcore wrestling legend.  He could never exorcise the wrestler out of his system, and the number of his announced “retirements” has been baffling.  That’s because Terry Funk loves pro wrestling.  Just like the other veterans out there, who refuse to die out and fade away.

I recall Bret “Hitman” Hart saying in his autobiography, that he never wanted anyone to see him wrestle as an old fart, past his due date.  I can relate to that, as it becomes a matter of personal pride in your own legacy and accomplishments.  You don’t want to be in a place where you are just a shell of what you used to be at your prime.  As long as you can produce top-notch matches and carry your personal piece of business with your head held high, I say go.  Don’t let anyone stop you.

And so it is in 2016, that 22 years into the pro wrestling game, I look at the date of January 16 at the Pressa Club in Helsinki.  I look at the match I will have that night and the tag team partner that I am paired with that evening: Stark Adder.

Adder is another veteran, a year older than Yours Truly, but equally a warhorse of high fortitude and morale that keeps the flame alive.  We’ve fought each other numerous times over the past decade, and we have nothing but the highest mutual respect for one another.

Now, on January 16, Adder and I will join forces to do battle with Adder’s former tag team partner and ex-protege, Ricky Vendetta, and his partner, FCF champion, Valentine.  This is a huge tag match on paper, a monumental bout that will see Adder and Vendetta lock horns for the first time since Vendetta turned on his former mentor about a half-year ago.

I warmly welcome you all out to Helsinki on January 16 to see what very well may be deemed as “The Veteran’s League”, as we clash with the kind of opposition that will surely translate into a classic match at the Pressa Club in Helsinki, with a showtime start of 18:00 and doors opening at 17:30, tickets 20e/person.

valentinericky_adderbuck

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.

StarBuck vs 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!

Tickets available online now at: http://www.horror-shop.net/rumble-rauma-2015-paasylippu-p-5751.html

Rumble in Rauma poster

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

starbuck

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!!!

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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)

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!

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!

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.

StarBuck training 1

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.

StarBuck training 2

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!