Today marks 27 years since I started my in-ring, active professional wrestling career.
My first match was on January 7, 1994 at the Victoria Park Civic Center in Calgary, Canada. I worked against one of my coaches, Lance Storm, who went on to become a champion in ECW, WCW and WWE.
I recall how my good friend Chris Jericho, now with AEW, lent me a pair of his old tights that he wore alongside Lance in their tag team, Sudden Impact. Chris also gifted me my first pair of wrestling boots for that encounter, a pair of plain black ones, which I have somewhere in storage back in Canada to this day.
My match with Lance was seven minutes on the nose, and Lance pinned me after a competitive outing that I was afforded by hitting a jack-knife pin after a powerbomb. The guys in the dressing room clapped it up afterwards, including my other coach, Karl “Jason The Terrible” Moffat, Lenny St. Clair (AEW’s Luther), Beef Wellington, Jericho and others, claiming it was the second best match on the card that night. The top honors went to Beef Wellington vs. Chris Jericho in the main event.
So here’s to a look back at 27 years ago half a world away. Today, I run my own wrestling company, SLAM! Wrestling, in Finland and Estonia, as well as being an active wrestler at the age of 47, still able to pull 30-minute matches with ease.
Life is for living, so I embrace every day that the Good Lord gives me and I’m thankful for the 22 countries and four continents I’ve been able to ply my trade in, and thanks to all the bookers and promoters who made it possible!
(photos by Sam Leppänen, Sander Burmeister and Rob Haynes)
My old buddy, Alexi Laiho from Children Of Bodom, now has a new band. It’s called Bodom After Midnight, and Alexi asked me to draft up the logo for their new outfit.
Alexi and Children of Bodom finished up a long and storied career together at the end of last year, and it was time for Alexi to move on. Hence, Bodom After Midnight was formed. Here is a newspiece on the band from Blabbermouth.net.
Bodom After Midnight (photo by Terhi Ylimäinen)
Alexi and myself go way back, all the way to 2002, when he played in his ex-wife Kimberly Goss’ band Singery and my band Stoner Kings opened up for them. Since then, Alexi has guested on my band Stoner Kings’ two albums, Fuck The World (2006) and Alpha Male (2019), playing solos on our songs Mantric Madness and Down To Zero, respectively.
Alexi was also my guest cornerman back in 2007, when I won the Finnish wrestling championship for the second time.
I’d like to heartily wish Alexi and Bodom After Midnight the very best of luck and prosperity, as they set off on a new chapter in the metal world!
Today marks 26 years since my professional debut as a wrestler. I owe it to my coaches, Lance Storm (WWE, WCW, ECW), who is currently working for WWE as an agent, and Karl Moffat, who used to wrestle in the ’80s and ’90s as Jason the Terrible under a hockey mask (Stampede Wrestling, Capitol Sports Puerto Rico, All-Japan and New Japan Pro Wrestling), as they started me off right and gave me the mindset and tools to make it this far.
After 22 countries on four continents, coaching in seven countries worldwide since 2003 and being a champion and main event player the world over, I can only be grateful that my career is still rolling strong at the age of 46.
I’ve had setbacks and injuries, faced the challenges that age brings to the game, navigated through the shark-infested waters of wrestling politics and petty shenanigans, and steered the course so that here in 2020, I’m spearheading my own wrestling promotion, SLAM! Wrestling Finland, with operations in both Finland and Estonia, with much more to come.
I’m thankful to the Good Lord above, in whom I steadfastly trust as any credible rebel these days would, for giving me the health, longevity and blessing to extend an in-ring career and professional achievement that no one in the Nordics of Europe has yet to surpass.
Here’s to the future, and to the challenges and victories that lay ahead!
StarBuck at SLAM! Wrestling Finland Mega Launch, 22/3/2019 Helsinki (photo: Marko Simonen)
One week back, on June 29 in Rauma, Finland, we held the most significant international pro wrestling card in all of Northern Europe this summer, entitled Wrestle Aid 2019.
With top talents flying to Finland to take part in this big event, in the end we had wrestlers from 10 countries represented: Japan, USA, Puerto Rico, Spain, England, Estonia, Holland, Ireland, Canada and Finland.
This all was done to help raise charity funds for the Finnish Muscular Dystrophy Association, Lihastautiliitto, to help those with ALS and Duschenne Muscular Dystrophy to take part in wheelchair-assisted sports.
The entire concept of Wrestle Aid came about as the brainchild of one of the event organizers, Riku Forsström of Rauma, where the event was held. Riku is a long-time Duschenne patient, eclipsing the typical lifespan of contemporaries with his condition by well over 10 years. It was at the express request of Riku that I booked all of the talent that was on hand at Wrestle Aid, allowing the man to live his dream and see the top-notch international stars that we had at the event live.
In the opening cruiserweight match, “MDogg” Matt Cross (Son of Havoc from Lucha Underground) defeated Finland’s “Luchadore of Lapland” Jami Aalto in 7:49 following a picture-perfect Shooting Star Press off the top rope.
The second match featured tag team action, with Carlos Zamora of Spain and Mikk Vainula of Estonia besting the Finnish tandem of Polar Pekko and Patrik Mieto in 8:28 when Vainula delivered a thunderous Jackhammer to Mieto for the winning pinfall.
In what was billed a Medieval Rules match sans disqualifications and countouts, Finnish “Wildman” Heimo Ukonselkä defeated Holland’s big man, Jurn Simmons, in a wild brawl after a big boot out of nowhere in 10:29.
Ireland’s phenomenal 18-year-old sensation Scotty Davis fell to Finland’s Viktor Tykki in 7:48 of match time after a ring-shaking backpack slam.
Local son of Rauma, Toni Tamminen, bested long-time Finnish ring veteran Stark Adder in 12:31 after nabbing a crucifix pin in mid-action.
“The Japanese Buzzsaw” TAJIRI overcame arch-rival “The Rebel” StarBuck after 20:02 via pinfall upon finally delivering a successful Buzzsaw Kick to the Finnish pro wrestling pioneer’s head.
Meiko Satomura of Japan defeated Ivelisse Velez of Puerto Rico and Sadie Gibbs of England in 10:10 in a heated women’s Triple Threat match when she pinned Ivelisse following her renowned Death Valley Driver.
For those of you who might have missed it, I was on my old buddy Chris Jericho’s Talk is Jericho podcast recently. You can check out the whole episode HERE!
Also, I’ve got some huge news for you all! The next super-spectacular SLAM! Wrestling Finland event happens on June 29 this summer on the West Coast of Finland in Rauma. It’s called Wrestle Aid 2019 and part of the proceeds are going to the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation (Lihastautiliitto Ry) in Finland to help those with ALS and Duschenne Muscular Dystrophy to partake in sports while their situation still warrants it.
It’s a fantastic cause, and you certainly should be supporting this big event and the ethical framework of its intent. We’ve got top wrestlers coming in from eight different countries for Wrestle Aid: TAJIRI from Japan, Ivelisse from Puerto Rico, Matt Cross from the USA, Jurn Simmons from Holland, Chris Ridgeway and Sadie Gibbs from England, Shanna from Portugal and several others are slated to appear in action on June 29 at the biggest, international pro wrestling mega-event of the summer in the Nordics of Europe!
Tickets for Wrestle Aid are NOW AVAILABLE through Ticketmaster in Finland HERE.
This coming Friday in Helsinki, I’ll be personally promoting the biggest, international pro wrestling event ever to be held in the Nordics of Europe.
It’s called SLAM! Wrestling Finland Mega Launch, and it’ll feature top talents from 10 different countries in seven dynamic, differently-themed matches on a two-and-a-half hour live show to be streamed live across Finland on ISTV.
The entire function of this Mega Launch show is to give people in Finland a clear-cut look at what all SLAM! Wrestling Finland has to offer. From Triple Threat three-way matches to tag team matches to singles matches featuring big men vs. big men, big men vs. small men and damn good technical wrestlers against one another, to Hardcore matches to women’s matches to title matches, Mega Launch has it all!
It’s like legendary wrestling promoter Eddie Graham from Florida said back in the day (paraphrasing): “I believe a wrestling card has to offer something for everyone.” Well, that’s exactly what Mega Launch is offering.
In the first match, it’ll be the Estonian contingent of Big Mikk Vainula and Kert Kukk – the Estonian Boyz – against the Finnish duo of Jami Aalto and Polar Pekko. Methinks this is going to be a fast and furious opener at Mega Launch, with both young teams full of piss and vinegar, hungry to prove that they have what it takes to make it in the dog-eat-dog world of pro wrestling. Expect some quality bang for your buck in this one!
“The Stockholm Playboy” Ken Malmsteen arrives in Helsinki on March 22 to take on “Metal Warrior” Stark Adder in a battle of polar opposites. This one is a re-visitation of the age-old hatred between the Swedes and the Finns. Both men have been in the wrestling game for well over a decade and are grizzled veterans. Expect the proverbial fur to fly in this one!
In a super-intriguing match-up, “The Russian Ass-Kicker” Ivan Markov takes on “Wildman” Heimo Ukonselkä in a Hardcore match at Mega Launch! I foresee this one breaking down into a complete donnybrook and the weapons are going to be out en masse before long! Both of these guys are known for their nasty brawling strikes and dirty tricks, so it’ll be a true battle between Russia and Finland – another age-old grudge that refuses to die – on March 22 in Helsinki.
It’s a battle of David vs. Goliath at SLAM! Wrestling Finland Mega Launch on March 22 in Helsinki as Finnish luchadore, the 1.7m “Ghost of Karelia” Shemeikka, takes on the 1.9m “Renegade” David Turger of Hungary. This is literally a story of speed and agility versus power and brute force in a match that is easy for anyone to comprehend and appreciate. I’m really looking forward to this one, and the polarizing dynamic between these two combatants’ styles.
It wouldn’t be right if I didn’t put myself in the mix at an event of this magnitude as an event organizer, so I accepted the offer made to me by Germany’s IPW organization for something they are calling the Circle of Champions tournament, taking part in the latter half of this year in Lübeck, Germany. It’s a tournament that brings together the best pro wrestlers in all of Europe who have been champions in their own right. The qualification match for myself and my opponent, Fabio Ferrari of Italy, will take place for the Circle of Champions at Mega Launch. To make things even more interesting, former two-time European welterweight boxing champion Juho Haapoja will be serving as our special guest referee. This one is anyone’s ballgame on March 22.
Talk about beauty, skill and charisma all in one package! This women’s Triple Threat match-up will be for the Queen of Southside women’s championship out of the UK, held by Shanna of Portugal, who puts her title on the line against “Russian Crush” Natalia Markova and “The Pin-Up Punisher” Betty Rose of Sweden. This is arguably the biggest challenge so far in Betty’s young wrestling career and she will have two of the toughest female veterans of the game against her at Mega Launch as the first girl to score a submission or pinfall wins the match… and the championship!
In the huge, colossal main event of SLAM! Wrestling Finland Mega Launch, the 1.91m/190kg Demolition Davies of Germany puts his WAW European Heavyweight Championship title on the line against the challenge of the 1.92m/127kg Tiny Iron of England. This is literally King Kong vs. Godzilla, a match that could be a main event anywhere in the world, and it’s taking place for all the marbles on March 22 in Helsinki. There will be over 400kg of humanity in the ring at the same time (counting in the referee also) in this gigantic main event monster mash, which alone is already worth the price of admission! Who is taking home the gold leaving Helsinki? Be on hand to find out as it doesn’t get any bigger than this!
All that said, even my old buddy, former WWE world champion, Chris Jericho, is excited about Mega Launch! Take a look at what Y2J has to say about my huge show in Helsinki this week:
Get your tickets now while you still can for March 22 through Ticketmaster Finland via this LINK! Normal tickets are 25€, Silver upper balcony tickets (with small condiments served) are 45€ and Golden ringside seats with catering included are 65€ a piece.
Be a part of pro wrestling history in the Nordics of Europe this week on Friday, March 22 in Helsinki as SLAM! Wrestling Finland Mega Launch blows the roof off of Helsinki!!!
Howdy ho, folks! I’ve got some news for those amongst you who don’t yet know, that I’ve started a new pro wrestling podcast with fellow Canadian Dylan Broda, who is also living here in Finland and working as a pro wrestling referee. Our show is called Shootin’ The Shizzat and it’s available on iTunes, Spotify, Podbean and Soundcloud.
I heartily recommend y’all checking out our in-depth verbatim and compelling jabber on all things pro wrestling, at times joined by select, carefully-chosen guests from the world of pro wrestling, such as legendary British grappler and multi-time world champion, Marty Jones from the UK, and Japanese wrestling journalist Fumi Saito from Japan to date.
Dylan Broda on the left, StarBuck on the right: Shootin’ The Shizzat!
We’re just getting started as the we launched the podcast under two months ago, with weekly episodes, but it’s already gotten fantastic feedback from the global professional wrestling sector! So be sure to check us out, you won’t regret it!
Well, Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m stoked and super-excited about the huge, international showcase event that I’ll be organizing on March 22, 2019 in downtown Helsinki at The Circus nightclub and live music venue, called SLAM! Wrestling Finland Mega Launch!
After over 25 years in the professional wrestling industry, I’ve decided to take the next step and enter the event organizing field, offering custom-tailored, internationally-flavored pro wrestling shows to clients, companies, event organizers, clubs and festivals. SLAM! Wrestling Finland is on on-demand service that gives the client the freedom to choose the kinds of wrestlers and talents from a wide, international talent pool of top stars for their event. It’s really quite revolutionary and innovative as an approach, and this big, media Mega Launch event upcoming on March 22 will be my showcase to the movers and shakers as well as the public at large as to what SLAM! Wrestling Finland truly has to offer!
On March 22, 2019 at The Circus, there will be a three-way Triple Threat international women’s championship title match, an international Hardcore match that sees the rule book thrown out the window, a battle of colossal behemoths, a “David vs. Goliath” big man vs. smaller man match-up, an international tag team match and a bevy of exciting, dynamic singles matches between top wrestlers from different countries!
Already confirmed for the card: the bodyguard of the stars, Tiny Iron from Great Britain, is coming to SLAM! Wrestling Finland Mega Launch! Tiny is 2m tall and weighs in at 120kg plus, with biceps that have to be seen to be believed: 24 inches of python power, brother! Even Hulk Hogan would be jealous! Tiny has been the bodyguard for Beyoncé, The Black-Eyed Peas, Rhianna and 50 Cent. Tiny Iron is a true, international superstar and we’re excited to have him in Helsinki at this big event on March 22!
Shanna (PT), Natalia Markova (RU) and Betty Rose (SE) are ready to rumble on March 22!
Also confirmed for the show: one of the top female stars in all of Europe, “Portugal’s Perfect Athlete” Shanna, the massive 1.91m/190kg behemoth Demolition Davies of Germany, the top pro wrestler out of the red-hot territory of Hungary “Renegade” David Turger, Finland’s own “Wildman” Heimo Ukonselkä as well as “Metal Warrior” Stark Adder, Russia’s premiere female wrestling export #The Woman of Mass Destruction” Natalia Markova, “Pin-Up Punisher” Betty Rose of Sweden and many, many more!
It’s all coming down at the biggest, multi-cultural pro wrestling extravaganza ever to be held in the Nordics of Europe to date!
I’d also like to share this superb, inspiring piece about SLAM! Wrestling Finland’s co-operation with metal industry manufacturer Power Tech Group here in Finland regarding the construction of our top-notch SLAM! Wrestling ring. This is something that will put a smile on your face and leave you feeling good, guaranteed:
Alas, as the Good Book tells, there is a season for all things under heaven. A season to reap, a season to sow. A season to gather stones, a season for throwing stones away.
And so it was, that on December 1 in Helsinki, Finland, seven years and 10 countries grappled in since his debut, my former protege Mikko Maestro finally achieved his dream: he defeated The Man in Finnish FCF Wrestling today, Yours Truly, “The Rebel” StarBuck.
In a game match fought over the course of a half-hour, Mikko Maestro showed no quit and would not be denied. He wanted the 30-minute Iron Man match, and he got it. In the end, with literally one second remaining on the clock, Maestro got the one and only duke of the match after hitting his second trademark Uranage (Rock Bottom for you casual WWE fans out there) of the night.
No complaints, no qualms. Mikko Maestro struggled hard to get this spotlight opportunity and he made good on a fatal 13th installment of a tradition that I started back in 2006, the Finnish Winter War aka Talvisota.
Mikko Maestro is now FCF Champion but I’m cashing in my rematch clause this coming weekend on Saturday, December 8 in Tampere, Finland. Mikko Maestro has now become the hunted, and in a few short days’ time, he’s going to have to pray for a miracle to retain that title and keep a sixth record FCF title reign from happening for this old dog of war.
This past Saturday, November 24, in the city of Kotka, I entered a new phase of life. One which saw me embark on a the beginning of a new chapter with my SLAM! Wrestling Finland company. Because yesterday, we pulled off our maiden voyage with SLAM!
I recall my father saying to me back when I was a younger man, that one day he believed I’d be a leader, a boss. He saw that stock in my persona and character. I kept his words in mind as I traveled down the roads of life, feeling in my heart that one day, indeed, I would become what he believed back then.
I look at my life at the age of 45 and I draw parallels to my old friend Chris Jericho and the lessons to be learned from his life over the past couple of years. Chris left WWE on the top of the mountain, as a favorably featured main star on RAW. He dropped the Intercontinental Championship to Kevin Owens at Wrestlemania 33 and then left the company riding the high wave. Chris hooked up with his old buddies Jado and Gedo, the bookers of New Japan Pro Wrestling, and orchestrated a deal for him to come in to NJPW and become a lead star for the second biggest wrestling company on the planet. To this day, he holds their IWGP Intercontinental title and just sold out his own Jericho Cruise, which was highly touted in the media.
Now Chris could have chosen to stay with WWE after Wrestlemania 33 but he chose not to. In retrospect, I think I can assess his situation: he had done everything he could for that company. He’d been a multi-time WWE Champion, holding a plethora of titles, and at the age of 46 back then, he surely understood that his days as a regularly featured talent were coming to a close. The younger stars of today were coming up fast, being pushed hard, and the older stars would need to take supporting roles before long. So the question really seemed to be: do I spin my wheels and remain here, collecting a nice payday, or do I want to grow as a human being and see how else I could spread my wings beyond what I’ve already achieved?
As I’ve gotten older, I understand this train of thought perfectly. Like life coach Tony Robbins often says, out of the seven basic human needs, the last two are the needs of the spirit: the need to contribute and the need to grow. I can underline this with clarity.
Here in 2018, it was time for me to take an honest look at my life and ask myself the pivotal question: what do I want to do with my life from hereon forward? How do I see myself facilitating a living for my family and myself in the future? Where do my talents lie, and should I venture off into a new field and trade, or should I attempt to make a living utilizing and doing what I already know over the course of accrued life experience? I chose the latter.
And so it was, that last night in the city of Kotka at Power Tech Group‘s annual pre-Christmas party, SLAM! Wrestling Finland was launched upon the world. It was done under the most optimal, high-class circumstances possible: professional lighting and sound, customized entrance way, a fresh and new audience that was excited to be there, and a card of pro wrestling action featuring the best, carefully-selected talents for each match that would facilitate a fun and dynamic night of action for everyone on hand.
Thank you, Power Tech Group, for not only sponsoring and making our SLAM! Wrestling Finland ring, but also for giving us the stage and spotlight to set forth on the waters of live entertainment service providers in the Nordic sector!
starbuck.fi 