Out of the ring: Behind the Scenes of Impact Pro Wrestling

Tony Sly isn't looking forward to this punchline from Thrillcat during a matchup in the Impact Pro Wrestling ring Wednesday night at the Plymouth County Fair. Sentinel intern Luke Widbin got behind the scenes with the wrestlers for the scoop on what it takes to survive in (and out of) the ring. [Click to enlarge]

Let's say instead of just heading home, you traded your work boots or suit and tie in for some spandex or a mask.

For the members of Impact Pro Wrestling, this scenario is reality.

Wednesday evening before their electrifying show at the Plymouth County Fair, I was given a taste of what it takes to be wrestler on the lower professional circuit.

I met up with promoter Troy Peterson, an all-around friendly guy who started Impact Pro Wrestling (IPW) based out of Algona, Iowa.

"About seven years ago, I moved to a new town where I didn't know anybody and owned a furniture store and I was bored," Peterson said. "I grew up on wrestling my whole life and never grew out of it, much to the chagrin of my parents. I learned how to run the business from some guys down in Minneapolis and wanted to give it a try."

Through the years, Peterson has built the biggest professional wrestling company in the Midwest. Much of his success has come from what he expects from the people he employs.

"When I started Impact Pro Wrestling, I wanted to do it with people I liked," Peterson said. "I wanted good, clean guys who are fan-friendly. It's nice not having to worry about someone going out there and ruining it for you."

One of the guys with the most experience for IPW is Travis "T.S. Aggressor," who has been wrestling professionally for 12 years and serves as the main trainer for the group.

"It's something I've loved since I was a kid," said the Aggressor. "Wrestlers were my superheroes."

As the ring was being set up, I noticed the lack of springs at the base. In fact, only some wood planks and a layer of foam made up the floor where men north of 300 pounds performed later that night.

When I asked how it felt to be slammed down onto the platform, I got more than I bargained for.

Peterson had me step into the ring with T.S. Aggressor to get a first-hand feel for punishment.

After being instructed to tuck in my elbows, I remember my legs lifting, seeing the ceiling, and then feeling the jolt in my back after being the victim of a "suplex."

I'm embarrassed to report I was flipped and pinned in about two seconds, which is especially sad considering it takes three counts to be called out.

I was peeled off the ground by the Supa Cito Kid, who is no stranger to acrobatics in the ring. The masked wrestler must have his identity kept secret.

"When I was ten, I saw [pro wrestler] Marty Genetti doing flips off the ropes and thought it was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen," Supa Cito said. "Off course I went home and did it off my back porch into the snow and never quit. It stings when you hit the floor, but you get over it."

Supa Cito is a member of the young group dubbed "The Varsity Squad," along with James Jefferson and Ian "Beef" Wellington, whose speed and agility won them the IPW Tag Team Championship.

Jefferson, 19, has only been wrestling for nine months now.

"I met T.S. in 2007 in Waterloo, and he told me to go to Algona to try it out," said Jefferson. "My goal is to be in wrestling long term at the national level in America."

Until then, Jefferson says he's a teacher's aid at an elementary school to keep the money coming in.

Wellington, just 20 years old, started pro wrestling when he was 18, right out of high school.

"It was always a dream I had and I heard good things about Impact Pro Wrestling," he said. "Right now I'm just having fun, but I'd love to go mainstream into the WWE someday."

Wellington says he loves the reaction from the fans, whether it's good or bad.

A wrestler who knows about bad reactions is AJ Smooth, full-time villain for IPW.

"It's always fun to be the bad guy and get the crowd stirred up," Smooth told me after agitating a group of young fans. "I don't really know what it's like to be the good guy."

Unfortunately for AJ, he not only lost his match for the night, but also lost his ponytail in the process.

The heroes for the night came in the form of Mr. Destiny and Johny Fitness, as the duo was cheered all night and even took pictures with the crowd.

Mr. Destiny, or Jay Hanna as he's known outside the ring, is an absolute mountain of a man who's been in professional wrestling for 11 years.

"I was at Iowa State University in my last semester and still wondering what do to with my life -- I was too lazy to work and too nervous to steal," Hanna chuckled. "I was a big guy and wrestling seemed like a real possibility. I did some research and now I'm just living the dream."

He's even had a few tryouts with the WWE.

The knock on the event of pro wrestling, of course, is that it's fake.

After my evening with Impact Pro Wrestling, I beg to differ.

Sure, the punches being thrown Wednesday night probably should have caused someone's nose to bleed if they were indeed being landed, and probably a few wrestlers should have been carted off with broken backs, but so much more in the sport is real.

The moves are real, the dedication is real, the fun the crowd had was real.

The passion displayed by the wrestlers was not only real, but palpable.

"We've got a bunch of guys that aren't ready to settle down yet," said Peterson. "It's cool to go out there and be a superhero. Travis always tells me in the 25 years he's worked at the hardware store, no one's ever asked for his autograph. It's cool for these guys to go out and be looked up to."

As the people filed out of the show arena and the ring was being torn down, I packed up my camera and notebook and thanked Troy for allowing me to take the behind-the-scenes tour. He yelled back to give him a call if I ever wanted to get into the IPW.

After mulling it over briefly and realizing my biceps are the size of Mr. Destiny's pinkies, I told him I'd just stick to my day job reporting -- as Luke "The Intern" Widbin.