There are a lot of things that make this area unique...
Including a small batch of athletes that save their
fun for the weekends.
take int
News 8's Nick Ragner has more...
Ever since my first day working here at News 8.
I've always wanted to do a story on professional wrestling.
Well.
today is my last day...
And to go out with a bang.
I'm doing that story.
by highlighting one of the many pro wrestlers in our
area.
who also happens to be one of my closest friends.
Take a look...
Meet Alex Riley...
He's a La Crosse native.
recent graduate from U-W-L.
and works a full time job Monday through Friday.
But on the weekends...
It's a different story...
Oh no he has him hooked he's looking for the Gator,
the hardest part of the ring.
oh my goodness.
Meet AC Riley..
He's a professional wrestler.
It's weird because everybody else, like at an early
age, I want to be an astronaut, I want to be a fireman
or something like that.
I want to be a wrestler.
It was a dream that started becoming a reality nine
years ago at a pro wrestling show in Onalaska.
Some of the wrestlers were walking around promoting
the show and talking to some of patrons, they see
me with a wrestling shirt on and they're like hey
are you a wrestling fan.
Well, yeah of course.
And they even asked do you want to be a pro wrestler.
And of course being 16 years old of course I want
to be a wrestler what are you talking about? I talked
about training and sure enough there was a training
camp in Black River Falls and the next week I was
in Black River Falls and I was hooked right away.
The rest is history.
Last year Riley worked 51 matches across 3 states
averaging just over one a week.
This year he's on- pace to top that number.
it's essentially a part time job.
With each match just as important as the last.
What's this match going to do for me, whats it going
to do for my career, is it going to get me noticed
elsewhere so there's alot of nerves building up to
that moment but once you hit the curtain, all that
goes out the window.
All I'm thinking about is the now, I'm not thinking
about the past, not thinking about the future, I'm
thinking about that moment.
Coming up next its going to be our city of La Crosse
Championship as Aaron Sacrifice takes on AC Riley.
It's those moments.
What do I love about pro wrestling?
In the middle of that squared circle.
What don't I love about pro wrestling thats probably
the better question.
That professional wrestlers like AC Riley live for.
I dont see myself doing anything else.
Yeah I'm working a real job, and I went to a real
school and I got a real education but everytime I
go out on the weekend I can kind of get away from
the worries of work
And AC Riley is going to take home another victory
in River City Championship Wrestling.
I have a pretty big family but when I'm on the road
I have tons of brothers tons of sisters.
They're my giant extended family and I wouldn't have
it any other way.
