Wrestling is Love ~ A Legit Documentary

Despite being trained by Portland Wrestling legend Billy Jack Haynes over 20 years ago, Kelly Shafer didn't become a professional wrestler until he was 40 years old. This unique look into the life of a most unexpected rookie also features Roddy Piper's favorite Pacific Northwest wrestler, Jeremy Blanchard, discussing his own wrestling career at great length. With appearances by Nate Andrews, CJ Edwards and other Portland-based indy wrestlers, we invite you to enjoy this one of a kind feature-length shoot style documentary from Matthew Merz & Legit Pro Wrestling!!

[@elc1960]

Now this was a wrestling doc! A great salute to the men and women who are the nuts and bolts of the wrestling industry, who work small spot shows and small circuits all over the country for damn near no money (and in many cases, for no money at all), run the risk of severe injuries, travel to far-flung towns that most of us have never heard of and will likely never hear of again, all for the love of performing. Thanks Matt & Kelly, for giving us this video!

[@jivancich]

Proud and honored to have Matt Legit on Turnbuckle turmoil today ! With The Coach With The Most and Sign Guy!

[@blacquesjacques7239]

I was approached by a few WCW guys in my 20s . At the time guys 6'5" and taller were getting all of the pushes and fame so at 5'10" and 265lbs I figured it would be a waste of money and effort getting trained . Not too long after guys like Benoit and Guerrero were getting attention so I regretted not going for it and for many years too . Later though an health ailment attacked my nervous system and now I am in persistent pain and my insurance from my 9-5 joe schmoe job basically saved my life . Now ? I no longer regret my decision especially with what I now know about the business .

[@Jaysonfear42069]

Heck bro i am a worker of going on 20 yrs and i can tell you my body is tore up

[@jimspagg5496]

Great video,very entertaining and informative.Thanks for taking the time and producing a great piece.

[@TestosteroneOverload]

jim spagg Glad you enjoyed it!! More unique videos to come!!

[@stuartfitzsimons2786]

Well made documentary about indy wrestling and the guys that make it work. I just might venture out to attend some of these matches after watching this video. And yes the old Don Owens Portland Wrestling was the best!

[@TestosteroneOverload]

+Stuart Fitzsimons Glad you liked it! Thanks for the feedback! We're making another documentary as I type about the most controversial wrestler in Portland and WWF history, the legendary Billy Jack Haynes!!

[@borneojimmy1431]

Great job on this video! Can't wait to see what else you have in the works.

[@TestosteroneOverload]

Jay Heycock Thanks, Jay!! I've got a few more installments of my Portland Wrestling miniseries to do and a whole shoebox full of shoot interviews intended for an unfinished doc on local indy wrestling, but what I'd really love to do is create a feature length documentary on the history of Northwest wrestling!!

[@carolcastle156]

This is a great look at the indy wrestling scene, not only in Portland but all over. Matthew Merz is a great film maker that knows how to tell a story.

[@AdamPaul222]

Pew , great I'm 30 so there is still time!!! Thanks Boss , inspiring

[@helensutton1057]

I just wanted to take the time and say Thank you for making this video.I grew up around a wrestling ring watching my Uncle and many of the fine men mentioned who trained the fine Gentlemen and it brought back so many memories. Good luck on all your future videos. Helen "Cissy" Sutton

[@TestosteroneOverload]

Helen Sutton Thank you so much for the positive comments!! Glad you enjoyed it!!

[@steveparadis5204]

Enjoyed this film, I really feel for this guy. Also I respect his positive attitude. I was 31 when I started training, a lot of bad and good happened during those 11 years of working indy shows here in the south. I loved it and never regretted my time in it!

[@TestosteroneOverload]

Thank you for the kind words, sir!! Glad to hear of a guy on the indy scene who had a positive experience!!

[@steveparadis5204]

Man, I was just glad to have the chance to do it, because I loved it! The last few years were great before I moved on. so I can't complain.

[@diablo666541]

I loved it too but it was just the politicss n promoters n owners. Made it neg .i love wrestling back in its day. I had my share of injury . it wasn't hard to get hurt. If didn't stay on track.

[@sidrobles6194]

Love the video brother. Good job 👍🏼

[@dougiewugs5434]

I trained with Jesse Barr at thier Marina flea market location. They had a ring set up upstairs. The Pope Brothers were in my class. I ended up breaking my ankle. It was sideways. 3 operations. 18 months recovery time. Regret my decision not to continue the dream. Jesse Barr drove me in my Carr to the hospital. Very gracious.

[@zippymufo9765]

This is a pretty cool documentary

[@dougiewugs5434]

At the Salem Armory back in the day I got into it with Scott Levi. Loved every minute of it. He did too.

[@blacquesjacques7239]

Sheepherders did bang up business in Portland . They eventually made their way South to UWF in Louisiana and blew everyone here away with their feud against the Fantastics . A big feat considering that UWF had some big big men headlining .

[@elc1960]

Oh yeah, I forgot: you now have a new subscriber!

[@GeraldGreenfield-gn9dc]

This didn't show enough of them actually working a show.

[@dougiewugs5434]

RIP Don Owen's. Grew up in the Portland Sports Arena.

[@babbyfacerevocation2740]

Lonnie main said it best There's excitement in the Air.

[@babbyfacerevocation2740]

It's almost time Grappler 2020 Portland Wrestling is still Alive.

[@patrickmarentette7244]

Jeremy Blanchard aka Ross Vegas from WFFM !

[@dougiewugs5434]

I always correct people when they say it's fake. I tell them the matches are scripted... but the pain is very real.

[@diablo666541]

It very real the pain occasional kicks n foree arms to ur face. I saw first hand working with some the wccw boys. U also seen ruthless politics in office. They expected is to perform hurt sick. Von Erich I came know them saw how Kerry von Erich became. Sad cause I was inspired by him

[@kings2007ify]

this is great stuff i was in the indys out of Cincinnati and i am handycap and i did it for 3 years and had to work vary hard and dont regret it stay positive man love it

[@sammyguevara]

Dam good stuff check out mine let me know if you like it bro

[@toddlecher4097]

I grew up watching portland wrestling through 80's till the end in 92, i wanted to become a wrestler just never knew how to get a start after DON OWENS closed. I'm 38 225 in great shape. i wanted to be DYNAMITE KID

[@TestosteroneOverload]

Find the Oregon Wrestling Club on Facebook and tell them that Matt Legit told you to contact Cameron Star about training.

[@toddlecher4097]

@@TestosteroneOverload thank you brotha

[@babbyfacerevocation2740]

Portland Wrestling famous training ground.

[@fillycheesefl]

Not sure I’ve seen many heels with Jesus tattoos but to each their own I guess.

[@chesley_77]

July 25, 2020....he didn't make it to WWE

[@dougiewugs5434]

The old Pacific Northwest Wrestling in the late 70s to the late 80s was the best. Vince McMahan ruined the territories and destroyed the Kayfabe.

[@phildirt3]

where are the rocky columbo shag thomas ron forsel stuff

[@dougiewugs5434]

Is that Tall guy a Harris Brother.

[@randyjohnson7734]

A little taste of reality I guess.Love you guys.I understand but damn it it would be nice if a guy could earn a few pennies at least. From what I know Blanchard yeah good reputation round here.Hope you're still around guy.

[@babbyfacerevocation2740]

Moon dog Ed moretti filled 5 passports Wrestling out of the state's. He got that name from Lonnie main the true United States champion.

[@maziku4749]

anyone else an emperor void mark?

[@TestosteroneOverload]

I pop for him in real life.

[@melvincash8643]

Ross Vegas is a true wrestler's wrestle. Y'all spray some Pam cooking oil on that big black fella and I bet he would scare the hell out of the local white folk. Good luck on the dream fellas

[@jamesmorrison9501]

Suspend reality ! Don't make it not believable, if your promotion isn't on T.V. Why is their a Television Title? Good Battle Royals are martketed. you don't shoot 15 people, it has to be planned. What is the goal/the prize of the Battle Royal? Wild Card? Know your Card!!! Gimmick match, Bathroom break match, tag team break match . Exercise , not one of these wrestlers looks like they lift weights , exercise or eat right. If you all look like the guy on the lazy boy eating microwavable burrito with shots of pepto. who the fuck wants to be the hero that looks like an out of shape tattoo artist? I hate to break it to all you guys that say it's not for the money , it's all about the money. you can't feed your 4 kids on the feeling u get , it the love of the sport. We are all Marks , therm originates from getting marked with chalk because the Carney scouts noticed you have money. All that Bret Hart shit proves it because as a champion he drew the second least $$ , the only WWE champion to draw less was Diesel. What did Vince do ? After signing Bret to a huge contract he saw the way the BUISNESS was headed & knew Bret wasn't a draw. He hyped up Bret , got his championship back with the screwjob sent a champion that couldn't draw but was built up down to his rival along with a Garbage writer & the BUISNESS man Vince McMahon had the beginning of the greatest heel and the greatest storyline in the history of wrestling and that is a fact because he put Ted Turner and the WCW out of Business. WRESTLING IS A BUISNESS , $$ FIRST , LOVING IT HELPS.

[@jamesmorrison9501]

42 smoking cigarettes ? Great goatee though.

[@brand3820]

Just pathetic ...Loosers playing Patty cake instead of working real jobs!!

[@sreeram4906]

Wrestling doesn't make any sense, bro. Bcoz men with no pants fighting for a belt.. WTF?

[@TestosteroneOverload]

You've never seen UFC have you?

[@diablo666541]

Go play your FIFA game Punjabi