Canada’s next big wrestling star might be from North Delta
Posted June 4, 2017 7:03 am.
Last Updated June 4, 2017 8:17 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Bret Hart. Gene Kiniski. Edge. Chris Jericho. Kevin Owens. Canadians have had a long history in professional wrestling, and a North Delta product seems poised to become the next star to wave the maple leaf proudly around the globe.
The dream started early for Kyle O’Reilly. “As kids we all loved wrestling, we all wrestle on our trampolines, but there’s a couple crazy ones of us who never grow out of it want to pursue it to the fullest of their abilities. I’m just one of those kids who never grew out of it.”
The former North Delta Secondary student, who was known then as Kyle Greenwood, became hooked during the days of wrestling’s ‘Attitude Era’ when Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Stone Cold Steve Austin were packing arenas all over. He decided to try and make a career of it. Under the guidance of Mark Vellios, better known as Gorgeous Michelle Starr, who owns and operates All Star Wrestling here in Metro Vancouver, O’Reilly began to learn the ropes. He began working two or three nights a month, and suddenly started working that much each week once he left BC and went to the United States to take his dream to the next level in 2009. Trips across the border proved to be nervous ones.
“I stayed (in St. Louis) for about two and a half years not leaving the States undocumented. I can laugh about it now, but it’s scary and it’s a harsh reality. I know guys who have been banned from the United States because they were coming over to wrestle for 25 bucks. They take it seriously. Eventually I found myself an American wife so now I can call myself a legal permanent resident.”
O’Reilly has made a big name for himself on the independent scene across North America and in Japan. He worked for Ring Of Honour, which is considered to be the number 2 wrestling promotion in the US behind only World Wrestling Entertainment. It was there he found significant success, forming the tag-team ReDRagon alongside his good friend, Bobby Fish where they won the tag-team titles multiple times, and just last December he became the ROH world champion.
“There’s such a prestigious list of guys that were Ring Of Honour champion. A literal who’s who of wrestlers who’ve held that belt. To just be in the history books alongside some of those names is an accomplishment in of itself.”
After seven years with the company, O’Reilly decided to part ways leaving himself in the position of being a free agent. Many have speculated that the bright lights of the WWE or their developmental system, NXT is on the horizon for O’Reilly. While he won’t admit to have had any recent talks, he does admit, it’s a goal.
“I don’t think anyone really gets into wrestling and pursues it with as much drive and passion as someone like me without that end game of that WrestleMania moment or something like that. To say that it’s not something I want would be a complete lie. Of course it’s something that I would want.” Given the preference of where he’d prefer to start, O’Reilly likes the idea of what NXT offers. “That’s kind of the place to be right now.”
Until that happens, the 30-year-old is able to work wherever he wants these days, and a homecoming looms this month when he returns to where it all began. O’Reilly is scheduled to face veteran local wrestler, Kenny Lush at the All Star Wrestling event Friday June 9th in Cloverdale.
It’s all come full circle for O’Reilly.
“Kind of a way for me to sort of pay it forward and thank Michelle Starr for breaking me into the business in the first place.”
As for being Canada’s next big wrestling star? O’Reilly says proudly, “Pro wrestling has a long standing tradition in Canada, I’m happy to represent my country all over the world.”
Tickets for Friday’s event can be found at allstarwrestling.ca
