As previously reported I attended the Pro Evolution Wrestling event on December 5th 2015 at Wotton Hall Club, Gloucester. The event was a great experience boasting an array of characters and thrilling in ring action. The evening’s main event was a back and forth war, fought between for NXT star Joel Redman and promising British talent Justin Sysum. I got the opportunity to sit down with both and discuss their career and aspirations, enjoy!
Joel Redman (Formerly Oliver Grey in NXT)
Ciaran: How did you get into Wrestling?
Joel: “I started wrestling at age 15, before that I participated in Judo and rugby to a high level. After my his Judo career reached it’s peak, some friends coerced me to try out wrestling. Thankfully I loved it! However there were no wrestling schools in my hometown of Exeter so I made the decision to start my own. I even brought in trainers to help prepare talent. After minimal success I naturally wanted more from the profession so I progressed swiftly to working with a number of UK independent companies.”
Ciaran: So after getting noticed what was next?
Joel: “I established myself in the UK then decided to travel to Europe, I finally got to Japan where I really perfected my wrestling skills. When I was 24, WWE approached me and offered me a contract, I signed. I was sent to what was Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) which then became NXT. I adopted the on screen character of Oliver Grey. I quickly adapted to the NXT lifestyle and achieved rapid success when I became the NXT tag team champion alongside Adrian Neville. Unfortunately weeks away from making it to the main roster of WWE I tore my anterior cruciate ligament.“
Ciaran: After a year out injured you finally recovered, What was it like returning?
Joel: “After recovering from the injury I returned to NXT, however I knew that I just couldn’t move the same way. My WWE career suffered a setback as I was written off television in 2013. Shortly after I made the professional & personal decision to return home to the UK. I have a 3 year old son so returning to the UK was not a difficult decision for me. After missing the first two years of his life because of living in Florida, returning meant I could spend more time with the important person in my life. I am very happy to be back in the UK with my family.“
Ciaran: Joel, after working in the UK, Europe, Asia and the United States, how would you say the profession differs in each country?
Joel: “America is more TV based so my career was shown on TV, Production wise America is a step up but talent wise, the UK has some Hidden talent. Going to local shows like Pro Evolution Wrestling you will come across some of the best talent in the world, there really are some hidden treasures, possibly better than The Rock! however they’re not noticed due to not having the television exposure that you have in America or Japan.”
Ciaran: So what is next for Joel Redman?
Joel: “Well at 28 wrestling has taken it’s toll on my body, I’m currently training to become a personal trainer and will qualify in the near future. I always said I would retire from wrestling at 30. Knowing what is required at a professional level, I feel I can pass on my experience and knowledge of my career to the local up and coming talent. My experience with the WWE was an excellent one, if granted the opportunity I would urge any young talented wrestlers to take the opportunity if presented to them.”
Justin Sysum (Pro Evo Heavyweight Champion)
Ciaran: Justin tell us a bit about your career, how did you get into wrestling?
Justin: “I am three and a half years into my wrestling career, I didn’t start as early as some wrestlers. I started as a sportsman from schoolboy rugby to athletics as a hammer thrower “hence the name “the hammer”. I went to university played American football and came back and continued to throw the hammer. I have been competing at high level sport for quite some time; however there are no career prospects in these kinds of sports. You can make a living from them but there isn’t any retirement money. There isn’t anything for afterwards, so by the time I got to 35-40 where my body couldn’t take anymore, there wouldn’t be anything. The thing about wrestling is there is money in the business and there is career prospects, there are also retirement prospects. The level I am at now I am making a living out of it. The opponent I am facing tonight, Joel Redman he has been there, he has been to the top in America and earnt good money, its where I want to go. So therefore tonight when I face him it’s a true test, am I on the same level? Is he much higher than me? It’s as much as a test for me as for as him.”
Ciaran: Tonight you are facing Joel Redman for the title, Have you fought each other before?
Justin: “No……I mean we have had a triple threat match but it wasn’t “mano ‘o’ mano” there was someone else involved, that being The American Avalanche from WCW and you can’t ignore that guy in a match. He’s so big so we didn’t get the chance to have a good go at each other so tonight is the first man on man match for myself and Joel.”
Ciaran: Obviously being an athlete before, what was it about Wrestling that got you interested in becoming a wrestler?
Justin: “As a kid I watched a little bit of wrestling, we didn’t have sky so I was never a regular viewer. Sometimes I would turn on WCW because it was on TNT, however I admired the athleticism and the characters drew me in. I liked the idea of establishing a character, obviously I am going for a Thor like character, I got the cape, the long hair, I am called the hammer its all-purpose. It’s not that I am Thor or trying to be Thor but the character draws people in especially the kids, I am working hard on my character to help my wrestling career.”
Ciaran: Pro Evolution Wrestling, Have you done a lot of shows for them?
Justin: “Yes, I started out with Pro Evo Wrestling 3 years ago, I had my first match it was for PEW in Gloucester it was my home promotion. PEW gave me my first start so I always stick with them, 3 years in I have done around 50-60 shows for them all around the Gloucestershire and Bristol area. I have started to get around the country as I have just started wrestling full time, and want to start travelling to establish myself and putting myself out there, hopefully hoping to get noticed.”
Ciaran: Am I right to say you’re a former PEW Champion?
Justin: “Yes the title used to belong to me, it’s gone full circle. I took the title from Joel’s best friend, Chris ‘The Shark’ Andrews in Wotton Hall about a year and a half ago. It was my first title and I held it for close to a year and lost it again about 6 months ago. I haven’t had it for a while so now I want to get my hands back on it! I have been training hard; I know Joel is good so I have elevated my training to a level that’s going to be able to match him.”
Ciaran: Since starting to wrestle, has the level of training stepped up to how you train now?
Justin: “Its changed a bit, you have to be an athlete, you need to be able to maintain your cardio and strength. But it’s also about the character, so you need to look the part. So as much as my training has stayed the same in respect in trying to be an athlete so Olympic lifting and some cross fit, I have also started to do some body building to help build my character. This will help to look good and bring in the followers to build a fan base.”
Ciaran: What does 2016 hold for you, where do you see yourself personally in 18 months’ time?
Justin: “Again this is half on my career, so it’s hard to imagine. I want to have broken out into Europe say Austria and France, there are some promotions out there that I want to go to. However my goal is Japan, if you make it there I can make a name for myself. However you really need to be something that they are looking for, of course I want to go to America but its Japan where I want to succeed first, only time will tell if I make it as far as NXT/WWE.”
Justin Sysum defeated Joel Redman in the evening’s main event to become a two time Pro Evolution Wrestling Heavyweight Champion.
A big thank you to both Joel & Justin for their time, and for the Pro Evolution Wrestling for being great hosts.
@ciaran_1986
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