MAIN MAXX has been wrestling in the Philippines for nearly ten years, and despite his veteran experience and his status as one of the pioneers who slowly revitalized the scene, he would receive distasteful comments.
"Matataba kayo or malalaki yung tiyan niyo. Bakit hindi kayo puro muscle like yung sa WWE?"
It was a hard pill for Maxx to swallow especially after all the grind he made to be the best version of himself.
"People on social media na nag-stereotype sa amin or diniscriminate na, 'Sige nga gayahin niyo nga yung sa WWE or dapat ganito,' pero hindi nila nakikita yung hirap. Like I started as overweight, an obese guy. I worked hard to improve myself," he revealed in an exclusive with SPIN.ph.
But those weren't the only hardships he endured as he even admitted that he nearly considered letting go of the scene even during his first year.
"This is my 10th year in professional wrestling, but in my 1st year I really wanted to retire dahil ang daming struggles sa buhay," he looked back.
Being a professional wrestler in the Philippines may seem like a fun job especially when you consider the possibility of reaching main event status or travelling abroad, but there are a plethora of struggles that aspiring wrestlers will have to deal with.
Maxx's tag team partner for The Gemini Kings, Romeo, has further dug deep into the difficulties of becoming a pro wrestler in the Philippines.
Not a glamorous job
"For everyone it's not a paying job. It's not a livelihood, so we're doing this on the side. I know some people who have to work night shift tapos papasok sila the morning after to train, and sometimes to wrestle on a show," said Romeo to SPIN.ph.
Outside of wrestling, Romeo is a writer for a public relations company, while his tag team partner Main Maxx works in the BPO industry.
Their opponents during Dexcon Wrestlestorm, also have dayjobs as Ken Cifer is a call center trainer, while Saint John Martin is a licensed customs broker, with the former going straight to the Dexcon press conference in Unbox Greenhills, after his shift.
However, their dayjobs aren't the only things that concern them as their personal lives have also affected them.
"As long as hindi siya hanap buhay, we have to juggle these things and we have to be at the end of our respective ropes. Sometimes we burn out. Sometimes we have to drop out of wrestling to take care of our families, our loved ones," reflected Romeo.
He further elaborated: "If you're young and no one is depending on you, ok lang maging pro wrestler on the side and have a job. And if anyone is looking at us and thinking, 'Oh life must be so glamarous,' it's not."
The horrors of getting injured
And if that wasn't enough, there is also the risk of suffering from injuries which may derail a wrestler's career, or worse end it.
Saint John Martin for example had to continue his match despite suffering from a catastrophic injury during one of his bouts.
"Actually most of us suffered from injuries here. Me, I tore my PCL (Posterior Cruciate Ligament), but I still continued my match. Yun yung struggles namin e," said Martin.
No one is exempted from the horrors of getting injured and even the big names like Cody Rhodes have to mask the pain just to deliver a spectacle. For context, Rhodes ruptured his pectoral muscle, yet he still pushed through with his Hell in a Cell match against Seth Rollins, which left the crowd stunned.
But injuries aren't the only things which could hamper a wrestler as the likes of John Cena and Stone Cold Steve Austin have even embarassed themselves by accidentally soiling their pants while wrestling.
Yet despite these setbacks, it's important that the show must continue as reiterated by Saint John Martin.
"Despite all the pain, the mistakes, the defeats, we have to keep going. We have to keep the show going, kahit anong mangyari, mabalian ka, it has to keep going. The show must go on. It's hardwired sa mind namin na we must keep the crowd happy."
A life changer
And to keep the community happy, these wrestlers need to learn the art of having a thick skin. Wrestling in the Philippines may not be a financially rewarding experience, but it can be a life changer.
Main Maxx has even questioned himself numerous times on whether he was meant for this industry, yet for some weird reason he still marches forward.
"The culture itself, outside of wrestling parang we're strangers e, but when it comes to wrestling, matagal na kaming magkakilala. Parang it keeps me going, the pro wrestling culture. Also I've been injured na rin and ang daming beses na pinag-isipan ko na mag-quit or retire, but I don't know," he explained.
He then highlighted a heartwarming moment in his career saying: "During that time na na-injure ako, may mga fans they kept saying, 'Kailan ka babalik?' Doon ako na-motivate."
He wasn't the only one who was driven by the constant support of the crowd as Saint John Martin has also experienced a rejuvenation from them.
"What keeps me going is the fans, tsaka yun nga there's also a different kind of intensity that you get in the ring. So aside from that, the fans keep me going, everytime they cheer for my name or my catchphrase."
Chasing the dream
While the community may serve as the heartbeat for these wrestlers, the experience of showcasing their hardwork inside the ring has been a surreal moment for these hopefuls.
Romeo even felt a different level of ecstasy upon entering the ring.
"When you get in there, when you're able to wrestle in the ring, there really is no other happiness in there. I think meron siyang sariling joy in being able to do properly, what you were always watching on TV as a child, and being able to live up to that dream," he said.
This was also something that Saint John Martin mentioned and he further added saying: "You cannot find the passion and intensity in the ring outside e. So that's what made me go into professional wrestling. May mga bagay na dito mo lang makikita sa ring e. Kasi it's unlike anything you do in life. That made me go into pro wrestling, to test myself."
Romeo even perfectly encapculated the wrestler experience saying: "Even if nakakapagod siya, even if nakaka-nerbyos siya, once you become a wrestler, you'll always look for it."
There's no denying the passion that these wrestlers have shown towards their community as they hope that a better future will arrive, something that remains in the mind of Ken Cifer.
"Matigas ulo ko e. I still believe that this industry will someday become successful and become a full-time career for the next aspirants."
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