Joe Starr's Spotlight

Local Wrestler turns his dream

into reality this Saturday in

North Adams 

             “Pro wrestling is very deeply and emotionally engraved in me.  As a child, my family was not well off.  Wrestling was not only entertaining for me, but growing up, there were wrestlers that had strong values that I would attach myself to.  The wrestlers themselves, in larger than life scenarios, would become idols, and figures, in my life that I wanted to aspire to be.”

          Not bad aspirations from the humble North Adams native who wrestles as Justin Kase.  Those aspirations would eventually lead to an in ring career that began in 2004.

          “My first match zipped by in what seemed like a few seconds.  I was so nervous.  I think I spent more time trying to calm myself down than I did enjoying the moment.”

          But that was only the beginning to a great career.

          “One of my fondest memories is being told ‘I did a good job’ by Tony Atlas when I was wrestling up in Maine.  That was a memorable moment for me.  That compliment, coming from someone that had accomplished so much in the business, really had meaning for me. 

          “Boy, oh boy, I’ve had some battles with Cameron Replay, Enigma, and really tough matches with former SPW Champion, Nicholas Night.  “Stiff” Mike, however, has to be the toughest ever.  I had many back and forth battles with Mike.  I had many tough, come from behind victories.  Mike is just an annoying thorn in my side, and to this day, I can’t get rid of him.”

          So, now I knew of the grudges, and of the respect for wrestlers Kase has faced, encountered, or just was fortunate enough to listen to, and get advice from.  But I knew there was more behind what makes him the professional he is.  I asked who he modeled his in ring style after.

          “I wanted to be like Shawn Michaels, but when you look at it statistically, Shawn was so well rounded, so good at just about everything, whether it’s the ground game, or aerial offense, you can only try to be that good.  At certain points, I found myself being more similar to Randy Orton than anyone else.  That being said, someday I’d love to have a match against Daniel Bryan, we have similar styles, and, in my opinion, styles make for very interesting matches”

 “Going into Saturday…I feel phenomenal, and excited to be a part of the opportunity to bring pro wrestling back to North Adams through a fantastic organization: Showcase Pro Wrestling.  It’s an opportunity to present my skill set to my hometown, friends, and family.  For all those things, I’m very excited, and ready to give my best!!”

          One thing’s for sure, regardless of Saturday’s outcome, Justin Kase proved to be one of the most interesting, and humble pro wrestling superstars .

stin  Kase!