Missouri Wrestling Revival

MMWA-SICW’s A.J. Williams lives for professional wrestling. It is his passion. His dream. And the way he looks at it, he fulfilled that dream.

By Kari Williams

Former MMWA-SICW Junior Heavyweight Champion A.J. Williams began walking the path to his dreams the day he turned 18. That was four years ago. And he never looked back.

“Everyone says they’re here to make it big, they’re here to go to WWE [or] TNA. My dream ever since I was a kid was to be a wrestler. The way I look at it right now, I fulfilled that dream. Life is more important than dreams. So, as of right now, I am a wrestler; I’m happy down at South Broadway [Athletic Club]…This is the number one thing I love to do in life so if I can make my living off it I will, but if not, I’m happy just being where I am,” said Williams.

The passion Williams has for wrestling has been a part of his life since childhood, when he spent the summers with his older cousin. He would go to any friend’s homes that he could and wrestle with his friends. Fast forward over a decade and a half, and Williams found a place to turn his youthful desires into a definite reality with his best friend, Brandon Espinosa, who began training three months prior to Williams.

A.J. Williams considers Brandon Espinosa one of the people he enjoys working with the most, along with Phil E. Blunt and Dave Vaughn. Photo courtesty of Brandon Espinosa

“[Wrestling] was something I always wanted to do, and once I found a place that did it, I was always here [at South Broadway Athletic Club]. I did camera work for South Broadway before I even got into the ring. I trained for a whole year and a half before I got in the ring. Luckily, I knew a couple people that were down here, so that kind of helped, but once I saw South Broadway, I knew that was the place I was going to start out at,” said Williams.

Espinosa and Williams have known each other since they were six-years-old. During training, the competitive nature in the two men emerged, as they tried to one-up each other on occasion. However, their friendship remained in tact, and they wrestled each other on numerous occasions—Title matches, Number one contender’s matches and tag team matches.

On May 24, 2008, Williams ventured to St. Peters, MO to wrestle for Lethal Wrestling Alliance in a tag team match against Espinosa. The match acted as a debut for both men—Williams’ debut in the company and Espinosa’s tag team debut with “Irresistably Flawless” Brandon Aarons.

Williams made his LWA debut May 24, 2008 in a tag team match with Michael Serious against Espinosa and "Irresistably Flawless" Brandon Aarons. Photo by Brian Kelley

Espinosa considers this match his favorite because of their respective debuts, the fact that the two have a good in-ring chemistry and because Espinosa enjoyed seeing his friend wrestle in another promotion.

“He feeds off the crowd…He definitely has a funny side [and can also be] serious. With as long as he held the Junior Heavyweight belt at South Broadway, he’s not a joke in wrestling,” said Espinosa.

As his in-ring style reflects, from the moment that wrestling captivated the young Williams, he has related to The Showstopper more than he has related to any other.

“The number one person [I look up to], by far, is Shawn Michaels. I’ve always looked up to him since I was little just because of me watching wrestling at five years old. I’m the skinniest guy in my class, the skinniest guy in my family, and to see someone that almost looks like me beating [guys that are] 6’ 4”, that’s what got me in here,” said Williams.

Williams takes on Phil E. Blunt, his trainer and nemesis, at the March 14, 2008 MMWA-SICW show at South Broadway Athletic Club. Photo by Mike VanHoogstraat

Despite the Heartbreat Kid’s influence, many fans believe that Williams patterns himself after “The Phenomenal” A.J. Styles and Petey Williams because of his namesake. Espinosa looks at Williams as someone who adapts his style to each opponent. However, Williams attests that the name came from his childhood.

“I am [an A.J. Styles and Petey Williams fan], but, no, that has nothing to do with [my name]. I went by A.J. before everyone knew about A.J. Styles. A.J. stands for Angry Juvenille. I have, and had, a very bad attitude problem, so I thought that would fit perfect going with Angry Juvenille,” said Williams.

That anger has helped his career through creating intense rivalries with his opponents. Williams and Current MMWA-SICW Champion Dave Vaughn battled for nearly a year, where both men gave it their all each time the stepped in the ring. A feud also developed between Williams and his trainer, Phil E. Blunt. No matter whom the Angry Juvenille wrestles, he brings his own unique, adaptable method into the mix. And people take notice.

Williams reels from a slap by Destiny Diamond during their intergender tag team match in East Carondelet, IL on May 23. Photo by Mike VanHoogstraat

“The highlight of my career so far is when I’m at work and people come in and that see me at work on the daily and say, ‘I saw you on the TV. You’re a crazy little dude. Why are you doing front flips and backflips inside the ring?’ and I just tell them, ‘That’s for you.’ You pay for it, I’m going to do it,” said Williams.

As the days and months go by, Williams remains true to himself and his beliefs. He treasures the time he has had in the wrestling business.

“Anyone that knows me knows that wrestling is my passion, it’s my life…I just love it. I wouldn’t be here
if I didn’t love it. I wouldn’t put my body on the line if I didn’t love what I was doing, and if I didn’t love seeing the crowds face and hear them screaming my name, I probably wouldn’t do it,” said Williams.