Today we’d like to introduce you to John Catheline.
John , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My Wrestling journey started back when I was about 4 years old, i would watch wrestling as a young kid, amazed by guys like Hulk Hogan, Macho Man Randy Savage, Rowdy Roddy Piper and others. And, I told my mom this is what I want to do when I grow up.
And, it was something that stuck with me throughout growing up, I would go to the WWE (then WWF) events here in town, (my first live show attended was in 1989) and then in 1993 I was introduced into the world of Independent Wrestling, which is just like what you see on TV, but in smaller venues. I was immediately hooked even more so than I already was, it was an experience like no other, being it was much more of an intimate setting, your closer to the action, you could walk right up and meet the guys on the show etc.
I continued to attend the shows over the years, and in early 1996 I saw an advertisement for a Wrestling school that was going to be starting classes. I spoke to my mom and dad about it, because at the time I was underage and they would have to sign for me to partake in classes.
Now mind you, throughout the years, I was told by many that this was a phase, and that I would grow out of it, or that I couldn’t and wouldn’t make it etc. So, having those doubts, I used them as fuel to make sure I defied those odds and stuck to my plan of being a professional wrestler.
I started training in early 1996, i was a junior in high school, so, i would go to school, and then go straight to training after, where i spent 3-4 hours getting my butt kicked (lol) and then back to school the next day, full of bumps and bruises.
At the end of that year I made my official debut on September 29, 1996, and as they say the rest is history.
Now, almost 29 years later I am still living that dream I had as a kid, and even running my own Wrestling promotion (Real Action Pro Wrestling) here in Youngstown, Ohio. Coming up on our 15th year of operations.
As far as Acting goes, my very first role came in 2006, and I admit i was completely not properly prepared (haha) I was told of an auditon for a horror film, and being a huge fan of horror, I went to the auditions (no resume, no reel) and somehow got the role. Unfortunately, nothing ever came of the movie, which i would find out later that sadly happens alot in independent film. But, much like Wrestling, I’ve been afforded many more opportunities over the years to continue my acting career, which has been a lot of fun.
I learned a very valuable lesson on that first film, the phrase “hurry up and wait” which i admit at the time i didn’t understand what it meant. But, boy did I learn quickly and it definitely makes sense now lol.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Wrestling definitely wasn’t a smooth road at all, I was a young dumb kid at the time of starting to train. My first day i asked to get hit with a steel chair (haha) a lesson I learned rather quickly was not a good choice.
The training it’s self was hard, but very much worth every bump and bruise along the way.
There was a time while training, that I felt like i was being singled out, when I was told I was basically holding the rest of the class back, and it upset me to the point where I had made up my mind not to return, (remember when I said I was a young dumb kid?) Thankfully, after a talk from my trainer (Preston Steele) I did return to training and finished. And it was the best decision I could have made.
And now, being a veteran of the business, I always tell the upcoming young guys, don’t be that young dumb kid I once was. Because your dreams are well worth fighting for. The hard times along the road will only get better, and as you grow and mature you will realize that more.
Acting has been a really fun adventure, that im actually surpised even happened for me. I took drama class for 2 years in high school, but i would never step on the stage to be a part of a play. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, it was more of a fear of being in front of people. My teacher never understood it, because at the time I was also Wrestling on shows. I always had to explain that Wrestling was more of a comfort zone for me, so being in front of the crowd and in the ring was so much easier than being in front of your peers on a stage in a play.
However, I loved movies (mostly horror) and always thought how fun it would be to be a part of one. Little did I know it would happen years later.
I also contribute a lot of that to wrestling, which has helped with facial expressions and to work out a fight scene/choreography.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I just really enjoy creating and being creative, with acting I love playing all the different characters, from a monster, a zombie, a demon, to a completely different character that is funny.
I feel as if I get stereo typed alot when it comes to being casted for roles (and i don’t mean that in a negative way at all) I have the “look” of the tough guy, the mafia side boss, the club bouncer etc. And I love the roles just as much as any. But I also love playing the funny character, for example my Cowboy Jim character i do,
He’s silly, funny, sometimes off the wall, reads children’s story, has puppet friends, and gives advice. It shows a whole different side to me and has become one of my absolute favorite characters to play.
I’ve also met some great fellow actors, people like William Long, who is one of my favorites to work with on any set, Matthew Mark Hunter who’s one of my favorite directors to work with. He could (and has) message me at 4am about a role, and by 5am I’m out filming it for him to send him (lol)
Some people you come across here and there on different sets, but then there’s others that become your friends and those are the one’s that you look forward to working with on future projects together, you form a comfortably knowing they will be working on a set or project with you.
Wrestling wise the creativity is amazing, unlike the big time wrestling promotions, I don’t have a room full of writers to help come up with ideas to keep the shows exciting. So all of that falls on me, and i love it.
I love coming up with the storylines and watching them unfold. I always tell people the most rewarding part for me is at the end of the day seeing the stories comes to life, and when they are over, it’s sometimes sad to see them end, but the beauty of that is you move on to the next one and tell more stories, so the process never really ends.
Doing the backstage promos is also one of my favorite things to do, you can find me acting them out for the wrestlers to really show them what I’m looking for vision wise.
I also love helping others, whether it be with advice or showing them physically in the ring.
I feel like as a veteran of over 20 plus years, it’s my duty to give back to others and help them in any way possible.
Wrestling is like one big dysfunctional family, we all may not get along all the time, but there are some that become like family to you over the years, those are the people you always enjoy seeing in the locker rooms or working with in the ring.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
You can follow or message me on social media
Facebook
-John Catheline Actor
-John Catheline (personal page)
-Real Action Pro Wrestling
(facebook.com/RAPWYtown)
Instagram
@Bounce2theOunce
@RealActionProWrestling
E-mail
BouncerIWA@aol.com
I appreciate anyone who takes the time to follow and maybe enjoy a clip from a film I may post. Or follows our Wrestling pages, watches the promo videos, or comes to the show and enjoys them.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @bounce2theounce
