At school, he’s just Chuck Weeden, an mild-mannered Oxford High senior planning to go to college.
But once he sets foot inside the ring he becomes “Big Money Chuck Weeden,” a professional wrestler ready annihilate his opponents and entertain his fans.
The 6-foot tall, 250-pound Weeden will make his Oxford debut 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 at the high school in a wrestling event presented by Pro Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. and the Oxford girls softball team.
“I figure I could help them draw a bigger audience,” said Weeden, who’s been wrestling professionally for about 1? years. “It’s been one of my dreams to perform in my home town.”
Weeden is also hoping to impress the folks at Pro Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. so they’ll use him in future matches elsewhere.
“Basically, it’s like a tryout to see if I’m future talent for them,” he said.
Weeden started his pro wrestling career in September 2002 when he began training with Great Lakes All Pro Wrestling, an “entry level” organization that holds matches in the Bay City and Midland areas.
Before a crowd of more than 700 fans, Weeden made his pro wrestling debut in December 2002, participating in a “Battle Royal” match held in Taylor, Michigan.
Since then, Weeden said he’s participated in between 25 and 30 matches around the state and in Canada with various other organizations including Ontario Championship Wrestling and Superior Wrestling Alliance.
“I just really love the business,” he said. “I’ve been a fan of (pro wrestling) for as long as I can remember.”
Weeden particularly enjoys all the attention from the fans who “scream for you when you come through the curtain.”
“It’s one of the greatest feelings you can have,” he said.
Weeden said he dreams of someday trying out for World Wrestling Entertainment (formerly the World Wrestling Federation), the largest and most famous pro wrestling organization, which spawned the careers of some of the Oxford teen’s heroes such as Hulk Hogan and Brett Hart.’
When asked what’s the most outrageous thing that’s happened to him during his wrestling career so far, Weeden replied, “Taking a steel chair to the head. And that was just last Saturday.”
“Learning how to fall right” was one of the most challenging things for Weeden to learn.
“Unless you learn how to fall right, you’re going to get hurt,” he said. “One time during a match, I took a neck-breaker (a wrestling move) the wrong way and almost broke my neck for real.”
Weeden said a person must be in “tip-top shape” to pro wrestle.
“It’s a lot harder than it seems,” he said. “There’s a lot running around the ring. It’s constant motion. Hitting those ropes can take the air out of you.”
“Being able to hopefully impress the guys I work with” is a challenge Weeden still faces with every match.
Weeden began wrestling under the persona “Night Creeper,” a “scary” figure similar in character to the famous wrestler known as “The Undertaker.”
He then changed his persona, or “gimmick” as he called it, to “Big Money C” and finally “Big Money Chuck Weeden,” the name under which he will wrestle Saturday at OHS.
When asked what his family thinks of his wrestling career, Weeden replied, “My dad and my grandfather are behind me all the way. But my grandmother thinks I’m nuts.”
As for the opinion of his fellow students, Weeden said, “Some think it’s funny. Some think it’s ridiculous. It doesn’t bother me. Some back me up all the way.”
Following graduation in June, Weeden plans to continue his pro wrestling career while attending college. He plans to attend either Oakland University or Lake Superior State and major in computer engineering and business leadership.
But for now, he’s concentrating on his Oxford debut about which he’s both “nervous” and “really excited.”
“I’m just trembling,” Weeden said.
Weeden’s unsure who his opponent will be Saturday. “I probably won’t know until the day of the show,” he said.
Ticket prices for the wrestling program are as follows:
• Ringside – $12 in advance and $15 day of the show
• Floor – $10 in advance and $13 day of the show
• Bleachers – $7 in advance and $10 day of the show.
Tickets can be purchased at Tool Sports & Sign Co. at 1060 Lapeer (969-5850); Sister’s Hair Care at 19 N. Washington (628-7520); Tom’s Hardware at 5585 Lapeer Rd. (628-2222); and the Oxford Tap at 39 S. Washington (236-0380).
Call 969-9608 for additional ticket information.