Former Suffield Resident Elected to New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame

ENFIELD, CT — In the course of more than two decades in the wrestling ring, he has been referred to as "Irresistible" and "Egomanic," but now Jonny Idol can add another moniker to his resume - Hall of Famer.

A popular performer with Enfield-based Blitzkrieg! Pro Wrestling and Pioneer Valley Pro Wrestling in western Massachusetts, Idol recently received notification that he will be inducted into the New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame (NEPWHOF) as a member of the Class of 2018.

"It's incredible to think that I will be honored by my peers for doing something I love," the former Enfield and Suffield resident said during an interview Friday afternoon in Enfield.

The 1986 graduate of Agawam (Mass.) High School said he wasn't very involved in sports during his school days, but had always dreamed of becoming one of two things - a rock star or a professional wrestler.

"Legend has it when my mom was pregnant with me, she read a bunch of wrestling magazines, and Bruno Sammartino was her favorite," Idol said. "I grew up watching wrestling on television - Chief Jay Strongbow, Superstar Billy Graham, Mr. Fuji, Pat Patterson."

He recalled the first live show he attended at Ludlow High School. "Bob Backlund was the champion and wrestled Samu of the Samoans, and I remember big Swede Hanson was on the card." Samu was inducted into the NEPWHOF in 2011.

Idol's entry into the pro wrestling business came when he was working as a disc jockey in a bar. One of the club's bouncers was training under former World Wrestling Federation star Paul Roma, who will join Idol in the Class of 2018. He started as a manager, and wound up working with some of the top names in the industry, including WWE Hall of Famers the Bushwhackers, Sgt. Slaughter, Greg Valentine and his boyhood idol, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka.

As a wrestler, Idol has shared the ring with former WCW and WWE stars Disco Inferno and Gangrel, as well as current WWE talent such as Fandango and Sasha Banks. He has held a number of individual and tag team titles in various independent promotions.

After spending most of his career as a heel, or villain, Idol has been embraced as a fan favorite in recent years. He is part of a tag team known as "The Masterminds" with Marshall McNeil, while also appearing in singles matches on occasion. "I'm having a great time right now," he said.

After 22 years and roughly a thousand pro matches, two of his favorite career highlights have occurred within the past year. He and McNeil were managed by legendary WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy "The Mouth of the South" Hart at a Blitzkrieg! Pro event last spring, then in December, he had a fantastic showing in a PVP championship match with big Brad Hollister.

"I was working with a guy who is literally half my age, is an absolute beast and a wrestling machine," Idol said of his match with Hollister. "It was one of my favorite matches, even though I didn't come out on the winning end of it and it took me an hour to get out of bed the next day. I am beyond proud of that match."

In two-plus decades on the independent circuit, Idol has performed in front of several thousand wrestling enthusiasts crammed into a high school gymnasium, and for 13 fans one Wrestlemania Sunday in Rhode Island.

"I wrestled Aaron Morrison that day, and I counted 13 people out there before the bell even rang, but we still went out and gave them everything we had," he recalled. Morrison will also be joining Idol in the Hall of Fame Class of 2018, as will former WWWF tag team champion Jimmy "Boogie Woogie Man" Valiant.

Idol says there are more opportunities now for young, hungry, up-and-coming wrestlers than there was when he broke into the business.

"When I started, there were about a half-dozen independent promotions in New England, and just a couple of places to train," he said. "There are so many opportunities out there now, and a lot of promotions have friendly working relationships. They never used to; sometimes they would compete in the next town over on the same night."

Idol has advice for prospective talent. "Go get it, show your face, work hard and pay your dues. Build the ring, help out in any way, do whatever you can and your opportunity will come up."

Photos courtesy of Jonny Idol