Emler's Resilient Passion For Wrestling Pins Health Concerns

by Thomas Leturgey

Jim Emler is tough, just as resilient as the men he’s photographed and chronicled in the world of professional wrestling. And despite all that’s he’s gone through just to put one foot in front of the other over the past two-and-a-half years, Emler keeps a positive attitude.

Emler, 54 as of October 14, started watching wrestling as a teenager in the early 80’s. “I watched Bruno and those guys, before Hulk Hogan,” he said recently in a telephone interview from his home in Washington, PA. “My interest waned for a while, then ECW re-stoked my interest.”

Unlike most casual observers, Emler took his interest and was able to turn it into something. In 1998, he teamed with another local wrestling enthusiast, Neno Mattie, and created “Gimmick Gazette,” a newsletter dedicated to the “Monday Night Wars” and other televised wrestling. He and Mattie sold the newsletter during shows at PWX in McKeesport. “That was my first involvement with the Independent Wrestling scene,” he continued. “We got to know the wrestlers, and (before too long) they were asking us to critique their matches. I really enjoyed being involved.”

The Gazette ran its course after about three years, but Emler was just getting started. A talented photographer, Jim took his camera wherever he could. As it turned out, most of the organizations he frequented were in bordering states. XWF in Bridgeville, West Virginia was one of the earliest stops. There he met Brian Tutwiler, who wrestled as “King Tut.” The two shared rides, tolls and other transportation costs to NWA Tri-State in Hagerstown, MD, IWA/East Coast in Charleston, WVA, and a few years later to 3PW, an organization run by The Blue Meanie in Philadelphia.

While the passion for the squared circle grew, Emler also worked a day job for the Washington County Correctional Facility. He started in 1993 and was able to work his schedule around his grueling professional wrestling responsibilities.

In 2004, Emler photographed the “Battle of the Butchers,” a showdown between the enigmatic Necro Butcher and the fabled Abdullah the Butcher. “That was the highest-profile match I had ‘shot’ in my wrestling career,” he said. Around that same time, he snapped photos for IWA East Coast. “There were many other feds, but mostly in West Virginia and Ohio.” Emler did take photos in Pittsburgh for the KSWA and FNW, but had more of a presence with West Newton, PA’s RWA.

In 2011, Jim caught on with VOW out of Connellsville, PA, and that became the defining role in his burgeoning career. “I took photos for them for three years,” he said. “Then they asked if I would be interested in doing commentary.” A trial run, he was given only one match in the middle of a busy card. “[Other VOW staffers] Joe Perri and Shawn Patrick were happy to have me with them.”

The promoter liked what he heard from Emler, so in 2014 he became the full-time voice of the federation. It’s a 36-show run over four years that he speaks of fondly. “I worked with great guys,” he said. “It was a great time.”

But then, fortunes started to sour for Emler. A diabetic, Emler had chronic trouble with his left leg. Add to that, he started to suffer from Charcot foot. According to the Cleveland Clinic’s website, Charcot foot is a complicated condition associated with peripheral neuropathy. Charcot affects the bones, joints and soft tissue of the foot and ankle. The bone becomes easy to break or even collapse on itself. Emler endured two surgeries on the appendage, which included the insertion of more than 30 rods and pins in his leg. “I had a big halo around me leg.”

There were complications and the use of a cast was not successful. There was a third surgery that bore no fruit. Doctors told Emler that each passing surgery actually made the foot and leg less likely to heal. “We had to make a business decision” he said. So, in the first part of 2019, Emler’s left leg eight inches below his knee was amputated.

He retired after 25 years from the jail system, filed for disability and “took a hiatus” from wrestling. About 1 ½ months after the operation, Jim was fitted for a prosthetic, and stiches were removed. He got around with the help of a walker and things were looking up. “I pushed myself forward,” he said.

Then the pandemic hit and Emler literally couldn’t see what was going to happen next.

“In April or May I lost vision in my left eye,” he explained. Diabetes had struck again. Blood vessels swelled in his eye, causing the problem. “My eye was clouding up.” He can see shapes and pick up movement from the left side, but not much else.

After pandemic restrictions started to lift, Emler looked forward. “Crazy, stupid me. I reached to wrestling promotions to see if they could use me.” [The previous company that he was loyal to and called home had folded.]

A federation in Wheeling, West Virginia used him for commentary, another group that also operated of the same building gladly used his skills. And a Charleroi group even used him as a ring announcer, in addition to his commentating duties. “Three different promotions took me in. I will always remember that kindness,” he adds. “They showed me a lot of respect. It was good to be a part of it again.”

But Jim’s trials weren’t quite over. Last January, Emler took a late-night stroll to his kitchen for a snack. “In the middle of the night, my right eye went dark.” He was rushed to a hospital, they in turn, sent him to an eye doctor. After treatments, the sight in the right eye returned.

A frustrated Emler stopped going to wrestling shows, but he hoped things would get better.

After a while of getting used to walking on the new prosthetic, Emler began having problems with his other leg. In March, a “bumpy spur” was discovered at the bottom of his foot. As a result, he was fitted with a walking boot. Now he had a prosthetic on the left leg and fitted boot on the right. He’s admittedly now in a “holding pattern” as he waits for a new, custom shoe for his right foot. And with it, any assemblance of normalcy.

Emler now focuses his energy on recovery. “I hope to be independent and participate in wrestling again like I have since 1998.” He keeps up a positive and professional demeanor. As usual, Jim Emler has a fighting chance.

[Editor's note: Jim Emler passed away on December 25, 2021 at the age of 54.