“The Regent” Soars To The Top Of Pittsburgh Wrestling Scene

By Thomas Leturgey

The enthusiastic crowd at the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance (KSWA) “Motorcycles and Clotheslines” event at the Three Rivers Harley-Davidson dealership in suburban Pittsburgh exploded when “The Regent” Joshua Kavod defeated long-time rival J-Ru for the organization’s 5-Star Championship. Kavod, who has been wrestling in the KSWA for just a few months, expressed amazement, surprise and gratitude with the win.

Born Joshua Miskanin nearly 28 years ago, Kavod started with Pittsburgh’s longest-running professional wrestling organization on August 14 at Camp Guyasuta in Sharpsburg. There he challenged J-Ru (Jason Russo) for the 5-Star belt. At the conclusion of that showdown, J-Ru cheated to win and the fans in attendance were furious. The very next week, the scene repeated itself, but with the Five-Star champion winning by disqualification. The burgeoning feud became one of the most intense of the KSWA’s busy summer season.

One of the highest flyers and sharpest in-ring technicians, Kavod has impressed wherever he has wrestled in and around Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania.

Some might say “The Regent” has experienced a “Divine” opportunity.

Miskanin grew up near Uniontown, played baseball, football and wrestled in high school. At 16, his life started to change in a variety of stark ways. On the positive, he found Independent professional wrestling in West Virginia. “I was able to start learning the basics,” he said during a recent telephone interview.

In the negative, Miskanin’s father suddenly and tragically passed away. As any teen might, Miskanin started acting out. “I started doing stuff I shouldn’t,” he said. Not long after, Miskanin was involved in a horrible automobile accident that nearly cost him his left leg. “It was almost amputated,” he says. Plates and pins were inserted into his leg, and a knee was completely reconstructed. “I was told I was never going to walk again.

There were other plans.

Incredibly, eight months later, Miskanin was back inside a wrestling ring. However, his disobedient ways also continued. He and a friend were involved in a legal incident best described as auto fraud. As a result of his misdeeds, Miskanin had court-ordered probation, but he didn’t take the rules seriously. He failed to follow through on the order. “That came back to bite me,” he continued. “That’s when I went to prison.”

Miskanin quickly found himself incarcerated in the Fayette County Prison, the oldest operating prison in the country. He was placed among more hardened and violent criminals. It wasn’t an ideal situation for the youngster. “It was a big wake up call.”

It wasn’t all a dark, dead-end. While in the confines of prison, then 23-year-old Miskanin found his faith in Jesus, a discovery that would turn his life around. Doors that didn’t think would open swung wide. He found solace at Genesis House Ministries in Uniontown, and he met Reverend Terry Sanders. That friendship would profoundly alter his path, professionally and personally.

Life, “was a long, hard road,” Miskanin says. “Finally, it was time to wake up.” Over the next four years he became an ordained Reverend through Regent University of Virginia Beach. The ministry has allowed him to “know God in a different way.” It’s a calling he takes seriously.

While praying one day, Miskanin thought of getting back into professional wrestling. He ended up running into a friend from his grappling past at a department store. They got to talking and he was re-connected with the local wrestling scene. He hit the gym, ran the ropes and started wrestling again. One of his best friends is Russo, the man he defeated for the 5-Star Championship. J-Ru was Kavod’s first opponent when he was 16. “He is a big brother.” Just don’t tell that to fans.

Not only that, but Miskanin’s home life was taking shape. He had been dating Reverend Sander’s niece Alley. The two married December 5, 2020. “God puts the right people in your life,” he said with an audible smile over the telephone. “We worked in ministry together. She is awesome.”

Professional wrestling in Western Pennsylvania doesn’t pay all of the bills so Miskanin hustles where he can. He works on wrestling merchandise, makes food deliveries and does whatever else he can to support his young family. In addition, his passion founded “Wrestling with Faith Ministries,” an informal organization that helps forge the Christ-based faithful inside the local squared circle scene.

He’s been Joshua Kavod (“Kavod” is Hebrew for honor, respect, reverence, or glory) for more than 2 ½ years. “It’s been unreal,” he continues. “I’m sober-minded. I’m learning to not be a child, take it seriously, make something out of it. It’s a dream come true.”

Kavod uses his talents to honor God and make a positive impact. “There has to be a reason for this. I give him his glory.” He has wrestled and found success in a variety of organizations in Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Oh, that wasn’t all for Miskanin on the health front. In recent years he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He underwent a procedure for that, but didn’t have to undergo radiation or chemotherapy. “There are no issues. They still do tests,” he adds.

Kavod calls the KSWA fans “amazing.” They have taken to him in kind. “My mother always told me to be humble and kind. I instill that in the locker room.” KSWA Owner Bobby O calls Kavod a “wonderful addition to the KSWA roster. He calls his 5-Star Championship win “well deserved.”

Miskanin hopes to take his professional wrestling career “as far as I can.” With his talent, drive and determination, Joshua (Kavod) Miskanin will climb as high as God allows.