Performers for Northwest Championship Wrestling in Berkley are teachers, trainers, parents

Two years ago, Glen Riesenberger was learning the ropes. Now, the 47-year-old Southfield man is the owner of Northwest Championship Wrestling. Riesenberger spent three years working for Jimmy Hines — a retired WWE wrestler better known by his ring name, Bobby Fulton — learning to run and maintain a wrestling operation.

Riesenberger, an entrepreneur who also owns a food truck and cleaning service, established NWCW to give wrestlers a chance to compete and move up through the ranks. Competitors must be 18, have insurance, "the look" — a physical presence or character that fans can relate to — and some acting skills. They must complete wrestling classes in which they perfect moves, and learn how to protect themselves during matches. NWCW faces fierce competition from metro Detroit wrestling schools, like The House of Truth.

The NWCW has about 18 male and 12 female wrestlers who compete in tag-team and individual matches. The wrestlers come from different backgrounds, and most have day jobs ranging from teachers to trainers. Some are parents.

The shows are held in venues around metro Detroit like Berkley's Holy Rosary Hall & Knights of Columbus, Kudos Taproom and Fieldhouse in Taylor, and festivals like Troy Days — the largest draw of the season, up to 1,500 fans turn out to cheer on their favorites. Shows at venues typically draw between 150 and 200 customers, with admission at $15 per adult and $8 for kids. Once inside, the audience gets an up close and personal experience, cheering on fan favorites like the Great Tiger, Daniel Wolf and Brutus Atwell.

Riesenberger uses social media and flyers to advertise the shows, but regulars follow the NWCW wherever they perform, and follow the various storylines developed by the wrestlers ... and as you might expect, one is usually the fall guy at the end of a match.  All the wrestlers gather to film promos of their storylines, posting teaser videos on social media for fans, sometimes even re-creating antics performed on stage for the camera.

The wrestlers can make up to $100 to $200 per event — payment depends on ticket sales, and at venues with no door charge, wrestlers may perform for free. Some independent wrestlers sell their own merchandise, like T-shirts, photos and buttons, to make extra cash.

Mostly, wrestlers participate because they love the sport. Some recall going to WWE events as kids, and watching favorite performers on TV.

Ken Dick, 44, has been wrestling as the Great Akuma for 22 years. The Berkley resident started watching matches at a neighbor's house.

“My parents were not big on wrestling, so I would go to my friend's house to watch wrestling every Saturday," Dick said.

Dick has wrestled all over the U.S., from Ohio to California and even Las Vegas. He recently moved back to Michigan, and joined up with NWCW. When he’s not in the ring, he takes care of his 8-year-old daughter Aya Jonice, who sometimes tags along with dad to watch him perform.

Dick has managed to make some money performing, but it hasn't been easy. Performers like Dick have to work up from small venues, hoping to be spotted by scouts from established promoters.

“If you play it smart and don't put all your eggs into one basket," you can make a living, Dick said. "When I first started wrestling, I thought I would make a million dollars."

Injuries are also part of the sport — broken ankles, ribs and various dislocated joints.

Performers say traveling, meeting people and making friends are the best parts of competing.

DeShaun Whipple, of Detroit, was 7 when his mom and dad took him to Wrestle Mania III in 1987. Hulk Hogan was Whipple's favorite, and after seeing him in person, he fell in love with the sport.

After graduating from Cass Tech, where he played football, Whipple, now 43, found wrestling was his passion. He participated for 20 years, as a radio host and an extra, in the WWE's "Monday Night Raw" and "Smackdown" events, before retiring to his current job as an announcer for NWCW.

Whipple has been in over 500 matches. The highlight? Being smacked by the Undertaker during "Monday Night Raw."

"I've also had a couple of tryouts, but never made it," he said. "But I still feel like I have."

Lawrence Moore, 47, who wrestles as the Great Tiger, started watching matches on TV as a kid. Now, he's a veteran of 900 matches, and the Canton resident hopes to move up to the next level of competition.

A fan favorite, during his matches, kids dress in their Great Tiger masks cheer him on.

“I enjoy the competition, and most of all, the fans," he said. "That’s why I wrestle."

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Northwest Championship Wrestling in Berkley wants to help performers