OLDS — He’s a car salesman by day, and a wrestler by night. He’s also a singer and music coordinator when he can fit that in.
He’s Logan James. During the day he sells vehicles at Hildebrand Motors.
On the side, he runs the 100yearsmusicstable.com, an online place for musicians, named after his grandfather who lived to be 101 years old. As a singer, he's had airplay on radio and other platforms.
But pro wresting has been a passion ever since James, now 34, was a little guy watching pro wrestling on TV at his grandparents’ home in the country, near Vermilion.
Now he’s actually going into the ring himself during events staged by Can-Am Wrestling at Bulldog’s Saloon.
“I was just fascinated with it from an early age. But I had lived in the country and saw channels 2 and 4 and that's all I could really get with that – a half hour on Saturdays,” James recalled during an interview with the Albertan.
He remembered some of his wrestling heroes.
“The Undertaker, (he’ll) give you nightmares, right? He always hit the ref. Stone Cold Steve Austin, the Rock – all these guys,” he said.
James got involved after a Can-Am event came to town a few months ago.
One of the wrestlers, Andy Anderson, was trashing Olds, so James did a video defending the community.
“I fired one at him and it went over pretty well,” he said.
“The booker for Canam Wrestling saw this on Facebook and started messaging me and wanted to get me more involved, find out a little bit more about me and my background.
“And then so Andy Anderson fires a promo back at me directly this time, not just the town, so ‘Logan James, you filthy used car salesman, you probably sell beat up Cordobas with more miles on them than your old lady,’ he’s saying.
“It was pretty harsh words.”
Anderson and The Prospector battled in a match the ending of which was disputed.
That led to a big rematch, the main event Oct. 28. As it was just a few days before Halloween, the evening was billed as Cowboy Zombies.
People were urged to dress up for Halloween and many did. The announcer awarded the prize for best costume to Dorothy Marsh, a resident of the Kiwanis West Manor seniors facility, because he said she should be rewarded for dressing up for Halloween at her age.
James sold tickets for the event, with $10 of each ticket going to the Mountain View Food Bank. He said though that and held from Can-Am, a total of $450 raised.
On the 28th, Bulldogs was filled to capacity, with people of all ages.
And they were into it.
Because of Anderson’s words about the community, James gave toilet paper rolls to all those who’d bought tickets from him.
As the evening got underway, James got into the ring, carrying a toilet roll in his hand. He urged members of the crowd to throw their toilet rolls when Anderson came into the ring for the main event.
“These aren’t just regular rolls, these are double rolls, you guys. So, if it flies across and it lands at your feet, pick it up and throw it again and pick it up and throw it again,” he said.
“And I want to see three or four or five throws per roll, guys. We’re going to put it to this guy, the Hell out of Olds,” he added sparking loud cheers.
They did.
When the main event began and Anderson was introduced, he was pelted with toilet paper rolls. Anderson just held out his arms in a kind of welcoming yet defiant gesture as they flew at him.
Toilet paper rolls were everywhere on the apron of the ring and draped over the ropes in several places.
Some in the crowd held up signs saying things like “You Suck” and led chants against Anderson.
Anderson for his part wore a black T-shirt that said, ‘you people suck.’
The match was Anderson and Mr. Beefy Goodness versus The Wes Parker The Prospector and Bobby Sharp, the Can-Am heavyweight champion.
Mr. Beefy Goodness was defeated and eventually essentially disappeared.
James appeared just outside the east end of the ring wearing a black robe with a Halloween scream face on, watching the action.
Anderson got ahold of a chair and was about to about to “take Wes's head off,” according to James.
So James climbed into the ring.
“I get up on the apron and I grab the chair from him and then he turns around and looks at me and Wes actually rolled him up for the three-count right there,” he said.
Anderson came out of the ring to get James but at the same time, James had climbed into the ring. At that point, Anderson stayed out, as he was outnumbered two to one, James concluded. So, Prospector and James raised their arms in triumph as Anderson glowered.
James agreed it was a weird ending.
“A Halloween ending, nice Halloween ending,” he said.
James said little did people know that he had earlier taken some pro wrestling training.
“I had a blast, a great time. It was pretty special because it was really nice to compete,” he said. He was asked if he plans to keep on participating in pro wresting.
“Oh yeah for a little bit, yeah. I mean Hildebrand's definitely number one, but I'll be involved for the next few months here,” he said.
James said later this month, he will be teaming up with The Prospector, possibly as a valet or manager.
James was asked what he likes about pro wrestling.
“Oh, everything,” he said. “The athletic aspect to it is great, but even more than that, the characters. I love good storytelling and Can-Am does a really good job of that, compared to any other local wrestling promotions.
“They’re telling stories that last three months, four months, six months, so you go again and again.”
He also likes the way the crowd gets into the action.
"There’s nothing like that adulation,” he said.
He was asked if he wants to take on Andy Anderson again.
“Well, you will have to see what happens next time there. I'm gonna do everything to make sure he gets beat by hook or by crook,” he said.
