Trivia question: What Real Pro Wrestling competitor scored the first-ever six point throw in league history?
Answer: Joe Williams of the Chicago Groove.
While that information is pretty fresh in the minds of hardcore RPW fans, it’s something that will keep Williams in the RPW history archives forever.
That’s because in the 163 pound quarterfinals Williams, the No. 1 seed, used a six-point high throw to take a commanding lead against Tyrone Lewis of the Oklahoma Slam. Williams went on to win that match 8-4, and then defeated Donny Pritzlaff of the Pennsylvania Hammer 5-2 in the semifinals to advance to the RPW 163 pound finals where he will face rival Joe Heskett of the Iowa Stalkers.
But that six-point throw “the highest point total you can score with one move in Real Pro Wrestling “wasn’t what stood out the most to Williams, a 2004 U.S. Olympian and three-time NCAA champion for the University of Iowa.
What stood out to Williams was that, for the first time in his storied wrestling career, he felt the sport of wrestling was showcased the way it should be.
“I really enjoyed the entire experience,” says Williams. “It was fantastic. I felt the way things were handled that entire weekend was really first class, and for the first time in my career I felt wrestling was on display the way it should be, and given the proper respect it deserves.”
Those who know the sport of wrestling know elite level competitors train as hard “and often times harder “than athletes in other pro sports. This is often done without the fanfare or financial rewards that accompany being a pro athlete.
But for one weekend, Williams said he felt on top of the world.
“I think anyone who gets to this level of wrestling is considered a professional athlete, whether that’s their title or not,” says Williams. “The amount of training, work and dedication it takes is similar to any other top-level athlete. I think Real Pro Wrestling has brought to the forefront what it takes to be an elite wrestler, and that weekend showcased some of the best. It was great, we were in the spotlight. I felt like a superstar, I felt like Tom Cruise or Wesley Snipes.”
Williams has been one of the most dominant wrestlers on U.S. soil the last 10 years. A native of Chicago, Williams has won the Midlands seven times and the freestyle specialist has won five U.S. National championships and was a member of the United States’ 2002 World Freestyle Championship team. He’s placed third and fourth in the world championships and was a four-time high school state champion. A champion at the 1999 and 2001 Manitoba Open, the 2001 Takhti Cup in Iran, and a four-time World Cup winner, Williams is about as dominant a freestyle wrestler as the nation has ever seen, despite never winning an Olympic medal.
Williams is right at home with the Chicago Groove and was well received by the Harvey Twisters, the youth club that first honed Williams’ mat dominance and whom he visited during taping of RPW Season I.
“It’s hard to get back there but when I did it really hit me that, this is the place where it all started,” said Williams. “It really meant a lot to be there and to see these kids who aspire to achieve great things in wrestling.”
Now Williams faces Heskett, the No. 2 seed who has helped the Stalkers on its way to a commanding lead in the team race, in the RPW finals, to air on PAX-TV May 15. Williams defeated Heskett in the finals of both the U.S. Nationals and the Olympic Team Trials in 2004. Williams isn’t surprised he’s facing Heskett, a four-time All-American at Iowa State who is also an assistant coach at Cal Poly.
“Every time we step on the mat there is something different, something new that’s brought to the table,” said Williams. “It’s a great rivalry, I have a lot of respect for him as a competitor and a person.”
Heskett had to battle through seventh-seeded Sean Harrington of the Texas Shooters and third-seeded Ramico Blackmon of the New York Outrage to reach the finals.
Now Williams hopes to become the answer to another trivia question.
Who was the first-ever RPW 163 pound champion?
Tune in May 15th to find out the answer.
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