When people think of professional wrestling, the names that typically pop into your mind are the likes of Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan, and the Ultimate Warrior. The larger than life, colorful characters from the 80’s and 90’s. But there are local wrestlers that can be just as inspirational, colorful, and larger than life. One such wrestler is Garrisaon Creed. The Manitowoc native joined the army out of high school and when W—News asked him what lead him to do that, he said it was due to a lack of direction. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do out of High School, and joining the military gave me a little extra time to think about that.”
During his time in the Army, Garrisaon was a part of the Infantry. He said that his unit would set up police departments, and food programs, and helped clean up the area he was in. They also did the stuff you see on TV, such as invading a compound to apprehend the bad guys. “It was almost a nightly thing,” he explained. “We went out in the cover of darkness, kick in the door, find the people we needed, zip tied them up, and brought them to whatever prison system they had over there.”
We spoke with Creed about his reintegration back into society after his deployment, and he said the hardest part was trying to “turn off” the hypervigilance. “We did come under some firefights, and roadside bombs happened often…I am deaf in my left ear, a sudden strobe light will set me off into a kind of a flight mode…I’m always looking up at three story buildings, looking at the windows, is there someone peeking on me? I just want to know what’s going on around me at all times to be ready for anything even though I don’t have to be…can’t turn that switch off.” Over time he has become more comfortable with it, and he has actually become more outgoing.
When he finished his two deployments, at the age of 32, Creed knew he had to find a new career. He always loved wrestling, and recalled watching the famous scene of Hulk Hogan slamming Andre the Giant at WrestleMania. Becoming a wrestler was something that he always wanted as a kid, but just as with most athletic dreams, he started to believe that it was not in the cards for him.
That all changed one day while he was working out at the gym. He recalls overhearing someone call someone a “big shot professional wrestler”, so he approached the man and asked how he could get into it. The guy “scribbled down a number on a piece of paper and said “Give this guy a call.” That “guy”, was none other than Shane Hills. Hills runs the famed Dojo of Pain out of Maribel, and Creed said that it is an aptly named school. “ Military training versus Shane Hills professional wrestling training? Yeah they are both intense!” he said. They are on par as the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.” Creed sighted his time in the military for giving him the never give up attitude, which helped push him through.
A common saying in pro-wresting circles is that the best characters are “the performers personality turned up to 11”, which is true with Creed. “I believe that dial was turned up back in 2005, and broke off,” he quipped. “ It’s always been turned up to 11, but now I have a means to let it out…The music hits, and Garrisaon Creed shows up. That’s me.”
The hard work has paid off for Creed, who now travels all over the Midwest for shows. He portrays a Mercenary for Hire, who can be either a bad guy or good guy “depending on who pays more.” Garrisaon will be performing at a couple of shows in Minnesota this weekend, and will be in Marinette on December 13th, for his final show in Wisconsin for the year.
There has never been a better time than now to be an indie wrestler, and Garrisaon Creed is slowly taking over the Mid-West, and becoming one of the most sought after performers around.
Winter is Coming, Be Prepared
The Lakeshore area may not be covered in snow right now, but as the past few weeks has shown, the white powdery precipitation can come at any time. W—News recently spoke with Manitowoc County Emergency Services Director Travis Waack, and he says preparedness is vital during the winter months. He says every year they talk about “making sure our vehicles are ready for winter, and ready to support us. If we venture out in one of those snow storms and end up stuck in a snow storm, sometimes they are not able to tow people out for an extended period of time.”
Waack went on to explain that you should have items in your vehicle that will keep you warm, and your phone charged. Having a small supply of food that will not freeze, as well as some water is always a good idea as well. Waack also said that keeping the gas tank full is one of the best tips he can give. Staying warm is much easier when you have a tank full of gas, and can run the heater in your car.
