The suplex is easily one of the greatest maneuvers in professional wrestling.
So many variations can be used in a match, from the German to the belly to belly, each version is a physical show of force as you toss your opponent around the ring.
Guys like Taz, Eddie Guerrero, Perry Saturn, and Scott Steiner popularized the move in the 90s and more recently, Suplex City has become a must-see attraction during any Brock Lesnar match.
Curt Gannon is an independent wrestler out of Kansas City that has carried on the tradition of using the suplex as one of his most devastating maneuvers.
The night of Central Empire Wrestling’s Bridge City Slam 2, Gannon, who is known as the Suplex Cyclone, competed in a fatal four-way match for the Full Throttle Pro Wrestling Golden Challenge Championship.
Originally the match was scheduled between The Storm (Champion) and Mr. Anderson. But, as wrestling fans know when an open challenge is advertised, anyone can answer.
Seizing the moment, Gannon attacked Mr. Anderson during his pre-match promo in an act he later described on social media, as him making his own opportunities in 2020.
Before the show, my son Emmett and I had the opportunity to interview the “Suplex Cyclone' and we discussed his love of the suplex and what he has planned for this year.
Gannon made his presence felt during Bridge City Slam by attacking Mr. Anderson during his pre-match promo
How long have you been wrestling and where did you train?
Well, I started when I was 18, so about 12 years now. Originally I started with the guys that run XCW in Raytown, Missouri. From there went I to train with Trevor Murdoch and then I started working with Derek Stone a former trainer at Harley Race's school.
What promotions have you wrestled for?
Central Empire Wrestling, New Breed Wrestling, I’ve done some things with Monster Factory out of New Jersey, Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling, there are so many more. Quite a few in Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Kansas. I’ve been lucky to have wrestled in quite a few places across the country.
What inspired you to get into professional wrestling?
I started watching wrestling when I was a kid. I was really big on the movie The Crow and my brother introduced me to Sting during his Crow phase and that got me hooked.
What about the suplex maneuver do you love so much?
Honestly, I got really hooked on suplexes because they look awesome. I love martial arts and have been doing martial arts for a long time. So judo throws and suplexes are so similar, then I saw guys like Taz, the Steiner Brothers and Saturn using suplexes and I just thought it was awesome and something I could be good at.
What does it mean to you to be a part of Bridge City Slam 2 after being a part of Bridge City Slam 1 a year ago?
I feel very honored that they wanted me back for this show. Last year I got injured during my match so it’s nice to be able to come back and redeem myself. That injury put me out for a little while, so yeah it actually means a lot to me to be back for that redemption.
Emmett’s Question: If you could choose a wrestler, dead or alive, to have one match with who would you choose and why?
Man, that’s a tough question. I’d probably have to say Taz because he influenced my style so much. It would be really cool to have a suplex off.
What does 2020 look like for the “Suplex Cyclone”?
I’m already taking bookings and those are starting to stack up for me. Actually, I’m going to be sending my information off to National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) so hopefully, something comes out of that. So we will see what happens and hopefully this year brings bigger things and I can keep rolling after a great 2019.
He might not have won the Full Throttle Pro Wrestling Golden Challenge Championship the night of Bridge City Slam 2, but the “Suplex Cyclone” Curt Gannon proved once again that he hasn’t met an opponent he can’t suplex.
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