07-02-2024, 12:33 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-05-2024, 11:18 AM by wetwilleh. Edited 1 time in total.)
One thing that many people probably do not know about Norman Smiley, is that his tenure with the Minnesota Grey Ducks was not his first venture in professional sports, just professional American football. That is right, after high school and before Norman started his University studies, Norman was what some would consider a wrestling prodigy. In high school, he was a championship caliber wrestler and power lifter due to his athleticism and size, however, he always preferred a different side of the sport. It wasn't the physicality or competitive nature of wrestling or lifting that Smiley loved, but the entertainment side of things. So, before Norman ever dreamed of playing professional football, he dreamed of being a professional wrestler, the peak of sports entertainment. This is no easy task, and like all the greats before him, Norman had to find his own path to stardom. Because no one jumps right into the WWE (or in Normans case, the WCW), he had to start off on small time circuits. Being an English lad, Norman had to make his first leap of faith (off the turnbuckle) across the pond into the United States. He landed in Florida where he learned under the tutelage of wrestling legend Dean Malenko and his son. After earning heaps of praise for his mastery of the fundamentals of professional wrestling, Norman took his next international trip to join a traveling federation based out of Mexico. It was here that he earned one of his first nicknames in the ring, "Black Magic", and was an endearing figure for the local Luchador population. This is in part why Norman felt so slighted when the Tijuana Luchadores did not select him in the DSFL draft. Norman would end up staying in Mexico for 5 years honing his craft before his next big jump.
After Mexico, Norman would make another enormous leap. This time to the land of the Rising Sun. Japan became Normans next home as he premiered in the Union of Wrestling Forces International some 15 years ago. This is where Norman feels like his life truly began. He experienced things in Japan that he had never imagined he would get to in his lifetime. The food, the people, the culture, everything about Japan felt tailor made to his perfect world. He found his first true love in Kyoto, purchased a family home in Osaka, and made a career for himself in professional wrestling. This was truly his home, and when he had to leave for an opportunity with the WCW, it devastated him. But Norman had to keep his eyes on the prize. He uprooted himself and moved back to the States where he became a prolific technical wrestler in the WCW and WWE. It was only after that life that Norman explored American football, finally signing on with the DSFL and then the ISFL.
Norman loved his time with the Chicago Butchers. So much so that he even signed an eight season extension to ensure that he would never need to leave Chicago. When rumblings of the team being rebranded and relocating began, Norman was wrought with concern. Another move was not something that he had wanted to do. But when it was announced that his team, the Chicago Butchers, would move to Osaka, Norman was over the moon with excitement. He would finally get to feel like he was truly home again. His previous life, the one he thought was dead and gone, was resurrected. Everything in Normans life was seeming to fall right back in to place. A renewed sense of happiness, vitality, and vigor surged through Norman. As the 49th season of the ISFL draws near, Norman dreams of the upcoming day that he gets to walk on to Tsuburaya Stadium grass for the first time. Japan is a place for new beginnings in wrestling and now it seems that football is getting it with the Osaka Kaiju.
Japan has a surprisingly rich football history with it having a early all star game with the Ivy league all stars every year. Which is interesting since Norman will now be a professional player in Japan and went to Yale so he actually played in this game before when he was in his football days. Japan continues to improve in football every year as the game grows worldwide and gets traction. The love of the game of football is another reason that Norman is excited to start a new era in his career. As the first official resigning in Osaka's early history. There is a little rumor that Norman actually came up with the name that the team ended up using. He was really into the really in disbelief with how things have turned out in his life with wrestling and with football. Its something that not a lot of people experience in one of the professions.
Which is amazing for Norman since he has had two interesting careers at this point and one continues to grow and grow. Norman as well can't wait to be part of the Osaka community helping with charity drive and moving his football camp that he had in Chicago to have a branch in Japan as well to get more and more young people into the sport to hopefully get this sport to larger and larger levels. It is an exciting time for Norman and an exciting time for Japan this is for sure. And with the current success of the old Butchers team it should carry over into their move to Osaka. (Even with a new QB taking or the helm [known for Russling peoples Jimmies] from some weird penguin who could somehow throw a football) But the defense should be something that the Osaka fanbase can really lock into and be proud of right off the bat. Norman hopes to lead the team in tackles again this year for the team. And hopes to bring a title now to a new town in Japan and the city of Osaka. It will be an amaxing finish to the career of Norman and a fantastic beginning for Japan. GO Kaiju and Go THE BIG WIGGLE!!!
After Mexico, Norman would make another enormous leap. This time to the land of the Rising Sun. Japan became Normans next home as he premiered in the Union of Wrestling Forces International some 15 years ago. This is where Norman feels like his life truly began. He experienced things in Japan that he had never imagined he would get to in his lifetime. The food, the people, the culture, everything about Japan felt tailor made to his perfect world. He found his first true love in Kyoto, purchased a family home in Osaka, and made a career for himself in professional wrestling. This was truly his home, and when he had to leave for an opportunity with the WCW, it devastated him. But Norman had to keep his eyes on the prize. He uprooted himself and moved back to the States where he became a prolific technical wrestler in the WCW and WWE. It was only after that life that Norman explored American football, finally signing on with the DSFL and then the ISFL.
Norman loved his time with the Chicago Butchers. So much so that he even signed an eight season extension to ensure that he would never need to leave Chicago. When rumblings of the team being rebranded and relocating began, Norman was wrought with concern. Another move was not something that he had wanted to do. But when it was announced that his team, the Chicago Butchers, would move to Osaka, Norman was over the moon with excitement. He would finally get to feel like he was truly home again. His previous life, the one he thought was dead and gone, was resurrected. Everything in Normans life was seeming to fall right back in to place. A renewed sense of happiness, vitality, and vigor surged through Norman. As the 49th season of the ISFL draws near, Norman dreams of the upcoming day that he gets to walk on to Tsuburaya Stadium grass for the first time. Japan is a place for new beginnings in wrestling and now it seems that football is getting it with the Osaka Kaiju.
Japan has a surprisingly rich football history with it having a early all star game with the Ivy league all stars every year. Which is interesting since Norman will now be a professional player in Japan and went to Yale so he actually played in this game before when he was in his football days. Japan continues to improve in football every year as the game grows worldwide and gets traction. The love of the game of football is another reason that Norman is excited to start a new era in his career. As the first official resigning in Osaka's early history. There is a little rumor that Norman actually came up with the name that the team ended up using. He was really into the really in disbelief with how things have turned out in his life with wrestling and with football. Its something that not a lot of people experience in one of the professions.
Which is amazing for Norman since he has had two interesting careers at this point and one continues to grow and grow. Norman as well can't wait to be part of the Osaka community helping with charity drive and moving his football camp that he had in Chicago to have a branch in Japan as well to get more and more young people into the sport to hopefully get this sport to larger and larger levels. It is an exciting time for Norman and an exciting time for Japan this is for sure. And with the current success of the old Butchers team it should carry over into their move to Osaka. (Even with a new QB taking or the helm [known for Russling peoples Jimmies] from some weird penguin who could somehow throw a football) But the defense should be something that the Osaka fanbase can really lock into and be proud of right off the bat. Norman hopes to lead the team in tackles again this year for the team. And hopes to bring a title now to a new town in Japan and the city of Osaka. It will be an amaxing finish to the career of Norman and a fantastic beginning for Japan. GO Kaiju and Go THE BIG WIGGLE!!!
NORMAN "Big Wiggle" SMILEY