Late professional wrestler Tracy Smothers kept a day job most of his career to support what he called his “wrestling habit.” John Thorne understands this lifestyle well – by day, he works at the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, but on evenings and weekends he’s better known as the founder of Cleveland’s Absolute Intense Wrestling (AIW).
“It’s a pie chart life where you have to dedicate time to work, wrestling and a personal life,” says Thorne, a Brecksville native now living in Old Brooklyn. “I’m our travel agent, booker and accountant while going to my job Monday through Friday.”
Far from complaining, Thorne is realizing ambitions that took root during wrestling’s 1990s resurgence, when the company then known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) was duking it out with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) every Monday night. Hardcore fans could also turn to Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), which made waves with its gritty style, risqué ring valets and occasional swearing.
Today, Thorne has helped build AIW into a mainstay of Cleveland’s independent scene, promoting several shows a month at venues across Northeast Ohio. Hundreds of dedicated fans follow the action at venues like Cleveland’s new concert hall, Globe Iron, which hosted AIW’s 20th-anniversary show in May.
Though most of Thorne’s talent is locally grown, his company has worked with the industry’s biggest names – Kevin Owens, MJF, Seth Rollins, Britt Baker and Bryan Danielson have all left their sweat and blood in an AIW ring. An eclectic mix of styles – from hardcore to more technical wrestling – separates the brand from its regional competitors, says Thorne.
AIW also harkens back to wrestling’s late-90s heyday, when kid-focused content transitioned to a product aimed at young adults. Upon launching AIW in 2005, at age 21, Thorne instinctively knew what would resonate with fans his age, he says.
“Let’s do shows at concert clubs instead of gyms, and get alcohol served,” Thorne says. “Let’s make it a more adult experience similar to what captivated me as a fan. We were targeting people in their early 20s that liked to have fun and let loose.”
In the beginning…
During the early-90s, wrestling remained geared toward children, featuring virtuous, superhero-esque characters triumphing over detestable villains. The shift to more adult-oriented content, especially ECW’s renegade style and lower production values, drew Thorne back to watching the product.
“ECW came to Cleveland, and I went to shows at the Masonic Temple and Agora Theater,” says Thorne. “Experiencing that energy live was a monumental thing in my life.”
Fueled by a chutzpah known only by teenagers, then 15-year-old Thorne called Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling founder JT Lightning, whose company dominated the local scene at the time.
For $300, Thorne rented a wrestling ring and, along with his similarly untrained friends, staged a show at Woodside Event Center at St. Michael’s in Broadview Heights.
From there, Lightning became Thorne’s mentor, keeping that role until his death from cancer in 2011. One of Lightning’s students, current WWE star Johnny Gargano, went on to wrestle for AIW and became head instructor of a training school that Thorne opened in 2014.
After that initial, makeshift effort, Thorne networked throughout Cleveland’s indie wrestling circuit, scouting potential talent both in person and via the rapidly developing internet. He now has a stable of performers trained at the Brookpark-based school, run by AIW wrestlers Dominic Garrini and Derek Dillinger.
Veteran pro wrestling favorites including Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat and “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase are brought in and heighten the excitement for fans with their involvement in in-ring storylines, meet-and-greets and autograph signings, Thorne says.
“This is a niche of a niche, so you’re pulling from a smaller pool of potential customers,” he says. “It’s a big challenge, because it’s a live-event business where money is coming from the gate. I’ve been asked by other promoters asking “Why do shows in Cleveland?” My answer is I live here, and wanted to offer this sort of wrestling here.”
Doing it live
Wes Barkley began training with AIW in 2016, before making his debut two years later. A broken back during a training session did not turn Barkley away from an industry he’s loved his entire life, he says.
In 2018, Barkley wrestled a four-way match on the same card as MJF, Ethan Page and Nick Gage. His first singles affair was against Eddie Kingston, now a TV star for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and a rough-and-tumble personality, who also happened to be the wrestler Barkley most idolized as a budding fan.
“I was still in pain from the back injury, and I knew it would be a hard-hitting match,” says Barkley. “It was surreal, because this is a guy I loved watching growing up. I was ready to rock, and sore as hell after, but it was 100% worth it.”
Since then, Barkley has grown alongside the promotion, main-evening the anniversary show against Matt Cardona, a former WWE star now finding success in the indie ranks. Attracting big names looks good on an email blast, but AIW has captured much of its fan loyalty through local favorites, says Barkley.
What’s more, a start-up surviving two decades is a significant accomplishment in any industry, much less one as fickle and unforgiving as entertainment, he adds.
“It says so much for the promotion,” Barkley says. “This is live entertainment. You see bands or clubs that last just a little while, but 20 years shows that John is always keeping an eye on the industry. He’s always adapting and evolving.”
Maintaining momentum is key for both AIW and the devoted talent at its heart, Thorne says.
“I’m not an attention seeker – I’m more of a keep-it-moving guy,” says Thorne. “But it did click that 20 years is a major accomplishment. It’s been a very interesting life that’s afforded me some great memories and experiences.”
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