CAM!!ikaze hangs high above the ring at Prince Albert's Plaza 88. (Nigel Maxwell/ file paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Wrasslin'

High flyer and thrill seeker returns to Sask.

May 4, 2024 | 8:00 AM

Hanging high above the ring, a man nicknamed “crazy mo fo” brought a Prince Albert audience to its feet when he dropped over 10 feet to the ring and delivered a leg drop to his fallen opponent.

CAM!!ikaze is among the featured wrestlers when Canadian Wrestling’s Elite (CWE) Point to Prove tour swings through Central Saskatchewan next week. Noting the decision to perform the move is always very circumstantial and largely based on the venue, he explained timing is also very important for it to mean something.

“And it paid off that night, I sent them home happy,” he said. “I’ve done that multiple times over the years but by far Prince Albert that was the highest one I’ve ever done it from.”

When you look into those eyes, there’s a glimmer of insanity. (Nigel Maxell/ paNOW Staff)

Just taking a short time out. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

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Born in Medicine Hat, CAM!!ikaze’s wrestling career started in 2004. He reflected on the fact he was at first self trained and was only 17 when he had his first match – a singles match in a battle royal.

“I hadn’t even graduated high school yet, I hadn’t even got my diploma and I already had two matches” he said.

CAM!!ikaze would later be trained by Winnipeg’s Chi Chi Cruz and Calgary’s Lance Storm.

Growing up he confirmed he loved wrestling and cited the iconic match at Wrestlemania 3 between “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat as one of his all time favourites.

In addition to idols such as Hulk Hogan, he noted other wrestlers he looked up to during the Attitude Era were Stone Cold Steve Austin and the hardcore legend Mick Foley.

“And that’s when I decided that’s what I wanted to do,” he explained, adding the man who made the biggest impact was legendary ECW star Rob Van Dam.

“After that I wanted to be just like him,” CAM!!ikaze said, stating before every match he will stretch like RVD and works hard to even do the splits like RVD.

When the Point to Prove tour comes to Prince Albert on Monday, CAM!!ikaze will face another fast moving and highly skilled wrestler in Bobby Sharp.

“There’s a lot of respect with both of us. You’re going to see a good match and the best man is going to win,” he said.

Reflecting on the fact his wrestling career has spanned 20 years, CAM!!ikaze acknowledged he does try to assist the younger talent joining the tour. Since he started, the extreme high flyer has carefully kept a note pad, writing down moves he has watched his idols perform or advice that’s been passed on to him in person. Sadly, some of those legendary performers have passed on.

“So whatever I was lucky enough to learn from them, I am obligated to pass that on,” he said.

Following Monday’ stop in Prince Albert at Plaza 88, CWE’s Point to Prove tour moves on to Saskatoon on Tuesday night at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 63, and then will make its way to North Battleford’s Agrivilla Wednesday night.

And like past tours, this one also includes a special guest. Savio Vega has worked for various promotions including Mid-South, New Japan and the WWE.

During the 1990s, he worked for the WWE under the masked character Kwang gimmick. As Savio Vega, he formed the Puerto Rican stable named Los Boricuas, who had many memorable feuds with other groups known as Nation of Domination, Disciples of Apocalypse and also the Legion of Doom. Vega himself also had a number of memorable matches at Wrestlemania 12 with Stone Cold Steve Austin.

And at Wrestlemania 13, Vega was involved in a six man street fight tag-match.

Also re-joining the tour is AEW’s “Zombie Princess” Jimmy Jacobs who has been to Saskatchewan before and has always been among the highlights of the show.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell