Pro wrestling column: Lifelong Wyoming County friends Heath and Principal Chad return to ACW action Friday in Oak Hill

“You would watch stuff (on TV) and you would want to imitate it,” said the man formerly known as Heath Slater during his days in the WWE, who now goes simply by Heath. “My mom got me a trampoline, so we would put tires and mattresses underneath it, and then go out there and wrestle and imitate what we saw.”

“We did the same thing in Mullens,” Quesenberry added. “Pineville and Glen Fork kind of had their own thing working together, and it was us and Herndon. So we were kind of like the rival promotions. With no fans.”

Actually, that changed as word spread across the county of what was going on. Rock Bottoms and Stone Cold Stunners and frog splashes from tops of buildings.

Blows to the head with cookie sheets and people jumping from ladders onto tables that weren’t actually tables, but plywood balanced across a couple of chairs.

At stake were pride and a championship belt made of roofing shingles and aluminum foil.

They came from all over, from Goose Creek Hollow to Bowman’s Bottom, to witness it all.

They never left disappointed.

“We would literally just have some parents or whoever drop by, just stop and just start watching us,” Heath said. “And we’re like, ‘Hey, we’ve got an audience. Pick it up.’”

Of course, Heath went on to much bigger audiences, most notably in WWE where he was a multiple-time tag team champion, as well as in TNA Impact.

It was from his days in that special outdoor arena that he truly began to learn his craft.

The tires and mattresses lessened the bounce of the trampoline and provided just enough of a firm bump.

Quesenberry? He never chased the allure of the bright lights and big stages — “It was the fame and fortune of being a high school baseball coach. I had to chase that in my 20s,” he joked. But he never stopped being a fan, and his and Heath’s friendship never wavered. It just so happened that Quesenberry could now call a nationally-known pro wrestler his friend.

“Really, aside from that initial (time of) going to college and stuff, we reconnected and haven’t really lost touch since we were probably, what, 20, 21,” Quesenberry said.

“It was one of those things, I had a huge dream and I had to move away,” Heath said.

“It was one of those things where it was every day on the grind, like it didn’t stop. It was every day training for, like, six hours, and by the time you’re done, you were dead. And then you were trying to keep up with people, but when they’re in college in West Virginia and Virginia, and I’m all the way in Florida, it’s hard.”

Still, the bond proved too strong and the two are in touch constantly. And things have come a bit full circle with that friendship leading them back to the ring together.

Quesenberry has indeed stepped through the ropes as his old friend’s tag team partner for Appalachian Championship Wrestling. The two became the ACW six-man tag team champions when they teamed with The Barbarian to dethrone the Franchise Players in December at Oak Hill Middle School — where Quesenberry is the current principal, thus the nickname Principal Chad. It was Principal Chad who pinned Shane Douglas after a spear to end the match and secure the title.

The lifelong friends will return to the scene when ACW hosts Payback at the school this Friday.

This time, the dynamic will be significantly different. Problems already existed within the Franchise Players and the tension grew with the six-man loss. “Handsome” Nick Hamrick blamed Douglas for the loss and the group turned on him and Chris Cannon at the ACW compound, proclaiming themselves The New Franchise Players.

That leads to Friday’s main event, where Heath and Principal Chad will have a mystery partner to put the belts on the line against Hamrick — and two mystery partners of his own.

Neither Heath nor Principal Chad would provide a hint as to the identity of their mystery partner.

“I know exactly who it is, but I ain’t gonna tell nobody,” Heath said. “This isn’t my first interview, kid.”

Principal Chad offered a proposition.

“If Hamrick releases his, we will think about releasing ours,” he said.

“I still probably won’t,” Heath countered.

The event was originally scheduled for April but had to be postponed because of electrical issues in the gym. Those have been corrected and the path is clear for ACW’s return.

There will be two more title matches Friday night, including Mika defending the women’s championship against La Pegasa.

There will be a six-pack challenge for Zaiden Kayne’s ACW international championship. Joining him in the match will be Jason “The Gift” Kincaid, Tyler Jaxx, Gen Z, Corey Sparks and OK.

Marino Tenaglia and Tyler Jordan will team up to take on Johnny Mahalo and Tyler Brooks, collectively known as Point Break. Shelby Wylder will take on Bruce Grey.

Former ACW heavyweight champion Josh Bishop will make his return as he faces Philly C. He had to relinquish the title because of injury in October.

Tickets are $15 for ringside and $10 general admission. Kids 10 and under get in for $5.

“I do think everyone should come out and I do think everyone will have a good time,” Heath said.

“You get to interact with these guys and you get to pay really a fraction of what it costs to do anything. You can’t even go to the movies for what it costs to come over here and watch this show,” Quesenberry said.

“You get to interact with the guys and it’s an experience. I tell everybody, people that aren’t fans of NASCAR, what do they always tell you? Go to a race and it’ll change your mind. And I tell people the same exact thing about wrestling.

“The big shows are fine. Go to a local show, though, and you will completely change your mind on it and you’ll be a fan. So bring your kids out, come out, enjoy it, and me and Heath and our mystery third person will give you stuff to talk about.”