SouthernWorldwide.com – Pro wrestler Robert Martyr, a seasoned veteran of over a decade in the squared circle, is gearing up for a significant challenge this Saturday as he prepares to face off against the “legitimate legend” Bárbaro Cavernario.
Martyr confessed to initial hesitation when the match was proposed. “I’ve been back and forth on it,” he revealed in a recent interview. “Like, I was back and forth on the match when it was presented to me. You always get in your head about things. You always have this level of imposter syndrome.” However, this self-doubt was quickly overcome by a realization of his own capabilities. “But then I realized, dude, I’ve been doing this 11 years. It’s time to stop sulking. I’m doing this 11 years. I’m good at what I do. I’m truly one of the best on the indies.”
He further elaborated on his confidence and the unique magic he brings to his performances. “It doesn’t matter how often or not often I’m wrestling but whenever I do get in the ring, I make magic.” This belief is fueling his excitement for the upcoming bout against Cavernario. “I’m very excited. I know very much about Bárbaro. He’s one of the best in the world. Legitimately has been one of the best in the world for like maybe 10 years.”
Martyr’s deep connection to Lucha Libre, the Mexican style of professional wrestling, gives him a distinct advantage and perspective. “I’m not a stranger to Lucha. I was born and bred in Lucha. I studied it. That was my first style when I learned how to do pro wrestling. So, I’m very, very excited.” He is particularly thrilled to be competing on a major show for Pandemonium, which he considers his home promotion. The experience of facing someone with Cavernario’s pedigree is not lost on him. “The thing with Barbaro is he legitimately has wrestled in Arena Mexico. He’s seen everything. He’s wrestled everything. I’m gonna get to experience that.”
Looking ahead to the match, Martyr is confident in his ability to secure a victory. “And, I’m not gonna lose. I’m not gonna be respectful. I’m gonna be exactly who I am and I’m gonna win.”
Martyr’s journey into professional wrestling began in his teenage years, a passion ignited by old Lucha Libre tapes his grandmother had recorded. Unlike many of his peers who were drawn to the spectacle of WWE (then WWF) and WCW, Martyr found his inspiration in Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL).
He shared how his youthful energy and a mother’s search for a suitable sport led him to the wrestling ring. “Eventually, you know, I had ADHD, I’m like, man, I can’t seem to stay still, and my mom was trying to find a sport and nothing was working. And I said, why don’t I just try wrestling. I don’t know if that’s possible.” The discovery of a local wrestling school marked the beginning of his career. “I found a school. They made us sign a waiver and the rest is history.” His athletic background also includes high school wrestling, boxing, and Muay Thai, alongside his involvement in music, showcasing a diverse range of interests.
At the core of Martyr’s wrestling philosophy is the desire to evoke genuine emotion from his audience. “Martyr said his hope was to bring out some emotion out of those watching. He wants to make people feel all kinds of emotion when he puts on his performance in the ring.”
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The path to becoming a seasoned professional wrestler is often paved with arduous journeys and memorable, albeit sometimes challenging, road stories. For Martyr, these experiences are an integral part of the grind.
One particularly memorable anecdote from Martyr’s career involved his first booking outside of his home state of Florida. He recounted a trip to Chicago for a match that lasted a mere three minutes, highlighting the dedication required in the independent wrestling scene.
“The craziest one was probably when I drove 20 hours to Chicago to wrestle for three minutes. It was quite the something,” Martyr stated. He shared the car with fellow wrestlers Janai Kai and EK Prosper. “Professional wrestler, she’s amazing, Janai Kai, was in that car. EK Prosper, from NXT, was also in that car. We were all together,” he explained.
The group pooled their resources for this venture, their first out-of-state booking. “I started with those guys. We got this booking and we were like, you know what, it’s our first out of state booking (based in Florida), we’re gonna make this happen. We’re gonna go. We’re gonna put all our money together, drive up there.” However, the reality of the event proved to be chaotic. “So, we drive up there and it’s just a mess. It’s like the worst run show you ever seen in your life.”
The disorganization extended to the promoter himself. “Nobody knows what’s happening. The promoter doesn’t know what’s happening. Pretty much, he had forgotten that he had booked me specifically. He had forgot that I was also there.” Upon Martyr’s arrival, the promoter’s confusion was evident. “So, when I show up, he was like, ‘Wait, I booked you?’ And I’m like, yeah. Here’s the text messages. And he’s like, ‘Oh.’” This led to Martyr being placed in a very brief squash match. “So he books me in a squash match and it was literally like two minutes after a 20-hour car ride from Orlando, Florida, to Chicago, Illinois, and back. So really like 40 hours for a two-minute squash match.”
Martyr acknowledged that he took the loss in that match and did not even receive payment for his efforts. “Martyr admitted he took the loss on that trip and may not have even gotten paid for his troubles.”
Looking ahead, Martyr expressed his ambition to capture a championship belt in the near future, which would mark a significant milestone as his first professional wrestling title. “Moving forward, he said he hoped to win some gold in the near future. If he does, it would be the first championship he’s held in his professional wrestling career.”
