om ere ‘ af Former SFU wrestler Roselli battles The Beast . ,Michae! Baoth ’ Contributing Writer ‘A North Vancouver wrestler took on his boyhood idol last Saturday. Mike Roselli, a former Canadian national wrestling team member, climbed into the square cirele last Saturday at the North Surrey Ree Centre to do battle against Dan “The Beast” Severn for the NWA world heavyweight championship title. “This will be the third biggest matel: of my career,” Roselli, 26, said prior to the match. “The first was against Shawn Michaels and the second was against Japanese grand champion Fujiwara. This Dan Severn match is very impor- tant for me. F grew up following hiny in ama- recur wrestling and he was one of the best wrestlers in the U.S.” It was nor be however, as the old master _ pinned Roselli to win the match. Even before his high school graduation, Roselli. was already | active in professional wrestling. He made his pro debut on his 17th birthday with the old All-Star Wrestling crew in Vancouver and from that moment on, he says, was hooked. After graduating from. Surrey’s Queen Elizabeth Secondary in 1989, Roselli attended Douglas. College and was a member of’. the - Burnaby. Mountain Wrestling. Team at Simon “Fraser University where he won the Canadian heavyweight title in 1991. He said he still holds » the national record for,the fastest pin in a gold “ medal match when he won the championship i in just 16-seconds, Thanks to the somewhat theatrical tenden- - cies of professional wrestling, Roselli was able to continue. his pro wrestling, pursuits and still “maintain his standing aé an amateur. “Twas lucky because SFU let sme wrestle » professionally in the off season,” the 6°6” elli said. “Sport Canada didn’t havea prob- , lem with itso it was OK.” ‘ With the green light to pursue the pro game, Roselli joined the WWE asa 19-year-old. Tn that infamous loop, Roselli battled in non- thevised “dark matches” where WWE officials assesd his abilities. “ft did very well there,” he said. “LE gota ree- ommendation from the WWE vice-president. but he said Iwas tuo young. A little more expe- rience and a little more age was needed, “L got what a fot of guys get —~ if they sce potential they send you to Japan to hone your’ skills. [f you can make it through Japan, then you can come back.” For the past several years, Roselli has been wrestling in- Japan's Samurai Project © Pro Wrestling organization where he currently holds the heavyweight championship belt. Four or five times cach year, he hops a plane to the land of the rising sun where he spends two to three weeks plying his trade in assorted wrestling festivals. Roselfi-is one of three Caucasians in the SPPW stable and while the pay can be quite lucrative, the working conditions are often nothing short of brutal. “One ‘of two things happen in Japan,” Roselli said. “Either you get beat up and you quit, or you get’ beat up and fight. back. And you will [take a beating, ir. doesn’t matter who you are.” Roselli said he believes he is now ready for another stab at big time pro wrestling in North America but personal reasons mean he will “probably continue to pick up frequent flyer miles winging it to Japan four or tive times in each of the next vo years. “J feel ready to take another stab at the big time ‘now bur with the WWE, you have to’ be . prepared to dedicate between 26 t0 25 days per month. 1 got married four weeks ago and that’s my main reason for hanging around Japan for another year or nwo,” , M ichacl Rooth is the Surrey Now sports editor, ‘The entry fee is ~The crowds are thrillin The game ts basi MIKE Roselli has alittle hetp from the imiddte + rope as tie applies a choke he! on “The Beast" Severn during their NWA world heavyweight championship bout. Se retained his belt, but Nort Van’ 's Roseill, 26, ‘served notice he 1s a true. contende lowest in town. The prizes are huge. etball an Three on 3 tourny is North S! wth ea It happens ‘August - 23, 1998 in the upper parkade of the sea-side Park Royal Shopping Centre in West Van andis open to guys and girls 10 years old and. _ Enter the $50,000 Planet Superstar. shoot out. Win great prizes like $500 Adidas team shopping sprees, Planet Superstar merchandise, asuite to a Grizzlies'gan Park Royal Gift Certificates, Grizziies tickets and more. The Slanvis Greater Vancouver's s largest prize pool three on three tournament with prizes, totalling $15, 0 up for grabs. it's serious tun made fair and safe with referees in all age divisions. Imported playing surfaces orovided by Sport Court, medical tents, concessi stands, activities and entertainment play together to make The Slam the most action packed 5-day tournament in Greater Vancouver, There's even a rain n locatic “And, it hag the lowest entr y fee of any Vancouver 3 on3 tournament. Enter at Park Royal or any Planet Superstar store by August 12, 1998. Call The Slam line for more info 922 12 33. . re | PE dperstar ® £2.