'What a dream': How these four Hornell natives are taking on a career in pro wrestling

This was one night Jeremy Campbell didn’t have to get into character as his wrestling alter ego, Cerin Rahne, aka “The Hope Dealer.”

Campbell stepped from behind the curtains and into the gym at the Hornell YMCA, and the hometown crowd roared as he raced to the ring during Xcite Wrestling’s first-ever show in the Maple City.

The Hope Dealer had no problem pumping the crowd up with positive energy.

“You could read my face. Growing up I was always told I couldn’t hide my emotions on my face, and when I walked out and the crowd erupted, that was all real,” said Campbell. “There was no character to that. My heart stopped and skipped a beat. It was amazing.”

Campbell was among a handful of Hornell wrestlers who hit the ring March 30 for Xcite’s Maple City Meltdown debut. The group are regulars at Xcite Wrestling, an independent promotion based in Binghamton and Horseheads.

Tanner Button, aka Chael Connors, grew up in Andover and now lives a four-minute walk from the Hornell YMCA. Button recalled watching every WWE pay per view with his dad, never thinking he would someday wrestle in front of a hometown crowd.

“What a dream,” Button said after concluding the night with a crowd-pleasing win over Griffin McCoy. “The closest show was always an hour away at the very least. This was a four-minute walk.

“I’m glad Hornell is a wrestling town and hopefully this becomes a somewhat regular thing and we can grow something here. It’s always a privilege to have family and friends at a show.”

How Hornell natives got into the wrestling business

Campbell’s journey in the business started with training sessions in the backyard of HC Loc, an industry veteran who enjoyed stints with ECW and Ring of Honor. HC Loc lives in Steuben County and has also worked with Button and fellow Hornell natives Kayda Newburey (Kayda Cyn) and Michael Kirk Johnson (Phinehas Sun).

Johnson began training a little over a year ago. Now, he already has close to 20 matches under his belt at shows around New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

“It was pretty rough at first,” Johnson recalled. “Your body is not used to teaching itself not to brace yourself when you fall. You have to disconnect that, get out there and train.”

Johnson called wrestling in Hornell a “surreal” experience. Xcite operates a Fighting Arts Pro Wrestling Institute out of the Arnot Mall in Horseheads, where it also hosts monthly shows. That’s typically the closest drive for Hornell’s independent wrestlers.

Newburey started training with HC Loc in June and was in the ring for a match by July.

“I picked it up fast. It is nerve wracking at first, but as soon as you come through those curtains it’s just a wave of adrenaline and emotion when you get in the ring,” Newburey said. “I can’t describe it. There isn’t another feeling like it in the world.”

Pursuing pro wrestling a 'lifechanging' experience

Newburey said training at the Fighting Arts Pro Wrestling Institute has been a “lifechanging” experience, one that has provided a home in the wrestling community.

“I came out as trans eight years ago and the way they accepted me for everything I am over there is amazing,” said Newburey. “They’re a great group of individuals. They’re like family. Loc is like all of our dad, and they’re like my brothers and sisters.”

Johnson said the pursuit of his wrestling ambitions has made him more disciplined in everyday life, right down to his grocery lists.

“I’ve changed my whole eating habits. I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in,” he said. “I put on about 10 pounds in the last year since I started doing this. I’m still training and getting better every day.”

That kind of dedication is a must for wrestlers who want to stand above the rest. Campbell started out wanting to be a highflyer like Jeff Hardy, but over time has gravitated to the technical striking aspects of pro wrestling, taking inspiration from wrestlers like Chris Jericho.

“There’s plenty of people who do this every weekend. I have to do something to set myself apart,” said Campbell.

A counselor when he’s not in the ring, the “Hope Dealer” moniker was inspired by his frequent sharing of addiction and mental health recovery posts on social media.

“I want people to say ‘Hey, that guy has something going.’”

Smalltown roots, big time dreams

All of Hornell’s wrestlers on the Xcite circuit are just getting started, with dreams of climbing to the top of the industry in the coming years.

For the young fans seeking autographs after the match, Hornell’s hometown heroes already appeared larger than life.

“I never thought I’d have fans or people who kind of look up to me,” said Campbell, who has wrestled as far away as Tennessee. “I would love to get to AEW, WWE, TNA one day. Those are all on my radar. I want this to pay the bills one day.”

Button echoed that his “wildest dream” is to simply make a living off pro wrestling; performing in arenas and nationally televised events would be a bonus.

Button is currently part of a tag team championship duo in Empire State Wrestling, based in Buffalo.

More: Hornell has a pool hall for the first time since the 1980s. Meet Golden Break Billiards.

“The independents can be very fruitful and there’s a lot of work in the indies,” he said. “It’s something I wasn’t even aware of as I was growing up. Hopefully things like this get the word out and people are aware that pro wrestling isn’t just in Buffalo or Rochester, and it’s not just WWE or AEW. There’s a quality product somewhere near you.”

The Hornell crew may not have to wait long for another chance to wrestle in front of a hometown crowd. Xcite has already announced it will be back in the Maple City this summer.

-- Cover photo of Cerin Rahne by Nancy M. Ortiz of Big Nance Photos.

This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: How four Hornell natives are chasing a career in pro wrestling