Muscle and Mayhem
Ironheadz Gym Owner’s Bold Leap into Pro Wrestling
Charles Romans
The Ashland Beacon
Tom Jones, owner of Ironheadz Gym, has recently began a new career. Jones, who began with a free gym in 2016, has grown to own multiple locations and retail stores selling weight training supplements (Bad Habits) and a clothing line. Jones also carries an array of personal protection equipment such as weight belts, straps, and more at his gyms and retail stores. But now Jones said that he has entered the world of professional wrestling as well.
“They (friends Jones has made in the industry along the way) have been after me about wrestling for quite some time. Independent groups around here, around the tri-state area, along with some bigger names.” Jones said. He admitted to always having the interest, and with the encouragement of his friends in the industry, he finally took the plunge.
“One of my buddies, Chris White, came into the store one day and was talking to me. He (white) has been wrestling as an independent wrestler for over 25 years. He was talking to me about wrestling and said that they were starting up another federation in the Chillicothe, Ohio area and he wanted me to be part of it.” Jones explained.
At first Jones turned down the offer, but after discussing it with his family he called white and said that he would do it. “I said I would do it, but I didn’t want to do it for very long. I’ll be 54 years old this year. But honestly, I feel like I am in the best shape I have ever been.” Jones admitted.
When he began to train, Jones said he went all in. His daily regimen includes oral stem cells and vitamin infusions at D & D Infusions and Wellness in Greenup, Kentucky. “I’ve been taking really good care of my body,” Jones said. He pays strict attention to diet and his workouts and makes time for the proper amount of rest to help with healing and growth.
Jones’s longtime friend WWE Hall of Famer Brian Wickens (better known in the wrestling world as ‘Bushwhacker Luke) insisted that he manage Jones’ new career and has been promoting him. Wickens is a wealth of information and advice and has also helped Jones add to his contacts in the industry. But Jones said that he mainly wants to remain in the independent circle because he doesn’t want to travel too much and spend too much time away from his family.
“I want to do this, but not for a really long time.” Jones said. He is excited to begin, though he admits the training itself – learning the ins and out of the ring – is grueling. “I want to do this and get my name out there and the name of my business, and also, I want to give my grandkids something to brag about.” Jones shared. “I love life, I love helping people, and I love making people smile. I tell people all the time that if you help one person smile every day then this world will be a much better place.”
Jones said that everything he does is geared toward helping anyone who will take the help. He is grateful for everyone who has ever helped him and hopes to pay that back. He is getting help in his new endeavor in the form of information and advice from wrestlers with decades of experience across multiple wrestling federations. One piece of advice he said he always tries to remember comes from wrestling legend Hulk Hogan who advised him to just have fun with it. Jones said that is exactly what he intends to do and hopes that everyone else will have fun along with him.
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