EXCLUSIVE: Vaughn Vertigo reflects ahead of Mustafa Ali match
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The independent wrestling scene in Canada has never been hotter. The depth of talent and amount of quality promotions is a reflection on the hunger north of the border. One of the brightest prospects in the crowded Canadian talent pool is 28-year-old, Vaughn Vertigo.
On January 19th, the biggest match of his career will go down in Ottawa. He is set to take on Mustafa Ali at C4 Wrestling’s THE REVENANT. I spoke to Vaughn ahead of his match about the beginning of his wrestling obsession, the early days of his career, and how he feels about welcoming Ali to his backyard.
How It Started
Vaughn’s introduction to wrestling was similar to that of many wrestling fans, with a very unique Canadian twist. “I fell in love wrestling when I was 10 or so,” Vertigo shared. “My close friend’s aunt growing up was Trish Stratus.” It’s not every day that you befriend someone related to a pro wrestler. Especially one with a name as big as Trish’s. Needless to say, a young Vaughn’s interest was peaked, so he decided to rent the Smackdown vs. Raw video game. Shortly after, he started watching the weekly shows consistently.
There are a select few that actually make the jump from fan to performer. So what made Vaughn make that jump? Well, it’s pretty simple actually. “I found it [pro wrestling] to be one of the most creative and outlandish careers I could chase,” shared Vertigo.
Even though he doesn’t remember much about his early days of training, he does recall some impactful advice on being present in the moment. He also made sure to truly learn the ropes on every level possible. “Being present, I started training so young that I played every role I could on a show; referee, music guy, timekeeper, videographer, ring crew”. Today, he is one of the brightest prospects on the thriving Canadian independent scene. Much credit to his workhorse mentality, work ethic, and attitude.
“It feels incredibly strong right now [the Canadian independent scene]. There’s promotions running in nearly every city, in front of great crowds, every weekend.”
How It’s Going
On Friday, January 19th, Vaughn Vertigo looks to prove his worth. Aside from nerves, the pressure to deliver will also be present. There’s a level of hype that comes with Ali and this current indie run. But it has certainly not been lost on Vertigo. “For me, it’s a chance to finally prove myself in my own country,” he shared. So not only will the lights be brighter, he has the defend the house at THE REVENANT.
Although this will be the first in-ring encounter between the two, it will not be their first interaction. At one point, Ali shared one of Vaughn’s videos about wrestling overseas. Him doing that actually led to Vaughn’s growth in some of Europe’s top promotions. So heading into this sold out encounter, he is feeling a variety of emotions. “I’m nervous because I know he’s been around the block,” said Vertigo. “I just have to remind myself that I’ve been doing this for half my life. All I need is one shot to show I can hang with him.”
This high-profile encounter for C4 Wrestling will hopefully be one of many for The V-Guy. His mission statement is crystal clear: Impress enough to come back and then take over. “In 10 years I’ve only had two singles matches at C4. I want them to know that I can be trusted to have the spotlight on me,” said Vertigo. “I’ve worked incredibly hard these past 2 years to make a name for myself beyond Canada and it’s time that I prove to Mustafa Ali that I represent this country.”
For those not local, you can catch Vaughn Vertigo vs. Mustafa Ali on IWTV days later. It will be streamed on January 23rd at 8pm EST. Tickets for the event are sold out.
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