Recently the National Geographic channel presented a special called “Slammed:  Inside Indie Wrestling”.  It was a great special and never once demeaned or mocked professional wrestling.  To the surprise of everyone, a young wrestler named Shiima Xion stole the show.  He was charming, intelligent, a great wrestler, and an overall amazing human being.  Sure he’s just a “kid” but this kid can teach us all something.  Whether you take these lessons and apply them to your family, your job, your wrestling career or whatever your dream may be.

1. Involve your family.

Shiima needed to spice up his ring gear a bit and asked his mother for help sewing.  Some more self obsessed wrestlers might not want anyone but themselves to be on camera.  Xion however puts over his mom as the greatest person on the planet.  He loves and respects his mother.  He’s not asking her to sew for him because she’s obligated to do these things as his mother.  He’s asking because he loves his mom, he’s excited to put her on camera, and he obviously respects the hell out of her.  We all have that family member (or friend) who will support us no matter what.  Make that person a part of what you do.  If they feel a part of your success then you have someone to enjoy that success with.

2. Be Prepared

When National Geographic, Ring of Honor, Jim Cornette or even Delirious knocks on your door and offer you an opportunity you better have your shit together.  They may not give you time to think.  They may never come back again.  Shiima owned the promo, was great in the ring, and stepped up.  Not because he had months of advance warning.  But because he was ready.  Being awesome doesn’t hurt either, which leads me to…

3. Be Humble

Never once in the show does Xion act better than anyone.  He is grateful for his family, his life, his career.  He is humbled to be in the presence of everyone from Ring of Honor. He is respectful yet confident too.  You can put yourself over without being an asshole to everyone.

4. Accept your past, and use it.

You used to be a male model?  Don’t hide it, exploit it!  Shiima embraces his past and brings it into his gimmick.  The fans cant mock this, he’s already admitted it.  Xion can take this character and be booked as either a heel or a face.  Is her your pretty boy baby face or your cocky I’m better than you heel?  As every successful wrestler will tell you, the best gimmicks are just extensions of the person’s true self.

5. Congratulate yourself often.

After Xion’s ROH tryout he said, I did well today.  Holy crap.  I want that on a t shirt.  There are so many things in this world that are keeping 99% of us down.  We’re not millionaires or bankers or politicians.  We’re just people trying to get by.  So take every good thing and recognize it.  You didn’t do good.  Superman does good.  You did well.  You wrestled a match for Ring of Honor and people liked it.  You had to cut a promo, and it was decent.  When you lay your head down to sleep you can think back on the day and be proud of yourself.

I did well today.