RhodyRaybo's blog

Yes, that's right, I have had 350 matches since I began wrestling 3 years ago. While there were not 350 meetings, about 20 % were group matches that involved more than one opponent. So each opponent at each meeting is a match for me. Matches have lasted from 7 minutes to 5 hours.

But today while I heard from "Ryan" out of nowhere and he asked if I could meet him at my place, so we had a typical match between him and I. We did cut it just a bit short because it was quite warm and humid, even in my basement.

What I'm thrilled about is that my 350th was with a semi regular. Numbers 250 and 300 were both with out of town visitors.

Now if I can just see when "Michael" can have our 30th match together.

Since I began wrestling in July 2011, I can proudly boast of over 330 matches with 72 separate "opponents". Had many wonderful matches, but a few were worth forgetting. But I have decided to report the top 7 here in NUMBER of matches I have had with eachg uy whether it was one on one or a group wrestling gathering.

In 7th place with 16 matches, most of them in my basement, in this corner we have "Jim-Bob", whom I have mentioned several times on previous blogs. While he may be 7th in match frequency, he's actually first in just about every other category. When I met Jim-Bob 2 years ago, we hit it off immediately. He's much stronger and tougher than I am, and he kicks my butt. However, I always have the best time with him and totally comfortable to just talk with him about anything and tell him what's going on in my head while we're wrestling. Love ya dear bro "Jim-Bob"

In 6th place is "Kevin" in this corner with 18 matches. Kevin is one of the craziest wrestling dudes I've ever met and have had a blast each time. About half our matches were in group settings and he's only been to my place a couple times, but the fact remains, wherever I meet up with "Kevin", sparks fly, in a totally awesome wrestling manner. He has an awesome mancave and the highest compliment he has paid me is his arranging me to wrestle one one one with out of towners that he has hosted. "Kevin", I hope to meet up with you real soon.

In 5th place, in this corner, with 20 matches, we have "Joe". Joe is unique because he lives about 400 miles away, but is a very frequent traveler with some volunteer work he does. So whenever he makes it to the Boston area, he contacts me. I even went to his place for a weekend, because this crazy dude has an actual wrestling ring in his basement. I love my matches with him. He is very skilled, as he used to coach wrestling, but he takes it slow and easy so not to actually hurt anyone. What's unique about "Joe"? I'll tell you, wrestling him is like wrestling Lurch from the Adamms Family. Thank you, Joe, for including a slob like me in your wrestling circuit.

And in THIS corner, in 4th place with 21 matches is "Ryan". I met Ryan a couple years ago, and it was months between our first, second, and third matches. But last fall he started coming more frequently. Ryan is a big dude around my age who puts up a great sweat. He also like to swing a lot of punches and tries to get me to my "breaking point". I love it when he eggs me on. So to Ryan I say..."I wanna fight you man...real bad!!!"

And in the next corner in 3rd place with 23 matches is "Daniel"...his REAL name! While I have had many matches with this energetic and extremely friendly guy, many were brief because most of them were in group settings and most in his garage. Daniel loves to invite wrestlers into his garage for group matches. He's unique in so many ways. Friendly, very nimble, and always willing to share wrestling secrets that he knows. To know this guy is to love him, and I know many guys on these pages have actually met Daniel. He's very well known in the wrestling circuits.

And now, in 2nd place is "Michael" with 26 matches, last one with him was just last night. Michael is not only a wrestling buddy, but a close friend. He's a skilled BJJ student of many years who just likes to get beat up when he wrestles. I put him in one hold after another and he tries to get out of them. Despite his desire to job, it's still a good sweaty brawl with him. Originally he came the first 6 or 8 times to my house, but it became easier to wrestle him him if I went and made the 37 minute trip to his house. So we continue to wrestle in his unique space, in his room with the bed moved out of the way. "Michael", your friendship and our matches are both very special to me, so hopefully we'll be able to brawl soon, next week perhaps?

And finally, in FIRST place with a WHOPPING 34 matches, we have "Stanley". My wrestling journey with Stanley is so unique and so awesome, I could write a book about him alone! But what can I say in this brief space? He's in his late 50's, but has the body of a very fit 40 year old. He's very strong, very friendly, and a very skilled karate black belt. I've also considered him my mentor these last couple years because he always tries to push me harder. My matches with Stanley are easily among the most intense. We struggle and see who can pin whom. I used to run out of breath with him, now I have him tapping out more and more often. Face it, Stan, you've created a monster. Another thing I love about Stanley and the same can be said for "Joe" is that he is not afraid to periodically say hello to my wife. I know that takes courage and I think no less of those who are not ready to do such a thing. It's just an added perk to our friendship.

Well, that's my top 7. If anyone wants to know more about my wrestling adventures with these or other guys, please message me whenever!

So we were at it, me and Jim-Bob (not his real name) in our 16th
wrestling match since we first met 2 years ago. He's not able to come
over more than once every couple months, so it's always special when he
makes it over. We always begin in complete silence, he lets himself in,
I'm waiting in my basement on the mats for him, he strips down to his
gear, then approaches me. We hug for a bit then we begin struggling
saying not one word.

The struggling this time went on as it has so many other times. He's
considerably bigger and stronger than I am, so I get my butt kicked.
Anyway, it got to a point where once again I was on my back and he had
my head caught between his thighs squeezing and easing, squeezing and
easing, and we still hadn't said a word to each other.

Next thing I knew, I felt as though I heard sounds going through my head
sounding like app signals from a smart phone, and then I find my self
"waking up" for a split second forgetting where I was and what I was
doing. Then I notice a pair of legs engulfing my head. "I must have
dozed off" I thought still disoriented. Then in a few more seconds I
realized what happened, Jim-Bob had put me out. Once again I had been
accidentally sleepered. I said nothing and kept wrestling, or getting
my butt kicked as the case was.

When we finally finished this round we began talking and I told Jim-Bob
what had happened. He appeared a bit surprised to learn that he had
managed that. But, nonetheless, it was a special match with him for
many reasons. But this was the first time he had actually succeeded
in putting me to sleep for a few seconds. Kudos, "Jim-Bob"....you're
still tops!

Most of my wrestling semi regulars have a favorite line they've said to me, here are the best ones. Most of the names are changed to protect the guilty.

"You seem to like it down there"...said by "Carlos" when he put my head between his thighs the first time we met.

"Don't make me break my toy"...also said by "Carlos" when we first met.

"you are the Energizer Bunny"...told to me by "Todd" when we used to wrestle regularly.

"You're an animal!"...told to me last Sunday by "Buddy" when we were wrestling.

"If you struggle I'll just squeeze harder" told to me by "Kevin" when he had me on the floor in a rear naked choke.

"I've created a monster"...told to me by "Stanley" because I consider him my mentor in wrestling. I've come a very long way since we first wrestled.

"I have to hurt you now" told to me by Wrestling Beast when I had just made him tap out. Something that rarely happens with him and I.

And finally from "Michael"...."you got me". I'll let you use your imaginations there.

Most of my matches these days are spur of the moment. There are very few guys that I plan anything in advance with the exception of maybe 3 guys. Everyone else is "are you around?" or "are you gonna be home later on?". Well, this happened to me last night through my Craig's List ad and heard from a guy who had read my ad and asked if he just come over. I said yes, and I knew I was taking a risk because we had not really communicated prior to my agreeing to a match, so needless to say, I was really nervous. Turned out, he was a young married guy with 2 small children at home and a graduate student. I felt instantly at ease. Turned out, seeing that he hadn't wrestled before, he was far more nervous than I was. In fact, when I offered him some water (filtered from the fridge, put in a large water bottle) he nervously asks if I laced it with anything. I had to put some of the water from his bottle into mine and take a sip to put his mind at ease. Anyway, despite his paranoia, he was a strong guy who had great reflexes and instincts, though needs to learn some actual moves. We had a great time and I very much hope to see him again.