Behind The Mask Of Frightmare
The Synergy Champion speaks.
Injuries often change the trajectory of a wrestler’s career, derailing their momentum and limiting what they can do in the ring. In the case of Frightmare, an injury made him more popular than ever.
Six days before his scheduled title defense against Matt Macintosh last April, the Synergy Champion wrapped up a tour of the United Kingdom as part of the Fight Club: PRO Dream Tag Team Invitational. Frightmare and his longtime partner Hallowicked teamed with Eita to face oVe. As Sami Callihan held a chair, Frightmare hit a missile dropkick off the top rope, accidentally slipping into the chair and fracturing his elbow. His team emerged victorious, but he knew something was wrong. He went straight to the hospital (free healthcare in England), got his diagnosis and made it to the airport for his 7 a.m. flight.
As he flew home to Sleepy Hollow, Frightmare had a lot to consider. Thankfully, no surgery was needed, but he’d have to rock a sling and take it easy. He’d be out of action for at least 10 weeks (came back in nine). He’d also have to relinquish the Synergy Championship after only three months and one title defense.
“I hated having to give up the belt,” Frightmare told The Wrestling Estate. “I deserve the Synergy Championship. I’ve been putting on the best matches for that company since it started.”
Surprisingly, the fans felt the same way. Frightmare had been one of the top villains in Synergy (along with Brandon Kirk) since the New Jersey promotion’s inception. His name says it all – he’s out to terrorize. Before and during each match, the masked menace would scream and snarl at the audience, getting right up in children’s faces. His intensity radiated throughout the Polish Falcons Nest, battering the popular Drake Chambers in a dog collar clash and then a ladder match at Black Saturday, which was voted Match of the Year by Synergy fans.
Each grueling performance earned Frightmare more respect. His natural ability, consistency and tenacity was appreciated in the blue-collar towns of Manville and Hillsborough. When Frightmare won the Synergy Championship the first time, the crowd didn’t boo. Sure, they were excited to witness the first title change in company history, but they also recognized that his hard work had paid off.
And just like that, it was taken away. While Frightmare was sidelined, Macintosh won the vacated title in a match with Ace Austin. The Bad Apple exhaled hubris, irritating the fans by acting like he was the rightful champion. He lied, cheated and stole victories without the charm of Eddie Guerrero. And even though Frightmare wasn’t Mr. Nice Guy, he never took a shortcut.
“My competitive side never changed,” Frightmare says. “I’ve always wanted to be the top guy in a company and put on 10-star matches. Fans appreciate talent when they see it. Even when I was 100% evil, they were still applauding. It’s cool to see them now with open arms, especially after I’ve made half the kids in that audience cry.”
So Frightmare received a hero’s welcome when he returned to Synergy at the inaugural Garden State Invitational last July. He challenged Macintosh for the title he never lost, ending up in a heated battle that went to a no contest. Frightmare earned another shot at Synergy’s 2nd Birthday last September, outlasting five other competitors to become number-one contender. Putting his coveted mask on the line, he finally vanquished Macintosh and took back his gold at Black Friday, becoming the only two-time Synergy Champion and the 2019 Synergy Athlete of the Year.
“Frightmare wasn’t ‘anointed’ a top guy in Synergy,” says Synergy owner Colin West. “He proved he wanted it more than anyone else. Does everyone have a plan? Sure. But if you’re smart, you adapt your plan to fit what you see in front of you. I’m not so vain that I believe my way is always the best way. Frightmare took his spot by sheer force of will.”
Haunted Origin
Frightmare is a product of CHIKARA, a Philadelphia-based promotion known for incorporating elements of fantasy, science-fiction and comic books into the traditional pro wrestling genre.
The man behind the mask began training when he was just 15 years old and has the distinction of being one of Chris Hero’s (Kassius Ohno) last students. “I’m so fortunate and blessed to have the teachers I did,” Frightmare says. “Mike Quackenbush, Claudio Castagnoli (Cesaro) and Hero. I also had Hallowicked, Sara Del Ray and Delirious. I can’t ask for better people to learn from.”
Hero taught Frightmare strong style and various submission holds, which has helped separate the New Jersey native from other cruiserweights and luchadores. Quackenbush played a large part in creating the character, which Frightmare describes as possessing “intense energy.” According to legend, Delirious was suffering from catastrophic nightmares, so Ultramantis Black sent Hallowicked inside Delirious’ mind to try and save him. Hallowicked found something he felt a kinship with, which manifested into Frightmare.
His first appearance came at Armdrags to Riches in November 2008, being dragged on a chain leash by Hallowicked and Delirious. He made his in-ring debut in CHIKARA the next month, losing to Brodie Lee in quick fashion. Over the next year, Frightmare captured the imagination of CHIKARA’s fanbase, building buzz throughout the wrestling world. He was voted Rookie of the Year in 2009 by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
“Quackenbush called me to tell me about the Observer award,” Frightmare says. “I didn’t know what it really was at that time. But it’s an amazing honor and feeling, especially when you look at past winners. It holds a special place in my heart.”
Frightmare spent the next decade honing his craft, becoming a fixture of CHIKARA. He won the Young Lions Cup in 2010, successfully defending it seven times during his year-long reign. In 2012, he, Hallowicked and UltraMantis Black won the King of Trios, defeating Ring of Honor’s contingent of Mike Bennett and The Young Bucks in the finals. Branching out to different promotions, Frightmare has competed throughout the United States and around the globe.
“My mom used to come all the time, but she could barely watch when I did dives and crazy things outside the ring,” Frightmare says. “My daughter comes to the shows now and loves the mask. She holds the title Luchadorable. Family has always been supportive of me. I know some people are less fortunate on that end.”
What makes Frightmare special, according to Hallowicked, is that he is absolutely without fear. “I’ve witnessed him take on opponents twice his size without a second thought,” Hallowicked says. “He never hesitates to lead a charge when no one else is willing to. He cannot be intimidated. Many wrestlers’ strength lies in their ability to get in the enemy’s head and lead a fight in the direction that benefits their style. This simply doesn’t work on Frightmare. There isn’t a person on the planet who can manipulate him. Mind games are a joke to him. There is a good reason you don’t see many asking for a match with him. I am in no rush to do so myself. Frightmare has a one-track mind and that track is to butcher whoever you put in his way.”
Old Acquaintance Not Forgot
FRIGHTMARE vs DESEAN PRATT:
3 years of revenge.
TIX: https://t.co/qVzzOHdOwbA ghost from Frightmare’s past – the ghost of Amasis. A shocking video turned into a shocking attack at #SynergyTCT.
Will @PrinceofCMD take from @FrightmareLucha, the way Frightmare took from him? pic.twitter.com/bR0uynTras
— Synergy Pro Wrestling (@synergywrestle) March 7, 2020
As the current Synergy Champion, Frightmare takes responsibility for the success and failures of the promotion. He’s been along for the ride from ending the first show in front of dozens of people at the Manville-Hillsborough Elks Lodge to tearing the house down in front of hundreds at the Polish Falcons Nest and thousands watching live via FITE TV. He admires Synergy owner Colin West, who booked Frightmare for charity shows he ran before Synergy existed.
“I didn’t look at Synergy as another booking,” Frightmare says. “I wanted to build Synergy into something great.”
Gaining such a high profile around the U.S. and even internationally, Synergy has drawn the attention of several notable names, such as Jazz, Rhino, Homicide, Abyss and more. Up-and-coming stars are always knocking on the door, hoping for an opportunity to earn a spot on the full-time roster. And then there’s one man not interested in Synergy’s reach or publicity – he’s only focused on its champion.
In the fall and into winter, a mysterious figure from Frightmare’s past released videos stalking and threatening the Synergy Champion. At Tomorrow Comes Today in January, that figure revealed himself to be Desean Pratt, formerly known as Amasis of The Osirian Portal. Three years ago in CHIKARA, Frightmare defeated Amasis in a mask vs. mask match, taking Amasis’ identity.
Now Pratt has come for revenge.
“Frightmare is loved by the masses at Synergy,” Pratt says. “That’s because they don’t know the real Frightmare, the real Frightmare that kneels and dedicated his life to the monstrosity known as Nalzmaldun. No, they don’t know that side of him. In time, they will see that I’m not the bad guy here. I’m a man with a lot of rage pent up inside and on March 28, I finally release the rage, hate and anger to become your next Synergy Champion.”
Of course, that quote is outdated now. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, For The Crown has been postponed. Synergy will still be streaming a Best Of episode on FITE TV at 8 p.m. on March 28 for only $4.99.
That doesn’t mean Frightmare vs. Pratt is off the table. That match will indeed happen whenever pro wrestling resumes and the world goes back to normal.
“I want to show everybody that I can run with the top dogs,” Frightmare says. “Hallowicked and I were always underrated wrestlers. I’m going to make sure people are talking about Frightmare a helluva lot more in 2020.”
PLEASE WATCH.#ForTheCrown has been officially postponed due to new state restrictions. Colin West addresses the NEW streaming event 3/28 on @FiteTV, why the decision was made, & the new $4.99 “Best Of 2019” stream on 3/28 at 8 pm EST.
WATCH HERE: https://t.co/KaUhXSO5D2
— Synergy Pro Wrestling (@synergywrestle) March 23, 2020
Watch Synergy’s Best Of episode 8 p.m. EST on March 28 via FITE TV.
You can watch all of Synergy’s past events on independentwrestling
You can also watch all of Synergy’s past events on Powerslam.TV. If you don’t have a subscription, use the promo code “6500FREE” and the first month is free.
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