Ref Ryan T Answers KTB’s Open Challenge
The match took place at UWA Elite iWrestle.
Everybody loves an underdog. Ref Ryan T has been one since he was 4 years old.
Ryan Torok was diagnosed with leukemia in 1991. As he laid in the hospital bed, his doctor brought up pro wrestling, knowing that the youngster was a big fan. “Who are some bad guys,” the doc asked. “Undertaker,” Torok replied. The doctor went on to explain that Torok had some bad guys inside of him that he would have to defeat.
After a three-year battle, Torok had his hand raised in victory. He has been in remission for decades, grateful to be a cancer survivor and eager to help others in their own battles. That’s why he’s been a counselor at Camp Happy Times, a one-week overnight camp for people ages 5-21 who have or had cancer.
Of course, he’s also become one of the most reputable referees in professional wrestling, officiating over 2,000 matches in promotions such as Game Changer Wrestling, WrestlePro and UWA Elite. Known as the “Energizer Referee,” he can often be seen greeting folks at the concession stand, sweeping the ring in between matches or handing out fliers after the show. His enthusiasm and passion for the industry can’t be questioned.
His intelligence, maybe. After all, nobody expected Ref Ryan T to answer KTB’s open challenge. For months, the beast has been mauling everyone in his path, including legitimate competition like Lukas Finnegan and Joey Silver. During UWA Elite’s takeover of the Middlesex County Fair, KTB demolished foes all week long, berating Ref Ryan T along the way. After one match in particular, Ryan quickly raised KTB’s hand in victory, only to get shoved into the corner. Sick and tired of being bullied, the senior official got back to his feet, dusted himself off and pushed the monster.
Check out everything that went down between KTB and UWA Elite Senior Official Ryan T during the week of the Middlesex County Fair including a huge announcement regarding “UWA Elite iWrestle”.
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Ref Ryan T went on to accept KTB’s challenge for the next night, but the latter refused to compete unless it was on his terms. UWA Elite owner Dave Swan announced the match would take place on Sept. 11 at iWrestle and the fans would vote on the referee (Swan won with 37% of the vote). You couldn’t help but be proud of wrestling’s goodwill ambassador for standing up for himself, but this was signing his own death warrant. How in the world would he survive in the ring with KTB?
Little did we know that Ref Ryan T was actually trained to be a pro wrestler. He credits Myke Quest, Eric Corvis, Archadia and Jim Logan for teaching him the ropes at UWA when he was just 16 years old. “I pursued a career as a referee because I understand the art,” Ryan told The Wrestling Estate. “Being a trained wrestler helped me utilize these skill sets as a referee: ring placement, ring awareness and communication.”
Thirty years after beginning the fight for his life, Ref Ryan T donned the tights for another battle this past Saturday. As soon as Swan called for the bell, the “Energizer Referee” pounced on KTB to the shock of the 90 some-odd fans outside the South River VFW in New Jersey. Flying around the ring like he’s been Super Calo all these years, Ref Ryan T even busted out a spinning heel kick!
When the action spilled outside the ring, that’s when reality set in. KTB took control, draping Ryan upside down on the ropes and cleaning his clock with a big boot. The punishment continued inside the ring, as KTB overpowered his much skinnier opponent and even sent him soaring into the turnbuckle with a mighty chop. The beatdown got so bad that if Ryan was the ref, he would have probably stopped the match.
But his resilience was too strong. Ryan fought back, scratching and clawing and chopping and punching, catching KTB with a DDT. With the crowd rallying behind him, Ryan summoned the strength to lift KTB onto his shoulders, but the veteran slid off and snuck outside the ring to retrieve a sledgehammer. Swan yanked it out of his hands and was chastised for his effort. KTB then went to kick Ryan, who caught his leg and spun him into a chokeslam from Swan! Dazed and confused, KTB made it back to his feet, only to get hit with an X-Factor off the second rope from Ryan. The crowd thought it was over, but KTB kicked out.
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Seething at this point, KTB went for the kill, powerbombing Ryan and then locking him in his trademark single leg crab until his victim gave up. “Ryan gave 110% out there and even though he didn’t come out with the win, he proved himself to a lot of people,” Swan told The Wrestling Estate.
It was certainly a valiant effort by Ryan, who can hold his head high, preferably with an ice pack. “The match was awesome,” Ryan says. “Not the outcome I wanted, but I know I gave it all and from the pops of the crowd, I know they really enjoyed the entire match.”
Although this underdog story didn’t have a happy ending, Ref Ryan T remains an inspiration both inside and outside the ring.
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