📈 FIELD GUIDE 68: Aim Higher pt. 2

Jonathon Boatright, if you remember, joined us for our last FIELD GUIDE. This edition, we’re expanding on his professional refereeing and what goes into it.

Jonathon is a special education teacher by day and a professional wrestling referee by night. He is working hard and making a name for himself in the wrestling community. He’s got his sights set on the biggest of big leagues in wrestling and he’s making it happen.

I hope this weekend, Jonathon can continue to inspire you to do something despite the challenge that it may present you. Anything is still possible.

Happy weekend
Skyler

Name

Jonathon Boatright

Location

Georgia

Soundtrack

Welcome Back!

I was asked to elaborate more on the aspects of my job as a  professional wrestling referee.

You may have a question on your mind: “Jon, isn’t professional wrestling fake?” These really are fighting words to any fan, but especially to the wrestlers involved in the spectacle of professional wrestling.

What people fail to realize is that professional wrestling truly takes as much training as any other sport in the world. I would even say that professional wrestlers are more in shape than other professional athletes. The wrestlers and referees put in hours of training to perfect their craft.

For instance, I have seen firsthand the type of training that AR Fox (my trainer) puts himself through to keep himself in physical shape, and ring shape. Ring shape refers to being able to take “bumps” or where a wrestler falls to their back, and gets back up for another move. What does this mean? Imagine yourself throwing your body to the ground, and getting right back up. Do you think that you can do that? Probably not. You take one bump, and say, “Yep! That’s it for me!” This is just one basic aspect that a professional wrestler trains to do. Needless to say, professional wrestlers are up there with NFL athletes when it comes to being in shape.

Where does my role as a referee come into play in wrestling? My number one priority is to ensure that everyone involved in a wrestling match is safe. Safe means that they finish the match the same way they started the match. In my two years of doing this, I have witnessed a wrestler hit their face on the rope, and break their nose. I have also seen a person's ear almost taken off by coming into contact with force on an opponent’s gear.

Both were genuine mistakes, no malice involved. However, there have been times where some wrestlers will purposefully hurt their opponents (this DOES NOT HAPPEN A LOT, but it does happen). It’s what's known as “taking liberties”. This is very looked down upon. The ref is also there to serve as the authority in the ring.

Even though there are two strong-willed individuals gunning to take down their opponent, they cannot just do it any way they want to. There are rules that the ref enforces, such as the five count and rope break. The five count comes into play where a wrestler will have their opponent in the corner to where they can’t move. They have until the count of five to let go. The rope break typically comes into play during a pin or a submission. The opponent in the pin or submission grabs the rope. The wrestler giving the move has until the count of five to break the hold. Ultimately, the ref’s job is important not only in the show aspect, but in the reality as well.

Now, I was asked to talk about my ref name. Before I go into talking about my ref name, I first must say that I have a wicked sense of humor. I was bullied until high school for the way that I walk. I have a limp due to having cerebral palsy. So, in order to get ahead of the bullying, I would just make fun of myself.

Fast forward to creating my ref name. I wanted a name that encompassed me as a whole, a guy who doesn’t mind having fun. I came up with the name iHOP, one because I like IHOP, and two, pointing out that I can make fun of myself with my disability.

I have come to realize though that even though I am comfortable making fun of myself, that doesn’t mean that others are comfortable with it. It is because of this growth that when I officially go back into the ring Friday (been off rehabbing an MCL tear), I will simply be using my name.

Going into this, I did not want to offend anyone. I just wanted to show that I am not defined by my disability, I am much more. However, it has come to my attention that maybe, it did not come across well. It has shown me that you can grow no matter what the situation is that you are faced with. So, on this Sunday, I will not be stepping in the ring as Ref iHOP, I will be Jonathon Boatright. My role is to inspire, not degrade.