Chasing Greatness - With Xavier Young

Xavier Young is a rising talent in the indie scene, chasing what all wrestlers seek to achieve: greatness. From a grind that inspires others and a consistency that proves that hard work pays off, he earns every spotlight with hustle, passion and relentlessness. Out working his opponents and delivering unforgettable match moments, Xavier’s sharp mind for the craft and authentic devotion speaks for itself.  Making his debut in 2019, Xavier began his training at Lucha Libre Volcanica and shortly thereafter joined the Buddy Wayne Academy and has since then traveled the ups and downs of the business with nothing but heart and gratitude. 

My talk with Xavier felt easy. Nothing was rushed or forced, it really just felt like two friends chatting about wrestling. What I enjoyed most about our interview was that Xavier truly put me into the emotion and the moment with the conversation. His love for wrestling was clear the moment we started chatting. 

Here’s a bite-sized look at our conversation.

Your ring name, how did you come up with it?

Well, my middle name is Xavier, and I wanted to be one of those wrestlers whose name is really an extension of who I am in real life. And Young just sounded cool behind it. 

Did you always know that you wanted to become a wrestler?

Yes. I always watched it growing up with my uncle and grandad. They had all the tapes back in the day, the first match I ever watched was Bret vs Shawn, the Iron Man match and knew right then I wanted to be a wrestler. And I went to my first show when I was like 9 or 10 and it just fueled the fire. 

I love that. I feel like it’s always the best when it’s family that introduces you to it or that you get to sit with and watch. 

Especially now when they see that I am doing it and I’m good at it. - but yeah, I’m a happy man. It has its ups and downs, good days and bad days, but I won't ever stop. 

So, who were your favorites growing up?

Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, AJ Styles, The Rock, Edge- Heavy influences for real. 

If you could pick one to have a career like, who would it be?

Honestly, Rock. I like the wrestler-turned-actor story. Acting is actually a big dream of mine too, so, being able to go into that realm of storytelling is something I would love to do. 

Ya know, you never told me about your local indie scene, and what makes it different from other places.

Sometimes your local scene isn’t YOUR scene. It’s great that I have places to wrestle and make myself more known in my own state, finally. But I know in order for me to truly make myself known, I have to continue to branch out more.  - I am grateful that I can get to work in my own state, but it’s at a cost. But aye, embrace the suck until you don’t have to anymore. - Like coming back to Washington is a blessing cause when I was living there and training at LLV and the BWA I wanted to get on WAC and DEFY and DOA. Now I am on Peaks periodically that they remember me and hopefully as time goes by I can work in more PNW promotions. 

Who would you happily wrestle every show for the rest of your career and why? Who do you know who would help you put on the best match of the night?

That’s a good question and I hate that I don't just have one answer. Umm, even though I faced them once early in my career, my first thoughts would be Nick Wayne and Kevin Knight. Nick was my very first ever match and Kevin was someone I wanted to go at it with early and especially now seeing how they’ve grown and made themselves household names. Um.. another one I’m thinking of is Saint Julious, I just recently faced him in the Nightmare Factory showcase. I just don’t have a clear-cut answer but what I will say is I want to wrestle people who are just as good/better than me, it pushes me to my limits and I push my limits even further. 

Describe the moment you realized you were meant to be wrestling. 

My first match. It was a good match and the crowd was hot and I deadass cried, had tears in my eyes and I knew in that moment. 

Not tears in your eyes. Were you nervous?

Eyes read and all, my mom and brother watching on Zoom and me seeing them made me break and Nick and Shayna congratulating me turned me into a full-blown mess.  - Funny thing is, that morning I was nervous as fuck, so nervous I actually threw up and thought “welp I’m fucked.” but as time started going by and I got ready the nerves started to ease. 

What’s a lesson you learned the hard way?

It’s okay to say no to booking 

If you did an open challenge, who would you want to accept it, dead or alive?

Alive- AJ Styles

Dead- Eddie Guerrero

What’s something that the ring taught you about yourself that you didn’t expect?

I have something to give back to the world, a sense of service. I never thought I would be anything special or important when I was younger even when I wanted to wrestle. But I feel that with wrestling and everything else I want to do and accomplish that the ring taught me I am meant to be “Something” for others whatever it may be. 

How do you keep your passion for the business alive on tough days?

Honestly, that’s a good question. I can’t give up for real to keep it simple. I’ve sacrificed a lot for it and it’s literally a childhood dream and I’m the only one in my family actively pursuing their dreams so it’s kind of a lot of pressure. 

What’s your favorite part about connecting with the fans?

The passion. They really love this shit for real. Well the right crowd does but it is my job to get them engaged and when they are boy are these guys loud. 

What’s a guilty pleasure/hobby fans would never expect you to have?

I love Rom Coms. 

Describe your wrestling style as a food or a drink, and why?

Hennessy and a good ass cheeseburger. And Hennessy cause you don’t know if you're bout to get freaky or go to sleep or both. 

If you put together a tag team or stable to take over the indie scene or the mainstream, who would be in it?

It would be a Nexus-type of stable. With Saint Julious, Dono Hefner, Sonico, Zeb, Grayson Piercer, Gabriel Kai, I have a few more but that’s already a lot. 

In the wrestling yearbook, what superlative would you have? Most likely to…

Most likely to….Most likely to work out on his rest days. 

What have been some of your biggest accomplishments so far in your career?

Performing at Center Stage in GA. I saw two friends perform there and it was a goal of mine to do so as well and having that experience even if it wasn’t exactly what I wanted to do I am grateful for it nonetheless. 

What chapter are you currently writing in your wrestling career?

Patience and consistency. 

Carving his place in an industry that often duplicates, Xavier Young’s investment in himself is one of his greatest assets. As someone who has witnessed his inring ability first hand, the next few pages in Xavier’s book look nothing short of bright. You can follow Xavier’s journey on instagram at @TheXavierYoung and make sure to see him capture the ring and wow audiences in his home state of Georgia, and here in the PNW at Peak Sports Entertainment in Everett, Washington.