Local wrestler makes debut on WWE’s ‘Raw’ TV show

A homegrown professional wrestler made his first appearance in prime time Monday night.

John Skyler, who is from the Blythewood area, wrestled with tag team partner Corey Hollis on the World Wrestling Entertainment’s long-running live show “Raw.”

“It was surreal,” Skyler said. “I’m a boy from Blythewood who decided he wanted to be a pro wrestler because he watched an episode of Monday Night Raw. So to be here on that very program is almost indescribable.”

Skyler and Hollis are working on a per-appearance basis with WWE with hopes to get signed to a full-time contract. On Monday they took on Primo and Epico in that duo’s return to the promotion as “The Shining Stars.”

Skyler, the self-proclaimed “Southern Savior,” grew up in the Blythewood area as John Brumbaugh and graduated from Ridge View High (2006) and the University of South Carolina (2011). He was a standout soccer player at Ridge View.

He now works for several smaller promotions mainly across the Southeast. He also has appeared on WWE’s “NXT,” “SmackDown” and “Main Event” shows.

This story was originally published May 16, 2016 at 11:17 PM with the headline "Local wrestler makes debut on WWE’s ‘Raw’ TV show."