Author: Sometimes, the most meaningful journeys begin with a single spark and the courage to follow it. JP Zarka, founder and Editor-in-Chief of Pro Wrestling Stories, joined longtime site writer Tim Buckler on his radio show, The Little Telly Upstairs, broadcast on Radio Woking on April 10th, 2025. During the show, Zarka shared how he went from being a teacher and assistant principal, writing on the weekends, to building a major wrestling history website.
Early Wrestling Memories: From Sneaking a Peek to Powerbombs at Home
Long before Pro Wrestling Stories existed, JP Zarka’s fascination with wrestling began at age five with a fleeting glimpse of WrestleMania III at a sitter’s home.
"My mom was a flight attendant with United Airlines for forty-four years, and occasionally, my brother and I would stay overnight with sitters," Zarka recalled during an interview with longtime Pro Wrestling Stories author Tim Buckler on his radio show, The Little Telly Upstairs. "One particular sitter’s home had a distinct musky smell, and there was a room that was strictly off-limits—her husband’s TV room.
"Curiosity got the best of us, and sneaking down the hall with our ears pressed against the door, we heard these grunting noises. We wondered, ‘What is that?’ Suddenly, he opened the door and invited us in, revealing André the Giant battling Hulk Hogan on his small box TV. The moment was brief as the babysitter rushed us out—assuming our mom wouldn’t approve of us watching wrestling at her home, though she actually didn’t care—but that brief glimpse definitely planted the seed for my lifelong appreciation and love of professional wrestling."
As childhood gave way to the Blockbuster era, wrestling tapes became a weekend ritual. "I always raced straight to the wrestling aisle," JP laughed. "I’d grab all the Royal Rumbles, WrestleManias, and especially loved the Coliseum videos. VHS tapes like ‘Wrestling’s Strangest Matches’ stood out with the infamous Four Doinks match featuring Bam Bam Bigelow and Men on a Mission, and of course, unforgettable bouts like Razor Ramon losing to the 1-2-3 Kid in a shocking upset in their $10,000 in a bag match."
Saturday mornings were also sacred: waking up early to catch WWF recaps at 9 a.m. on the USA Network. "I’d always wake up for WWF Mania, with Todd Pettengill and Sunny, which came on right after Weird Science. I wanted to see the latest with what was going on. I ate it all up. The number of times we executed moves like Diesel’s Jackknife Powerbomb or Razor Ramon’s Razor’s Edge onto my mom’s bed—it’s astonishing that bed stayed intact!"
Rediscovering Wrestling: The Spark that Ignited Pro Wrestling Stories
Like many wrestling fans, JP’s passion ebbed and flowed over the years until an eventful moment in 2013 reignited it. “Daniel Bryan’s incredible run and the controversial finish at SummerSlam 2013 drew me back in full force,” JP enthusiastically explained.
“I hadn’t watched wrestling for a while. I was very much into The Rock during the Attitude Era; I even grew out my sideburns and would give The People’s Eyebrow to unfortunate passersby in the hallways in high school!” he jokingly shares. “But from around 2001, I would just dip in, watch a pay-per-view here and there. But that Daniel Bryan storyline caught my attention. The Yes Movement, all that; I was hooked.”
Zarka began immersing himself in wrestling’s live scene, regularly attending PROGRESS Wrestling, Revolution Pro, and Southwest Wrestling Entertainment (SWE) shows in and around London. Mingling with fans and many of today’s biggest stars like Will Ospreay, JP found himself drawn not just to the in-ring action, but to the stories behind the spectacle.
Intrigued by the backstage drama and real-life tales from the squared circle, JP began devouring wrestling autobiographies, notably Bret Hart’s memoir. “I didn’t really know what life was like for wrestlers on the road—350 days or more away from your family, the debauchery, the infighting, the jealousies that fester backstage. That’s what I really got interested in—the real-life stuff.”
Inspired, Zarka began posting detailed historical wrestling stories on Reddit’s /r/SquaredCircle subreddit in 2014, which quickly garnered positive engagement and praise from readers.
“I put together stories detailing how Ultimate Warrior missed a Make-A-Wish event, followed by articles about Owen Hart’s tragic passing, which included firsthand quotes and vivid accounts from those present. Another piece I wrote during that time focused on the tragic story of the Von Erich family.
“After my write-up about the Von Erichs was posted on Reddit, a reader suggested, ‘Hey, you should make this a weekly series!’ Receiving positive feedback like that from readers was all it took; I decided to transform my writings into a weekly series called Wrestling Stories.
“Every Saturday morning, I would wake up and immerse myself in stories that intrigued me, writing about them while my wife enjoyed her sleep, often until noon—this was before we had kids,” JP humorously recalls. “It became a Saturday morning ritual. At that time, I was working as a teacher, so I was used to waking up early. This routine provided a fun outlet for me to enjoy and channel my energy on the weekends.”
Remarkably, JP’s Reddit series earned the accolade of “Best Post Series” on /r/SquaredCircle in 2015, a community of over one million subscribers, providing him the confidence to transition from casual writing to formally launching Pro Wrestling Stories on May 16, 2015.
JP remembered the immediate excitement following the site’s launch.
“Just days after going live with ProWrestlingStories.com, legendary commentator Jim Ross tweeted about our story on Owen Hart’s ribs,” JP recalled.
“Soon after, Sports Illustrated featured us in their ‘Extra Mustard’ column, where they wrote, ‘Stumbled upon this great website—Pro Wrestling Stories—which is full of behind-the-scenes anecdotes and a good way to lose 30 minutes of your life.’ That was a great plug—wow, it’s Sports Illustrated! SI was the first magazine subscription I had as a kid. That was all the motivation I needed to just do what I can with this.”
For the first year and a half, JP wrote the articles himself, usually on Saturdays while still teaching. During that time, the site’s social media presence grew quickly, leading to private conversations with the likes of Savio Vega, the late Del “The Patriot” Wilkes, and Kevin Von Erich, as well as former Olympic Gold Medalist and WWE Champion Kurt Angle, who personally reached out to Zarka to help promote his Angle Strong app focused on substance abuse recovery. These connections opened the door to his first interviews for the site, along with Zarka being invited to host a few popular Reddit Ask Me Anything sessions—including one with Savio Vega that was voted "Best AMA" by readers of /r/SquaredCircle in 2015, marking Zarka’s second entry on the community’s Best of the Year list that same year.
“Slowly, people started reaching out, ‘Hey, can I write for you?’ And I was like, ‘Absolutely!'”
From Educator to Wrestling Historian: Embracing the Leap
Before Pro Wrestling Stories fully took off, JP Zarka spent a decade in education, including time as a teacher and assistant principal. "Initially, I planned on teaching until retirement," he shared. "I loved the interactions with students and the positive impact I could have on their lives, especially as someone who grew up with a single mother and didn’t always love school myself. Teaching was incredibly rewarding."
A major turning point came in 2018. As site readership climbed, JP faced a choice: continue in education or take a chance on Pro Wrestling Stories.
"I’d invested six years in college, and $60,000 in student loan debt, for a career in education. But I wasn’t entirely happy. I’d come home exhausted with stacks of marking to finish, lucky to see my oldest for an hour before bedtime."
Taking the leap, he devoted himself to the site, and within a year, monthly readership soared from 300,000 to over 2.5 million. "Leaving teaching was one of the most daring but rewarding decisions I’ve ever made."
JP spoke candidly about his profound gratitude for this change. “Running Pro Wrestling Stories has allowed me invaluable time with my daughters. I can now attend every pickup, every drop-off, and I’m fully present in their lives. Not only that, but the site has also brought countless friendships, connections with over a hundred talented writers, and opportunities to engage deeply with a passionate audience and many within the business; individuals I once looked up to as heroes. There are genuine, daily ‘pinch me’ moments—something I never take for granted.”
Writers for the site have echoed the positive, collaborative environment. Senior writer Tim Buckler shared during the interview, "You are the only website I write for now. Every other website I have written for, it’s just like talking to a machine. They don’t really care about your voice. But with you, I feel more free to do whatever I want. I want to hear the writer’s voice. I want to hear their personality. And not only do you allow that, but you give so much praise that I want to keep writing for you."
That emphasis on encouragement isn’t by accident. "It’s exactly what I used to strive for as a teacher," JP explained. "Whether working with students, teachers, or writers, leading with positive, meaningful feedback gets the best out of people. Focusing on what’s wrong never inspires growth—it shuts it down.”
That same ethos, much like it was in Zarka’s classroom as a teacher, is at the heart of Pro Wrestling Stories, which is now made up of writers from all corners of the globe—from El Salvador to Adelaide to former WWE Superstars, Olympians, Playboy models, TBS executives who oversaw the running of World Championship Wrestling (WCW), to fellow teachers, accountants-turned historian/podcast gurus, published authors, and beyond.
Behind-the-Scenes Friendships and Memorable Connections
JP Zarka shared how running Pro Wrestling Stories led to unexpected experiences and lasting friendships. "In 2018, just one week before I left teaching, I flew to New York for the premiere of 350 Days, a wrestling documentary my site editor, the incredibly talented Evan Ginzburg, had worked on. Evan had also served as associate producer on The Wrestler, which was nominated for an Oscar," JP recalled. "Meeting Evan in person was fantastic. But the real surreal moment came afterward, when I went back to his home and found Greg ‘The Hammer’ Valentine casually lounging on the couch in his underwear, sipping tea made by Evan’s wife!”
“The following morning, I was at a deli in Queens with the late Lanny Poffo,” JP continued. “We bonded over spicy egg burrito wraps while Lanny shared stories about his legendary brother, Randy Savage. Walking around New York City with Lanny and hearing these incredible, firsthand anecdotes, I’ll never forget it. Our friendship blossomed from there, leading to us co-hosting ‘The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo’ podcast together.”
With hundreds of amazing Pro Wrestling Stories to dive into, where do you start? Get the inside scoop – join our exclusive community of wrestling fans! Receive 10 hand-picked stories curated just for YOU, exclusive weekly content, and an instant welcome gift when you sign up today!
JP Zarka on Hosting The Genius Cast With Lanny Poffo
The Genius Cast was a weekly podcast that offered listeners a unique look behind the curtain of the wrestling business, featuring Lanny Poffo’s poetic wit and deep storytelling alongside JP Zarka’s research-driven, fan perspective.
The show welcomed an impressive lineup of guests, including WWE Hall of Famers such as Gene Okerlund, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Terry Funk, Jeff Jarrett, Sean Waltman, Molly Holly, and Fred Ottman, as well as Rip Rogers, Nick Dinsmore (“Eugene”), Kevin Kelly, Bill Apter, and others. Each episode offered a blend of never-before-heard stories, wrestling history, and heartfelt tributes, with Lanny often breaking into poems or songs and sharing memories of his brother Randy and their days in the territories.
Reflecting on the experience, Zarka shared, "That show remains one of my proudest achievements. But truthfully, producing a weekly podcast, running a website and having a baby at home at the same time became a lot to juggle, so when our show came to a conclusion, it was a welcome reprieve for both Lanny and me. For me, it allowed more time to focus on the site, and for Lanny, it meant he could knock places off his travel bucket list and share his experiences in written form on the site, which he did before he sadly passed away."
The podcast also opened new doors for JP. "The podcast led to opportunities with ITV Studios in the UK. They reached out to me in the middle of the pandemic in 2020 and said, ‘Hey, we heard your stuff with Lanny Poffo on your podcast. Would you like to come on and be a historian for our show, Autopsy: The Last Hours Of…?’ Because of this website I started on a Saturday morning while my wife slept in, I’d become friends with Lanny Poffo—and now I’m being asked to be a historian on a TV show I used to binge-watch at two in the morning. I’m just like, oh my goodness, life is crazy. You can see me in the Randy Savage episode, which is part of season 12 of that show (available to stream on Peacock)."
The site’s reputation has also led Zarka to collaborations with the BBC and Amazon MGM Studios. “I’ve had BBC reach out to me for help with researching for their Bruiser Brody podcast series, which features our longtime author and respected historian Jim Phillips. And just a few weeks ago, we had Amazon MGM Studios reaching out for us to interview the people involved with the movie, A Working Man with Jason Statham, which debuted as the #1 box office film on its opening weekend, toppling Disney’s Snow White. My first thought was, ‘We’re a wrestling history site. How can we make this connection work?’ But then I was like, you know what, let’s run with it. This is a unique opportunity. Let’s talk to them.”
“We ended up getting Hollywood writer and director David Ayer (Training Day, Suicide Squad) and stunt coordinator and actor Eddie Fernandez (The Batman, The Hunger Games) to share their story of wrestling fandom and we put out a real fun article about that.”
JP Zarka: A Journey of Passion, Community, and Nostalgia
JP Zarka’s path, from a wide-eyed kid sneaking a glimpse of WrestleMania III to the founder of a globally respected wrestling history site, shows that the most meaningful journeys often begin with a spark of curiosity and the courage to follow it.
“Sometimes, simply leaning into your passions can take you places you never imagined.”
What began as solitary Saturday morning posts evolved into a thriving community of storytellers, historians, and fans, all united by a shared love for wrestling’s rich past.
At its core, Pro Wrestling Stories reflects the same principles Zarka valued as an educator: respect for history, positivity, and lifting others up.
But beyond nostalgia, the site’s mission is simple: to leave behind something meaningful that can be discovered by inquisitive minds one hundred years from now. It’s about sharing stories that read well, honor the truth, and inspire curiosity to keep learning.
To hear more from this conversation between JP Zarka and Tim Buckler on Radio Woking, including JP’s thoughts on an iconic British band, his wrestling Mount Rushmore, and more unforgettable behind-the-scenes tales, listen to the full interview on Mixcloud, starting at the 1:09:00 mark:
These stories may also interest you:
- Evan Ginzburg: A Journey Through Wrestling and The Arts
- Behind the Scenes with Pro Wrestling Stories Authors and Historians, Javier Ojst and Benny Scala
- Greatest Challenge Yet for Pro Wrestling Stories Author Jim Phillips
Can’t get enough pro wrestling history in your life? Sign up to unlock ten pro wrestling stories curated uniquely for YOU, plus subscriber-exclusive content. A special gift from us awaits after signing up!
Want More? Choose another story!
Be sure to follow us on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, TikTok, and Flipboard!
"Evan Ginzburg’s stories are a love letter to wrestling, filled with heart, humor, and history. A must-read for any true fan." — Keith Elliot Greenberg
Wrestling Rings, Blackboards, and Movie Sets is the latest book from Pro Wrestling Stories Senior Editor Evan Ginzburg. 100 unforgettable stories—from sharing a flight on 9/11 with a WWE Hall of Famer to untold moments in wrestling history. A page-turner for fans of the ring and beyond. Grab your copy today! For signed editions, click here.
"Evan Ginzburg’s stories are a love letter to wrestling, filled with heart, humor, and history. A must-read for any true fan." — Keith Elliot Greenberg
Wrestling Rings, Blackboards, and Movie Sets is the latest book from Pro Wrestling Stories Senior Editor Evan Ginzburg. 100 unforgettable stories—from sharing a flight on 9/11 with a WWE Hall of Famer to untold moments in wrestling history. A page-turner for fans of the ring and beyond. Grab your copy today! For signed editions, click here.
Pro Wrestling Stories is committed to accurate, unbiased wrestling content rigorously fact-checked and verified by our team of researchers and editors. Any inaccuracies are quickly corrected, with updates timestamped in the article's byline header.
Got a correction, tip, or story idea for Pro Wrestling Stories? Contact us! Learn about our editorial standards here. Ever wanted to learn more about the people behind Pro Wrestling Stories? Meet our team of authors!
ProWrestlingStories.com participates in affiliate marketing programs. This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we may earn commissions at no extra cost to our readers. This supports our mission to deliver free content for you to enjoy!
