Victor Analog is a wrestler who grabs your attention from whenever he comes to the ring to “Video Killed the Radio Star” with a TV set on his head, to the time that the match is over. He trained at the Black and Brave Academy, which is run by Seth Rollins and Marek Brave. He started to make a name for himself in the Mid-West in Zero1 USA, while holding their JR Heavyweight title. In the past year he has branched out and opened a lot of people’s eyes at promotions like New Wave Pro, New South, and Paradigm Pro. I asked Victor about his unique entrance, his career so far, and what is next for him.
Don: The first thing that people notice about you is your extremely unique entrance. The first time I saw it I totally popped. What made you come up with the idea for the light up tv on your head and who designed it?
Victor: Thank you! That really means a lot when people notice what goes into the entrance, as it’s something that I put a lot of care in to. I’m a big believer that a wrestler’s most important steps happen during their entrance, and you should never waste that. Everything you see when I come through the curtain is all me. I try to be as DIY as possible, and that includes the TV prop. The TV thing has been a mishmash of ideas that have culminated in the current version of things you see now. In 2017 I had a bit of an identity crisis and was trying whatever I could to stand out. I was just a guy with a leather jacket and cool entrance music but I sucked in the ring and had no real character. On a whim I started walking out in a jacket with scrambled color test patterns, and it felt right for whatever reason, but it was missing something. The first few versions of the TV prop were just cardboard, duct tape, vinyl decals, and acrylic paint. They got the idea across, but after maybe 2-3 months they started falling apart, and I had to stop using them. Before the pandemic I built the current prop out of an old Zenith I found that matched the jacket I wear to the ring. I took it apart, removed the tube (which I came to find out is VERY dangerous), sawed out a hole in the bottom for my head, and fashioned it into what you see now.
Don: I understand that you make your own gear. Did you always do this, and where did you learn this skill?
Victor: Just about every pair of tights or trunks I’ve ever worn to the ring has been something I’ve made myself, which is something I take a lot of pride in. I taught myself how to sew when I was 16, and have been adjusting methods and techniques ever since. The very first pair of tights I wrestled in were sewn by hand in my apartment in Moline, Illinois on my off days while I was learning how to wrestle at the Black & Brave Wrestling Academy. They did not look good by any means, but it was the principle of it all that was important to me. I don’t ever want to lose that DIY spirit.
Don: Aside from your entrance you have been getting a lot attention for your work in the ring. Many people are recently seeing you wrestle for the first time. Can you tell us about some of the places that you have worked and your favorite matches?
Victor: I owe a lot of my current momentum to ZERO1 USA in Central Illinois. I spent 9 months as their Junior Heavyweight Champion, and had some of my favorite matches during that time. Any match I’ve had with Gary Jay has definitely helped form my style and mold the wrestler I am today. Probably my favorite match I’ve had all year was the 3-Way Dance that Gary and I had with Super Crazy back in May. As far as singles matches go, the match I just had with Anakin Murphy for STL Anarchy’s preshow party is one of the best. The Anarchy crowd is definitely my favorite to wrestle for. They’re an easygoing yet passionate audience, and I feel like I need to try a little harder every time I’m in front of them.
Don: What was it like training at the Black and Brave Academy and is there anything that you feel sets them apart from other wrestling schools?
Victor: The Black & Brave Wrestling Academy is totally different than it was when I was there regularly, but it’s absolutely no joke. Out of all the training systems I’ve experienced, their’s is definitely the toughest test for any aspiring pro wrestler. My class trained 3 times a week for 12 weeks, setting up and tearing down the ring before and after every session, which became a test in itself when our class of 12 students quickly diminished to 4 as more students quit. Current classes don’t have to suffer through that. It always feels like there’s more pressure to succeed there than any other wrestling school I’ve been to, though most other schools aren’t lead and owned by multiple-time world champions.
Don: After the scramble match at Unsanctioned Pro, Cole Radrick, the winner of the match and champion, left the ring so that you could get the applause from the crowd. I felt that you really stood out in that match. Did you feel like this was an important match for you?
Victor: That whole experience still feels pretty surreal, but not just because I was running on no sleep that day. The footage of it got cut from the IWTV broadcast, but your memory of it lets me know that it actually happened. This was important for a number of reasons, but it was special to me because of that validation and recognition from somebody that I have a ton of respect and admiration for. I can’t thank Cole Radrick enough for that moment, and I hope we meet again in the ring soon.
Don: Since you do come out with a TV, I must ask you what your favorite TV shows and/or video games are?
Victor: Believe it or not, I don’t watch a lot of television these days. My interests are pretty much unchanged from when I was a kid, and that’s horror movies, cartoons, and wrestling.
Don: What upcoming matches do you have that we should keep an eye out for and what are some promotions that you would like to debut for in 2022?
Victor: I’m thrilled to be a part of Paradigm Pro Wrestling’s UWFi Contenders tapings on December 3. I’m not sure who I’ll be facing off with yet, but those fights are a ton of fun, and I can’t wait for the violence. On December 4 (my 25th birthday), I’ll be wrestling Davey Vega for ZERO1 USA in a match I’ve secretly wanted for a long time. As far as my goals and aspirations for 2022, I just want to have fun. I’ve got a list of opponents and promotions for sure, but I’m not the type to post that just to get a couple of likes on Twitter, and I’m not going to set myself up for disappointment like that. However, I’d love to go back to Unsanctioned, New South, Anarchy, PPW, etc, but you’ll see me wherever else I want to be soon enough. Distance is no obstacle for me, and no drive is too far. Just stay tuned.
Victor is my favorite indie wrestler right now, stoked to see what he has coming up!