Post by The Gangsta on Jun 25, 2018 0:10:24 GMT -5
WFWF.COM EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Pictured: Ante Whitner at Breakout on June 24, 2018, after his triumphant win over Reina Kenshin.
ANTE WHITNER
Redeemed?
Pictured: Ante Whitner at Breakout on June 24, 2018, after his triumphant win over Reina Kenshin.
ANTE WHITNER
Redeemed?
Kay Fabe: Greetings lurkers and keyboard warriors alike! Welcome to the exclusive WFWF.com online interview with former National and Golden Opportunity Champion, Ante Whitner! Whitner made headlines last October by announcing intentions to retire, shocking the WFWF fanbase with the news of the Golden Opportunity Champion calling it quits. The "Bloodied Eagle", however, continued to appear on WFWF television until early March where he was stripped of his Golden Opportunity title, vanishing without a trace. Now, after newcomer Reina Kenshin at Breakout, Ante Whitner is here with me tonight with an exclusive interview! How are you doing tonight, Ante?
Ante Whitner: I'm feeling great, better than ever, Kay. How 'bout you?
Kay Fabe: Great, thanks for asking. So, I'll break the ice, what are your thoughts following your victory last night?
Ante Whitner: Oh, man, I feel energized, electrified, and above all, content. I remember telling myself before I went out there last night that no matter the outcome, I achieved something by stepping back into the ring and fulfilling my dream job. I'm glad to say I'm still standing here with a victory over my head, it's truly special.
Kay Fabe: I'm happy to hear that! There were many backstage voicing their concerns about you returning to the ring, guilty as charged.
Ante Whitner: Haha, I bet.
Kay Fabe: So, how are you feeling? How do you feel overcoming the medical barrier that had set you back from wrestling for the past few months?
Ante Whitner: If I'm being brutally honest, the injuries I've sustained haven't fully gone away. I still wake up at night in cold sweats with my neck and shoulders aching and throbbing. It hurts, but I've been assured by many doctors that I can continue to wrestle without any truly life threatening circumstances so I used that as a gateway back here. Instead of narcotics and risky treatment, this time around I chose to follow a different path: faith.
Kay Fabe: Well, that leads into my next question, haha. How can you best explain your new outlook on life? We saw glimpses of it in your new entrance theme, your new wardrobe, and the way you humbly carried yourself to victory. Tell us or shall I say, "enlighten" us, haha.
Ante Whitner: To put it simply, I tried to take my own life one miserable day back in March. I was flat broke, hooked on drugs, and a mess to say the least. It was only a matter of time before my demons got ahead of me so when it came to committing suicide, I felt a divine intervention reach down onto the noose I was dangling from. It ripped, sending me crashing to the floor, and I lived to see another day. To many, I didn't tie the noose tight enough. To me, God stepped in the way and gave me a reason to continue moving forward. From that day forward, I began reading the Bible, attending rehab and mass, and performing community service around the area I live. It's crazy to think how much the town I currently live in has shaped my perspective on life and mortality, especially since I was the one to criticize religion and faith left and right.
Kay Fabe: Wow, where do you live nowadays, if you don't mind me asking?
Ante Whitner: Dell City, Texas. It's small, but it's perfect for the journey I'm undertaking.
Kay Fabe: And what is that journey?
Ante Whitner: I gave a glimpse at it last night with Reina Kenshin, but in its essence, redemption. Redemption is something so important to humanity to the point that it's overlooked and abused. There are countless books, movies, TV shows, and songs that talk about redemption without truly knowing what it is. Before I started to venture on this new faithful journey, I fought in the WFWF to win gold and flaunt it like a modern day Gatsby. Today, that is just not the case. I want to wrestle in the WFWF again to reach those that are lost, to bring them towards a beacon of light that they shall find comfortable and welcoming. To me, that's true redemption.
Kay Fabe: Gimme a few examples of those you want to bring to the "light".
Ante Whitner: I prefer not to name names, but it's quite obvious to whomever watches WFWF on a constant basis. There are so many wrestlers here that are victims of greed, obsession, addiction, defeat, et cetera, the list goes on and on. My mission is to redeem those people and to show them the light that God presented me when I became his dutiful servant.
Kay Fabe: Ah, I see. I, myself, am an atheist, but I admire those who still consider themselves followers of God and such.
Ante Whitner: And I respect those who believe freely.
Kay Fabe: Thanks, haha. I do have to say though, I do not feel as on edge as many of my co-workers have portrayed you out to be.
Ante Whitner: Well, I'm a changed man and I hope it continues to stay that way.
Kay Fabe: Is this new "redeemer" Ante Whitner here to stay?
Ante Whitner: Nothings ever for sure, but I do really believe God gave me a divine message. The message, as I explained before, is redemption. One can only hope to stay here for as long as possible, but if my mortality is at extreme stake, I will choose life over pain and continue to serve my purpose through less violent and torturous methods.
Kay Fabe: That's great to hear. Thank you Ante for sitting down with me tonight to have a little conversation and get to know more about the "new" Ante Whitner, haha. I really appreciate it and I'm glad to hear you're doing well.
Ante Whitner: Anytime Kay, thank you for having me.
Kay Fabe: Great, thanks for asking. So, I'll break the ice, what are your thoughts following your victory last night?
Ante Whitner: Oh, man, I feel energized, electrified, and above all, content. I remember telling myself before I went out there last night that no matter the outcome, I achieved something by stepping back into the ring and fulfilling my dream job. I'm glad to say I'm still standing here with a victory over my head, it's truly special.
Kay Fabe: I'm happy to hear that! There were many backstage voicing their concerns about you returning to the ring, guilty as charged.
Ante Whitner: Haha, I bet.
Kay Fabe: So, how are you feeling? How do you feel overcoming the medical barrier that had set you back from wrestling for the past few months?
Ante Whitner: If I'm being brutally honest, the injuries I've sustained haven't fully gone away. I still wake up at night in cold sweats with my neck and shoulders aching and throbbing. It hurts, but I've been assured by many doctors that I can continue to wrestle without any truly life threatening circumstances so I used that as a gateway back here. Instead of narcotics and risky treatment, this time around I chose to follow a different path: faith.
Kay Fabe: Well, that leads into my next question, haha. How can you best explain your new outlook on life? We saw glimpses of it in your new entrance theme, your new wardrobe, and the way you humbly carried yourself to victory. Tell us or shall I say, "enlighten" us, haha.
Ante Whitner: To put it simply, I tried to take my own life one miserable day back in March. I was flat broke, hooked on drugs, and a mess to say the least. It was only a matter of time before my demons got ahead of me so when it came to committing suicide, I felt a divine intervention reach down onto the noose I was dangling from. It ripped, sending me crashing to the floor, and I lived to see another day. To many, I didn't tie the noose tight enough. To me, God stepped in the way and gave me a reason to continue moving forward. From that day forward, I began reading the Bible, attending rehab and mass, and performing community service around the area I live. It's crazy to think how much the town I currently live in has shaped my perspective on life and mortality, especially since I was the one to criticize religion and faith left and right.
Kay Fabe: Wow, where do you live nowadays, if you don't mind me asking?
Ante Whitner: Dell City, Texas. It's small, but it's perfect for the journey I'm undertaking.
Kay Fabe: And what is that journey?
Ante Whitner: I gave a glimpse at it last night with Reina Kenshin, but in its essence, redemption. Redemption is something so important to humanity to the point that it's overlooked and abused. There are countless books, movies, TV shows, and songs that talk about redemption without truly knowing what it is. Before I started to venture on this new faithful journey, I fought in the WFWF to win gold and flaunt it like a modern day Gatsby. Today, that is just not the case. I want to wrestle in the WFWF again to reach those that are lost, to bring them towards a beacon of light that they shall find comfortable and welcoming. To me, that's true redemption.
Kay Fabe: Gimme a few examples of those you want to bring to the "light".
Ante Whitner: I prefer not to name names, but it's quite obvious to whomever watches WFWF on a constant basis. There are so many wrestlers here that are victims of greed, obsession, addiction, defeat, et cetera, the list goes on and on. My mission is to redeem those people and to show them the light that God presented me when I became his dutiful servant.
Kay Fabe: Ah, I see. I, myself, am an atheist, but I admire those who still consider themselves followers of God and such.
Ante Whitner: And I respect those who believe freely.
Kay Fabe: Thanks, haha. I do have to say though, I do not feel as on edge as many of my co-workers have portrayed you out to be.
Ante Whitner: Well, I'm a changed man and I hope it continues to stay that way.
Kay Fabe: Is this new "redeemer" Ante Whitner here to stay?
Ante Whitner: Nothings ever for sure, but I do really believe God gave me a divine message. The message, as I explained before, is redemption. One can only hope to stay here for as long as possible, but if my mortality is at extreme stake, I will choose life over pain and continue to serve my purpose through less violent and torturous methods.
Kay Fabe: That's great to hear. Thank you Ante for sitting down with me tonight to have a little conversation and get to know more about the "new" Ante Whitner, haha. I really appreciate it and I'm glad to hear you're doing well.
Ante Whitner: Anytime Kay, thank you for having me.