Xtreme wrestling

Insane entertainers take the sport in a bloody direction

Most college students have heard of World Wrestling Federation professional wrestling champion The Rock, the sneering Triple H or World Championship Wrestling's Goldberg.

Hundreds of Extreme Pro Wrestling fans in the LA Sports Arena watch Supreme and The Messiah battle it out in the King of the Deathmatch Title bout in which beds of nails, tacks

Then there's the California based Xtreme Pro Wrestling.

With its colorful characters such as Pogo The Clown, The Messiah, Homeless Jimmy and its entertaining "deathmatches," which involve barbed wire, thumbtacks, light bulbs and a bed of nails.

And despite Extreme Championship Wrestling being known as the innovator of extreme wrestling, the Rob Black and Tom Byrne owned professional wrestling league is carving a path for itself.

Jessica Darlin , left,  Johnny Webb's valet, puts on an act.

"It's all about playing to an audience and the audience responding and buying tickets," Black said.  Wrestler Kid Kaos (Joey Munoz) 21, who is currently living in Los Angeles, is one of the organization's young stars. He said he spends three to five hours in the gym each day. "It just takes a tremendous amount of time in your life.

"The biggest misconception [of wrestling] is that its fake," he said. "It is choreographed," he admitted, but "it is a lot of hard work, a lot of pain, a lot of injuries. A lot of people think they can do it, but it's really a lot of hard work and dedication."

Another wrestler, who lives in L.A., The Messiah (22 year old Willim C. Welch) agreed.

"It's a lot tougher than a lot of people give it credit for," he said before going out to wrestle in a deathmatch.

"I won't lie, I woke up nervous, I'm nervous right now [before wrestling]. I'm just going to go out there and do my best."

Despite losing the match (and a lot of blood) against Supreme, he did seem in good spirits after the match.