The character of a professional wrestler can be inspired by many different things, including fictional characters such as Cuban gangster Tony Montana, like Razor Ramon, or the main character of the film. The Ravenlike Sting. But for other wrestlers, it’s influenced by their actual personality, incorporating elements of their own heritage and hometown. This is the case of Paul Gruber, better known as Wheeler Yuta.

THE Villanova The graduate’s professional wrestling persona not only pays homage to his Japanese-American heritage, but he also represents the city of Philadelphia. Gruber’s Philadelphia roots shaped the athlete into the wrestler he is today. When asked what he learned growing up as a sports fan in Philadelphia, he answered immediately.

“Pain and patience,” Gruber, 28, said jokingly. “No, I’m joking. I think I learned a lot in terms of work ethic. It’s truly the #1 thing Philadelphia sports fans want. They want you to go out and prove that you’re doing your best, you’re trying to win, you’re trying to win for them and you’re trying to win for yourself.

“It really touched me and helped me continue to grow.” I think about the athletes I cheered or booed as a kid, just trying to convince them to bring one home for the city. What I order from the Phillies, the Sixers and the Eagles, if I don’t do it myself, then who am I to throw stones?

Now, in front of the Philly faithful, Gruber and All Elite Wrestling return to the Liacouras Center to AEW Collision this Saturday.

Becoming Wheeler Yuta

Wrestling fans often fall in love with the sport after watching iconic moments, whether it’s Montreal Screwjob, Hulk Hogan body slams Andre the Giant, Undertaker throws humanity from the top of Hell into a cell or, for new wrestling fans, Cody Rhodes finishes the story. But that wasn’t the case for Gruber.

Gruber’s fascination with the sport began with a video game: FightMania 19th century. The Philadelphia native remembers his cousins ​​first showing him the game; At first, he didn’t understand that real people were performing the actions he played on his GameCube.

“I just thought it was a video game they were showing me,” Gruber said. “Then they turned on the TV later and I was like, ‘Holy cow, this is crazy.’ So that’s really where the craze started. And then I always told myself when I was younger that I would be a wrestler.

He started watching every week and attending different independent shows. Eventually, Gruber started training. But before he could debut, he knew he needed a name for his wrestling persona. To honor his Japanese-American roots, he wanted to have a Japanese name and an American name.

For half Japanese, he ultimately chose the name Yuta, which has its own story.

“I initially chose Yuta because he was my friend who I hadn’t talked to since freshman year when he returned to Japan,” Gruber said. “So – if you’re out there – sorry, dude, I took your name.”

Philadelphia wrestling dreams

While Gruber’s wrestling journey may not have started in Philadelphia, his goal was always to train in the city, with its rich wrestling history.

Gruber began training in South Carolina at C4W Explosive Wrestling, a wrestling company based in Myrtle Beach. He traveled to the Philadelphia area, where he was born and where his father is from, when he decided to attend Villanova University.

“I majored in psychology, but that was really just a cover for professional wrestling,” Gruber said. “I really just wanted to move to Philadelphia for professional wrestling. But I have a degree in psychology.

Eventually, Gruber trained with Combat Zone Wrestling and Chikara as a student at Villanova. The transition from South Carolina to Philadelphia was pretty smooth for Gruber, aside from the change in weather and the wrestling fans – both tougher in Philly.

“It was definitely a little different, but I already knew Philly really well,” Gruber said. “When I was a kid, I spent a lot of time here, just visiting my family for the holidays. The main difference was just the wrestling in general, the crowds here were a lot harsher in their critiques I would say, but a lot more passionate, a lot more excited for the wrestling. So it was a bit of a double-edged sword. But I think it toughened me up and made me the performer I am now.

Fight in front of Philadelphia fans

When he first wrestled in front of Philly fans at the Flyers Skate Zone for a tryout show, Gruber remembers being nervous before his match – hearing the crowd being very critical of the wrestlers in front of him .

“I was always a Philadelphia sports fan, so I knew the culture and I knew they wanted you to come here, work, and they wanted you to come here and win,” Gruber said . “It’s intimidating to be on the other side as an athlete.”

“At first, I knew it was going to be difficult to gain their respect. So once I actually got that respect, it really meant a lot.

But when it was time to play, he did it.

“I did pretty well,” Gruber said. “There were three guys sitting in the front row who were really the harshest critics of everyone, and they gave me a standing ovation and got the rest of the crowd to give me a standing ovation. They started chanting, “Please come back!” which is like a real big mark of respect, especially on the independent scene. So, I was like, “Man, I might have nailed that one.” »

This marked a turning point for Gruber.

“I knew at first it was going to be difficult to gain their respect,” he said of Philly fans. “So once I actually got that respect, it really meant a lot.”

Of course, it wouldn’t be a true Philadelphia wrestling story without mentioning the iconic 2300 Arena, former home of Extreme Championship Wrestling. Gruber first wrestled in the arena during his time in Major League Wrestling.

“I just remember being so excited to be in a building like that,” Gruber said. “I remember one time when it was closed, we were visiting family for Christmas and I asked my dad to drive me there so I could take a photo outside. There was no struggle. I just really wanted to be a part of it, so it was really great to go.

Sports Wrestling Equipment in Philadelphia

Since 2021, Yuta has been wrestling for AEW, where he is not afraid to show off his Philadelphia roots with different Philadelphia-inspired wrestling gear.

“So, I already wore green Kelly Eagles tights,” Yuta said. “I actually had a powder blue outfit that I was going to wear last year in the Philadelphia parade on my birthday. But the Phillies gave me a birthday present the day before that had them losing Game 7 of the NLCS – so I decided to toss it just for now.

“They will come out eventually, I have them. The Phillies are my favorite team; I will always love them. But I felt like it wasn’t the time for that.

Will Wheeler Yuta wrestle in Philadelphia?

As AEW Collision set to make his return to Philadelphia at the Liacouras Center on Saturday, it’s still not official if Gruber will make an appearance. The updated card features Mariah May vs. Anna Jay, Thunder Rosa vs. Harley Cameron, and Kyle Fletcher vs. Komander.

The Eagles will don their Kelly Greens on Sunday. Could Yuta escape a day early? We’ll have to see.