For a man living with cerebral palsy, John Benson has come a long way in a short time.
In less than two months, he’s organized and participated in a professional wrestling event, earned a wrestling nickname and sat ringside to watch a childhood hero.
Best of all, he’s had the support of the community and nursing home residents at Cottage of the Shoals along the way.
We first met John Benson in an April. He was living out a lifelong dream of attending a live professional wrestling event and meeting the stars of the show.
John befriended many of the New Generation Wrestling stars he met at that event. Through conversations over social media, John and the owners of New Generation Wrestling planned a live wrestling event that would allow him to be part of the show.
When the day finally arrived, New Generation Wrestling built a professional wrestling ring in Cottage of the Shoals’ front yard. Wrestling stars greeted the crowd of nursing home residents, employees and fans before the matches began.
John was the star of the show. He skillfully played the part of his new wrestling persona, “Rey ‘The Outlaw’ Benson.” John’s character was part of the storyline, he commentated on the some of the wrestling matches and whipped the crowd into a frenzy. In the process, John made Alabama nursing home history.
“John’s knowledge of the wrestling business and his connection with the performers made him the star of the show,” Cottage of the Shoals Activity Director Wendell Greenleaf said. “As far as we know, he’s the first nursing home resident to take part in a pro wrestling show.”
After the event, a young boy approached John, called him by his new name “Mr. Outlaw” and said he was inspired by John’s performance.
“I was totally surprised that my role in the wrestling show had an impact on someone,” Benson said. “It’s exciting for me to be able to inspire a new generation of wrestling fans.”
The Dream Continues
John’s journey doesn’t end here. A few days later, he sat ringside at a local professional wrestling event and met one of the wrestling stars he followed as a child, Devon Dudley.
Dudley is a long-time professional wrestler and a former World Wrestling Entertainment star. After the event, Dudley talked with John and another resident of Cottage of the Shoals and posed for several pictures.
“When he (Devon) walked up to me, I was thinking in my mind, am I really meeting a legend of the industry,” John said. “His performance was flawless, and to be able to see this in person is truly a lifetime dream come true.”
John credits the staff of Cottage of the Shoals for helping him fulfill his dreams. However, this nursing home resident turned professional wrestling star is a long way from the final bell. He plans to keep dreaming for a long time to come.
About Cottage of the Shoals:
Cottage of the Shoals is a 103-bed skilled nursing facility offering speech, physical and occupational therapy along with long term care. The facility is located in Tuscumbia, Alabama.
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- From left to right: New Generation Wrestling (NGW) Co-Owner Tim Henderson; Wrestler Keylo Green; Cottage of the Shoals resident John Benson aka Rey “The Outlaw” Benson; NGW Co-Owner Anthony Wilbanks; Cottage of the Shoals Activity Director Wendell Greenleaf; and NGW Announcer/Referee Alan Green.
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- New Generation Wrestling’s Anthony Wilbanks interviews Cottage of the Shoals Activity Director Wendell Greenleaf while John Benson looks on. Cottage of the Shoals residents Betty McGregor and Stancil McGregor are pictured in the foreground watching the event.
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- Cottage of the Shoals resident John Benson whips the crowd into a frenzy during the New Generation Wrestling event at the nursing home. John is portraying his wrestling persona of Rey “The Outlaw” Benson.
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- As the professional wrestling event unfolds, Team Blaine Evans argues its point with John Benson aka Rey “The Outlaw Benson” as wrestler Kody Kastle reaches over the ropes with the microphone.
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- The crowd and his fellow professional wrestlers applaud John Benson aka Rey “The Outlaw” Benson as rides off into the sunset to celebrate his victory.
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- Cottage of the Shoals resident John Benson is pictured with the championship belt he won during a professional wrestling match held at the facility. John’s new wrestling persona is Rey “The Outlaw” Benson.
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- From left to right: Cottage of the Shoals resident John Benson aka Rey “The Outlaw” Benson; Former WWE Superstar Devon Dudley andCottage of the Shoals resident George Carroll.
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- John Benson aka Rey “The Outlaw” Benson discusses the wrestling matches with former WWE Superstar Devon Dudley.
