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Airman balances Air Force service, dream of wrestling

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Amber Kelly-Herard
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  As a child in Marion, Ill., Staff Sgt. Timothy "Shane" Rich, 375th Medical Support Squadron pharmacy technician, watched wrestling with his dad and uncles and thought, "that's what I want to be when I grow up."

When he was 17, a local wrestling group performed at a carnival and said anyone interested should come see them, so he did and trained for about a year.
While wrestling, he realized how tough it was and that he needed more discipline and respect, which is why he joined the Air Force.

After being stationed in California, Sergeant Rich moved back to Illinois, which led him to start wrestling again with his friends.

When not working at the base clinic, Sergeant Rich volunteers for the Leu Civic Center Board of Directors. After seeing a need for the center to raise money, he wanted to do something that would have a positive impact for families. He suggested they let him wrestle.

"This is not like mainstream wrestling," he said. "It is more like the wrestling of the 1980s. There's no bad language or scantily dressed women. You hate the bad guy and love the good guy. It is also something you can bring the whole family to."

"Shane the Serial Thriller" said he wrestles because he feels it's a way to give back.
"The Leu Civic Center is affiliated with United Way and because of programs like that I had a good childhood. I never got arrested or did drugs, so I want other kids to have that opportunity."

It is because of the Air Force that Sergeant Rich was also able to take his wrestling a step further.

"While I was deployed in 2004 at Al Udeid, WWE did a handshake with us, and I was talking to Chris Benoit who became a contact for me. When they came to the St. Louis area I was an extra on Monday Night Raw. The next day I was able to wrestle on Smackdown ECW in Kansas City, Mo."

He still performs when he can, but stays busy with full-time work and staying in shape.
Soon Sergeant Rich will be leaving the 375th MDSS for recruiter's school, but he will be returning to Scott as a member of the 345th Recruiting Squadron.

"I would love to be a professional wrestler and will do it as often as possible, but I could never walk away from the Air Force," said Sergeant Rich. "Although it is my dream, I have so much invested in the Air Force."