Florida Wrestling Alliance

“Over 26 years ago, a one time credential to World Wrestling Federation Smackdown at Joe Louis Arena continued to open doors for me in pro wrestling. The night the Radicalz were introduced. I will cherish these moments forever. Hope someone tags Jericho for this shot.”

— John McEvers

The man behind this photograph of Chris Jericho and Chyna has spent more than a quarter-century preserving moments like this one. Today, I’m proud to welcome John McEvers as a contributor to Book Pro Wrestlers.

John’s road into professional wrestling began in 1999. He was completely self-taught when ECW became the first promotion he ever photographed. He credits the late Deb Beaumont, whom he remembers as Paul Heyman’s top lieutenant in public relations, with helping him get through that first door.

Not long afterward came a one-time credential to photograph WWF SmackDown at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena. That opportunity produced this image during the historic week Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn arrived in the WWF—and it helped open even more doors for John.

He didn’t remain self-taught. John went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in journalism, with a concentration in photojournalism, from Central Michigan University. He became a published event photojournalist and continued documenting wrestling through McEvers Photography/Wrestling and M² Wrestling Media, which grew out of Michigan Wrestling Illustrated.

For more than 25 years, John has photographed major names, independent wrestlers, live matches and promotional portraits. His work gives talent something lasting from their night in the ring while giving fans a view they otherwise might never have seen.

John told me, “It has always been my intention to bring the people I photograph to light.”

That tells you what matters to him. The wrestlers create the moment, but photographers like John make sure it doesn’t disappear when the bell rings and the building empties.

John first came to Book Pro Wrestlers as a reader. Now he is opening his archives to us as a contributor, and I’m excited to begin sharing more of the history he preserved from behind the lens.

If you appreciate rare wrestling photography and strong coverage of today’s independent talent, please follow McEvers Photography/Wrestling right here on Facebook.

Welcome aboard, John. We’re glad to have you with us.

📸 John McEvers / McEvers Photography/Wrestling

— Steve Stasiak, Book Pro Wrestlers

Yesterday, Nicholas Roberts came to our page to share a picture from a wrestling show. What I found behind that picture is why I’m sharing this with you.

Nicholas is legally blind. He was born with optic nerve hypoplasia and grew up using large-print books, Braille and a white cane. Years ago, adaptive technology allowed him to see details he had never been able to make out before—leaves on palm trees, faces in old family photographs and his father’s curly hair.

Nicholas took that part of his life and created Tech of the Blind, where he shares content about accessibility, technology, gaming, sports and his everyday experiences.

But none of that was how he introduced himself to us.

Nicholas simply commented with this photograph and told us about attending a Micro Wrestling Federation show. He bought a Lil Show T-shirt, had it signed, took this picture and made a video about the experience. A few of the wrestlers saw his video and followed him on TikTok, and Nicholas was excited to share that with people who would understand why it meant something to him.

I asked where I could find his page. Then I asked whether I could share his photograph and tell our readers about him.

Nicholas didn’t pitch himself to me. He contributed to our page, and I discovered someone worth knowing.

The famous names may bring people to a wrestling page, but the fans are what make wrestling a community. If Book Pro Wrestlers only had room for people everyone already knows, then we would be missing some of the best stories wrestling has to offer.

Some of my favorite memories were made while standing in line waiting for wrestling tickets to go on sale. I would talk with grandmothers, children and people from every race, background and walk of life. We may not have had anything else in common, but wrestling gave us a common language.

Nobody in that line needed to be famous to matter.

That is what I want this page to feel like—the online version of that old ticket line, where everyone has a wrestling story and everyone is welcome to share it.

People offer me money to plug products and post links here. I don’t accept it because I never want this page to become a billboard for whoever is willing to pay or a trophy case displaying the people I know.

Yes, I have worked in wrestling since I was 16. I share my own experiences here, and I support the wrestlers and people I believe in. Through all of your support, this page has also helped me build relationships with major wrestlers, promoters and members of the wrestling media.

But that access only means something if I can occasionally turn the spotlight back toward the community that gave us the platform in the first place.

Today, that means turning it toward Nicholas Roberts.

Nicholas has even had a small taste of working inside wrestling, doing some booking and calling 11 matches on commentary. Mostly, though, he came here the same way most of us did—as a fan with a memory he wanted to share.

Please look up Tech of the Blind on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. This is not a paid advertisement, and Nicholas never asked me to write it. I simply found his content interesting, his story moving and his contribution worthy of sharing.

Everybody has a wrestling story.

Nicholas shared part of his with us. Now I hope our community will take a moment to discover the rest.

If you have a story to tell or unique pictures to share, send them in. My DM’s are always open.

— Steve Stasiak, Book Pro Wrestlers

The children in this photograph were not meeting a WWE Hall of Famer who had stopped by their school.

The man standing among them was their Spanish teacher.

Wrestling fans knew him as Tito Santana. At Eisenhower Middle School in Roxbury Township, New Jersey, he was simply Mr. Solis.

And this was far more than a famous wrestler finding something to do after his full-time WWF career ended.

Growing up in Mission, Texas, Merced Solis was the son of migrant farm workers. Through the eighth grade, his school year often ended in April when his family left to follow seasonal work across the country. It was a teacher named Mr. Sanchez who encouraged him to play football.

That encouragement helped carry Merced to a college scholarship, professional football and ultimately a wrestling career that took him around the world.

Years later, Tito became an educator himself.

For more than a quarter-century, he taught Spanish, coached basketball and made a special effort to reach children who were considered at risk. He understood better than most how much one teacher’s encouragement could change the direction of a young person’s life—because it had changed his.

Tito retired from teaching in June 2023 at the age of 70.

His two Intercontinental Championships, two World Tag Team Championships and WWE Hall of Fame induction made Tito Santana a wrestling legend. His years as Mr. Solis reveal just as much about the man: after one teacher helped open a door for him, he spent his second career trying to do the same for others.

Tito Santana is available for select conventions, signings, wrestling events and other appearances. To discuss booking Tito, contact me today!

— Steve Stasiak, Book Pro Wrestlers

Lex Luger poses with our contributor Tammy Bains as Tully Blanchard looks on clearly thinking about kayfabe.

Joe Malenko and Terry Funk were both born into wrestling royalty. Their fathers were legends. Their brothers became legends. They each earned their own place in the history of the business.

But at this Waffle House table, none of that mattered.

Here they were simply Joe and Terry—two friends sharing a meal, trading stories and enjoying the kind of laughter that comes from a lifetime spent in wrestling.

With Terry no longer with us and Joe remaining in the hospital, this photograph carries even more meaning today.

Joe has already been through a great deal, and he still has people throughout wrestling and across the world pulling for him. We have been fortunate to work with Joe, but our regard for him has never been about a booking. It is about the man.

Joe Malenko is a genuinely good human being. He has shared his knowledge, guided people who needed it and influenced far more lives for the better than he probably realizes. He is an important member of the wrestling community, but he is also a valuable member of the Tampa community—respected, loved and deeply appreciated by those who know him.

The way people have rallied around Joe speaks to the way he has treated people throughout his life. That kind of support isn’t created by a famous last name. It is earned by showing up for others.

Right now, Joe needs to feel that same care coming back to him.

Please continue keeping Joe in your thoughts and prayers, and leave him some encouragement below. Let Joe and those closest to him see just how many people are standing with him.

We love you, Joe. We’re all pulling for you. ❤️

— Steve Stasiak, Book Pro Wrestlers