LSG is FINALLY the ACE of WrestlePro

Let’s be completely honest and biased here: I knew Leon St. Giovanni was going to be money from DAY 1.

The first time I ever met LSG was at Tim Hughes’ first ever match against William Wyeth at ACE Pro Wrestling Anarchy in August 2010. Gio was in the crowd, supporting his best friend. I, the play-by-play guy for ACE at that time, met him and we instantly became friends.

Over the next year, I saw Gio begin his journey in pro wrestling. He had the passion, the drive, and the look.

His first real viral moment came from a little garage in Elyria, OH for Beyond Wrestling when he gave an incredible Stu Hart Special off the top rope to Quentin St. Peter. Still one of the most incredible moves I have ever seen.

Several months later, at About Time in July 2011, LSG and I began our journey together at Beyond’s first ever live show as the Professional Revolution, where he defeated JT Dunn. Even though he was as green as a 2017 New York Jets color rush jersey, the potential was there.

From that moment forward, I’ve followed his career intensely. From the Monster Factory in Paulsboro, NJ to the ROH Dojo in Bristol, PA and everything in between, I’ve seen it. I’ve seen him at the highest of highs inside of Madison Square Garden at G1 Supercard in 2019 and at the lowest of lows, both personally and professionally. There were some times where he absolutely HATED pro wrestling.

And yet, he kept moving forward.

He became so technically sound in between the ropes. He flew, yet he stayed grounded. Everything made sense when he did it. There were no flaws in his game.

However, he was never seen as THE guy. It was always mind-blowing to me. For a guy so talented, and a guy who has wrestled basically everywhere, he’s never been given a true chance to really break through the stratosphere and show what he really could do. Maybe I’m biased, but it’s a absolute crock.

ENTER WRESTLEPRO.

When he moved to Rahway in the late 2010s, he began to train at WrestlePro in the Rahway Rec Center. Then, he became a trainer to the next generation of aspiring pro wrestlers. Ultimately from that, the Ace of Space Academy was born with Colton Charles, GKM, and that 2009 Primo Colon looking brother of his, Max.

He bled WrestlePro colors through and through. He has held the Silver and Garden State Titles. Gio was even an interim Gold Champion, but it’s not on the official record books as such because of that damn interim label.

I started to really think that it was never going to happen. And then tonight happened.

At WrestlePro X, the ten year anniversary show of the promotion, LSG won the WrestlePro Gold Championship in a three-way sprint against champion CPA and the monstrous Vargas.

Sitting at home, I was overjoyed to see him win the title and have the belt over his shoulder for the first time. Finally, it came to an absolute fact:

LSG IS FINALLY THE ACE OF WRESTLEPRO. Ain’t no doubt about it.

Someone once said that the only thing real about pro wrestling is the money and the miles. And that may be true, but to me, nothing is more real than the journey to the top of the mountain after a career of sacrifice, pain, and anguish. That is what personifies Leon St. Giovanni more than anything else.

Pal, you already know how I feel. But the world needs to know. Your flowers are at this moment tonight. You are officially THE guy. Savor it, enjoy it, and get back on the grind. It’s the only way you know how. It’s how true victory is done.

PROFESSIONALISM FOREVER.

Jon Harder

Jon@HardwayHQ.com