Pro wrestling star Jonathan Gresham is set to headline the inaugural "PRODUCE Volume 1: The Octopus" event, a new series presented by Orange Crush, taking place at Pioneer Works in Brooklyn, New York. Gresham will face Fuminori Abe in the main event on Monday evening.
Gresham told Fox News Digital that fans attending the event can expect "attention to detail and consistency over time," elements he believes are currently lacking in modern professional wrestling. He stated that he and event backer Adam Abdalla share a vision for elevating the sport.
"I think for the most part some time ago I started to flirt with the idea about what pro wrestling can be and I think at the same time so many people around the world start to flirt with the same idea," Gresham said. "I think we are probably the first duo to take advantage of that thought process and put it on display for an audience." He indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic further prompted him to explore this concept more deeply.
He emphasized that the main event will feature two competitors who possess a profound love for professional wrestling. "I am in love with pro wrestling. I understand professional wrestling on a different level, on a more visceral level than most people and I feel like Abe feels the same way about his craft," Gresham explained. "So, on Monday, you’re gonna see two people in the main event that are in love with pro wrestling and perform for you."
Beyond his upcoming match, Gresham also voiced concerns about the current state of professional wrestling, describing it as being on a "spectrum" and expressing worry about the training and risk-taking of young athletes. "Currently, modern wrestling, I look at it on a spectrum, it’s gotten so far to one end to where, on a weekly basis, on television, at most indie shows that we go to, we see these young athletes, people that have never made it to television, and quite frankly just starting their life, just starting their career, take these big risks," he said.
He criticized promoters for encouraging this behavior by rewarding wrestlers who continuously risk their bodies with dangerous maneuvers. "I see people diving from balconies, missing tables, just doing some of the most ridiculous things and this way of thinking has left the independents and is now taking place on national television and I just don’t think it is sustainable for the wrestling community going forward," Gresham stated.
Gresham contrasted the current landscape with his early career, where wrestlers could develop within distinct styles like Lucha Libre, deathmatches, or pure wrestling. He feels that today's wrestlers are often "walking around aimlessly" without clear stylistic guidance. He attributed this shift partly to social media and a misunderstanding of different wrestling genres, leading to a "homogenistic style" focused on instant gratification rather than long-term narrative building.
"The biggest issue is the promoters that, for lack of a better word, don’t really understand what their job is, who are perpetuating the issue by rewarding the young men and women that are going out of their way to do these crazy things – jumping off of balconies, crazy moves every match," he said. "And the individuals that understand psychology, that understand character, that cut the promos before the shows, these people are going unrewarded."
Gresham lamented that wrestlers who might perform 15-minute classic matches on independent circuits often have their television time significantly reduced, with potential eight-minute matches being cut to four minutes. He fears this trend could lead to serious injuries on national television.
The "PRODUCE Volume 1: The Octopus" event will also feature wrestlers such as Joey Janela, Effy, LaBron Kozone, Mance Warner, Man Like Dereiss, "Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams, and Mad Dog Connelly. Gresham is listed as a co-producer, with Adam Abdalla serving as creative director. The event includes a musical performance by Abel Ferrara.