I Didn't Know What I Didn't Know

Photos by Peter Sigmund From Dylan Frymyer: It was an honor and a privilege to watch Sal Rinauro main event a Southern Honor Wrestling show ...

Photos by Peter Sigmund

From Dylan Frymyer:

It was an honor and a privilege to watch Sal Rinauro main event a Southern Honor Wrestling show last night. 

I want to tell you a little story about Sal and me. His first night in SHW was probably a little awkward, to say the least. I thought his music sucked, I didn’t really understand him or who he was, and quite frankly, I didn’t know his history in this business. 

He was a little upset that it had taken me so long to bring him in, and looking back, I probably didn’t put him in the best spot either. There wasn’t much communication between us. It was more of a “Hey, you’re booked, you’re putting this guy over,” and that was about it. 

I didn’t know what I didn’t know. 

Fast forward to when Todd put us together as a tag team. Somehow, we both felt like this could work. And just like that, it was almost like that first night never happened. We never talked about it. Not once. Instead, we just started building a partnership inside the ring. 

And that partnership turned into six more years of me being able to do something I love. 

Sal took me, and US, to another level. There’s really no other way to explain it. It just worked. We understood each other in ways that you can’t teach. We trusted each other, we pushed each other, and somewhere along the way, a tag team became a friendship that means more to me than I could ever explain. 

Last night, Sal Rinauro main evented Southern Honor Wrestling. Not because he’s my tag team partner. 

Not because he’s my friend. Not because of anything I had to do with it. He main evented SHW because of all those things I failed to recognize about him eight years ago. Because of who he is. Because of what he’s given to this business. Because of his passion, his knowledge, his creativity, and his incredible mind for professional wrestling. 

Over the years, I got to understand Sal. I learned how he thinks, how much he cares, and just how deeply this business runs through his veins. He is one of the most brilliant wrestling minds I have ever been around, and I genuinely believe that man would die for this business. 

Last night, he went out there with Alexander Lev and delivered a performance that reminded everyone exactly who Sal Rinauro is and why he deserves to be in that spot. 

I could say I’m proud of him, but honestly, proud isn’t the word I’m looking for. 

Thankful. That’s the word. 

Thankful that I took the time to understand him. Thankful that he gave me the opportunity to. 

Thankful for six more years inside that ring that I might not have had otherwise.

Thankful for the memories, the partnership, the lessons, and everything in between. 

But more than anything, I’m thankful that I get to call Sal Rinauro my friend. Funny how someone you didn’t understand eight years ago can become someone you couldn’t imagine your life in wrestling without. 

Thank you, Sal. For all of it. 

Love ya.