How does a boy from Palatinate become a wrestling star, Fabian Aichner?

August 3, 2016, Cruiserweight Classic Night in the United States of America. “It's wrestling time!” The audience is frenetic. Cheers, whispers, shouts - and in the center of the action, i.e. on the stage of the square ring, is a South Tyrolean boy. Shaven-headed, muscle-packed – just a little machine. He has already worked on his opponent so much that he is writhing on the ground and seems to be on the verge of being knocked out. The bald muscleman looks into the camera, turns his index finger around his temple and signals: “I must be crazy.” Because then He climbs onto the highest ring rope, positions himself backwards to the action and then does a somersault, which he maneuvers directly onto his opponent's stomach. What a move. What a spectacle.

“It’s still surreal for me” Although Fabian Aichner's opponent already seems to be in another world at this time, he is able to turn the tables once again and ultimately defeats the South Tyrolean - actually not surprising, since it is usual in wrestling that the winner is already determined before the match . But the Palatinate native's first appearance in one of the most prestigious wrestling tournaments in the world was still memorable. “It’s still surreal for me,” said Aichner, who was very impressed a few days after the event. Because he knows: By taking part in this tournament, he has taken his first steps in the wrestling stronghold of America - and has come a lot closer to his dream of WWE, the Champions League in wrestling, so to speak.

A television match paves the way Pfalzen is a tranquil village that currently has around 2700 inhabitants. Located in the Pustertal, it is relatively easy for children and young people to choose between sports - football, winter sports, maybe a bit of tennis or curling. But wrestling? This show-staged exhibition sport may be foreign to many people. Fabian Aichner also only came across it by chance. “When I was 13 years old, I once saw a wrestling match on television. I was immediately hooked. When I saw a TV special about Rey Mysterio (he is one of the most famous wrestlers), I knew: I wanted to do that too.”

Factory workers during the week, wrestlers on the weekends Firmly convinced of his goal, he completed his high school diploma beforehand, then worked in a factory during the week, saving up the money he needed and always traveling to Germany for wrestling training on the weekend. Aichner had talent and played his first match at the end of 2011. After that, things went up rapidly. He quickly made a name for himself in the scene through tournament titles in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. It didn't take long before the Pusterer flashed on the radar of the WWE, the largest wrestling organization. In 2014 he was invited to Florida, and now, two years later, he was also allowed to go to the WWE Cruiserweight Classics, which can be compared to the Europa League in football. “I reduced my body weight from 106 kilos to 93 kilos through four hours of training every day.”

A great future ahead It is noteworthy that most of the athletes in this event have been in the business for ten to 15 years - Fabian Aichner, on the other hand, is a greenhorn, but at the same time proves that he is only at the beginning of his career. He has been earning his money exclusively from wrestling for two years - and still has big plans: “I want to gain a foothold in America, in the WWE. My ultimate goal is to be at WrestleMania, the most important wrestling event in the world.” Fans and experts were thrilled after his debut and attest to a great future for him. By the way, he practices his daring moves in the ring on an improvisational basis out of. “Many people think I’m crazy,” Aichner smiles. It is a little bit like that. But a guy from Palatinate in the circle of the world's best wrestlers – that would have something.

Thomas Debelyak, SportNews

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How does a boy from Palatinate become a wrestling star, Fabian Aichner?

His appearance at the WWE Cruiserweight Classics made waves in South Tyrol, but also throughout Italy. Fabian Aichner from Palatinate wants to start as a professional wrestler in America. The 26-year-old has already laid the foundation for this. But who is behind the facade of this extreme athlete?

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