Pro wrestler flies high in the ring and social media

Written By Thomas Victoria

Pro wrestler Jack Tomlinson dives onto his opponents. • Photos Submitted

By Tom Victoria

Pro wrestler Jack Tomlinson has a title that not even Roman Reigns, Ric Flair or Hulk Hogan have on their resumes. Jack is the Social Media Champion.

The New York native was able to parlay his strong social media presence into obtaining the title.

“I got the win,” Jack said about the December match.

This victory means more than most to the burgeoning talent as his fans supplied the belt.

“The Jack Pack gave me this belt,” Jack said.

However, he still had to win the match to claim the title.

Jack, 22, of Long Island praised his fans, who were built up on social media.

“My Jack Pack is literally everything to me,” he said. “They aren’t fans. They are my family. Through content creation and in-ring performances, they have all seen me grow, succeed and fail. It’s a bond. One of my favorite quotes is from Matt Cardona (who was known as Zack Ryder in WWE). He says ‘I don’t do this to prove my haters wrong. I do it to prove my supporters right’ and that’s the best way to look at it.”

Jack’s passion for sports entertainment, as WWE owner Vince McMahon likes to call it, is its versatility.

“Wrestling is beautiful,” Jack said. “You can do anything. You can tell any story.”

Jack wins the Social Media Championship in an NFW (Northern Federation of Wrestling) match.

Jack’s wrestling style combines high-flying moves with mat work. He explained performing only what are known as high spots, such as leaps off the top rope of the wrestling ring, isn’t enough to be an effective performer.

The young wrestler said telling a story inside the ring is essential to pleasing the audience.

“I want to send everyone home happy,” Jack said.

His character isn’t necessarily a face (good guy) or heel (a villain) in every match.

“I’m Jack,” he said. “I’m me. I’m the same. Some places like me and some want to punch me in the face.”

Along with being a major player in such independent promotions as Create A Pro Wrestling, Victory Pro Wrestling and Invictus Pro Wrestling, Jack has made appearances on WWE’s Monday Night Raw and 205 Live as well as the AEW Dark program. In the AEW match, he was in a six-man tag match against the Jericho Appreciation Society.

“I lost, but that wasn’t my fault,” Jack said, reasoning like any good wrestling personality does.

He often partners with Dante Drago as VBU (Vlog Bro University) in tag team bouts.

Jack performs his signature move, the Subscriber Stomp.

Jack has trademark moves, including his finisher the Subscriber Stomp (akin to the curb stomp) and his submission hold the TikTok Tap Out.

What viewers won’t see from Jack is the frog splash, a move performed by leaping off the top rope, extending horizontally and moving the hands and feet inward and then outward before landing on the opponent. He said he can’t execute it properly.

“That’s why no one will ever see me do a frog splash,” Jack said.

In learning moves, Jack found the springboard, when a wrestler bounces off the rope into another move, not as difficult as others did.

He’s receptive to adding moves to his arsenal.

“I’m always learning and growing as a performer,” Jack said. “And if I can do something that will help me stand out while simultaneously entertaining my Jack Pack, then I’ll always give it my best.”

Jack has suffered a few notable injuries, including a concussion and torn labrum, the thick tissue attached to the shoulder socket.

“I haven’t had too many crazy injuries,” he said. “I’ve been lucky, but I’m also super cautious about my health.”

Jack wrestles once or twice a week and spends time practicing during Create A Pro classes.

Jack, who also is an actor, poses with film director Collin Roach. The wrestler stars in Roach's "Phoenix."

As evidenced by his physique, Jack works out. He spends anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour and 45 minutes each session.

“I kind of just listen to my body,” Jack said.

He said a wrestler should never stop learning.

“Always be a student,” Jack said.

He keeps to a regimen to help him recover from matches.

“I eat a well-balanced diet, stretch and stay in the gym,” Jack said.

He cited such wrestlers as John Cena, who recently starred as Peacemaker on HBO Max, and Randy Orton as inspirations. Jack also cited the infamous MJF (Maxwell Jacob Friedman), current AEW champion as another major talent.

“He’s got such an incredible work ethic,” Jack said about MJF.

Unlike many wrestlers, Jack has a victory over MJF in Create A Pro, retiring him from the promotion.

“That’s my best claim to fame - that I retired MJF from Create A Pro,” Jack said.

If the opportunity arises, he will move onto the WWE or AEW full-time.

However, Jack cited an advantage to working on the independent scene. He said wrestling for smaller promotions enables performers to interact more with fans.

Jack and his tag team partner Dante Drago take out an opponent.

“It’s such an honor,” Jack said. “So humbling.”

He’s known some fans for years.

Jack vividly recalled his first memory of watching pro wrestling.

“My first memory is (actor) Hugh Jackman punched Dolph Ziggler in the face,” he said.

Jack has been wrestling in the ring since he was 18, but started training at 15.

“I trained for two years without being on any shows,” he said. “There was so much time I could do anything but wrestle.”

To fill the gap until he was old enough to wrestle under state regulations, Jack focused on his social media presence to gain a following.

“I just started doing a dive into content creation,” he said.

Jack also hosted a YouTube show for Create A Pro.

“I was finding myself very comfortable in front of the camera,” he said.

Jack stressed the need to develop a personality along with the physical skills.

“I took a lesson from MJF: every single second of your life is a promo,” Jack said.

He explained a wrestler should practice delivering monologues everywhere, including the bathroom and the car.

Jack’s parents have been supportive of him pursuing his dream.

“Mom’s always been my biggest cheerleader and dad is my best friend,” he said.

Jack’s also an actor, starring in his first feature film, director Collin Roach’s “Phoenix,” as River Madisyn.

He recalls the first movie he saw: “Star Wars: A New Hope,” but it was actor Tom Holland’s performance as Spider-Man, specifically the scene when the superhero has to free himself from debris as his inspiration to become a thespian.

“I was so emotionally moved,” Jack said.

He was then struck by actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck discussing their film “Good Will Hunting,” then viewing the film. Jack said Damon’s talent includes the diversity in roles he can play.

“I want to be this generation’s Matt Damon,” he said.

Jack doesn’t fret over memorizing lines.

“I’m very lucky,” he said. “I have a good memory.”

Jack said the key to acting is finding truth and relatability in the dialogue.

He also sings. In addition to singing in the high school choir, Jack sang a cappella in a group. He currently has been doing his best Elvis Presley voice amid the debut of a new biopic of the legendary singer.

Jack said there is an essential thing required to succeed in wrestling.

“You have to believe in yourself.”

Thomas Victoria
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