From the Wrestling Ring to the Mayor’s Chair? A Few Minutes with Pretty Ricky

Politics can get serious pretty quickly.

Budgets. Housing. Infrastructure. Taxes. City services.

So when I had a few minutes to catch up with Pretty Ricky before the crowd started filling the room at the Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant’s Meet the Candidates event, I figured we could talk about some of those things but also ask the question everyone really wants answered:

If Pretty Ricky becomes mayor, are the wrestling tights officially retired?

The Meet the Candidates event was held Tuesday, September 1 at the TownePlace Suites Marriott in Brantford, bringing municipal candidates together with members of the local business community ahead of this fall’s election.

Before things got busy, Pretty Ricky and I had a chance to talk about why he decided to enter the mayoral race, what travelling the world as a professional wrestler has taught him about Brantford, and what he hopes to accomplish if voters give him the opportunity to lead the city.

And yes, we talked wrestling.

For Ricky, the decision really comes down to the difference between talking about change and actually getting involved.

“Complaining is easy, but to get the change we’re looking for, we need to get involved.”

He wants to encourage more Brantford residents to become active in their community, particularly younger people who may not traditionally see themselves reflected in municipal politics.His goal goes beyond winning an election. If his campaign can inspire even one young person to pursue an idea, chase a dream or find a way to improve Brantford, he considers that meaningful.

That idea of getting involved came up several times during our conversation.

Ricky knows he doesn’t necessarily fit the traditional image people may have of someone running for mayor.
That’s kind of the point.
He says he wants to represent a part of Brantford that doesn’t always pay attention to City Hall or feel connected to municipal government.

“I’m an outside-of-the-box kind of person, and they tend to stay away from government.”

Rather than staying outside and criticizing the system, Ricky believes change sometimes means getting directly involved.

And professional wrestling probably qualifies as about as far outside the traditional political box as you can get.

What Happens to the Tights?

Of course, I had to ask: if Ricky becomes mayor, are the wrestling tights officially retired?

Probably.

He says the responsibility of being mayor would make it difficult to balance both roles, but he left one door open — charity.

Brantford Wrestling events have supported local causes, and Ricky says if stepping back into the ring as mayor could raise money for the community, he’d consider it.

So, Mayor vs. Councillor? Never say never.

What Do the Pretty Ricky Fans Think?

So far, the response from wrestling fans has been positive.

Several helped Ricky get onto the ballot by signing his nomination papers, and he says that support means a lot.

He also pointed to Brantford Apparel and zBTFD as strong supporters and examples of people helping bring more energy and vibrancy to the city.

Wrestling Around the World: Representing Brantford

Ricky recently spent time wrestling in Jinan, China, working on his campaign from his hotel room after shows.

Wrestling has taken him around the world over the past decade, but wherever he goes, he makes a point of being billed from Brantford, Ontario, Canada.

As he put it:

“I love Brantford. Brantford has given me everything.”

Travelling has also shown him that many of the challenges Brantford faces aren’t unique to our city. Communities everywhere are dealing with similar issues, something that has given him a broader perspective heading into the race.

From Amateur Wrestling to WWE

Ricky started as an amateur wrestler at the University of Toronto before earning a scholarship to Battle Arts Academy, run by former WWE Intercontinental Champion Santino Marella.

From there came years of travelling, training and wrestling across Canada, sometimes four matches a day and living out of a van.

That road eventually led to appearances with organizations including TNA, Ring of Honor, GCW, Dark Side of the Ring and WWE.

It may not be the traditional path to City Hall, but Ricky has never exactly taken the traditional route.

What Would He Tackle First?

Ricky identified three early priorities:

Literacy, fitness and sanitation.

He wants to encourage young people to read more, stay active and become more connected to the city.

That includes better access to things like Brantford’s trails, the public library and recreational opportunities, while supporting community organizations already helping young people get active and explore the city.

From Pretty Ricky to Mayor Ricky?

Ricky’s wrestling career has taken him across Canada and around the world, but Brantford has always remained home.

Want to learn more about Pretty Ricky, his campaign and what he hopes to bring to Brantford? Check out his Facebook page to follow the campaign, see what he’s up to and learn more about where he stands.