Merrick, New York may seem like an average New York City suburb to those who have never visited it, but the town holds a surprising and influential legacy within the world of professional wrestling. Simply put. this unassuming town has produced wrestling-related stars and even influenced the way wrestling content is consumed and produced. From training the future of the industry to hosting legends of the past, Merrick has long punched above its weight class within professional wrestling history.
In the early 1990s, Merrick was home to a small comic book store -- which this author cannot currently remember the name of, it may have been Marvel Comics -- that brought wrestling excitement to the heart of the community. The store famously hosted an autograph signing with WCW star Johnny B. Badd, years before he would become a major player in the WWF during the Attitude Era.
Around the same time, Merrick was believed to be the location of WGBB-AM, one of Long Island's oldest AM radio stations, as previously based in Freeport. WGBB became a hub for pro wrestling talk, most notably through the Pro Wrestling Spotlight show hosted by John Arezzi. Arezzi's program not only gave a platform to fans and rising stars but also allowed creative minds like Paul Heyman (then Paul E. Dangerously) to experiment with early "shoot" promo concepts.
The same show also helped launch the wrestling career of Vince Russo, who would go on to become a controversial but highly influential head writer for WWE and WCW during the mid and late 1990s (and TNA in the early 2000s). And the very same show helped present the Weekend of Champions 1991, the biggest wrestling fans convention ever in that era; this writer remembers all these years later having met the likes of Ric Flair, Sean Waltman (X-Pac), Kerry Von Erich (Texas Tornado), Jim Cornette and Nancy Benoit at this event, which also helped given birth to the short-lived UWF promotion.
Moving into the 2000s, one of Merrick’s most prominent contributions to modern wrestling is through its native sons, Matt Cardona. Cardona, originally known to WWE fans as Brett Majors and later Zack Ryder, revolutionized how wrestlers could use social media and YouTube with his self-produced web series Z! True Long Island Story. At a time when WWE talent had limited creative freedom, Cardona's series gained a cult following and forced WWE to acknowledge the growing power of digital platforms. After leaving WWE, Cardona reinvented himself on the independent circuit, helping to elevate the prestige of indie titles and redefining what post-WWE success could look like; Cardona made a surprise return to WWE in November 2025 as Zack Ryder, which fans do not yet know the long-term implications of.
Cardona's longtime tag partner, Brian Myers -- formerly known as Curt Hawkins -- ironically moved to Merrick years after Cardona had left it. Myers took a different but highly influential route by founding the Create A Pro wrestling school in the area. Create A Pro has become one of the most respected wrestling training schools in the country, producing talent that has made waves in WWE, AEW, and beyond. Notable graduates include Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF, for short), Max Caster of The Acclaimed, wrestling manager and podcaster Smart Mark Sterling, and rising independent star Bryce Donovan. The school’s impact has helped solidify Merrick as an unlikely epicenter for the next generation of pro wrestling excellence. Create A Pro has presented several live events in Merrick.
Merrick, New York is also scheduled to host the inaugural TNA SLAMMing Softball Classic, pitting TNA Wrestling stars against the Coaching Staff of the Merrick Bellmore Little League Association. The 7-inning game to benefit the Merrick Bellmore Little League is scheduled to be held on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at Calhoun High School in Merrick, New York. Among the TNA Wrestling stars are confirmed to be playing were Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Joe Hendry, Nic Nemeth, Steve Maclin, A.J. Francis, Trick Williams, and Tessa Blanchard.
Just a few months after that, it was announced that Create A Pro would be hosting the 2nd Annual BASEBRAWL Fundraiser at Brookside School on Meadowbrook Road. Scheduled to appear were Brian Myers, Matt Cardona, and the Dudley Boyz. After performing at this event, Cardona posted on social media about his hometown of Merrick.
Live events aside, another one of the standout talents emerging from the Merrick area is Jaden Valo, a rising star who has already made several appearances on AEW programming. Valo has faced a variety of seasoned veterans in the ring, including Jay Lethal, Scorpio Sky, Anthony Ogogo, Sonny Kiss, and Ethan Page. These televised appearances have given Valo exposure and experience in front of national audiences, placing him firmly on the radar of wrestling fans and insiders alike as one of the next big things from Long Island.
Adding a pop culture twist to Merrick’s wrestling roots is its connection to Entourage, the hit HBO show created by Merrick native Doug Ellin. The series featured WWE legends such as Diamond Dallas Page, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, and Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka in its DVD extras. In 2015, the Entourage cast crossed over into WWE itself, appearing on Monday Night Raw as special guest hosts in a much-talked-about episode. This crossover further cemented the idea that Merrick sits at a unique intersection of mainstream entertainment and professional wrestling. From radio waves and YouTube screens to training rings and prime-time TV, Merrick’s influence on wrestling is both deep and enduring.
Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on June 4, 2025. Updated on June 14, 2025, July 11, 2025, August 29, 2025, October 8, 2025 and November 21, 2025.