Danny Warren, who is well-known around Yorkton as “Hotshot Danny Duggan,” had a big week in his wrestling career.
Warren is the general manager of Canadian Wrestling Elite, a company who often visits Yorkton while on tour with their shows.
Last week, Warren had the opportunity to appear in two World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) shows.
Warren, along with a handful of other guys, has been working as an extra with the WWE for several years. He explained the role to be similar to actors who are needed as extras in movies. The guys, who do not have contracts with the WWE, are there in case they are needed in the shows that are taped on Mondays and Tuesdays.
But this time, he was needed.
“For the first time, they needed me in action both Monday and Tuesday,” Warren said.
On Monday, he explained that they needed him in the main event as a member of the show’s security team.
And on Tuesday, he wrestled his first match ever with the company, in front of approximately 3,000 people.
“It was a huge surprise. I’ve been doing extra work since 2010,” he said. “It was something I always, in the back of my mind, was hoping would happen.”
Warren was the only extra out of approximately ten who got this opportunity.
Although he lost his match, he said being in the ring felt like home – even in front of such a big crowd and cameras.
“To say it was a little nerve racking is an understatement. But I wasn’t as nervous as I thought because it was so surreal,” he explained. “It didn’t feel like it was happening.”
“As soon as I got in the ring, it was just another show. It was like riding a bike. And it was a lot of fun.”
Warren has spent fourteen years training as a wrestler. He’s hoping that this break into the WWE will lead to more success for him.
“Overall the experience went very, very good. I got great feedback from officials and managers,” he said. “I’m optimistic some opportunity is going to come from it.”
For now, there’s no resting for Warren as he continues to tour Canada and the United States presenting shows. In the New Year, the tour’s first still will be in Yorkton on Wednesday, January 11.
