A new champion, a new year, and a new chapter for Ryan Clancy and Beyond Wrestling.
There is no better way to ring in the new year than crowning a new champion. After over a year, Beyond Wrestling recently crowned a new Wrestling Open Champion at their show, The Last Stand. The one and only “Fancy” Ryan Clancy dethroned Brad Hollister in a brutal steel cage match.
While Clancy is now the Wrestling Open Champion, he is no stranger to the wrestling scene. There is much more to him than what we see every Thursday on IWTV. Much more work goes into behind-the-scenes creation that we don’t see.
I had the opportunity to ask Clancy a few questions about his career and his plans moving forward. I was given more insight into who he is and what the Wrestling Open Championship means to him.
Who Is “Fancy” Ryan Clancy?
Like many professional wrestling fans, Clancy grew up knowing he wanted to wrestle. However, unlike many, he turned these wishes into reality.
“My first memory of being alive is watching wrestling, so in a way, it’s what I’ve always known I was meant to do,” Clancy said.
Growing up, Clancy was always involved in amateur wrestling and other sports to prepare for the upcoming journey. When it was time to pick up professional wrestling, he took it upon himself to learn from some of the best at Storm Wrestling Academy, learning under the likes of Damian Adams and Lance Storm.
Since then, he has been wrestling professionally for six and a half years. During that time, he has traveled across North America and Europe, competing for championships and tournament trophies.
Some may have seen him on the September 27th, 2024, edition of AEW Rampage, fighting alongside TJ Crawford against The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens and Max Caster). Or on the November 2nd episode of Ring of Honor against Nick Wayne.
When reflecting on his time performing in these notable wrestling companies, Clancy said,
“It was an incredible time and opportunity to show what I can do and how I can hang with some of the best in the world.”
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Beyond Wrestling
The fancy man has created memorable moments in various countries and promotions, but his work in Beyond Wrestling stands out.
Clancy has been involved with this promotion since the beginning of their weekly show, Wrestling Open, which started three years ago.
“Myself along with a few other regulars now (Ichiban, Miracle Generation, etc.) were all making our way up to help at Beyond Wrestling for many events before the start of Wrestling Open, and when the opportunity presented itself we all took advantage of it.”
Clancy said.
Since then, Clancy has shown his talent in Beyond Wrestling, with some of his best feuds and matches against wrestlers such as Brad Hollister and TJ Crawford.
He even had a match in 2023 at Beyond Wrestling against the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Zack Sabre Jr.; this showed that he could compete with some of the best wrestlers in the world, which only continues to elevate him.
Lots of work was and is done behind the scenes to help the promotion grow to what it has become today. After all this time, the hard work paid off. At The Last Stand, Ryan Clancy won the Wrestling Open Championship on December 26, 2024. He did what no one could do for 392 days: defeat Brad Hollister for the championship.
When asked what it means to be Wrestling Open Champion, Clancy had to say,
“Being the current Wrestling Open Champion is so gratifying and reinforces all the hard work and hours spent that people don’t get to see of my hard work. Each day, we all have an opportunity to be 4% better, I believe. Mentally, physically, emotionally, energetically. When you take care of the day, it all compounds to incredible results. And I’m reaping the fruit of my labor now, three somewhat years after starting my journey at Wrestling Open.”
Future as Wrestling Open Champion
As the current Wrestling Open and NFW Champion, what’s next for the fanciest man in wrestling? What kind of champion will he be? We have only seen a small portion of his hard work in the sport; now, as champion, he is only getting started.
“The biggest thing I look forward to as champion is the ability it provides me to be an inspiration and a leader for anyone who watches, whether it be on IWTV or in person. It’s my understanding that it’s all possible, and I plan on being a model for whoever will listen,”
Clancy said.
With such a positive mindset, Clancy sets a perfect example for upcoming talent and the audience, especially children. He hasn’t backed down from a challenge and doesn’t seem like he will anytime soon.
“I’m open to whoever wants to step up. I truly mean it when I say I believe that I’m the best professional wrestler in the world today,” Clancy said. “And if anyone wants to challenge that, I’d welcome them to do so. Because I have the utmost faith and belief in my ability.”
To be a champion, you must have confidence in yourself and the ability to improve yourself every day. From what I have heard, Clancy is nearly the perfect embodiment of a champion, and now he has the title as proof.
After answering my questions, Clancy concluded,
“I truly believe that I, along with anyone else who is aware, are truly limitless. The only thing that stops us is ourselves.”
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To follow Ryan Clancy on his wrestling journey, you can follow him on Instagram and X @FancyRyanClancy. Or you can tune in weekly to IWTV every Thursday at 8 for Wrestling Open and see what the champion has in store.
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – Ring of Honor/ X (@FancyRyanClancy) – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world.
