Ricky South
The Example is more than a moniker for Ricky South. The Leader of the Regime is an elite athlete who prides himself on his work ethic, intense training schedule, and his commitment to improving his craft. Even during COVID, South and PWA pushed through with daily Zoom workouts and home fitness. A change in his physique is noticeable with South’s 6’2” now closer to a burly Greek god.
From his entrance to between the bell and on-camera interviews, South projects confidence, self-assurance, and discipline. South demands your respect. There’s a seriousness, almost Gunther-esque respect for the craft, but there are layers. Like his Aussie cohorts, there’s versatility and character work.
South is not afraid to push himself with comedy, foolishness, or to challenge your perspectives on who he is. Would Gunther encourage fans to chant “stinky” at him?
In PWA, South has taken roles in four different factions. South made himself one of the backbones of PWA. There’s a reason this eight-year veteran reigned as PWA Champion for nearly 1,000 days. South, the last Chikara Young Lions Cup holder, reminds me of the care and detail to his craft as a wrestler and persona of a top US indy star and fellow WWE try-out hopeful, Richard Holliday.
In PWA, South showed when he joined the SMS faction a willingness to take creative risks to build a consistent character. Applying lipstick, dressing, and performing with more flamboyance, South proved his adaptability while never changing the core of his character. During a try-out for NJPW, South utilised a short 30-second window by taking a risk few would take. South took one of the biggest, most over-the-top bumps to stand out from the pack.
Time will tell whether such risks will aid South, The Tuckman, and Green in securing a WWE contract.
