Wrestling Champion Martin Honored By City For 25 Years In The Ring

By Thomas Leturgey

On Saturday, October 19, Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Teresa Kail-Smith arrived at the American Legion Post in Sheraden, with familiar blue folder in hand.

Unbeknownst by most in attendance at the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance (KSWA) event at what promotion officials state is the brick-and-mortar home of professional wrestling in Pittsburgh, Kail-Smith delivered what turned out to be a heartwarming honor to long-time grappler and multi-time champion, Lou Martin on the anniversary of his 25th anniversary.

Martin grew up on Pittsburgh?s North Side and still calls that his wrestling origin. Since that time, he and his family migrated to the Lawrenceville neighborhood and later nearby Stanton Heights.

The wrestler has vacillated between a rude and selfish ?bad guy? to most recently a positivity-invoking ?good guy? to those in various wrestling arenas and charities in Pittsburgh and around Western Pennsylvania.

Professional wrestling is big business in 2024, with multiple promotions airing live and nearly live broadcasts on television and streaming services. On the independent level?like the KSWA?the landscape has never been more crowded, but Martin and the other ?Megastars? have boasted the longest continuously-running brand in Pittsburgh?s vaunted history.

Inspired by ?Rowdy? Roddy Piper, Martin focused his athletic talents on professional wrestling. He and others started their training in 1999, and Martin had his first match in September of that year.

The KSWA began at Peabody High School in February 2000 and has grown to host more than 400 live events in dozens of locations. Martin has been the organization?s standard-bearer three times and continues to hold that title even after Saturday?s defense against the villainous ?Professional? Harley T. Morris out of ?The Mountain State,? West Virginia.

Kail-Smith touted that Martin is a ?a former VIP? (most notably along with his decades-long associate Shawn Blanchard), a multi-time tag team and Golden Triangle Champion.

A few years ago, Martin traded in the dastardly ?Dr. Devastation? moniker to a more charitable ?Face of Pittsburgh? persona. He is a community leader, spending time with youngsters from Connecting Champions, which partners children and young adults with cancer to professionals in their chosen field, and has befriended Partners for Quality, a family of nonprofit organizations supporting persons with intellectual disabilities, autism and behavior health challenges.

Martin has also participated in other projects, has served in Moose International, as well as the American Legion.

Martin has wrestled in the tri-state area, but largely because of his commitment to wife Missy and son Louie IV, the favorable champion decided to cement a lasting legacy in Pittsburgh.

"Wow, what an honor. I was totally shocked. It meant the world to me being honored in the city that I love,? Martin wrote in an email. ?Being recognized for your years in the wrestling business, the accomplishments you have obtained and the relationships you have built is very humbling and brings back so many great memories and emotions.?

While Smith-Kail sponsored the proclamation, City Council President R. Daniel Lavelle, as well as the remaining members of Council approved the proclamation naming October 19, 2024 ?Lou Martin Day? in the city of Pittsburgh.

Thomas Leturgey is a 6-time Golden Quill Award winning freelance writer and member of the Executive Board of the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.