There aren’t many people out there who can call themselves the heavyweight champion of a professional wrestling promotion. Then again, there aren’t many people out there like Sean Carr.

“When I’m doing this, I’m literally just taking it all in, every moment before, because the moment before you step out into the arena – the VFW, the American Legion, whatever – this is the time where, OK, it’s showtime," said Sean Carr, Xcite Wrestling’s current heavyweight champion.

After a few quick push-ups to get in the zone, it is showtime. And it doesn’t take Carr much to get pumped up to do something he’s loved since he was a kid.

“There’s the crowd, big cheer,” said Carr.

Carr will have to wait just a bit longer to do this in front of fans. At 3 p.m. Saturday at the Oakdale Mall in Johnson City, Xcite Wrestling will host its first indoor show since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

In the meantime, Carr is alone in the ring, honing his craft.

“Everybody who knows me knows this is what I do. It’s always been who I am, and when it was taken away, not only from me but from everybody, it sucked. But to be able to be back, finally, with fans, with a crowd, I’ve got a shot of adrenaline in the arm, like I can’t wait,” said Carr.

So what does it take to become a professional wrestler? Carr says it all starts with learning to fall, or as wrestlers call it, taking a bump.

“You just thrust your hips back, and as you land, you tuck your chin, and you slap the mat to try to dispense all your energy out,” he said. “The one thing that people think is they think that when they get in here, that’s it’s a trampoline and it’s not. This is steel, wood, that much mat. It’s no joke."

It takes years of practice and sacrifice. Carr has been doing this for the past 13 years, and he never knows when that phone call might come. Xcite has seen dozens of wrestlers come through their doors and end up in major promotions like WWE, All Elite Wrestling and IMPACT Wrestling.

“You never know who they can select; you never know when it’s going to be your time, your opportunity. You never know when the stars are all going to align, and you always have to be ready for that opportunity,” said Carr.