The term “generational” gets inserted in front of a number of things these days. Far too often, it’s misplaced and misused. “Generational talent” is something found in all sorts of arenas. In sports and entertainment, it’s a go-to phrase, reserved for younger prodigies and/or an all timer still having a great run. When those two roads intersect, a clusterfuck of excellence exists, and at that excellent intersection is where you can find North Carolina’s own LaBron Kozone, who recently signed a multi-year deal with Major League Wrestling (MLW).
“Renaissance Man” wouldn’t be a bad choice to describe Kozone, either. Most male athletes would choose music like rap, rock, R&B, metal, or something with some juice when it comes to a musical selection. Kozone prefers the smooth stylings of John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders. “When I’m trainin, you can ask my students. I’ll just be playin jazz music beatin’ ’em up!” The smile on his face while sharing this was priceless, and 85 percent of that was about his students. (The remaining 15 was about beating them up.) While he’s an old soul who believes in teaching his Fire Star Pro Wrestling students the best fundamentals, he also understands the entertainment aspect of the business.
A young Kozone (aged 12) had a TNA DVD. The bonus content is what caught young Kozone’s eye most, giving him his first real look behind the scenes of the industry. At that moment, the industry applied the ankle lock, and Kozone was tapping out to a life committed to pro wrestling. Fast forward a year, he was booking backyard shows on a trampoline. Fast forward a couple more years, he did his senior project on being a pro wrestler. He met Big Daddy Eric Edwards, who welcomed him into the locker room and helped him navigate this new world. (He got an A on the project, if you were wondering.)
Kozone was now fulfilling his dream of being a pro wrestler. Track and football in high school were fun and helped him on his path, but now was the time to get serious. Kozone fully committed himself to being a pro wrestler…or so he thought. While track and football also helped him get ahead of the curve in getting in shape, working at a pizza joint was unfortunately starting to derail that progress. (So was doing tope con hilos at 240-250lbs on the indies when NOBODY wanted to catch you!)
Between the unusual soreness and a conversation with New Jack—where Jack told Kozone that no one gives a damn about you except for you, so look out for you!—Kozone decided it was time for him to get serious and focus on himself, taking his health and wrestling much more seriously. Not only did he go plant-based for a few years, but he also took the opportunity to reach out to AEW, which ended up in making two appearances on AEW Dark. Not to mention, he also went to Japan and wrestled there. This was around the time he began to take his graps to another level.
Kozone was a trainer and wrestler. His body looked like something out of a comic book. He could do damn near anything in the ring: power, high flying, strikes, submission…you name it, he could do it. And while all of that was dope, Kozone wanted to make sure his technique was impeccable so he could stand out as a wrestler and trainer. Boy, did it ever pay off! Not only did his matches improve, but he also felt better equipped to train his students.
You know how it is when life starts lifin’, though. Things start to crumble around you, and nothing feels the way it once did. Stuff starts looking a little darker and more desperate. We’ve all been there, and so has Kozone. He went through a tough period where he had to restructure his school and wrestling schedule to keep the school open. His weight dwindled below 220lbs. He realized his career had taken a backseat to his school, so restructuring things forced him to put himself first. The school moved buildings, which made it easier to keep things going, and his wrestling started to take off again.
Focusing on his own career allowed him to hone in on the graps. He knew it paid off when he had a match with none other than Jonathan Gresham. The comments and compliments he received after that match made it clear where he stood. Kozone considers Gresham the best wrestler in the world. The fact that he went toe to toe with him was everything a young wrestler in his boots could ever ask for. But to be given adulation and praise for keeping up with Gresham was a bit unexpected. He says they continue to fuel him to this day.
One of the joys Kozone really has is his passion for the business. It’s evident when you talk to him. He takes immense pride in his work as a trainer. One of the most interesting things that happened to him was getting a WWE tryout alongside two of his students, “So Fly” Manny Lo and Blade Brown. While there, he’s talking to all the legends around, soaking everything in. Mind you, Je’Von Evans (a former student) is already on the main roster by this point, and Jackson Drake (another former student) is signed to Evolve. What’s wild is, while at the tryout, Drake actually told Kozone that he was just offered a full-time WWE contract! Imagine training people to do something, getting to be alongside them while they try out, while your previous trainees are achieving their biggest dreams.
“I feel like I don’t have to go to WWE myself,” Kozone shares, “because I feel like I’m already there with my students achieving that success.” Saying things like this speaks to a person’s character. “A changed mind is one of the most powerful things in this world.” Saying things like this lets you know the person behind said character is the real deal.
LaBron Kozone is a treasure to this business. In an industry filled with shady people and dark behavior, it’s refreshing to come across a guy like him, a genuine bright light amongst the darkness. If you ask Kozone, he’d humbly say he’s more proud of the person and trainer he’s become, but wants to continue to get better. He might even say something about wrestling and living his dream, but he’ll quickly revert to talking about the accomplishments of those he’s trained. We’re not talking about a few here and there, with a few of them being lucky enough to get signed. We’re talking about 600-1,000 people, but we can’t be too sure on the exact number; Kozone says he lost count around the 500-600 mark. That number doesn’t matter to him as much as the impact he’s making on his students’ careers.
The man and the wrestler are synonymous. They’re very similar, but totally different. LaBron Kozone’s an enigma wrapped in a conundrum; he looks like an action figure, wrestles like an Olympian, and has the most laid-back/chill personality. The level of focus is Mamba Mentality-like, but with a cool calmness. If he sees something he wants, he figures out a way to get it. Nothing has stood in his way, and nothing will. If you’re not a fan already, get familiar, because he’s going to be undeniable.
“A changed mind is the most powerful thing in the world.” Be prepared for LaBron Kozone to change your mind if you’re not already a fan.