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By Casey Roberts

Contributing Writer

For many fans, professional wrestling is a childhood fascination—a mix of athleticism, storytelling, and spectacle. For Braden Atwood, known to the pro wrestling community as Adrian Alexander, that fascination turned into something much more. At just 26 years old, the Lincoln County resident is not only involved in the wrestling business, but he’s also building his own independent promotion, the Elite Wrestling Alliance (EWA).

Atwood’s journey began much like many others—flipping through channels and stumbling upon the spectacle that is professional wrestling. He followed the sport on and off throughout middle and high school but eventually drifted away from it. That changed when he started dating his now-wife, who was a wrestling fan. The two began attending live events, rekindling his passion for the sport.

A fateful encounter with wrestling veteran Chris Hero on a flight back from a wrestling show in Phoenix altered Atwood’s trajectory.

“I told him I always wanted to be a wrestler, but I felt like I wasn’t big enough,” Atwood recalled. “He told me if wrestling was something I was passionate about, I should pursue it. That size wasn’t everything.”

Inspired by that conversation, Atwood started searching for wrestling schools in Kentucky. With no prior knowledge of independent wrestling or the inner workings of the business, he took a leap of faith and began training at a promotion in Frankfort.

A passion for promoting

While many enter the wrestling business with dreams of stepping inside the ring, Atwood quickly discovered his passion extended beyond performing—he loved the business side of things. The idea of organizing events, making connections, and creating a brand appealed to him just as much as the action inside the ropes.

“I love how companies, organizations, and systems run,” Atwood said. “Putting on a show takes so much more than just getting a bunch of wrestlers together. You have to find a venue, get marketing out there, secure sponsors, and bring everything together to make the event successful.”

Atwood’s goal with EWA is to offer fans an experience beyond just a night of wrestling.

“It’s more than just a match—it’s a full atmosphere,” he explained. “From the moment you walk in the door to the moment you leave, we want it to feel like an immersive event. The lights, the sounds, the energy—it should feel like something straight out of a major promotion.”

A unique blend of action and entertainment

Atwood, under the ring name Adrian Alexander, has built a reputation as a standout performer in the independent wrestling scene. But now, as a promoter, he prides himself on ensuring EWA stands out from other independent wrestling promotions.

“My biggest thing is making sure we’re unique as a company,” he said. “What we’re offering is different from everyone else. That’s what’s going to make us successful, not just now, but in the long run.”

Advice for young entrepreneurs

As a young entrepreneur, Atwood knows what it takes to turn a passion into a career. His biggest piece of advice? Never stop learning and making connections.

“I’m at a disadvantage compared to most wrestling promoters,” he admitted. “Many have 15, 20, or even 25 years of experience in the business, while I had to learn on the fly. I’ve sought advice from independent wrestling legend Jimmy Walls, a fellow Lincoln County native, as well as Terry England and Kyle Maggard. Surrounding myself with knowledgeable people has been crucial to my growth.”

Atwood also encourages aspiring wrestlers or young business owners to embrace hard work and stand out.

“It sounds cliché, but success really does come down to how hard you’re willing to work and how much effort you put into making yourself unique,” he said. “Whether it’s wrestling, running a business, or anything else—if you’re doing the same thing as everyone else, you’re just going to blend in. Find what makes you different and go all in on it.”

With events scheduled for Feb. 7 and March 22 at the Jeanie Rogers Community Center in Danville, Elite Wrestling Alliance continues to build momentum. As the fan base grows and local support strengthens, Atwood’s vision for EWA is quickly becoming a reality, proving that his passion and hard work are paying off.