Kevin Woods, a rising star in the wrestling world, didn’t start his athletic career on the mat. His first love was baseball, a sport he passionately pursued for a decade. “I wanted to be a professional baseball player. That was my first big dream,” Woods recalls, tracing his journey from the baseball diamond to the wrestling ring. After realizing his baseball career wouldn’t go beyond community college, Woods felt the pull of a new challenge that would push his physical and mental limits. That challenge came in the form of professional wrestling.
Woods initially fell in love with wrestling as a fan at age 12, never imagining he’d one day be an active part of the sport. But an ad for the CSW Training Academy, based in Franklin Park, Illinois, changed everything. Encouraged by a close friend, he took the plunge, training under Steve Boz and Doug Simmons at CSW. “That first bump, those first times running the ropes—it hurts a lot. But I went full tilt with training,” he says, reminiscing on his early wrestling days. Despite the grueling pace and minor injuries that mounted over time, he developed a deep respect for the sport. However, after about a year, Woods hit a breaking point. “It wasn’t fun anymore, and I thought, if it’s not fun, why am I doing this?” he explains.
After a brief hiatus, Woods couldn’t ignore the itch to return to wrestling. This time, he felt drawn to the role of a referee, a position that unexpectedly became his passion. “People think refereeing is just counting to three, but there’s so much more. The psychology, the intensity—it’s about making the match bigger than it can be,” Woods shares. Woods transitioned full-time into refereeing during the pandemic, a shift that has since propelled him into the rings of major wrestling promotions.
From working events at Chicago’s Cicero Stadium with Major League Wrestling (MLW) to refereeing for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), Woods has shared the ring with some of the biggest names in the business, including Minoru Suzuki, Matt Riddle, and Mustafa Ali. “Being able to ref for legends is surreal. There’s always a moment where I think, how did I get here?” he says.
Woods is deeply passionate about perfecting his craft. He constantly studies the nuances of refereeing, often rewatching his own performances and analyzing areas for improvement. “I used to hate watching myself, but I forced myself to do it. Trial and error, studying the greats, it all helps make me better,” Woods explains. He even trained with renowned WWE referee Mike Chioda, whose advice and mentorship have profoundly influenced him.
For Woods, success isn’t about fame or fortune; it’s about legacy. “My goal is to be the best professional wrestling referee of all time,” he says. Inspired by the movie The Natural, he aspires to be remembered as someone who changed the game. “I want people to say, ‘There goes Kevin Woods, the best to ever do it,’” he declares.
Outside the ring, Woods is active on social media, regularly updating fans about his latest matches and milestones. “I love connecting with people who love wrestling as much as I do,” he says, encouraging fans to follow his journey on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @Kevin_Woods31.
With upcoming matches for Chicago Style Wrestling (CSW) and future MLW events in Dallas, Texas, Woods shows no signs of slowing down. As he looks ahead, one thing is clear: Kevin Woods is ready to leave his mark on the wrestling world—one three-count at a time.