Recent Loss Of Mom Makes WWE Title Even More Special For Fritz

WWE NXT superstar Eric Young, raised in Florence, credits the recent passing of his mother for making his NXT Tag Team Title win so special | Photo credit to World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE.com – www.wwe.com

Florence, Ontario was the stomping ground for a member of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) history books. A man, who admittedly, may not have had the chance to be written in those books, were it not for his mother.

Jeremy Fritz, known in wrestling circles as “Eric Young” has been long recognized as one of Canada’s top professional wrestlers. “Young” captured the WWE’s NXT Tag Team Championship alongside his “Sanity” partner Alexander Wolfe in Brooklyn, New York last month during WWE SummerSlam weekend.

A long-time and highly coveted member of the TNA (now Global Force Wrestling) roster, Fritz has collected many pieces of championship hardware over the years, including the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. Being crowned a champion for the planet’s top wrestling brand was a dream come true for the 37-year-old.

“It’s amazing,” said Fritz. “I’ve been lucky to accomplish a lot in my career but winning titles at any level, never gets old. Knowing the company trusts you enough to put you in a position where you will be asked to deliver is an amazing feeling. It’s a life long dream fulfilled and my favourite championship win to date.”

Fritz recently lost his mother, Susan Fritz, to lymphoma, making the accomplishment even more special.

“This title is the most special because of Mom,” he reflected. “I thought she was gonna beat it again and had started to make plans for a way to get her to New York City for the show. She passed way too early.”

Sue, a second mother to the strong majority of kids in Jeremy’s hometown of Florence in younger years, was known for her unwavering love and support of her son chasing his crazy dream, and for a simple love of polka dots, which has become a theme for the family.

“She loved her polka dots so I bought a special polka dot shirt and wore it with my suit that day,” Fritz added. “She was there with me and always will be. I made a silent dedication of my performance that night to her. I am who I am because of that amazing woman.”

A bearded maniac inside the ring, “EY” credits the simple small town values bestowed upon him by his mom and his community for shaping the man he has become.

“Being from a small town teaches you respect. It teaches you to treat everyone how you want to be treated. That translates into adulthood and into our personal and professional lives. I have always held my relationships with everyone I work with very high and with great importance, due to that small town upbringing.”

Safe to say, there’s a polka-dot wearin’, pancake-makin’, proud momma watching down as her boy live his dreams, and then some.