A nearly fatal medical issue has inspired a once-retired professional wrestler in St. John’s to make his return to the ring.
Jon Mallard, known by his ring name Jonny Chaos, retired from wrestling in 2012.
He says he had made peace with closing that chapter of his life, but in late 2021 a medical emergency changed his perspective.
Mallard went to St. Clare’s because he was having trouble breathing and his condition quickly worsened.
He says he can remember waking up in the hospital, his two lungs collapsing, and then “everything went dark.” He woke up two weeks later, having been in a coma, and says he nearly lost his life.
Mallard says the health scare made him realize that he’s not going to live forever.
“It completely changes your perspective on things. Our time is finite, and I want one last ride, and the Green Machine (his wrestling moniker) needs to get back out there in front of people and have some fun.”
Mallard, the father of three, says he’s excited to perform for them for the first time.
He says his children have seen video tapes and pictures, and have heard some stories, but have never seen him wrestle live. “I think that’s one thing that’s definitely driving me to do this,” says Mallard.
