NEWS: Ex Pro Wrestler Running for Governor of Illinois

June 22, 2017

NEWS: Ex Pro Wrestler Running for Governor of Illinois

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NEWS: Former AWA wrestler, Jonnie "the Illustrious One" Stewart, will toss his hat into the already contentious Illinois gubernatorial race. Stewart last wrestled for the AWA, which aired regularly on ESPN, in 2008. Since that time, Stewart, who once played an evil corporate character in the world of professional wrestling, has found a home in the craziness of Illinois state politics. Stewart, now the president of a used car dealership in Norwood Park, hopes to use his life experience to salvage the Land of Lincoln that has recently endured tumultuous financial times,

"There's unsavory characters in both politics and wrestling."

Stewart claims to have,

"Actually met more upstanding people that I could trust and honor their word than in politics."

Stewart further elaborated,

"Professional wrestling has made me very comfortable behind the mic, it's made me very comfortable with myself personally. There's this freedom that a wrestler has after he gets out of the wrestling world... I'm not uncomfortable with any facts or truths or anything that I might say that might make people uncomfortable."

When asked to elaborate on what he meant by "uncomfortable truths," Stewart continued,

"Your state is going bankrupt,' 'You've been lied to,' 'Take your head out of the sand, it's time to face facts."

Stewart joins the likes of fellow wrestlers Jesse "the Body" Ventura and Kane who preceded him in the world of politics. Stewart; however, may face an uphill battle in gaining the Illinois vote. He was a public supporter of wildly unpopular WWE Hall of Famer Donald J. Trump, in a state that has suffered economic woes under the leadership of fellow Trump supporting conservative, Governor Bruce Rauner.