(Photo submitted) Cowboy James Storm paid his dues, working the smaller independent shows before catching his big break with TNA.

Managing Editor

For "Cowboy" James Storm, waking up in the morning with pain is just part of the job.

Two hundred and fifty days on the road, performing 150 to 200 shows a year for screaming audiences will do that to a guy.

"Some guys do more, some do less - that's how many I do," Storm said in his southern drawl.

Storm has been home in Tennessee recuperating from a fall gone bad on a pay-per-view "Elevation X" match that he was involved in two weeks ago.

"People think wrestling is fake. Everybody, when you land, it hurts. When you don't land like you're supposed to …"

Well, you wind up with a concussion. Storm said that he was supposed to fall onto a table but when he landed, he landed wrong and in his words, "That table didn't cooperate."

He has used that down time productively, spending it with his young daughter. Storm's first house show back will take place at Spencer's Clay County Regional Events Center on Friday, April 4 against a massive-thighed wrestler called, Rhino.

"With TNA, these guys go out and give their bodies to the fans. All it takes is one wrong move, even a hair off, and that could paralyze or cripple a person," said Storm. "We've got that X Division where you need air traffic control because we've got guys flying everywhere.

"That's what sets us apart from WWE. A lot of their guys are like monsters, big body builders. TNA wants wrestlers that can go out and perform."

Growing up in Franklin, Tenn., 30 miles south of Nashville, Storm's family enjoyed professional wrestling long before he put on a cowboy hat and wrestling gear.

"We always watched Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior and Bret Hart. It's cool to be in the business now and meet those guys. I'm still a fan and it's neat when I see them."

It was during his childhood years that his mother would actually give him his wrestling name. Born James, he explained, "When I was younger, my mom said I would tear the house up. She said it looked like a storm hit. I kind of kept that."

James was a high school state champion wrestler in Tennessee, and got a scholarship to play basketball at Austin Peay.

"I started training right after high school to wrestle and broke my shoulder training. I lost my scholarship and it kept me out for a year. I always wanted to be a wrestler, but the basketball thing came along and that was a way to put me through college. When I lost that, I pretty much just concentrated on wrestling."

Along the way he's paid his dues, working his way from town-to-town with small promotions and on independent cards. Then he finally got a break.

Bert Prentice was working WCW's Developmental division. He called on James, his future America's Most Wanted tag team partner, Chris Harris, and fellow TNA wrestler A.J. Styles to serve as "security" for the part of the show.

"We stayed with them for about two years doing matches on and off. Then WWE bought them out and it was back to the drawing board."

Storm continued wrestling for Bert Prentice in Nashville and word got out about TNA starting up.

TNA commentator Don West was practicing his announcing at a show where Storm and Chris Harris were wrestling each other. The two were signed as a result of that match.

"We were on the very first TNA show on Pay Per View. Then they went to Fox Sports Net and then Spike TV," Storm said.

That's when things took off for TNA and it's unusual six-sided ring.

Storm has been wrestling professionally for 10 1/2 years now. During that run he has suffered a compound fracture in his shoulder, has had to have his left eye socket repaired after being hit with a steel chair, has endured three concussions, broken ankles, and wakes up with back pain daily.

So the obvious question. Why does he do it?

"For the fans. Because I love it. And I love to go out there and perform.

"Hearing the people cheer, it's like a drug," Storm added. "Once you get it into your system you need the adrenaline rush. Wrestling is my drug. Then of course, waking up everyday with the bumps. You're sore. And you have to get up and do it again. But once you get in the ring it all goes away."

So how much longer does Storm plan on taking part in the traveling show?

"Right now, to me, it's a younger guy's life. Young guys like to be on the road and traveling. When you get older, you've got the wife and you want kids and to be home more.

"I don't know if I'm going to be in the ring when I'm 50. I'd like to be able to walk normally. I want to be in wrestling when my body tells me that's enough, then that's enough."

Since TNA began its contract with Spike TV, Storm's face has become more recognizable.

"I don't mind it at all. That's how I make my living. How would I feel if I was in their shoes. That's who pays my bills."

But the ultimate moment of fame was becoming immortalized in plastic.

"I remember getting my action figure. The next day, I was flying out, and they asked for ID and I set it up on the counter. They said, 'That's great but we need a photo ID,'" Storm laughed. "It's great to go into a store and see it hanging on the shelf."

So how much of James is in the Storm character.

"About 97 percent of it is me. I'm laid back and I like to go out and drink beer with the guys. But I have a very short temper and if something makes me mad, I will react. That's the good thing about wrestling. I can take my frustrations out and I don't take them home with me."

Home includes a two-and-a-half year old daughter. Missing her grow up is the toughest part of being on the road according to Storm. But he has to make sure she's cared for.

"I spend every moment that I can with her when I'm not on the road."

But is she a fan of daddy, who right now is one of the TNA bad guys after turning on his longtime tag team champion partner, Harris.

"I don't let her watch me on TV. I don't let her mom watch me. I don't want her seeing daddy getting beat up on TV and start crying," explained Storm, adding with a laugh, "But her favorite doll is her action figure."