The Hero contestant Shaun Ricker photos, bio, Twitter and Facebook links
Former professional wrestler turned movie star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has teamed up with TNT to unleash the reality-competition show The Hero tonight. The show reflects Johnson’s flare for the dramatic as it’s billed as:
“An epic competition testing the strength, courage, and integrity of a diverse group of nine individuals. Each week, the contestants will be tested, physically, mentally, and morally, as they try to prove that they truly deserve the title of “The Hero” and the life-changing grand prize that goes with it. With temptations around every corner, America watches to see what the contestants are willing to overcome, undergo, and sacrifice on behalf of themselves and others. In the end, it’s America’s call on who will be ‘The Hero.'”
One of the 9 would-be heroes has something in common with the show’s star. Shaun Ricker just so happens to be a professional wrestler! Read on for Shaun’s bio and introductory vid, a clip of him wrasslin’ as well as his Twitter and Facebook links.
SHAUN RICKER
Shaun is a professional wrestler who is putting his life together piece by piece. He has two older brothers, but because of their age gap, he really grew up as an only child. That has given Shaun an independent spirit and the ability to do anything by himself. People often see him as the bad guy, but he has always had the desire to be the hero and sees himself as one because he stands up for the defenseless.
What do you think it means to be a hero? To persevere through troubled times, make decisions that others are not willing to make, and to be willing to fail in order to ultimately succeed.
What is the most important quality that hero must possess? A level head.
When did you first realize you have what it takes to be a hero? I have always wanted to be a hero and always believed I could be. I never got in fights as a kid unless it was to defend somebody who was being picked on, and that’s carried over to adulthood. I’m levelheaded and I realized I had what it takes to be that hero when I apprehended a man who was beating another man and stealing his belongings. I was able to wrestle him down and detain him until the police arrived.
What’s your biggest strength? Belief in myself.
What’s your biggest weakness? Impatience.
You vs. The Rock: what would be the outcome? In the ring? That’s something I look forward to and plan on making happen, and I’ll tell exactly how it would go down. It would be very competitive. We both have that incredible spirit to be the best at what we do. He’s already there. I’m hungry to get there. After a long, competitive match up, Shaun Ricker is coming out on top, if ya sme-…. Ah, never mind. That’s not an insult. THAT… is just a fact of life.
What are three things you couldn’t live without? Meat, water, personal interaction.
What’s your biggest fear? (For lack of a better answer) Suffocating to death.
Describe your most hero-like moment. My most hero-like moment is when I detained a man who was beating a smaller man and stealing his stuff. I pulled my car over and chased the guy. As I grabbed him, he swung a punch and missed and started to run. He then stopped about 20 yards away from me and just looked at me for a second. He then started walking back toward me and reached into his pants and motioned as though he had a gun pointing at me under his sweatshirt. Naturally, I ran, unaware whether he had a gun or not and ducked behind my car. He figured his job was done, yelled some things at me and then walked back toward the victim’s bike. I quietly snuck behind a van next to the bike and waited for him to get on the bike and get his balance. The second he got his balance, I ran and clotheslined him off the bike. He went over the front handlebars and as he came up, I reached around his throat with my left forearm, chicken winged his arm behind his back with my other arm and slammed him to the ground face first. I proceeded to choke him until he didn’t move and held him till the police got there. It was really a crazy experience.
What’s your guilty pleasure? Pumpkin pie.
What’s your biggest motivator? Competition.
Check out this video of Shaun Ricker in his “office” as he takes on Brian Cage from October 10, 2011.
Who is your hero? Arnold Schwarzenegger. If you remove all the recent controversy surrounding him, his accomplishments are astounding. He did not aspire to be just a bodybuilder, he wanted to be the greatest bodybuilder of all time and that’s exactly what he did. From there, he wanted to become an actor, to which many people told him he could never do because of his accent and his size. Well, he proved all of them wrong and became one of the highest grossing actors of the 80s and 90s. From there, after being a bodybuilder and an actor, he became involved in politics and became the governor of California. His entire story is the embodiment of the American Dream and persevering through being told “No you can’t.”
What would be your theme song? “Diamonds are Forever” Kanye West & Jay-Z
Why did you want to be on this show? My initial interest in the show was due to The Rock’s involvement, and then when I found out the format of the show with the challenges, it sounded like an exciting combination. I love to challenge myself.
What gets your adrenaline pumping? Every time I step into a ring… off the charts.
Shaun’s social media links:
Twitter – @ShaunRicker
Facebook – Shaun-Ricker
Will The Rock show special preference to his fellow professional wrestler? Check out the premiere of The Hero tonight on TNT at 8/7c to find out!