Nick ‘The Natural’ Sullivan is a professional wrestler based out of Syracuse, NY, and a personal friend of mine. We went to the same high school, Liverpool High School (Warriors ’07), where Sullivan competed on the wrestling team while I wrote in my notebooks about fantasy wrestling because I don’t have athletic ability.
In the hallways of LHS, Sullivan would often display a charisma that many may not have expected. Based on appearance, Sullivan may look like an intimidating force, but once he’s approached his mean muggin’ face turns into a bright smile and is quite a nice guy. We didn’t necessarily run in the same circles at school, but upon graduating we’ve stayed in touch. It wasn’t until after high school that I became aware of how much of a wrestling fan Nick is and I was genuinely surprised to see him on the independent scene.
Sullivan credits guys like Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Steve Austin, Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle, Sid, and Taz as some wrestlers that appealed to him as a kid. I can see the Taz influence in his wrestling style and overall presence when I’ve seen him live for 1UP Wrestling in Syracuse.
Colin Delaney, Marc Hauss, ZSIII and Isys Ephex all played a role in training Sullivan. Sullivan noted that he got into the business a little later than others because he went to school and got a degree, but feels that taking that time before getting in the business actually helped him in the long run.
Sullivan has found great success in Canada working for companies such as Chinlock Wrestling, and Premiere Canadian Wrestling where he is currently the PCW Undisputed Champion.
I reached out to Nick for some suggestions on matches that he is most proud of, and he was kind enough to pass along a few. So, lets get into some Nick Sullivan action.
NICK SULLIVAN VS. IMPACT WORLD CHAMPION MOOSE — ICW OCTOBER 20TH, 2021
Sullivan starts off with a waist lock on the mat and slaps Moose on the back of the head a few times to gain the advantage. Sullivan again takes Moose down to the mat, but Moose quickly goes to the ropes. Moose responds with a slap and a couple of shoulder blocks, but Sullivan doesn’t budge. Moose forearms Sullivan, but is dropped by a shoulder block on the first attempt. Sullivan forearms Moose over the back and chops Moose on the chest. Sullivan splashes Moose in the corner, but misses a second attempt. Moose goes back to the shoulder block approach, but Sullivan still doesn’t drop. Moose switches to strikes and chops to stagger Sullivan. Sullivan again shoulder blocks Moose to the mat. Sullivan sends Moose into the railing chest first, but Moose responds by sending Sullivan into the railing back first. Moose and Sullivan trade chops in the corner. Moose gains the advantage with a flurry, but again fails on the shoulder block attempt as Sullivan gets a two count after dropping Moose to the mat with a shoulder block.
Moose avoids a slam attempt and puts a waist lock on Sullivan, but Sullivan quickly counters with a German suplex and a belly to belly suplex. Moose boots Sullivan in the corner, but runs into a spinebuster for a two count. Moose and Sullivan trade forearms in the middle of the ring. Moose boots Sullivan into the ropes a couple of times. Moose delivers a third boot and finally shoulder blocks Sullivan to the mat, but only gets a one count on the cover. They trade strikes in the middle of the ring. Moose plants Sullivan with a slam for a two count. Moose forearms Sullivan, but is stopped by a headbutt to the chest. They collide on clothesline attempts a two times and drop to the mat. Moose misses a spear in the corner, but Sullivan fails on a slam attempt. Both men avoid the referee in the corner, but Moose takes advantage hitting the spear and pins Sullivan.
Bob’s Take: When I saw this as being one of the matches recommended to me, I thought it was only because Moose is a name and it’s quite the resume booster to have a match with a guy on TV and who was also the Impact World Champion. However, this was a fantastic match. They told a story centered around a shoulder block, and it was an extended story. The story made Sullivan look like an absolute force, and considering Sullivan is the local talent it is just good business to do that. Sullivan tossed Moose around seemingly effortlessly and Moose gave a ton to Sullivan. This match honestly exceeded any of my expectations. They made great use of their time and for a near 15-minute match, I thought this was highly entertaining.
Match Rating: ****
NICK SULLIVAN VS. ZAK PATTERSON — SVW DECEMBER 10TH, 2022
Patterson is doing jumping jacks on the floor to stall for some time as the video begins. They lockup with Sullivan backs Patterson into a corner, but Patterson bails to the floor to stall for a bit again. Sullivan catches Patterson in the corner, but Patterson breaks free. Sullivan chops Patterson and hits a splash in the corner followed by a belly to belly suplex, which had some force behind it and sends Patterson reeling to the floor. Sullivan grabs Patterson on the aisle, but Patterson drives Sullivan into the apron back first. Sullivan rolls Patterson back into the ring to continuie the match, but Patterson twists Sullivan’s leg upon entering the ring. Patterson continues with a DDT to the right leg of Sullivan. Patterson knee drops Sullivan several times and drives Sullivan’s knee onto the mat. Patterson puts a half crab on Sullivan, but Sullivan gets to the ropes quickly. Patterson kicks Sullivan and hits a fisherman suplex showing great strength for a near fall. Patterson kicks Sullivan on the knee and tries for a slam, but Sullivan avoids it.
Patterson kicks Sullivan, but Sullivan elbows Patterson and tosses Patterson across the ring with an overhead belly to belly suplex. Sullivan hits a German suplex after avoiding Patterson in the corner and holds on to hit a full nelson suplex for a two count! Sullivan chops Patterson over the back and delivers a snap suplex. Sullivan tries for a slam, but Patterson eye rakes free. Patterson delivers a German suplex for a near fall. Patterson rolls through a German suplex for a two count and puts a single leg crab on Sullivan again. Sullivan doesn’t give up and Patterson clubs Sullivan on the back. Sullivan drives Patterson down to the mat with a slam, but can’t follow up on a cover attempt. They trade forearms in the middle of the ring. Patterson delivers roaring elbows and hits an F5! Sullivan manages to kick out at two! Patterson taunts Sullivan with casual kicks and boots Sullivan, but Sullivan isn’t bothered. Sullivan tries for another slam, but they counter each other. Sullivan hits the Big Ending and pins Patterson for the win.
Bob’s Take: I’m not familiar with Patterson, so I wasn’t too sure what to expect. Sullivan tossed Patterson around the ring like he was a rag doll on several occasions, and Patterson is not a small guy by any means. I get a big Taz energy from Sullivan when he’s tossing guys around, but he’s also giving me World’s Strongest Man Mark Henry energy, too. It’s a good mixture to have tossing guys around with suplexs and being a powerful force. The crowd ate this up and it flew by for me, too.
Match Rating: ***1/2
NICK SULLIVAN VS. NICK ALDIS — SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2023
Aldis starts off trying to shoulder block Sullivan, but Aldis must not have watched the Moose match from 2021, because that doesn’t work very well. Aldis leapfrogs Sullivan and delivers a slap on the ass, but that can’t be a good decision in the long run. Aldis sends Sullivan to the floor to continue the mind games. Sullivan returns to the ring and takes Aldis to the mat to keep waist lock control. Aldis eye pokes Sullivan after avoiding Sullivan in the corner. Aldis strikes Sullivan in the corner several times. Aldis bites Sullivan on the forehead and sends Sullivan to the floor. Aldis slides to the floor, but gets distracted by Sullivan’s manager. Sullivan drives Aldis into the ring post back first and hits a belly to belly suplex in the ring for a two count. Sullivan chokes Aldis over the middle rope, and Sullivan’s manager gets a cheap shot in, as well. Sullivan splashes Aldis in the corner for a near fall. Sullivan goes back to choking Aldis over the middle rope and the manager continues with another cheap shot. Sullivan sends Aldis hard into the corner and Aldis collapses to the mat. Sullivan ducks a clothesline to hit a German suplex for a two count, but holds onto Aldis.
Aldis fights out of a waist lock with a clap to the head, but Sullivan knee lifts Aldis and tries for a suplex, but Aldis counters with a snap suplex. Aldis strikes Sullivan and comes off the ropes with a leaping clothesline twice. Aldis tries to get Sullivan on his shoulders, but Sullivan avoids it. Aldis counters a leg lock with a rollup for a near fall. Aldis manages to lock in a figure four leg lock. Aldis grabs Sullivan’s manager, but Sullivan saves him. Sullivan elbows Aldis in the corner and delivers a slam for a two count. Sullivan heads to the middle rope, but is stopped by Aldis. Aldis hits a Samoan Drop for a near fall. Aldis heads to the top rope, but Sullivan recovers and slams Aldis off the top to the mat. Sullivan tries for another slam, but Aldis counters with a sit out slam. Aldis climbs to the top rope hitting an elbow drop for the win.
Bob’s Take: I’m not sure if it’s because I associate Aldis with the NWA and that general vibe, but this match felt like the prototypical NWA style match with Aldis having to overcome the bigger opponent. Sullivan didn’t get to toss Aldis around like he did in the other two matches reviewed, and it felt like the manager was kind of taking the focus away from the match a bit, which didn’t need to happen. Sullivan can clearly hang with TV talent and I felt leaving this match that Sullivan would be an ideal monster character for the NWA.
Match Rating: **1/2
CHINLOCK HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION SHAWN MURPHY VS. NICK SULLIVAN — NOVEMBER 1ST 2025
Murphy offers a handshake, which Sullivan accepts. Sullivan quickly takes Murphy down to the mat face first and gains control with a front face lock, but Murphy got to the ropes quickly. Murphy goes for a waist lock, but is backed into a corner and met with an elbow strike. Sullivan clubs Murphy over the back and continues with a chop in the corner. Murphy avoids Sullivan in the corner and comes off the ropes to deliver a dropkick. Murphy strikes Sullivan against the ropes and tries for the Pedigree, but Sullivan bails to the apron. Murphy knocks Sullivan off the apron and hits a slingshot crossbody to the floor. Murphy rams Sullivan face first onto the ring steps and delivers a strike to the midsection. Murphy rams Sullivan onto the apron face first and sends Sullivan into the ring post. Murphy nails Sullivan with a top rope double axe handle in the ring. Murphy tries for the Pedigree again, but Sullivan counters and catapults Murphy into the corner. Sullivan hits a belly to belly suplex. Sullivan covers, but Murphy kicks out at two. Sullivan sends Murphy chest first into the corner to maintain the advantage.
Murphy fights back with body strikes, but Sullivan tosses Murphy with a German suplex. Sullivan elbow drops Murphy on the back and gives Murphy a noogie on the mat, but Murphy bites Sullivan’s hand. Murphy battles back with strikes, but Sullivan stops Murphy with a backdrop. Murphy fights back with strikes, but Sullivan tosses Murphy overhead with a suplex. Murphy sends Sullivan into the corner and hits a spinebuster, but both men are down. Murphy and Sullivan trade strikes in the middle of the ring. Sullivan headbutts Murphy, but is met with a knee strike and clothesline. Murphy continues with a spinning back elbow and kips up. Murphy comes off the ropes and ducks a clothesline to hit a Zig Zag for a near fall. Sullivan plants Murphy with a powerslam for a two count. Sullivan tries for a slam, but Murphy kicks Sullivan on the knee and hits a curb stomp. Murphy plants Sullivan with the Pedigree for a two count.
Sullivan responds with the Big Ending, but Murphy kicks out at two. Sullivan powerbombs Murphy, but misses a big splash off the ropes. Murphy shoulder rams Sullivan from the apron and climbs to the top rope. Sullivan stops Murphy, but is knocked off the ropes after a headbutt. Murphy leaps off to hit a frog splash. Murphy drives Sullivan down with another Pedigree and picks up the win to retain the title.
Bob’s Take: Good action and there wasn’t wasted time. In all my times watching Nick live here locally, I feel like I’ve only ever seen him compete in squash matches in his favor. So, seeing him compete in competitive matches has been a lot of fun, and this crowd was hot for the action. There wasn’t a major spot during the match, but the action was good throughout.
Match Rating: ***
Nick is a great wrestler, and I’m not saying that because I know the guy personally. Throughout these matches, I couldn’t stop thinking how Sullivan would be a great fit for a company such as NWA. Sullivan has an aura of being a badass that isn’t overly common and can be tough to portray. I don’t think I’ll forget seeing him toss a guy like Moose around like he was a Cruiserweight. That is pretty damn impressive. Nick seems like the kind of guy who would be the muscle for a coward heel, and would then soar into popularity when he eventually turned on the cowardly heel. That’s just something that came to mind.
If you’re in Canada, or in the Upstate NY area and Nick Sullivan is on the card, you will not be disappointed. I hope Nick gets a shot on TV somewhere soon. He’s worth the investment.
Thank you to Nick Sullivan for providing information and suggested matches for this article.
Thanks for reading.