Former UK linebacker Kash Daniel, right, has always been a "big fan" of professional wrestling. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Paintsville’s Kash Daniel was part of a senior class that won 32 football games at Kentucky from 2016-19. He was a two-time team captain who played in 51 games with 23 starts — and the numbers would have been even higher if not for Daniel suffering several injuries. He had 168 career tackles.
Now the former UK linebacker is starting a new career — professional wrestling — at age 28.
“I’ve always been a big fan of it. From an entertainment standpoint, an athletic ability standpoint, and a production standpoint it is something that always drew me to it. Even when I was playing football,” Daniel said.
“I would steal some things from wrestlers back in the day just to give me confidence and increase my mojo to go out there and play football,” Daniel said. “It was something that I’ve always thought of myself being decently good at just from an athletic standpoint.”
Daniel had some opportunities to try wrestling after his college football career ended but “things weren’t aligned” for him then.
“But it was something that I wanted to look at. I don’t want to be the guy that’s 67 years old looking back and saying should I have done this. You only get this life one time, so you might as well live it to the fullest and take every advantage of doing things,” Daniel said.
Daniel admitted it took some time after his football career ended to get his body to the point he could try professional wrestling.
“I keep myself relatively healthy and active,” Daniel said. “I keep a clean diet. I’m still active in the gym stretching and doing some mobility stuff and things like that because health is wealth. The more you can move your body and keep going, the better.
“I try to take as best care of myself as I possibly can. There were definitely times where I wanted to make sure we got things right with my body before I stopped into a wrestling career but I am at that point now.”
