CMLL champion Flip Gordon talks going from US Army National Guard reservist to pro wrestling ring

CMLL champion Flip Gordon talks to Fox News Digital about going from a U.S. Army National Guard reservist to pro wrestling stardom.

LAS VEGAS – Travis Lopes Jr. is a former U.S. Army National Guard reservist and a father of two, but when he enters a Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) ring, a switch flips – almost literally.

Inside the squared circle, Lopes is known as Flip Gordon. He is CMLL’s current world historic middleweight champion, and in Las Vegas this week, he will help the company make history. CMLL will host its first solo U.S. show ever. It will come in the midst of WrestleMania week as pro wrestling fans hit Las Vegas for a few days of high-flying and hard-hitting action.

Lopes detailed his journey from the National Guard to a pro wrestling ring.

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CMLL star Flip Gordon performs a dive outside the ring. (CMLL)

"I got my start in 2015. I was in the Army National Guard at the time, and I moved from the state of Idaho to the state of Massachusetts to begin this amazing journey of becoming a professional wrestler," he said. "And now, almost 11 years later, it's taken me all over the world. I've gotten to see more than 15 countries, and now I have a beautiful life down here in Mexico."

He said pro wrestling was always his dream – it just took him a different route than most.

But it was his time in the Army that helped him get the discipline he needed to stay the course and keep focus on his ultimate goal. He said he joined the Army when he was just 20 years old and serving helped him become a "grownup."

"For me, I always wanted to be a professional wrestler. So this is something I always knew I wanted to do. Obviously, life takes you on different journeys, but