Blake Cassata

There's more than muscles and height to Blake Cassata of Greeley.

The 6-foot-4, 280-pound man brandishing a badge from the Weld County Sheriff's Office is a bulldog in a wrestling ring and an educator in the law enforcement field.

Cassata, 37, a Weld County Sheriff's deputy, is also known as "Recon Rage," an ex-Marine who was seconds away from signing a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.

But before he could put his John Hancock down, his professional wrestling dreams took a tumble after a series of injuries.

Cassata served eight years as a sergeant in the Marines in special ops, Muesco, or also known as recon.After all his experience in training and supervising more than 12,000 Marines, Cassata was involved in a head-on car crash in California in 1993.He suffered a shattered wrist, broken sternum, torn left lung and contusions to the heart.Because of his injuries, he was honorably discharged from the Marines.

But Cassata's military knowledge opened up other doors for him.He was able to get a job in policing and worked as a reserve officer for the Los Angeles Police Department, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office and the Pasadena Fire Department.

His passion for being in tiptop shape came from the strong Marine regimen instilled in him.

"I wasn't a fit, muscular kid," Cassata said."I started out as a corn-fed kid."

Cassata moved to Greeley in 1993, working for several manufacturing companies while waiting for a position at the Weld County Sheriff's Office.He was hired as a jail deputy in 1995 and worked directly with the inmates.

"It's challenging, but I love it," he said."I like to work with the inmates.I treat them as people should be treated, as a human.I'm not their judge or jury, but I do tell them you get what you give."

While working in the jail, Cassata rediscovered another outlet in life -- bodybuilding.

Cassata trained hard to be in the best shape of his life.Every muscle in his body was shaped, defined and bulging.

Cassata was wrestling in Denver for High Velocity Wrestling when he was interviewed for the WWE.In October 2003, he tried out for the WWE at the Ohio Valley Wrestling headquarters in Louisville, Ky., and was accepted.He quit his job at the sheriff's office to work a dream job as a professional wrestler.

Recon Rage was coming to life.

"He's a self-proclaimed, uncontrollable jackass," Cassata said about his wrestling image.
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A month after returning from Kentucky, Cassata was involved in another car crash.This time, he was rear-ended while driving on 35th Avenue in Greeley.He suffered whiplash and constant pain in his neck.Cassata had gone to the doctor's office, complaining about his neck hurting, from November to December.In January, he woke up to a nightmare.

"It was 3 a.m. and I couldn't see," he said."Now I knew something was really wrong.I stumbled to the sink and heard my head pop, and then I had an anxiety attack.I was blind."

Cassata was rushed to the hospital.After X-rays and scans, doctors found he had damaged six disks and had broken his neck and his lower back.

The doctors were able to fuse him back in line.It helped that he was in great shape because his neck muscles held the fractures in place, stopping it from moving around and paralyzing him.

"I think in my past life I was probably a cat," he said."I've had nine lives."

Once Cassata was able to leave the hospital, he had to decline the offer of going pro.He was to debut in a tag team with the Undertaker, a quiet, 6-foot-10, 328-pound man who has worked for WWE for nearly 15 years.
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While recovering, Cassata said he realized he'd suffered so much for a reason.

"I was lucky I got to experience what I did," he said."The tragedies I was able to meet face to face made me more of a well-rounded human being.Just cause one door slams, another one will open."

Today, Cassata is back in the gym.He's taken on a role as a foster parent and is still working at the jail.

He's playing to a different audience now.He's not in a ring surrounded by cheering fans.His supporters are all local.

The man whose physique is overwhelming is the same man whose heart beats for the role he's in -- the community service role.

"There's so many things I've learned in life," he said.