Journeyman Journal: Weathering storms, remembering Jax

EDITOR’S NOTE: Jeremiah Plunkett writes a weekly column SlamWrestling.net, where he offers up stories of his travels in “Journeyman Journals with Jeremiah.”

Journal Entry 12/31/24

Welcome back to Journeyman Journals. This week’s journey took me on a 1,120-mile round trip from my cozy Tennessee home to West Monroe, Louisiana, for Bayou Independent Wrestling’s No More Lies event.

Bayou Independent Wrestling (BIW), led by Josh Newell, embodies the spirit of classic professional wrestling. Operating across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas, BIW combines rising independent stars, seasoned veterans, and local favorites to create a family-friendly, territory-style promotion. Josh has been promoting for 18 years, and his knack for connecting with small-town communities is unmatched. He’s bringing live wrestling to places that often wouldn’t get the chance to experience it.

My first experience with BIW was back in September 2022. Alex Taylor, Danny Dealz, and I made the trek to Fountain Hill, Arkansas—a town with a population of 154, according to the welcome sign. We exchanged skeptical glances, expecting an empty gym. By bell time, nearly 300 fans had packed the venue. Josh had outdrawn the town! From that moment on, I was sold on his ability as a promoter.

Hitting the road.

This latest trip began at 7 a.m., with 560 miles of highway ahead of me. The first leg of the drive was uneventful—smooth sailing past Tuscaloosa. But as I continued west on I-20, ominous clouds began gathering. By the time I hit Mississippi, the drizzle turned into a full-blown storm. Near Vicksburg, my phone buzzed with an alert: “Tornado Warning in your area. Take cover now!”

Fantastic.

Minutes later, the skies unleashed chaos. Sheets of rain and powerful winds reduced visibility to about 20 feet. Traffic slowed to a crawl at 40 mph. I briefly considered pulling over, but I had a commitment to keep, so I pressed on. Thankfully, by the time I reached Monroe, the weather had eased, and I rolled into West Monroe without further incident.

With a few hours to kill, I changed into gym clothes, hit the ring, and stretched out. Long drives can wreak havoc on the hips and lower back, so stretching has become a crucial part of my travel routine.

“Concrete” Nate Collins

That night, I faced off against “Concrete” Nate Collins, one-half of the BIW Southern Tag Team Champions. Nate’s a tall, soft-spoken technician whose style blends submission-based technical wrestling with a lucha libre flair. He reminds me of a young “Black Magic” Norman Smiley. Wrestling Nate was a fun challenge—I got to flex my technical skills in front of a raucous BIW crowd. Josh later posted on social media that our opening match possibly the loudest of 2024. That’s a badge of honor I wear proudly. This match, as well as the rest of the event, can be watched via the 318 Wrestling Channel on YouTube.

Getting ready to lock horns with “Concrete” Nate Collins on December 28, 2024. Photo by Katie Joerg

After the event’s success, we grabbed dinner at El Paso Mexican Restaurant (huge thanks to their staff for the hospitality), cleaned up, and caught a few hours of sleep before I hit the road again at 5:45 a.m. for the long trip home. Thank you to Josh Newell and everyone at BIW for another great experience. I can’t recommend their promotion enough to both fellow wrestlers and fans.

But as much as I’d like to end the last entry of 2024 on a high note, unfortunately I can’t. This week, the wrestling world suffered a heartbreaking loss.

On Christmas Day, I learned of the passing of my friend Jeremy Laymon, known to us as Jax Dane.

When I got the call, I refused to believe it. I even told the person on the other end they must be mistaken. Jax couldn’t be gone. But tragically, I was wrong.

The news stunned everyone. Tributes to Jax flooded social media, and if you’ve read even one of them, you’ll know what kind of man he was. To know Jax was to love him.

Jax wasn’t just a good person—he was the best of us. In a business where egos often reign, Jax was egoless, giving to a fault. If you were his friend, you had a fierce protector. If you needed help, Jax was the first to show up.

Danny Dealz, Jeremiah Plunkett and Jax Dane on the road.

When my mom underwent open-heart surgery, plus another surgery weeks later due to complications from the first, Jax checked in daily. He offered to bring food, sit with her, or help in any way he could—even though he’d never met her. That was just who Jax was: a man who gave everything for the people he cared about.

In the ring, Jax was one of my favorite opponents. He was a powerhouse who’d toss me like a ragdoll, but on house shows, away from TV constraints, his fun-loving side shone through. Jax had a special connection with the house show crowds. They adored him because his goodness was impossible to miss—it radiated from him like a beacon.

To Jax’s family: Thank you for sharing him with us. Jax was a role model in every sense of the word. He showed us how to carry ourselves with integrity in a tough business. I will strive to live up to his example, though I know no one could truly match him.

Goodbye, my friend. You left us too soon, but you live on in the lives you touched. If you’re somewhere reading this, I know you’re shaking your head and telling me to cut it out. You can yell at me when we meet again down the road.

To everyone reading this: Please keep Jax’s family in your prayers. Take a moment to watch his matches, and celebrate the incredible performer and person he was.

Thank you for letting me share this with you. All the best in the upcoming new year, and I hope you will continue to follow me on this journey into 2025 and beyond.

JAX DANE LINKS