Portage la Prairie’s own Sam Davidson — better known in the ring as Sammy Peppers — is celebrating a career first after winning a singles championship in a ladder match at Winnipeg’s historic Burton Cummings Theatre. Peppers outlasted longtime rival Anderson Tyson Moore with the title hanging high above the ring. Battered and bruised from a night that included going butt-first through a ladder, he says the feeling is still sinking in. “It’s my first singles championship belt,” Peppers says. “I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel absolutely phenomenal.” The theatre was near capacity with roughly 1,600 fans, and Peppers says the atmosphere hit like a tidal wave from the opening bell. “They make climbing a ladder look a lot easier on TV,” he adds. “At ten feet up, it’s not nearly as steady — but the fans helped me keep going.” Seven years to the top The milestone lands one on top of another, with Peppers marking seven years since his first professional match. Until now, his championship success came in tag-team gold; Sunday’s win marks the first time he has worn a singles title. It also caps a rivalry with Moore that has stretched across tours and towns. “The ambiance of the Burton Cummings Theatre, the history, the crowd... It’s an adrenaline high like no other,” he says. “That’s what keeps me going.” Related stories: Sammy Peppers, Brian Kendrick lay the smackdown in Portage Sammy Peppers brings fight night back to Portage alongside WWE’s Brian Kendrick Portage la Prairie wrestler Sammy Peppers takes the ring by storm He says Portage pride remains part of his identity every time he walks to the ring. “When I make my entrance, I always tell the announcer to report that I’m from Portage la Prairie,” Peppers says. “After the show, people come up and say, ‘I’m from Portage too.’ It’s a good chance to reconnect with home.” A night at the Burt Peppers and Moore opened the card, setting the tone for the rest of the show. The match featured heavy strikes and high-risk climbs with a wobbly ladder beneath them. “Anderson Tyson Moore is one of the hardest-hitting guys I’ve been in with,” Peppers says. “He definitely used the ladders to his advantage. In the end, the crowd helped me climb.” That support is something he says he never takes for granted. “I don’t get to come down to Portage as much as I’d love to,” he notes, “so seeing familiar faces in Winnipeg means a lot.” Giving back, and what’s next Peppers plans a return to Portage la Prairie on November 15 when the CWE Rumble to Remember Tour stops at the Army Navy Air Force Veterans Unit #13. Peppers notes he's eager for the opportunity to see local fans again as he goes head to head in a singles bout against former WWE and TNA star Austin Aries, but for now, the focus remains on the belt he won. He also says he’s actively seeking Portage-based charitable organizations to partner with on future shows, expressing his desire to put dollars into the hands of local causes. “I genuinely love Portage la Prairie,” he says. “Any time I can support people there, I will.” From a seven-year grind to a first singles title before a roaring crowd, the climb for Sam Davidson started at home — and he’s still carrying Portage la Prairie with him every step of the way. Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon. Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@portageonline.com. PortageOnline encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the PortageOnline app.