From the Dome to the ring: Moose returns to Syracuse   

Two decades after blocking in the Carrier Dome as an offensive lineman for Syracuse Orange football, Quinn Ojinnaka, better known now as “Moose,” returned to his old stomping grounds.  

It wasn’t in pads and a helmet this time, but instead to promote his first wrestling appearance in Syracuse as a star of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.  

It was a full-circle moment, stepping back inside the Dome.  

“The last time I was physically on this field was my senior day,” Moose said. “It brings back awesome memories.”  

Moose’s time at Syracuse from 2002 to 2005 were when his best playing days took place. And those moments shaped the path he is currently on.  

“Syracuse was more like a family reunion every day, waking up and meeting up with your brothers and your coaches,” he said. “Without Syracuse, I definitely wouldn’t be where I am.”  

Ojinnaka arrived at Syracuse in 2002 as one of five freshmen to see the field. He started every game in his junior and senior seasons, helping anchor an offensive line that powered multiple 800-yard rushers and ranked among the best in the BIG EAST in sacks allowed.  

He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons and spent seven seasons in the league. Even after a successful football career, he admits now it was not his ultimate dream.  

“Pro wrestling is something that I love,” Moose said. “Football was something I was luckily good at.”  

Moose has had a highly decorated, nearly decade-long career with TNA/Impact Wrestling, beginning 2016.  He took the wrestling world by storm with his heel persona, “The Wrestling God,” which led to one of the top factions in professional wrestling, “The System.”   

Moose came into the company and found early success during his debut in July 2016 at Destination X, where he later became a main anchor of the promotion, carrying the company’s top championships. Moose has become a two-time TNA/Impact World Champion, two-time Impact Grand Champion and X Division Champion.    

“I came to TNA when it was on a downward spiral,” he said. “We stuck, and we fought, and now we’re back.”  

For Moose, the best part of the entire experience comes on April 14 and 15, when TNA’s Thursday Night Impact returns to Syracuse at the OnCenter for the first time since 2009.    

“Happy to be back, happy that I’m actually going to perform where I went to school for four years … first time I’ll be wrestling in Syracuse under TNA,” Moose said.   

During his reunion with SU football, he even mentioned tying in those roots to the show.  

“I actually just met with coach Fran Brown, and I was thinking for one night, I’d love him to walk out with me in my entrance,” Moose said.  

He discussed his ultimate goal of wrestling back in Syracuse, packing an even larger venue.  

“My dream is to have one of our big pay-per-views in the Dome, that would be sick,” he said. “As soon as I leave Syracuse, I’m going to pitch the idea of having an event in the Dome. I think if we wanted, we could run a show in the old Carrier Dome and draw that many people.”  

When Moose comes back in April, it will be Syracuse’s first taste of the former football star on the TNA wrestling stage. For Moose, that day can’t come soon enough.  

“Being in the environment that made me a man,” he said. “I can’t wait to see 6,000 people chanting ‘Moose.’ I think that’s going to be the most memorable two nights of my wrestling career.”