C.J.: Jeremy Borash longed to be on 'CCO but has made big Impact in the ring

Jeremy Borash has a bigger following than he would have if his greatest childhood ambition had been realized: an afternoon talk show on WCCO-AM.

Sweet Borash, host of "Impact Wrestling" on Destination America, which airs Fridays at 8 p.m., has become a world-traveling, mega professional wrestling play-by-play announcer and sometimes ring foil. Here's video of him getting his head shaved: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm94rZQg1LE.

A former intern at KDWB-FM and KSTP-AM and former producer for former WCCO-AMer Ruth Koscielak's now-defunct radio network, Borash has become a pop culture figure.

Hosting a live cooking show at Mystic Lake Casino for TV's "Dinner: Impossible" and "Restaurant: Impossible," chef Robert Irvine brought Andy and Ruth Borash's son back to the metro last weekend. Now engaged, Borash expects to have a destination wedding later this year in the USA with his fiancée, Jade, a UK resident.

Q: How did your current career find you?

A: It started in Minneapolis in a little Christian radio station and I interned with a bunch of people; obviously, you know Ruth Koscielak. From there, I started working for World Championship Wrestling, which is Ted Turner's organization. Long story short, I got into wrestling, have been doing it since 1999. Through that I met with Robert Irvine the chef and numerous others. I'm working for Howard Stern now, too, doing some voice-over work. I've met a lot of people through wrestling.

Q: Did you ever imagine making a living, and a good one at that, doing this?

A: When I was younger, the only thing I wanted to be was an afternoon talk show host on WCCO radio. That was my biggest ambition. Between working for Chef Irvine and Impact Wrestling, it's usually 20 countries a year, all 50 states. It's a tremendous amount of time on the road.

Q: Did you telephone Ruth while you were here?

A: I have not. We've sent some texts back and forth. I've tried to find her. I tried on Facebook. I couldn't, so I didn't really, uh; I probably could have asked you. You have contacted her.

Q: I hear her personal life has undergone a transition. I communicated via a mutual friend that I wanted to do a Q & A with Ruth, but she sent word that she prefers a more private life.

A: Yeah, that's what I kind of gathered. That's why I let that be. I made the initial contact. She was one of the most amazing talents I've ever worked with; great, her personality.

Q: How did you get Robert Irvine tangled up in wrestling?

A: He is married to Gail Kim, one of our female wrestlers at the company I work for, so he started coming to our live shows. Once he said he was starting his own live tour, he hired me to host that because he saw my work with wrestling. That was about three years ago. So the weekends I'm not doing wrestling shows, I'm out with him doing those live shows. It's a rare mix of wrestling and the culinary world. Very similar. More parallels than you'd think.

Q: Are your muscles like Irvine's?

A: No. However, the funny thing is, when I'm out on the road with him, he makes everybody go to the gym. You have no choice.

Q: Where do you have to eat when you return to Minnesota?

A: There's a little place call the Lone Spur. It's been there for 20 years. That's always my guilty spot, every time.

Q: Now, you know, wrestling is not real, right?

A: They haven't told me that yet. I'm still trying to figure it out.

The longer version of this edited interview is online. To contact C.J. try cj@startribune.com and to see her watch the Fox 9 "Buzz."