At this moment, Brandon Thomas is at peace.

The instant before he emerges from behind a sparkling silver curtain as Pauly Thomaselli – the 28-year-old McHenry native’s professional wrestling alter-ego – Thomas will pause, close his eyes and exhale.

Flashes of green, red, yellow and purple strobe lights collide in the air. The guitar rifts that introduce The Smut Peddler’s “If You’re Gonna Be Dumb, You Gotta Be Tough” pump out of a ring-side speaker system connected to a laptop computer and throughout Fusion Arena – otherwise recognized as the empty store space inside the 5 Star Swap Mart in Villa Park.