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AWFUL Pro Wrestling Builds Metro OKC Following

AWFUL Pro Wrestling Builds Metro OKC Following

Posted: Jan 30th 2009 By: Charles Martin

Crave the physicality of sports, but just wish you had more opportunity to wear more flamboyant spandex, trash talk fellow athletes and be the superstar you always knew you were in your heart of hearts?

Try professional wrestling on for size. There are a number of small federations across the state on the lookout for the next great superstar.

The Associated Wrestling For a United Legacy, AWFUL for short, debuts Friday and is billed as the athlete's wrestling federation. Andrew Willingham, who is in charge of talent relations and creative development for AWFUL, said he is looking for veterans and newcomers alike who have the look, strength and agility of top-level wrestlers.

"AWFUL has pretty much the best looking roster," Willingham boasted. "The guys we get are in pretty good shape. Some independent wrestling promotions don't have anyone who could make it big time, but we have several that could easily make it on one of the TV shows."

AWFUL is opting to focus more on the athletic wrestlers of the Rey Misterio and Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka variety rather than Hulk Hogan types that are all charisma and no technical skills. Willingham wants AWFUL to be a portal for regional wrestlers to get access to bigger opportunities to industry, but to do that they need a roster strong enough to lure talent scouts.

"It is more intense wrestling than what you will get at a lot of federations out there," wrestler Max McGuirk said. "The owners of AWFUL pro wrestling are handpicking the best wrestlers in the state and putting them on their freshest day, Friday."

McGuirk is one of AWFUL's more promising prospects, benefitting from a family legacy in wrestling. His grandfather is one of the great Oklahoma wrestlers, Leroy McGuirk, and his mother is former World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) ring announcer Michelle "Mike" McGuirk. Max grew up as an amateur wrestler and said there is more impact in pro wrestling, as well as a greater need to be aware of everything going on around him.

"You have to try and listen as much as you can, there is so much going on that you really have to pay attention to the other wrestlers you are in there with because otherwise you can easily get injured." McGuirk said. "You have to look good for the crowd; if you are skin and bones, they aren't going to believe you."

Because of the theatrical elements, there is no downtime during a match. Willingham said that wrestlers can't afford to get winded during a match because that would slow down the show. To combat fatigue, AWFUL emphasizes cardio during workouts.

"To be a wrestler, you have to be in able shape, but to be a good wrestler, a successful one you have to be in very athletic shape," Willingham said. "The better shape you are in, the more athletic you will be, the less you will get winded and the more marketable you are as far as your look."

McGuirk recalled a conversation he had with Mike DiBiase, son of "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase. He said the younger DiBiase said that , beyond the family legacy and dazzling finishing moves, it was the look and charisma of a wrestler that gave him the chance to move to the next level. McGuirk has been steadily toning his body and sharpening his mat and microphone skills for when he finally gets a tryout at an upper-level federation.

"Mike told me that you only get one first impression, so if you make a fool of yourself, that was your one and only shot," McGuirk said. "Your body and your charisma are the main things that carry a wrestler, if you don't have that, then no one will buy you as a wrestler."

Willingham sees more than just fans trying out for AWFUL, but also football players, amateur wrestlers and other ex-athletes wanting to keep active and take another shot at the big time. There are even some who do it for the love of wrestling, like having an excuse to hit the gym daily and the free reign to declare themselves the "world's greatest" anything on a weekly basis.

But wrestling isn't a sport for everyone, Willingham warned. A mere mortal cannot be chiseled into a superstar without first possessing two key ingredients: intense desire and an abnormal tolerance of pain.

"Wrestling hurts -- it hurts a lot -- and if you have a low tolerance for pain, wrestling is not for you," Willingham said. "You have to really want to be in this sport because nine out of ten times, you won't make any money doing it. You need a lot of drive, a lot of heart and not mind quite a bit of pain and waking up sore in the morning."

 

Tags: AWFUL, Max McGuirk, Leroy McGuirk, WWF, WWE, Mike McGuirk, Ted DiBiase

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Spotlight in History

  • 1969 Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres def. Karl Von Stroheim & Treach Phillips for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 1971 Dusty Rhodes def. Sputnik Monroe for the TSW Brass Knucks Title
  • 2003 Ichiban [1st] became the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2003 The Heatseekers (Karl Davis & Rick Styles) became the TPW Tag Team Champions
  • 2003 Outcast def. Tyler Bateman for the TPW Light Heavyweight Title
  • 2008 Ky-Ote became the 3DW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2008 Les Mayne became the 3DW Texoma Champion
  • 2008 2AM (Javi Hernandez & Kunna Keyoh) became the 3DW Dual Kombat Champion
  • 2008 Al Farat became the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 2008 Frankie Dee became the 3DW Femme Fatale Champion
  • 2008 Joshua Smith def. Al Farat for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2010 David Kyzer def. Outlaw for the SWCW Luchadore Title
  • 2010 David Kyzer became the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 2021 Brandon Barricade def. Red for the ASP All Time Title
  • 2021 Maui Mike & Malik Mayfield became the ASP Tag Team Champions

Week of Sun 04-19 to Sat: 04-25

  • 04-19 1987 Bubba Rogers def. One Man Gang for the UWF Heavyweight Title
  • 04-19 2008 New Canada (The Canadian Luchadore & The Canadian Red Devil) def. La M (El Choppo & Jesus Rodriguez) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 04-19 2008 The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) def. Nathan Sensation for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-19 2013 Bree Ann def. Barbi Hayden for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
  • 04-19 2014 Aaron Anders def. Michael Wolf for the OWA Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 04-19 2014 Jake O'Brien def. Brian Breaker for the OWA Heavyweight Title
  • 04-19 2014 Tim Rockwell def. Jon Cross for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 04-19 2014 Randy Price def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 04-19 2014 Miss Diss Lexia def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
  • 04-19 2014 Erica def. Miss Diss Lexia for the IZW Queens Title
  • 04-19 2014 Brandon Groom def. Warhammer for the BPPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-19 2024 Killa Kate became the TexPro Rose Champion
  • 04-19 2024 Kari Wright def. Tommy Prince for the TexPro Dynasty Title
  • 04-19 2024 K. O. A. (Caine Carter & Devion Black) def. Rock-N-Rugged (Rook Tyler & Gabe Welder for the TexPro Tag Team Titles
  • 04-19 2025 Rook Tyler def. Auzzy for the TexPro Dynasty Title
  • 04-19 2025 Brandon Warhawk def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 04-19 2026 Gideon Vane became the WTW Open Promotions Champion
  • 04-20 1980 Toru Tanaka def. Kevin Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 04-20 2013 The Canadian Red Devil became the OWA Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-20 2013 Daemon Storm def. Justin Dynamic for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-20 2018 Jack Swagger def. MVP for the IWR Heavyweight Title
  • 04-20 2019 B. M. F. (Kareem Sadat & Maniac Mike) became the EmpCW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-20 2019 Double D became the EmpCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-20 2024 Malachi & Ozzy Hendrix def. The Voiceless Society (Tyler Watts & E-Bone) for the CAPW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-20 2024 Kevin James Sanchez def. Montego Seeka for the EPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-21 1967 The Assassins (Assassin #1 & Assassin #2) became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
  • 04-21 1979 Mike George def. Jerry Stubbs for the TSW Louisiana Title
  • 04-21 2006 Ray Martinez became the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 04-21 2007 Kareem Sadat def. K-Rob for the AACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-21 2007 Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) def. The Re-Gex (Seth Shai & Mace) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-21 2017 Sam Stackhouse def. Spyder for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 04-21 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 04-21 2018 The Untamed (Rex Andrews & Ryan Davidson) became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 04-21 2023 Leo Fox def. Mr. Nasty for the UWE Apex Title
  • 04-21 2023 Mr. Wobble def. Tego for the TexPro Oklahoma Title
  • 04-21 2023 Mr. Wobble def. Tego for the TexPro Texas Title
  • 04-21 2023 Franco D'Angelo def. Mr. Wobble for the TexPro Texas Title
  • 04-21 2023 Franco D'Angelo def. Mr. Wobble for the TexPro Oklahoma Title
  • 04-22 1940 Jesse James def. Danny McShain for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Title
  • 04-22 1955 Ricki Starr def. Mike Clancy for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 04-22 1968 The Spoilers (Spoiler #1 & Spoiler #2/Smasher Sloan) def. Fritz Von Erich & Billy Red Lyons for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 04-22 1980 Terry Gordy def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW Louisiana Title
  • 04-22 1985 The Great Kabuki became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 04-22 2006 Michael York def. Jon Davis for the TPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-22 2016 Brock Landers def. Mascara La Parka for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 04-22 2016 Mascara La Parka def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 04-22 2017 Double D def. Randy Price for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 04-22 2017 Nikki Knight def. Skylar Slice for the ComPro Ladies Title
  • 04-22 2018 Chaz Sharpe became the ASP Inter-County Champion
  • 04-22 2018 Johnny Kove & Tristan Thorne became the ASP Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 04-22 2018 Damon Windsor def. Chandler Hopkins for the IWR Revolutionary Title
  • 04-22 2022 Drake Gallows & Fester Cluck def. Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-22 2022 Duncan Kincaid became the RDW Iron Man Champion
  • 04-22 2023 The Psychotic Messengers (Tank Bryson & Malachi) def. X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Ozzy Hendrix) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-22 2023 Devion Black def. Adrian Vega for the EPW All-American Title
  • 04-22 2023 Logan Knight def. Gemini [2nd] for the EPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-23 1966 Ramon Torres def. Lorenzo Parente for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 04-23 1973 Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-23 1974 Thunder Cloud & White Cloud def. Bob Sweetan & Seigfried Stanke for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-23 1978 Ray Candy & Steven Little Bear def. Ernie Ladd & The Assassin for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-23 2004 Michael Barry became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-23 2006 Tyler Bateman def. Seth Allen for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 04-23 2006 Michael Faith became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-23 2016 Athena def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
  • 04-23 2022 The Blue Bolt def. Richie Adams for the WFC Prime Title
  • 04-23 2022 Koko def. Reed for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 04-23 2022 Rhett def. Hornsby for the WFC Drillsville Title
  • 04-24 1999 The Casualties of War (Grunt & Shrapnel) def. The East-West Express (J. J. Mustang & Joey Steiner) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 04-24 1999 Original Renegade def. Tarantula for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 04-24 2004 Dexter Hardaway became the NWA-OK X Division Champion
  • 04-24 2004 Tejas def. Al Jackson for the NWA Texas Title
  • 04-24 2015 Rick Russo & Largus RagnaBrok became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 04-24 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Brandon Warhawk for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 04-24 2026 Nate Bourne def. Skidz for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 04-24 2026 Morgan Levay def. Shylynn for the UWO Women's Title
  • 04-25 1969 Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres def. Karl Von Stroheim & Treach Phillips for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-25 1971 Dusty Rhodes def. Sputnik Monroe for the TSW Brass Knucks Title
  • 04-25 2003 Ichiban [1st] became the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-25 2003 The Heatseekers (Karl Davis & Rick Styles) became the TPW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-25 2003 Outcast def. Tyler Bateman for the TPW Light Heavyweight Title
  • 04-25 2008 Ky-Ote became the 3DW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Les Mayne became the 3DW Texoma Champion
  • 04-25 2008 2AM (Javi Hernandez & Kunna Keyoh) became the 3DW Dual Kombat Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Al Farat became the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Frankie Dee became the 3DW Femme Fatale Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Joshua Smith def. Al Farat for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 04-25 2010 David Kyzer def. Outlaw for the SWCW Luchadore Title
  • 04-25 2010 David Kyzer became the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 04-25 2021 Brandon Barricade def. Red for the ASP All Time Title
  • 04-25 2021 Maui Mike & Malik Mayfield became the ASP Tag Team Champions
04-25
  • Max Mercer Apr 25th Today!
  • Crash Davis Apr 25th Today!
  • Brett Stopp Apr 25th Today!
  • Zack Zilla Apr 25th Today!
  • Bobby Joe Bristow Apr 25th Today!
  • Carl Fergie Apr 25th Today!
  • Eric Roberts Apr 25th Today!
  • Walker Stewart Apr 25th Today!
  • Karl Kox Apr 26th
  • Havoc Apr 26th
  • Justin Dynamic Apr 26th
  • Yasu Fuji Apr 27th
  • Ichiban [2nd] Apr 28th
  • Chance Snodgrass Apr 28th
  • Siva Afi Apr 28th
  • Sunshine Apr 29th
  • Anarchy [2nd] Apr 30th
  • Dustin Tibbs Apr 30th
  • Joe McCarthy Apr 30th
  • Billie the Kiid Apr 30th
  • Prince Maivia May 1st
  • Big Bossman May 2nd
  • Kari Wright May 2nd
  • Barrett Brown May 2nd
  • Americos May 2nd
  • Don Fields May 2nd
  • Nightmare [1st] May 2nd
  • Johnny Humble May 3rd
  • Lily McKenzie May 3rd
  • Lester Welch May 3rd
  • Jay Hazzard May 4th
  • Dory Funk May 4th
  • Bull Schmitt May 4th
  • El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th
  • Malik Mayfield May 4th
  • Bill Watts May 5th
  • Zane Morris May 5th
  • El Gallardo May 5th
  • Olivier Vegos May 5th
  • El Matador Dos May 5th
  • Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
  • Maria Brigitte May 5th
  • Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
  • Princess Victoria May 5th
  • Claire Watson May 6th
  • Hercules May 7th
  • Richie Adams May 8th

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