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Meet Mr. Saturday Night

Posted: May 31st 2013 By: CMBurnham

From Monday to Friday, Barry Linduff admits he's a pretty typical guy. As a graphic designer at The Joplin Globe in Missouri, Linduff even describes himself as easygoing and relaxed.

The weekends, however, are a different story.

After he clocks out of work Friday, Linduff takes on a new role as Mr. Saturday Night Michael Barry, a professional wrestler for Traditional Championship Wrestling.

The dream to become a professional wrestler started for Linduff at age 18 when he and his dad attended WrestleMania in Houston, Texas. After seeing the intensity and excitement of the sport, Linduff was hooked.

He immediately began looking for ways to get into wrestling, going on to chat rooms and asking anybody he could for more information. Though he knew the road would be tough, Linduff was determined.

?I didn?t want to be 80 or 90 years old sitting back sitting back wondering what if I had tried it,? Linduff said. ?I had to figure out a way to get into it.?

Eventually, Linduff met up with former professional wrestler Sonny Myers in St. Joe, Mo. Myers, a former National Wrestling Association Central States Heavyweight Champion, was of the old school and wasn't quick to take on a new wrestler.

Starting off, Myers trained Linduff harsh, making him practice his moves on concrete rather than on a mat and constantly put the young wrestler in advanced holds. Still, Linduff remained unshaken, routinely making the three-hour trip from his house to train.

?You were treated with a certain level of torture if you were a newcomer,? Linduff said. ?It really weeded out who wanted to be there, who had the passion and who didn?t. Me not being smart enough to know I couldn?t do something, I kept coming back every weekend.?

After signing on with TCW, all Linduff needed was a name. While racking his brain over what his name would be, Linduff's identity hit him when he least expected it. Surfing through radio stations, he overheard Elton John's Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting, from then on fans have known him as the boisterous Mr. Saturday Night.

?I thought, Saturday night, life of the party, that's what I what I want to be,? Linduff said. ?I thought I'd go with it until I thought of something else, but 10 years later, I'm still Mr. Saturday Night.?

TCW, which had a surplus of protagonist roles, casted Mr. Saturday Night as a heel making him a hated villain among wrestling fans.

However, the constant boos only fueled him in the ring. In fact Linduff said he actually prefers being cast as the heel during a fight.

?I feel way more comfortable in the role of the heel,? Linduff said. ?It?s a lot easier for me to get you to not like me than it is to get you to like me.?

At the beginning of the year, Mr. Saturday Night was moved to more of a protagonist role in TCW. While the change is still new to Linduff, he said he is beginning to get used to stepping out of the dark side.

?Being a good guy, that?s a little bit more work, especially since I?ve been a bad guy my whole career,? Linduff said. ?I had to learn fast that it wasn?t necessarily about trying to appeal to the fans. Fans gravitate to the people who are out there having a good time and having fun.?

Professional wrestling is unlike other athletic events in that there is the component of acting involved. Linduff said making sure the two work hand in hand provides a constant challenge.

?Pro wrestling is a lot different than amateur wrestling,? Linduff said. ?But the athleticism is unparalleled. You have to be a performer and an athlete at the same time. It?s hard enough to be one or the other, but when you put the two together, unless you have been out there under those bright lights, it?s hard to understand. There is nothing like it.?

Though it is common knowledge that the fight's outcomes are predetermined, Linduff said the key to putting on a good show is making the action look so believable that fans forget the fighting isn't real.

?If I can go out there and do things to get the fans so involved and give such a performance that people say, ?it?s predetermined, but that was real, he really didn?t like that guy,? there?s an art to it,? Linduff said. ?That?s the challenge, to pull the slight of hand in front of somebody and them not realize it.?

The schedule of a professional wrestler is also challenging. Linduff said he spends countless amounts of time in the gym and must constantly keep in top shape in order to perform on the weekends.

However, the work is rewarding. Linduff said wrestling provides him with a release he cannot find anywhere else.

?I get a lot off stress out both in the gym and in the ring,? Linduff said. ?It?s the best therapy I have found. It beats paying $90 to sit on a couch and have some psychologist tell me something. It?s a great outlet.?

Fans can catch Mr. Saturday Night as well as other professional wrestlers, as TCW will hold Mississippi Meltdown on Saturday at the Frank Cochran Center in Highland Park at 5:30 p.m.

? I urge fans to come out and have a good time,? Linduff said. ?Don?t be afraid to get loud and get involved in the show.?

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1982 King Kong Bundy & Bill Irwin def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
1983 Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart def. Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
2004 Chris Matthews def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
2009 Bobby Starr def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Entertainment Title
2010 Xavior def. Kevin Morgan for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
2015 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Impact Division Title
2015 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
2015 Brad Michaels def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
2015 Richie Adams def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
2015 Shawn Hernandez became the DI2IW Intercontinenal Champion
2015 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Impact, Inc. (Damon Windsor & Johnny Z) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Clover Botello for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title

Week of Sun 09-06 to Sat: 09-12

09-06 2008 The New York Express (Thomas Knight & Jeff Knight) def. The Untouchables (J. D. Rebel & The Enforcer) for the SECW Tag Team Titles
09-06 2008 Martin Justice became the SECW Cruiserweight Champion
09-06 2014 Spanish Wolf (Nathan Estrada & Michael Wolf) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
09-06 2025 Butcher def. Riker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
09-06 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
09-06 2025 Phil Shark def. Franco D’Angelo for the TexPro Texas Title
09-07 1979 Mark Lewin def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-07 1980 Terry Gibbs became the TSW Tri-State Champion
09-07 1981 Frank Hill & Eric Embry def. Joel Deaton & David Deaton for the TSW Tag Team Titles
09-07 2004 Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree def. Paul London & Billy Kidman for the WWE Smackdown World Tag Team Titles
09-07 2012 Brandon Walker def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
09-07 2014 Robert Lee def. Striker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
09-07 2018 Nikki Knight def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Title
09-07 2019 Brian Dixon def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Oklahoma Title
09-07 2019 Luke Langley def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Lion Heart Title
09-07 2019 James Southard def. Lake Hefner for the ASP Inter-County Title
09-07 2024 The Subject (Cade Fite & Derek James) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
09-07 2024 Wrangler Rhett def. Alex Royal for the WFC Prime Title
09-08 1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
09-08 1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-08 1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-08 1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-08 2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
09-08 2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
09-08 2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
09-08 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
09-08 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
09-08 2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title
09-09 1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
09-09 1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
09-09 2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
09-09 2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
09-09 2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
09-09 2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
09-09 2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
09-09 2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
09-09 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
09-09 2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
09-09 2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
09-09 2023 Tino Valentino def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
09-09 2023 Manico became the NAW Openweight Champion
09-09 2023 Manico def. Ryan Reed for the NAW Heavyweight Title
09-09 2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
09-09 2023 Thomas Knight def. Martin Justice for the XDWF New GenX Title
09-10 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart def. Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
09-10 1971 Ramon Torres def. Roger Kirby for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
09-10 1978 David Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
09-10 1979 Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
09-10 2011 Drake Gallows became the BYEW Entertainment Champion
09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Spyder for the SRPW United States Title
09-10 2021 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
09-10 2022 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) def. Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
09-10 2022 MLP def. Duncan Kincaid for the RDW Iron Man Title
09-10 2022 Nashoba def. Al Farat for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
09-11 1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-11 1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
09-11 1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
09-11 1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
09-11 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
09-11 1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
09-11 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
09-11 2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
09-11 2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
09-11 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-11 2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
09-11 2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
09-11 2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
09-11 2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
09-11 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
09-12 1982 King Kong Bundy & Bill Irwin def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
09-12 1983 Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart def. Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
09-12 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
09-12 2004 Chris Matthews def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
09-12 2009 Bobby Starr def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Entertainment Title
09-12 2010 Xavior def. Kevin Morgan for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
09-12 2015 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Impact Division Title
09-12 2015 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
09-12 2015 Brad Michaels def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
09-12 2015 Richie Adams def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
09-12 2015 Shawn Hernandez became the DI2IW Intercontinenal Champion
09-12 2015 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Impact, Inc. (Damon Windsor & Johnny Z) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-12 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-12 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Clover Botello for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title

09-12

N'Zane Lee Happy Sep 12th Today!
Bob Kenaston Sep 12th Today!
Montego Seeka Sep 12th Today!
Bounty Hunter Sep 12th Today!
Bash Sep 12th Today!
Adrian Dell Sep 12th Today!
American Anarchy Sep 12th Today!
Danni Bee Sep 12th Today!
Animal Sep 12th Today!
Angelina Love Sep 13th
K. P. Moore Sep 13th
Bobby Starr Sep 13th
Danny Little Bear Sep 13th
Poder Oriental Sep 13th
Waddy Young Sep 14th
Lunatic Lennie Sep 14th
Eddie LeVaughn Sep 14th
Kelsie Mae Sep 14th
Bernie D Sep 14th
Spoiler 2000 Sep 15th
Daniel King Sep 15th
Korvin Sage Sep 15th
L. C. Green Sep 15th
Haru Sonada Sep 16th
Jake Swayze Sep 17th
Colton Kinnamon Sep 17th
Rex Mori Sep 17th
Dick Brower Sep 17th
Bill Irwin Sep 17th
Jim Cornette Sep 17th
Mr. Nabors Sep 18th
Angel Reed Sep 18th
Titan Yin Sep 18th
Cisco Grimaldi Sep 18th
Billy Robinson Sep 18th
Adam Asher Sep 19th
Yoshiaki Yatsu Sep 19th
Jerry Brisco Sep 19th
Bishop Simon Sep 20th
Justin Lee Sep 20th
Chuck Singer Sep 20th
Randy Rhodes Sep 20th
Ethan Page Sep 20th
Greg Valentine Sep 20th
Boz Sep 20th
Joey Stixx Sep 20th
Pepper Martin Sep 20th
Ricky Morton Sep 21st
Connor Jones Sep 21st
Jack Brisco Sep 21st
Doug Somers Sep 22nd
Harley D Sep 22nd
Red River Brawler Sep 22nd
Mike Chacoma Sep 22nd
Satine Sep 22nd
Rocco Valentino Sep 23rd
Cole Crittenden Sep 23rd
O'Malley Sep 23rd
Connor Crunk Sep 24th
Clayton Bloodstone Sep 24th
John J. Bishop Sep 24th
Jason Bruce Sep 24th
Kai Fayden Sep 24th
Joe Jones Sep 24th
Len Rossi Sep 24th
Chief Mike Sep 25th
Angel [2nd] Sep 25th
Toots Estes Sep 25th
Jimmy Garvin Sep 25th

1982 King Kong Bundy & Bill Irwin def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
1983 Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart def. Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
2004 Chris Matthews def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
2009 Bobby Starr def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Entertainment Title
2010 Xavior def. Kevin Morgan for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
2015 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Impact, Inc. (Damon Windsor & Johnny Z) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
2015 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Impact Division Title
2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
2015 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
2015 Brad Michaels def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
2015 Richie Adams def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
2015 Shawn Hernandez became the DI2IW Intercontinenal Champion
2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Clover Botello for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title

More Look Back In History

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Current Champions

United Wrestling Entertainment

Heavyweight Champion
Brandon Warhawk

Tag Team Champions: Black Flag Rising
Apex Champion: R: I: O

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