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Former Wildcat to appear on 'Broken Skull Challenge'

Posted: Aug 31st 2014 By: Jim Ellis

Mr. Saturday Night may have helped Barry Linduff II earn a spot on the CMT reality show "Steve Austin's Broken Skull Challenge."

The 10-episode series pits elite athletes against everyday men and women in the ultimate test of strength, stamina and wit. Each episode features eight contestants in head-to-head battles, until the last man or woman standing earns the right to take on the toughest obstacle course in America created by Austin himself, the "Skullbuster," for a chance to win cash.

Linduff, a 2000 graduate of Quapaw High School, credits a Skype interview as well as his background as a pro wrestler on several circuits as helping to land him a spot on an episode of the show which airs Sunday night.

Linduff took the long road to get on the show.

He originally pitched a pilot to CMT about his double life as manager of Wilhite Signs in Joplin, Mo., during the week and as a pro wrestler on weekends.

?Somehow, one of my interviews ended up with the producers who are doing this (Broken Skull Challenge),? Linduff said. ?Next thing you know, I get a call and they are telling me I should do this. to fill out the paperwork. I am thinking 'yeah, right' like this is going to pan out.

He decided to follow through on it.

During a follow-up interview on Skype ?I went in with the wrestling persona that I am (Mr. Saturday Night, Michael Barry) and threw it all out there: loud and obnoxious. I thought 'yeah, right ? they're gonna call me back.'?

He went through two or three more rounds of interviews. Then he got an unexpected call.

?Ironically, while watching Monday Night Raw, I got a call from an LA (Los Angeles) area code and they said I was shipping out next week to go do this round. The rest is history.?

The show is not available locally since CMT is one of 15 Viacom channels dropped by CableOne in May in a contract dispute.

As a result, Linduff will be hosting a watch party Sunday night at the Buffalo Wild Wings, 430 Geneva Ave. in Joplin starting about 6:30 p.m.

?Not that anybody would want a picture of me, but ?,? Linduff quipped.

it also can be seen on Dish Network and DirecTV.

Linduff said the show is taped on the set of the 1970s television series M*A*S*H.

He is the second person with Oklahoma ties to appear on the show.

Grove native Dustin Noble, now living in California, was among the first eight competitors when the series made its debut on July 6.

"We set casting calls to attract competitors from races like Tough Mudder and Spartan Race," executive producer Julia Silverton told the Grove Sun in a story prior to Noble's appearance. "We then selected men and women from all walks of life, including firefighters, weight lifters, martial artists, police officers, military personnel, as well as dental hygienists, social workers, and stay at home mothers."

Ultimately, Silverton said, the show is designed to not only be an intense competition, but also laced with humor.

"Steve Austin is a huge character and really drives the show so that every episode is fast-paced and will have you on the edge of your seat," Silverton said. "Just when things get really intense, Steve yells something that cuts the tension and makes you laugh out loud.?

Linduff admitted that Austin, whose nickname is Stone Cold and is a member of the WWE Hall of Fame, has been one of his heroes.

?Steve Austin is the coolest guy I have ever met, inside and outside the ring,? Linduff said. ?He rolls in driving a '79 Dodge Charger with his dog in the front seat and AC/DC blaring. How else would that guy make an entrance?

?That guy lives on the set in the desert and the only things he had were grill, dumbbells and an old (Chevrolet) Suburban. You could drop him off in North Miami and he would fit right in.?

Linduff said it took about seven days to tape the show.

?When you say 'reality show,' you think staged, but we got out there and it was legit,? he said. ?You are competing. People want to see hard-core, crazy, insane action. You better step up and provide what they are looking for, or you will be in trouble. They're kinda like sharks. It is truly a dog-eat-dog world when you are at that level of competition. Just because it's a reality show, don't let that fool you. It's more than real.?

One clip that was available for preview on the show's website (http://www.cmt.com/show/steve-austins-broken-skull-challenge/series.jhtml) had Linduff battling a competitor named Barry in trench warfare.

?That's that old linebacker from Quapaw coming out,? Linduff joked. ?It was intense. They had high-def cameras there to make it look good.?