Living the dream, this new X-Division champ in Impact Wrestling can move for a big man
Willie Mack defeated Ace Austin recently to win the X-Division title during Night 1 of Impact Wrestling’s Rebellion special on AXS TV.
It marks his first title in Impact Wrestling, and he shared the moment with his friend, tag team partner and former X-Division champ Rich Swann, who is recovering from injury.
Differing from the typical look of an X-Division wrestler with his potbelly mid-section and mountain man facial hair, Mack actually combines the lucha style with the collar-and-elbow American version. That surprising agility and aerial repertoire for a wrestler his size (5-10, 280 pounds) quickly made people notice, looking past his nontraditional appearance.
Athletic growing up in South Central Los Angeles, Mack played football, baseball, basketball, and volleyball, and competed in track and field. Those sports and karate helped him transition to professional wrestling , where he is a natural in the ring.
In my audio interview with Mack, he discusses Impact Wrestling, Rebellion, X-Division challengers, Rich Swann, Roderick Strong, Joey Ryan, Flash Funk, the Willie Mack ring name, No. 87, his wrestling start, growing up, school, having fun, cats, turtles, and more.
Born in St. Louis, Mack grew up in South Central Los Angeles, playing sports. Ever since he was age 4, he longed to become a pro wrestler.
Mack found a pro wrestling school, RevPro, thanks to his teacher, Markus Haggerty of the Slauson Learning Center in Inglewood, California, and began training while in high school. He took a break from training to focus on earning his high school diploma. Very soon after graduating, he returned to training, learning from Aaron Aguilera, Joey Ryan and others.
Mack, 33, made his debut in 2006, working the Southern California indies. He continued to progress, wrestling for Championship Wrestling from Hollywood, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Lucha Underground on MTV, the NWA, Ring of Honor, and Impact Wrestling.
Mack can move in the ring, adapting to the collar-and-elbow and lucha styles. He teamed with Dante Fox and Killshot and later Killshot and Son of Havoc to win the Lucha Underground Trios Championship twice. He is a former NWA champ, beating Sam (Dexter Lumis) Shaw for the title.
Mack also wrestled Colt Cabana, Brian Cage, Sami Callihan, Michael Elgin, Chris (Kassius Ohno) Hero, Samoa Joe, Kevin (Owens) Steen, Adam Pearce, Pentagon Jr., Cody Rhodes, Scorpio Sky, Roderick Strong, Matt Sydal and Ryan among others.
Victories over (Owens) Steen and Shaw stand out along with a very important match against Strong.
Mack won the House of Hardcore Twitch TV title, the Crash Lucha Libre title and Championship Wrestling from Hollywood Red Carpet Rumble, which included Matt Striker, X-Pac, Jake The Snake Roberts and Ryan.
He highlights and wears No. 87 to honor the year he was born and the number he wore on the football field. His ring name Willie Mack is named after a neighbor who died, paying homage to him.
Willie Mack bio via Impact Wrestling
Stats
From: South Central L.A., California
Height: 5-10. Weight: 280. Signature Move: Stunner
Since Willie Mack arrived to Impact the big man has made his presence felt throughout the company.
Combining strength and athleticism unlike anybody else with a smooth charisma to boot, it won’t be long before Willie Mack captures gold in Impact Wrestling. Recently, Willie has joined forces with Rich Swann to enter the tag team division.
At Rebellion, Willie Mack defeated Ace Austin to become the new X-Division Champion, his first title in Impact Wrestling.
Willie Mack photos, videos, more:
Click https://impactwrestling.com/willie-mack-4/
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