Wrestling Culture and Money: A Look with Mark McDowell

This episode of Dial It In features Mark the Mad Dog McDowell, half of the American Bulldogs tag team and co-owner of 3X Wrestling in Des Moines, Iowa. Mark talks about how he started his career in wrestling - from watching Bulldog Rob Brown with his grandfather to researching training camps and attending shows. He then explains the training process, which he compares to high school, as well as how wrestling is not "fake" but a form of on-the-job training.

Show Notes:
00:05:27 Wrestling is real entertainment.
00:05:38 Don't fake gravity in wrestling.
00:11:16 Plan ahead for wrestling shows.
00:22:27 Trust is essential for wrestling.
00:23:54 Trust others to succeed.
00:33:36 Trust is essential in wrestling.
00:37:28 Be flexible and creative.
00:40:27 Promote upcoming show in March.

Download the Transcript

Wrestling is an art.

Wrestling is often thought of as a fake and scripted sport, but it is actually an art. Professional wrestling is a combination of athleticism, storytelling, and showmanship. It takes a great deal of skill and dedication to be a successful wrestler.

Mark the Mad Dog McDowell is a professional wrestler, promoter, and co-owner of 3X Wrestling in Des Moines, Iowa. He got into wrestling as a young boy, watching it with his grandpa on TV. Mark was fascinated by the pageantry and theatrics of the sport. After serving in the military, he began researching how to get into wrestling and eventually found a training camp.

Mark describes the training process as similar to high school. It involves learning the basics of wrestling and then building on those skills with on-the-job training. It takes a great deal of physical and mental strength to be successful in the ring. It also requires a great deal of showmanship and storytelling. Wrestlers have to be able to engage the audience and tell a story in the ring that keeps them entertained.

Wrestling is an art form that requires a great deal of skill and dedication. It is a combination of athleticism, storytelling, and showmanship. It takes a great deal of strength, both physical and mental, to be successful in the ring. It is a unique form of entertainment that has been enjoyed by generations of fans. Wrestling is an art and Mark the Mad Dog McDowell is a master of it.

Wrestling is real, but risky.

Despite its artistry, wrestling is a risky endeavor. It takes a great deal of skill and experience to be able to safely perform the moves that are necessary to make a match entertaining. Wrestlers must be aware of their own and their opponents' safety at all times. Injuries can occur in the ring, and they can range from minor bruises to serious dislocations and tears. Mark has experienced a few injuries himself, including a torn pectoral muscle and a partial tear in his back. He has also seen more serious injuries, such as dislocated ankles and hyperextensions of ligaments and joints.

In addition to the physical risks, there is also the risk of being unprepared. When wrestlers don't have time to practice together, they must rely on their own experience and intuition to be able to safely perform the moves. This can lead to dangerous situations, as Mark experienced when he was brought in to wrestle in Kentucky. He and his team were facing off against the top face and top bad guy, and he didn't meet them until he was in the ring.

Despite the risks, wrestling is still a popular form of entertainment. It takes a great deal of skill and athleticism to make a match look believable and exciting. Mark believes that it is a combination of improv theatre and action theatre, and that is what makes it so captivating. He also believes that safety is the most important thing, and that is why wrestlers must be aware of their own and their opponents' safety at all times.

Wrestling is real, but risky. It takes a great deal of skill and experience to be able to safely perform the moves that make a match entertaining. Despite the risks, wrestling is still a popular form of entertainment, and Mark the Mad Dog McDowell is a master of it.

Network and plan ahead.

Mark has wrestled since he was a teenager and has become an expert in the art of setting up a show. He explains that the first part of the process is booking and talent. It is important to build a network of wrestlers that come from the same area and to be able to pay for the talent. It is also important to include local talent and trainees, as this can help to keep costs down.

The second part of the process is logistics and equipment. This includes things like a ring, sound equipment, production equipment, and recording equipment. It is also important to have support talent, such as referees, a ring announcer, bellkeeper, commentators, and a ring crew to put it all together. This can be a difficult task, as the equipment is heavy and cumbersome and needs to be transported to the venue.

The third part of the process is promotion. It is important to promote the matches and draw in an audience. This can be done by bringing in big name wrestlers, or by creating an interesting storyline. Once the audience is there, it is important to put on a solid show and give them a hook to come back for future shows.

Finally, when it comes to the matches, it is important to plan ahead. Mark explains that it is important to know the beginning and the end of the match, and then let the wrestlers improvise the middle. This helps to create a more entertaining match and keeps the audience engaged.

Overall, setting up a wrestling show is a complex process that requires a great deal of planning and preparation. It is important to build a network of wrestlers, to have the right equipment, to promote the matches, and to plan ahead for the matches. With the right preparation, a wrestling show can be an exciting and entertaining experience for everyone involved.

Trust is essential in wrestling.

Trust is an essential part of wrestling, from the wrestlers themselves to the promoters who book the shows. Without trust, it would be impossible for wrestlers to properly set up and execute the moves that make wrestling so exciting. Trust is also essential for wrestlers to be able to work together as a team and tell a story in the ring. Without trust, wrestlers would be unable to tell a story in the ring and the show would be a flop.

The importance of trust in wrestling can be seen in the story of a promoter in the south who had booked a show without realizing that the ring he had rented wouldn't fit in the venue. This lack of trust caused the show to be a flop, as the promoter didn't have the money to pay the wrestlers and had to cancel the show. This story shows how important trust is in the wrestling business, as without it, the show cannot be successful.

Trust is also essential for wrestlers to be able to perform at their best. Without trust, wrestlers would be unable to properly set up and execute the moves that make wrestling so thrilling. Trust is also essential for wrestlers to be able to tell a story in the ring and to work together as a team. Without trust, the show would be a flop as the wrestlers would be unable to properly set up and execute the moves that make wrestling so exciting.

Be flexible and adaptive.

The same principles of trust and flexibility that are essential for wrestlers to be successful in the ring are also essential for success in the business world. Mark, a wrestler and owner of 3XW, has seen the importance of being flexible and adaptive firsthand. Mark has learned to be flexible and adaptive in the wrestling business, and these skills have translated to his day job. He has learned to be stingy and to look for the best deals, which has helped him to save money in his job. He has also learned to be flexible and to think on his feet, which has helped him to be successful in sales.

Mark's experience demonstrates the importance of being flexible and adaptive in any situation. Whether it's in the wrestling ring or in the business world, being flexible and adaptive can help us to be successful. We must be willing to take risks and to think outside the box if we want to be successful. We must also be willing to trust our teammates and to work together as a team if we want to achieve our goals. Being flexible and adaptive is essential for success in any situation.

Rock and wrestling returns.

This is why the return of rock and wrestling is so exciting. By combining the two genres, we are creating something new and unique. We are creating an experience that is both entertaining and inspiring. We are bringing together two different worlds and creating something that is both exciting and inspiring.

Rock and wrestling returns with a bang. 3XWrestling is bringing back the classic rock and wrestling angle with their upcoming show in Des Moines. They plan to have live music during the intermission to bring back the rock and wrestling angle again. This is a great way to bring together two different genres and create something that is both entertaining and inspiring.

The return of rock and wrestling is a great example of how being flexible and adaptive can help us to be successful. By blending two different genres together, 3XWrestling is creating something that is both entertaining and inspiring. By taking a risk and thinking outside the box, 3XWrestling is creating an experience that is both exciting and inspiring. This is an example of how being flexible and adaptive can help us to be successful.

The return of rock and wrestling is an exciting and inspiring experience. It is a great example of how being flexible and adaptive can help us to be successful. By taking risks and thinking outside the box, 3XWrestling is creating something that is both entertaining and inspiring. This is an example of how being flexible and adaptive can help us to be successful in any situation.