Between January’s ‘I AM KING’ and us being fresh off ‘What Could Possibly Go Right?’ there has been a lot of Southern Underground Pro talk around the SoBros water cooler. Okay fine, it’s not water – it’s a gin cooler.
The name that keeps coming up is Steve Manders, The One Called Manders, or just simply, Manders. He has quickly made a mark at SUP, which tells me he’s going to be everywhere soon. Like so many professional wrestlers, his track to the squared circle is a hell of a story in and of itself.
He was a three-year starter and letterman in high school. From there, he spent a year at Fork Union Military Academy where soooooooo many NFL players (and one owner) have come out of. He went on to walk on at the University of Iowa and was on the 2015 team that finished 12-2. That was Manders’ junior year. From here out, I’m gonna let the man himself tell you his story.
Mose: How exactly did you go from D1 athlete to pro wrestler? What has that transition been like?
Manders: Going into my senior year at Iowa, my strength and conditioning coach and I were really close (still very close), but he mentioned a former Hawkeye (current WWE star Big E) Ettore Ewen will be at the facility.
Next day, I came in and met Big E. I talked to him about life and pro wrestling and he mentioned that Seth Rollins had a school called ‘Black and The Brave’ out in Davenport, IA (about 45 mins from Iowa City). That gave me ideas and made me wonder during the season about pursuing it after football was over. After the Outback Bowl game in 2017, I signed up and not even a week later, I began my wrestling career.
The first two weeks were really tough. They (Seth Rollins and Marek Brave) wanted to see how bad you wanted to be there and everything. I brought it back to the days at Iowa when Coach Doyle (strength coach) would do the same thing. Once I hit the ropes and learned how to bump…I was hooked.
The hard work of pro wrestling is no different. It’s the same with football or even life. You put in x amount of hours and you will be rewarded. It’s all the same and I really relate it to that. Pro wrestling is a different kind of beast than football with the traveling and etc., but it almost felt like how I was in high school going to colleges all across America to get seen.
Mose: We’ve seen other high level athletes make the move to pro wrestling. What is it about the wrestling world that you/they find enticing?
Manders: For me, it’s the athleticism and tying that into the entertainment. Sports have always interested me. It’s an art form and I think it’s fascinating. In all types of entertainment, there is a story. Life is a story and I want pro wrestling to affiliate with my story.
Mose: How do you feel waking up on the day of a big match vs. a big game?
Manders: I’m so young in my career that every match is a big match. Every time I walk out of the curtain and into the ring, it’s for a purpose. When I was getting ready for a game, it’s almost similar with the prepping. Each week, you scout your opponent. What they do, watch tape on yourself. Practice what your game plan is. Travel and get into the mindset what you’re up against. Getting to the venue and warming up, preparing to go out and work.
At first, preforming in front of a live crowd by myself was a challenge. I’m used to being with 11 guys or 100 guys coming out. But, after getting comfortable in the ring and knowing who you are, I relate it back to playing at Kinnick Stadium or other big stadiums. Saying and thinking I’ve played in front of bigger crowds. Getting that adrenaline from the crowd is like no other.
Mose: You’re coming off a huge win over Kerry Awful. What does that win mean to you?
Manders: Kerry Awful is someone I look up too. He was one of the first guys I ever met in the wrestling business who had my back. Spoke volumes to me. Seeing how he’s been to a lot of places and how we’ve been on a lot of shows, I’ve wondered what it would be like if we wrestled. Kerry is the heart of Nashville. Him being from there and me being an outsider made it feel like an away game. I love that feeling. One of the best feelings as a competitor is going into someone’s house and beating them. When everyone there is doubting you and doesn’t want you to succeed. That’s been the story of my life, believe it or not.
Mose: What are your goals for 2019?
Manders: I feel that 2019 has been a good one so far. Wrestling in different states that I’ve never wrestled in like West Virginia, Texas, and Wisconsin was pretty cool. Getting on AAW, and showing what I got in a singles match and that whole day was just an eye opening experience that I’ll never forget. Some goals I have include getting on a couple shows like AIW, Beyond, CZW, and maybe something in Japan. Have a tryout for All Japan in the coming weeks and really excited for that. It’s a product that I enjoy watching and really, really appreciate.
Japanese or Puroresu wresting is my favorite type of professional wrestling. Something about the strong style, hard hitting, fighting spirit of a warrior, and athletic style that makes it really feel like a sport to me. So getting into that is a dream of mine that I hope, if not in 2019, will happen one day.
Mose: Do you have any ‘dream’ opponents you’d like to cross off before the year is out?
Manders: Man, there is a long list of course but if I had to name 5 it would be
1. Shigehiro Irie
2. Mance Warner
3. Curt Stallion
4. Josh Briggs
5. Josh Alexander
*special bonus* Eddie Kingston
I can’t thank Manders enough for the time and glimpse into his story. He’s a genuine guy that’s got a lot of great things ahead. Can’t wait to have you back in Nashville, man…the first round is on us!
John Mosley is the independent wrestling and TV aficionado of the SoBros Network. He graduated from ETSU with a degree in Radio, TV and Film along with a minor in Film Studies. Since graduating he’s done pretty much nothing but watch, film, edit or commentate for local wrestling promotions and is the current color commentator for Resolute Wrestling. #Preds #Titans #DefendOrVacateConor Follow on Twitter: @SoBroMose.
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