The Scenic City Invitational has created lasting memories each and every August since the tournament’s inception in 2015. Lost in the hustle and bustle of another busy SCI weekend in Tennessee is the fact that finalist A.C. Mack did everything in his power to ruin the integrity of this prestigious weekend.
He’s known as a brash loud mouth that will do whatever it takes to win. He’s had seemingly countless victories come at the heels of distracted officials and, for lack of better phrasing, kicks to dicks. All the while, he appears to take great pleasure in rubbing all of our faces right in the dirt. Notorious for hushing the very wrestling fans who pay their hard-earned money to enjoy honest competition, he very clearly has little regard for the opinions of spectators.
Like it or not, though, Mack’s successes are starting to become as inflated as his ego.
2019 has marked a banner year for Mack, who has been on an upward trajectory ever since he won the Scenic City Scramble during SCI weekend 2018. He earned the right to choose his spot in the 2019 Scenic City Rumble, chose #30, and ended up winning the whole damn thing. That’s how he got into the 2019 Scenic City Invitational. But, his scope of success expands beyond the confines of the Scenic City. Down in Georgia, Mack has held the ACTION Wrestling Championship since December 7th.
He’s clearly piling up wins. The problem with all of this success is that it’s become tainted in the eyes of many wrestling fans because of his dastardly antics. And, when you nearly walk away with one of the most prestigious trophies in Tennessee wrestling, as Mack damn near stole the 2019 SCI, the question becomes…when will enough be enough?
He earned a first round victory over Jaden Newman after kicking Newman below the belt while the ref’s back was turned. That drew some raised eyebrows and plenty of criticism from the crowd.
I actually reached out to Mack, who was straightforward enough to answer my questions head on. I asked him what he would say to his detractors who claim he needs cheap shots to defeat quality opponents. This was his response:
Anybody that’s saying that hasn’t done their research. I’m the Title Snatcher for a reason. I was the 1st one announced for that tourney FOR A REASON!! If they can’t respect the fact that I’d do whatever it takes to secure the W, then they clearly don’t know what this is about. I’m glad they’re on the other side of the guardrail.
–A.C. Mack
You have it right there in plain English, folks. “I’d do whatever it takes to secure the W,” is basically an admission of the lengths he’s willing to go to win wrestling matches.
However, winning a first round match in a tournament is one thing. Making it all the way to the finals only to sneak attack one of your opponents is another. That’s exactly what Mack did when he knocked Daniel Makabe out cold while he was making his way to the ring.
Mack didn’t dodge my question when I asked him, point blank, why he did it, either.
Umm…why wouldn’t I?! He was competition. It’s a tournament. I’m here to take out ALL the competition. He just happened to come out before me. I was tired of waiting to make my entrance so boom, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Move OVER, Makabe!!
–A.C. Mack
Where is the honor in this attitude? Personally, I think this sort of ruthless apathy is what makes Mack such a threat to anyone in any locker room across the country as long as he’s being left un-checked like this. He doesn’t care for pomp and circumstance….for traditional sportsmanship…he’s there to win, and if that means knocking a man out cold before the bell rings, then so be it.
If not for a miraculous comeback, we’re talking about Mack being out 2019 Scenic City Invitational Champion. In a way that would’ve left us with way more questions than answers, no less. Could he have beaten Makabe one on one? How would the overall dynamic of the match played out had Makabe been involved from the start? You get my point.
On that night, though, Mack’s antics were not rewarded. Makabe fought his way through the curtain against doctor’s orders and defeated Mack to claim the 2019 SCI title.
That must’ve put Mack in a bad mood heading into Sunday, because he was a little more brazen than he usually is. He showed up at Southern Underground Pro scheduled to face off against Logan Stunt in a ring that Mack has yet to be defeated in.
Clearly, Mack took this as a personal affront. But, rather than put his head down and fight his way back into the win column, the opportunistic champ seized the moment to eviscerate Stunt with a chair shot that caught the Bite Size Brawler completely off guard. The sound echoed throughout The Basement East, and had the crowd concerned for Logan’s well-being. As if that wasn’t enough, Mack proceeded to verbally assault the entire Stunt family throughout the duration of his match.
I asked Mack how he could possibly feel justified in his actions.
Did you watch that?! When he came out, what’d he do?! HE GOT RIGHT IN MY FACE!! I’m already ticked off about what happened with SCI and then he goes and does that?! Hell, he DESERVED to be hit with that chair. And as far as their parents go – look at the Stunt brothers. They’re both BARELY 100lbs and shorter than my baby sister! WHY ARE THEY IN THE RING?!? Why is somebody like me being placed against them? That’s a joke. It’s an insult to everything I’ve worked for.
–A.C. Mack
In Mack’s mind, Logan Stunt deserved to have the sound of cold steel reverberate off of his skull…wow.
Things finally boiled over at the conclusion of SUP’s All Hell Breaks Loose. After feeling slighted by the SUP braintrust with a match against Stunt, he voiced his frustration in the ring. And, he made sure his next target was one that would damn sure command attention.
Mack hit the ring moments after Brett Ison had just won a grueling Fatal 4-Way to successfully defend his Bonestorm Championship. He proceeded to attack him. Now, it’s one of the biggest questions to come out of this weekend: why?
Everything I do is for a reason. Everything. Every nickname I have, I’ve earned. Every promotion I travel to…I take over. You do the math.
–A.C. Mack
I’m not sure what the future holds for Mack. If he’s trying to take over SUP, there is a locker room full of guys he’ll have to go through. If he wants a war with “The Pitbull,” that’s not one that’s going to be won easily. I’m not sure what kind of plan Mack has, but it’s clear he has something in mind. Even for a guy as crafty as Mack, though, taking on Ison…in Tennessee, mind you…is a statement. Mack is coming for Nashville.
One thing is certain: he makes no apologies for his actions. He is without a shadow of a doubt one of the greatest villains on the independent wrestling scene today. Though, in his mind, I’d imagine he’s the hero…he’s the smart one…the just one.
Wherever he goes, Mack should be considered a dangerous man, if for no other reason than his cunning alone.
At some point, though, the leadership of SCI, SUP, and Action Wrestling may be forced to deal with Mack’s shenanigans. If not, there may be a little bit of vigilante justice….street justice, if you will. I reached out to ACTION Wrestling CEO Matt Griffin for comment on the behavior of Mack this past weekend:
“The extracurricular conduct of ACTION Wrestling Champion AC Mack this weekend at the Scenic City Invitational and Southern Underground Pro shows is reprehensible and beyond the scope of competitive wrestling. We at ACTION do not in any way endorse his attempts to injure his opponents.”
-ACTION Wrestling CEO Matt Griffin
More on this story as it develops.
MORE 2019 SCI COVERAGE
B-Boy Is My 2019 SCI Weekend MVP
Crux Wrestling: Hey Jealousy Recap
Podcast: B-Boy Interview
Podcast: Brett Ison Interview
Podcast: Manders Interview
Podcast: O’Shay Edwards Interview
Podcast: The Smokin’ Budz Interview
Thank you, SCI
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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