(Photo credit to Sean O’Brien) – The southern indy wrestling scene was buzzing with activity a week ago, coming off the heels of the biggest weekend in Tennessee professional wrestling. We had Bandit Wrestling posting up in Knoxville on Thursday night, the 4th annual Scenic City Invitational on Friday and Thursday night in Chattanooga, and Southern Underground Pro in Nashville on Sunday afternoon. A lot of guys had strong showings, but perhaps no one had the breakout weekend that Marko Stunt had.
He showed up Saturday afternoon and won the SCI Futures Showcase, earning a spot in the scramble match on Night 2 of the Scenic City Invitational. There, he clearly proved why he’s one of the most exciting wrestlers on the circuit today.
In case you didn’t know that @MarkoStunt was THE GUY pic.twitter.com/GlqoHxvOYz
— Josh Allen (@_BonesawIsReady) August 5, 2018
Though he was pinned by A.C. Mack in the scramble match, there’s no denying that Stunt was one of the individuals (shout out Ike Cross) who stole the show at SCI. But, his weekend didn’t end there. That Sunday, he teamed with Cabana Man Dan to take on No New Friends (Danny Adams and Mike Outlaw) at Southern Underground Pro’s Not Problematic. The match was a blast, but the crowd’s reaction to Dan and Stunt (tag name: “They Might Be Giants”) was off the charts. The Basement East devolved into chaos, pure frenzy, when those two hit the ring.
Stunt was kind enough to grant my interview request, and we caught up a bit about how big that weekend was for him, what the crowd reactions felt like, and what’s next for him.
“Big Natural” Stoney Keeley Interviews Marko Stunt
SK: Where does the Marko Stunt story start? What got you into wrestling?
MS: I’ve loved wrestling since I was like, 2. I went to a show about 5 years ago, and fell in love and had to ask them how to get involved. They ended up starting my training, and I’ve really just learned on the road now!
SK: You have caught like wildfire in 2018. Was there a specific moment for you when you stopped and thought, “this is crazy?”
MS: SCI weekend really hit hard for me. In a good way. There’s a big wave right now, and I’m just going to ride it as long as possible! Things are wild right now haha.
SK: You’re definitely one of the big winners of the weekend, with some people even going so far as to say you stole the show at SCI. What was your own personal highlight of the weekend?
MS: Winning futures was amazing. I think that was probably the highlight of my weekend for sure. Just the way the crowd got into my victory and the crowd surf at the end. It was all just, super incredible. Also, me and Scorpio are best buddies now.
SK: How hard is it to balance yourself on the shoulders of a monstrous man like Cyrus The Destroyer?
MS: Cyrus is very big. I am not. So when he tossed me up and I landed, it was like a platform…a very unstable platform..
SK: I’ve never heard a SUP crowd roar like they did when you tagged in Cabana Man Dan on Sunday. What do you make of that SUP crowd and how fun was it to team with Cabana Man Dan?
MS: I love the SUP crowd! They’re some of the most wild fans around! They’ve welcomed me with open arms and I can’t thank them enough. As for Dan and I, I want to say that this is only the beginning. I loved tagging with him, and would do it again anytime!
SK: Did you catch Cleatus’ rendition of “Africa” by Toto at SCI Prom? If so, what do you make of his abilities?
MS: Cleatus was at prom?? How did he even get to Chattanooga?
SK: What’s next for Marko Stunt? Where will you be? And, where can our readers check out your merch?
MS: I’m hoping more upward movement! I’ve got some crazy things coming up that I can’t mention at this moment in time, but when it gets out, it’s gonna be wild. You can either DM me or e-mail me about merch, or head over to What A Maneuver to find it there also!
Thoughts
Stunt looks like the ultimate underdog, but it’s his charisma and natural ability, paired with that, that make him such a likable dude. Not only that, but he comes across as a guy that’s truly appreciative and grateful for the shine he’s getting. I saw him taking photos with anyone who wanted one over the weekend. The SoBros team got to hang with him a bit, considering his room at the fabled Best Western Heritage Inn was right next to ours, and he was a big hit with everyone.
The more you see of the guy, the more you realize what an excellent all-around entertainer that he is. This weekend brought that big personality to the forefront of his brand, but it was only the beginning. The sky is the limit for this guy, and speaking solely as a wrestling fan, I can’t wait to see what’s next.
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, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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