OREM -- Think you got what it takes to grapple in the ring with Goldberg or Diamond Dallas Page? Your shot at professional wrestling just might begin in a nondescript Orem strip mall.
Steve Gatorwolf, who once body-slammed pro wrestling stars like Hulk Hogan and Jesse "The Body" Ventura, plans to launch a wrestling school that will teach Utahns the ring moves necessary to hit the big time -- or at least the county fair circuit. At Gator's Pro Wrestling School, instruction will be given by the man who once ranked No. 8 in the world on the International Championship Wrestling circuit, a kind of wrestling minor league."Who knows? Anybody stepping through this door could be in the WWF in a year," says Gatorwolf, a Cherokee Indian who billed himself as "Chief Gatorwolf" or "Cherokee Outlaw" in his heyday. "Our plan is to train a stable of wrestlers who can go out and have a good time."
Gatorwolf owns the American Wrestling Federation, a collection of about a dozen pro wrestlers who put on shows in towns like Richfield, Heber City and Page, Ariz. The former Brigham Young University football player believes wrestling can be a big hit along the Wasatch Front, despite the area's conservative reputation.
"If it's advertised right, we'll be turning people away," said Gatorwolf, who already has plans to stage wrestling this summer at local county fairs and city celebrations. "I don't care if the town has 2,000 people or 2 million people, there are fans who will come watch it."
When he gets animated while talking about his vision, Gatorwolf does a fair imitation of Vince McMahon, the World Wrestling Federation mastermind who has made millions staging shows that some call phony and dangerous but others hail as a highly entertaining sport.
Gatorwolf, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., who now lives in St. George but plans to move to Utah County, has learned a thing or two from McMahon.
Gatorwolf proudly displays on his wall a Christmas card signed by Vince and Linda McMahon.
"I've sat in his office numerous times," Gatorwolf said. "He has in his head plans two years ahead of time for a continuing athletic soap opera."
Gatorwolf hopes to begin training would-be pro wrestlers in the next two weeks. After three months of training, some of them may be ready to perform. Gatorwolf hopes to find enough talent so he won't have to climb into the AWF ring anymore. He wants to concentrate on marketing the product to build a strong business.
After 20 years of grappling with 300-pounders, Gatorwolf also is ready to watch his son, a high school senior in St. George, and others take the stage. But Gatorwolf fondly remembers the days when he starred in music videos with Hogan, Ventura and other wrestlers. Gatorwolf proudly shows a visitor a videotape of himself getting plastered by King Kong Bundy on "Saturday Night's Main Event," a 1980s staple for wrestling fans.
Would the sport attract Utahns -- not just to watch but also to participate?
"Yeah, if my wife would let me," said Brian Stafford, a recent Utah Valley State College graduate who bounced around Gatorwolf's ring a little bit Tuesday. "My dad was a pro wrestler back in Florida a long time ago, but he didn't like the travel and my mom told him to stop."
Gatorwolf has numerous bumps, bruises, scars and other reminders of his years in the ring, including arthritis and pain from a broken back. Yet he insists the sport is safe and says getting professional training is better than just trying out choke holds in a back yard. Gatorwolf also believes Utahns who already watch wrestling on cable television will shell out a few bucks to see local wrestlers in person.
"It's family entertainment," he says. "Yeah, they get to see the headlocks and the body slams, but it's very toned down from what you see on TV."
Gatorwolf would like to stage weekly wrestling shows in his new location, a strip mall adjacent to a martial arts studio on Orem's State Street.
In addition to wrestling, Gatorwolf uses his portable, 16-foot ring for a "toughman" contest in which competitors -- usually just regular folks off the street with no prior training -- box and wrestle each other for cash.
Prime candidates for Gatorwolf's wrestling school are young men and women with an athletic background and a willingness to learn (those interested should call 226-3390 or 1-877-657-7029). Size doesn't matter, he says, and showmanship can be learned. He advises prospects to learn the ropes before worrying about cosmetic issues like costumes and nicknames.
"What they should worry about is can they land without breaking their neck," Gatorwolf said. "Right away, people come in and want to call themselves something like The Concrete Crusher and I say, 'Maybe we'll just call you Flower Power for now.'"
You can reach Edward L. Carter by e-mail at carter@desnews.com