Smark Out Moment

How long have you been developing games for and how did you get started?

MD: Ever since I got a PC around 1998, I was getting creative in anything I could get my hands on - even if it meant abusing programs like Powerpoint to create my own point & click adventures! That naturally evolving into real programming when I was introduced to it at college and I never stopped learning.

How long have you been a wrestling fan? And do you have a favourite match or wrestler?

MD: My earliest memories are of the Ultimate Warrior replacing Hulk Hogan as the top guy in 1990, but I went on to become a bigger fan of Bret Hart for his creativity and commitment to the craft. I loved his match against Roddy Piper at Wrestlemania 8 from its emotional start to its creative finish.

How about your own favourite video game?

MD: The one I've gone back to most consistently over the past 20 years is Civilization in its various forms - but mainly 2 then and 5 now. Jagged Alliance is another one that never gets old to me. Most recently, I enjoyed Mario Odyssey and I'm enjoying Mario World 3D right now.

Right, let us talk about Wrestling Empire! Many see it as a spiritual successor to the THQ/AKI wrestling games on the Nintendo 64. Was this the reason behind you choosing the Nintendo Switch as the game's console home?

MD: It was certainly poetic to mark the 20-year anniversary of No Mercy by bringing my own brand of low-poly wrestling to a Nintendo console - at the exact moment that fans were clamoring for an alternative. If you told me I'd be doing that 20 years ago, I could never imagine it would even be possible! It has definitely been something to cross off the bucket list, and I feel somewhat vindicated to have taken my work that far when nobody ever believed I would.

You have been ridiculously prolific when it comes to adding updates and improvements to the game. What has been the most requested addition that you have successfully been able to implement?

MD: In the old days, you would finish a game and then take a break - but now that's just when things are getting started and it's difficult to see where you'll ever be able to take a break without being accused of "abandoning" the project! The most requested feature has always been multiplayer, so I was excited to offer that in the console version. Although they meant online play, everything about this game is old school so I'm happy to bring back the living room experience. New moves are always a popular request as well, but each one is a little work of art that takes hours to animate and program - so I have to choose wisely. People think they want finishers, but you only see those once in a while - whereas I get more excited about animations you'll see in every match.

This game features a stonking 350+ cast of wrestlers from many different leagues all over history, as well as notable famous figures such as Sylvester Stallone, Joe Rogan, and even Donald Trump! Hilariously, you have been able to do this by coming up with funny alternative names, such as Cliff Hanger (Edge) and Bobby Q (Jim Ross). What are some of your personal favourites?

MD: I like puns that force you to say the actual name without realizing it - such as "Mat Showman" or "Crispin Noir"! I wake up every day muttering fictitious names to myself, so these games have given me a kind of mental illness.

This game is a staggering achievement for a studio consisting of just yourself. How on earth do you manage it?

MD: Thanks for saying so, as not a lot of people have considered that aspect of it. The secret is that it's actually a lot easier to do things yourself, as you don't have to compromise with anyone or anything! Anything I think of is in the game within minutes with no quarrel or delay. On top of that, I suppose I'm very organized and live a very disciplined life. If I was a pool player, we might say I have good "shot selection." I know how to complete one project or task in such a way that it sets me up for the next in perfect order to clear the table. Completing a project is like completing a puzzle, and I've done it enough times to know what works and what doesn't!

What is next for Wrestling Empire? What sort of exciting updates can fans expect in the next patch?

MD: We're just turning the corner on the basic career mode, so I'd like to get every move and story from previous games in there to solidify that. Then the way is clear for me to concentrate on adding a booking mode where you run your own promotion. Last year, fans were upset that the console had no wrestling games and now they're upset that they have no GM modes. Every time somebody fumbles the ball, I'll be there to score with it!

Thank you so much for your time Mat and congratulations on all your achievements.

To keep up on all the updates and future game development you can check out out Mat on Twitter, or learn more about Wrestling Empire on the Nintendo Website.

Also, be sure to listen out for Ross himself as the voice of some of the referees in the game once the latest audio patch has been added!

The biggest story in the wrestling world right now is the reaction the WWE Universe had at last night's 2015 Royal Rumble event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Wells Fargo Center.

But before the crowd was chanting "we want refunds" and "this is awful", what were on the minds of the members of the audience?

Any time Smark Out Moment represents at a live event, we make sure to extend a hand through the Internet Wrestling Community Outreach concept and talk to some people while we hang out before the show. As such, we present to you the latest installment of SMARK MY WORDS. Enjoy!

Wrestling fans are passionate beasts. Our love goes beyond what takes place on TV and at independent shows. There are thousands of websites dedicated to bringing news, opinions, rumors, and reviews about our favorite sport (yes, I call it a sport!).

However, like it or not, wrestling has a stigma to it. You can never be sure when — or even if — you should tell friends you are into it. It does not matter how popular it is; to many it will always be that fake sport with half-naked men. As for loved ones, well, if your other half hates wrestling, and insists on going to a movie when you want to watch the Royal Rumble? Things are going to get rough fast (and that's before the bell has even rung).

As a result, many turn to the Internet for their fix on passion expression. We love sharing our thoughts with complete strangers, and all barriers are down; much like Nexus: "we are one." But what if we did not have to keep it online? Sure, there are meet up groups, but what if we took it one step further than that?

One man dared to try.

Steven Glenwick is CEO and Creator of website Tag Me A Date, a site that is quickly getting over with single wrestling fans for being the first dating site strictly built for wrestling fans.

It operates on the concept "Wrestling night just became date night." Aiming to bring people together through the love they have for wrestling. The site is also unique in its approach, doing away with the favorite food and star sign questions; instead replacing them with such questions as "If you could be any wrestler, who would it be."

They also give users the option of cutting a fifteen second video promo on themselves to explain why they should be tagged. This instantly allows potential suitors to get a feel of someone before even sending them a message.

The concept is simple, but effective, for the site has amassed over 4000 users since its launched in October 2014. But how did it come about? Smark Out Moment booked a date with Glenwick to go beyond the ropes into this intriguing new enterprise.

Q: What was the inspiration behind the site?

A: I had been working in sales and customer service for ten years and had left a job for another, more promising one. Unfortunately, the place went out of business and everyone was let go shortly after. At that point, I had to evaluate my life and figure out how I was going to support my wife and kids. I thought about what I was really passionate about and that has always been professional wrestling. Then I thought about how successful dating sites are and how they seem to be the number one way people meet these days. After putting two and two together, I realized I have a great, original idea on my hands. I have been in relationships where my love of wrestling was creating friction and also where my significant other enjoyed wrestling as well.

Q: Have you yourself ever had a partner disapprove of wrestling/your interest in it?

A: That is funny, though! When you're on a date, you never know if that is something you should bring up. As it happens, I decided to just go for it when on the first date with my now wife. When I brought up the topic of professional wrestling, she started naming the entire roster and that's when I knew things were looking up. After a year of dating, she surprised me with a trip to Atlanta for WrestleMania and that's when I knew I would marry her. Fast forward and we have two beautiful children together. Wrestling has always been a mainstay in my home and I needed to know that would be okay with someone I was dating because it means something to me. After the first time I saw Hulk Hogan, I was hooked and haven't looked back.

Q: What countries is it available in?

A: We started in the United States several months back. After some research, we discovered there was a demand for our site from people in Canada and the UK. We recently launched in those countries as well. Currently on our radar are Ireland and Australia and we hope to tackle those countries this year!

Q: How much does it cost to use?

As it stands, we have a tier system like many other sites do. It is $39.95 for a one month subscription. Our three month program is $79.99, which works out to $26.66 a month. Our six month program is $112.95, which works out to $18.82 a month. Our best value is our year subscription for $149.95, coming out to $12.50 a month, which is cheaper than the other dating sites out there when you break it down. To start however, your first month is completely FREE.

Q: Favorite wrestling couple ever?

A: That would undoubtedly be "Macho Man" Randy Savage and the first lady of professional wrestling, Miss Elizabeth. During my childhood, this was the couple. This covers both storyline and real life. They were just magical. Elizabeth brought the Mega Powers together and ultimately their undoing as well. The onscreen chemistry was amazing and they complimented each other very well. We all remember that emotional moment at WrestleMania 7. Savage had just lost a career match to the Ultimate Warrior and Sensational Sherri started attacking the Macho Man, while Elizabeth was in the crowd looking worried. After a while, she couldn't take it anymore, stormed the ring, and saved Savage. When they hugged, there was not a dry eye in the arena. Even as an eleven-year-old kid, it got me. Those two, and wrestling in general, got me and many others emotionally invested. We want people to find the Miss Elizabeth to their Macho Man and vice versa.

Mr. Glenwick, thank you and the best of luck with the site. So, there you have it Smarkers! Single and ready to rumble? Find your very own Macho Man or Miss Elizabeth here.

On Friday, April 25, 2014, C-Fed will finally get his hands on Ryan McBride, who has been cleared by medical doctors to compete in the ring. McBride has been out of action since having surgery on his knee back in August of 2013, but has been tormenting C-Fed for months. He has cost C-Fed the MCW Heavyweight Championship, attacked C-Fed with a Death Valley Driver after a match with Mustafa, and has evaded retribution from C-Fed with the help of a security guard at the last event. I was given a chance to talk to Ryan McBride about this ordeal. This is what he had to say:

I recently sat down with MCW superstar Drolix, the leader of the "Black Wall Street". We discussed how he got into professional wrestling, talked a little bit about his faction and what the future holds for him. He made his MCW debut in April of 2009 and is a 1-time co-holder of the MCW Tag Team Championship.

I recently had the pleasure to sit down and conduct a interview with MCW star Jessie Kaye. Jessie Kaye has worked for many independent promotions including Maryland Championship Wrestling, WXW C4, ECWA, DCW, OWA All Stars of Wrestling, EPWA, Big Time Wrestling, Wrestleforce, Pro Wrestling Mid Atlantic, F.I.G.H.T., and Prime Wrestling after making her debut in 2010.

Justin Lindner sat down with Maryland Championship Wrestling star Ryan McBride recently for an exclusive interview. Ryan is a 2-time MCW Heavyweight Champion, 1-time MCW Tag Team Champion, 1-time MCW Cruiserweight Champion and was also the winner of the Shane Shamrock Cup in 2009.He has also held many other championships in Combat Zone Wrestling, Eastern Wrestling Alliance, First State Championship Wrestling and Ground Breaking Wrestling. In 2010 he was ranked #348 on the PWI Top 500 singles wrestlers list.

We discussed his background in wrestling, idols and also his upcoming match with CFed.

Q: You have achieved a lot in wrestling. What are some things you would like to achieve that you haven't yet?

A: When I first started training, the only real goal that I had ever set for myself was to wrestle for MCW at some point. I didn't care if that meant being the opening match or just being an enhancement talent. Everything else that I've had the opportunity to do is just icing on the cake as far as I'm concerned. I'm pretty content where I am right now and with what I'm doing as far as wrestling goes. I'm just living my dream.

Q: Who were your favorite wrestlers growing up?

A: Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart were some of my favorites from WWF when I first got into wrestling. Once I discovered ECW, I became a really big RVD fan. The moves he was able to pull off were just incredible.

Q: If there's one guy (past or present) to team with, who would it be?

A: Shawn Michaels, hands down. The greatest in-ring performer to ever grace the squared circle.

Q: At the December MCW show, you turned your back on CFed. Why did you attack him and cost him his world title match?

A: It's the simplest of reasons that people just don't seem to want to get through their thick heads. MCW is my house. I carried that place for the better part of THREE years when no one else was willing to step up and stand on top. I have an unexpected knee injury that I thought would leave me not able to wrestle again. I still went to shows while I was going through rehab and noticed one thing: CFed was trying to be ME, RYAN MCBRIDE. I am the one and only and there is no one that can replace me, so I took matters into my own hands and the rest you can say is history..

Q: What do you feel are the biggest misconceptions of professional wrestling?

A: Talent gets you places. Very select few times is that actually the case.

Q: After having some time to digest what happened on the Dec 28 show, do you have any regrets? And if so, what?

A: None. Whatsoever. I don't live with regret.

You can check Ryan out at https://twitter.com/CluneyMcBride and at the next MCW show February 8th at the Joppa Market Place. 1000 Joppa Farm Rd Joppa, MD 21085. Doors open at 5:30 Bell Time 7:30. Also on the card: Christian York, Cobian, Jerry "The King" Lawler, Mickie James, Angelina Love and Matt Taven.

I got a chance to sit down with Maryland Championship Wrestling superstar C-Fed on December 19, 2013 and talk a little bit about his upcoming match on December 28th against World Heavyweight Champion Christian York in an I Quit Match as well about his background becoming a professional wrestler. C-Fed is a 2-time world tag team champion with his partner G-Fed as the tag team Fed-Up. He's also the winner of the 2010 Tag Team of the year and Feud of the Year. C-Fed has been in MCW since 1999 and is by far the biggest face in the company at this time.


Q: What made you want to get into professional wresting and who are some of your childhood idols?

A: Well I have been a fan of pro wrestling as a kid. As a kid I liked Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior and I never thought of being a wrestler until my buddies went to wrestling school and I never knew wrestling school existed. Then my buddy George (G-Fed) brought over a tape of his first match and I thought to myself why was I not doing this. So once I seen the tape I started 2 months after that.

Q: What's the big difference going from tag team to singles competition?

A: When I started doing singles I never had aspirations to be doing that. But when management tells your going to be challenging for the heavyweight championship its a dream come true. When I told G-Fed he was kind of worried about what was going to happen to him since they were a tag team. Being in the main event scene for a company like MCW one of the best Indy wrestling promotions its unreal.

Q: You first came to MCW as heel and now you're one of the biggest faces. Why do you think the fans have grown to love you?

A: When we first started doing our stick we meant for it to be annoying. But I think the crowd changed with more kids coming to shows and now ever since then we started popping everytime we came out. I try to get the crowd involved in the show and I think they like that. On the Indy scene you dont see that to often but I always try to put on a good show every time out.

Q: Who do you think your gimmick best represents?

A: When we first started we wanted to emulate brian christopher and scotty 2 hotty. But I really like the New Age Outlaws because you have the muscle guy who was G-Fed and you have the guy on the mic who was me.

Q: How is it different working with former TNA star Christian York compared to someone else who hasn't been mainstream?

A: He's very easy to work with for sure. Hes been around for 16 years working with the best in the business and its a honor to be working a program with him. Im learning alot from being in the ring with him. Don't get me wrong I want to beat him in this I Quit match and be the world heavyweight champion.

Q: The WWE right now is signing a lot of independent wrestlers to go train and work at the Performance Center. What would you do if they approached you?

A: I would love to go there if they offered. You go work with the best trainers in the business. It would be a dream come true. But I dont like how they want you to change your character. You develop your character on the indy scene and they like your character when they see you why would they want to change your character. But I dont think Chris Swann would get over with the crowd like C-Fed would.

You can follow C-Fed on Twitter @cfedswann. For more info on the event December 28 go to www.marylandwrestling.com

What's been going on this week in the world of professional wrestling? It's time to break it down in the latest edition of SMACK TALK, my wrestling podcast and the quick notes below. Make sure to subscribe, comment on the videos and this post, and let us know your thoughts.

Subscribe to Smack Talk!

• This week was a special LIVE edition of Smack Talk where you guys had a chance to call in!
• TNA's August 1 tease ended up being Tito Ortiz, which fell flat on the internet and has opened TNA up to nothing but ridicule. Ouch, Dixie. Ouch.
• Kurt Angle was arrested yet again with a DWI violation after Impact Wrestling's taping. He is now going to rehab. Hopefully, this doesn't happen again and Angle can get his life back on track.
• Justin Gabriel could possibly turn heel as there are rumors that WWE wants to make him out to be a bad guy taking advantage of Jo-Jo Offerman's naivety due to their age gap in their relationship. I think this is a bad idea and I'd rather have Justin Gabriel in a tag team with Evan Bourne.
• Maxine won a poll on WWE.com asking which Diva people would like to see return. I can't imagine this being filled with serious votes from the fans rather than "lol let's vote for Maxine".
• WWE Battleground will replace Over the Limit as the new pay-per-view in October!
• Randy Orton was attacked in Cape Town, South Africa by Tshepo Sekhabi, an aspiring wrestler, who low-blowed him and was subsequently arrested.
• We could see an episode of Raw in the future where the three hours are broken up as SmackDown, Main Event and Raw. Why?

WWE SUMMERSLAM 2013 SPOILERS & PPV PREDICTIONS WWE SUMMERSLAM 2013 RESULTS & REVIEW COVERAGE

What's been going on this week in the world of professional wrestling? It's time to break it down in the latest edition of SMACK TALK, my wrestling podcast and the quick notes below. Make sure to subscribe, comment on the videos and this post, and let us know your thoughts.

Check out my show "Smack Talk" on YouTube!

• The fan interviews from TLC are up here on YouTube. Check them out!
• Alberto Del Rio suffered a groin injury during the six man tag team match on Raw. It doesn't appear to be as serious as Mark Henry's.
• TNA's new promotion in India, called Ring Ka King (which apparently means King of the Ring...wonder where they thought of that one) has crowned their world champion, Matt Morgan, and their tag team champions, Chavo Guerrero and David Hart Smith.
• Eden Stiles has left WWE, apparently on her own volition. This explains why Lilian Garcia came back so randomly, as Eden requested her release 3 weeks ago. She also confirmed that she's dating Cody Rhodes. 
• Goldust is blocking people on Twitter if they disagree with his religious views. Wow. He's since apologized, but I'd imagine that was from WWE telling him to. There goes your WrestleMania match against Cody Rhodes.
• Possible heel turn for Big Show and/or Daniel Bryan? Makes more sense to turn Big Show heel, particularly if he does in fact have a match against Shaquille O'Neal at WrestleMania.
• WWE's running a "bring it back" campaign for King of the Ring to have its own PPV again. While I think it potentially works better as a 3-hour Raw episode, unless they were to have the pay-per-view follow the same format where it's not just the main eventers in the tournament, I'd still like to see it happen. I just don't want a PPV KOTR where the 8 participants are John Cena, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, The Miz, Alberto Del Rio, Kane, CM Punk, and Big Show. I want them to continue to use the people that could actually benefit from it. 
• Sean Waltman, aka X-Pac, has been arrested on drug possession charges. Disappointed.