Sean McCaffrey: Mark Clemson in 4 short years is the voice of JAP and WXW. Mark Clemson was kind enough to give the DOI this special interview. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. How did you get into the wrestling business?

Mark Clemson: I first got involved in WXW in 1999 doing my first ever college project on the Wild Samoan Wrestling Training Center. I had to make a slide show on a subject of my choice, so since I love wrestling and the school is 10 minutes away from my house (2 hours from Elizabethtown College, where I went to school) I chose the school, much to the dismay of my professor. After I was finished with the project I officially joined WXW by doing stories and promotions for the website and it eventually led into my commentary position there and probably helped me get in with JAP as well.

Sean McCaffrey: You currently work for JAP and WXW. What does each promotion offer to you, and which do you like working for better?

Mark Clemson: I like working for both promotions equally because I feel they give me different challenges. WXW is based around our TV show WXW Rage; therefore I get to learn how to call angles and TV matches. WXW also, to my knowledge, is the only independent promotion that has LIVE TV coverage once a month or so so the aspect of LIVE TV is the best learning experience anyone could ask for. Hell, I made my LIVE TV debut at the age19 I don't' know many commentators who can say that. WXW Rage TV also airs in my hometown, so that's another big thing for me, hearing people tell me they saw me on TV!

Mark Clemson: JAP, on the other hand, is built around events. Unlike WXW, JAP only runs once a month or so and provides 7,8,9 matches that has to last our TV for the upcoming month, but more importantly those matches have to please the LIVE crowd. I've learned that most TV matches are anywhere from 5-8 minutes long, if that would be true in JAP shows would only be a little over an hour long. Instead to me, JAP reminds me of a PPV atmosphere where it has a few matches that last anywhere from 10-20 minutes. How that relates to me is that The Bald Guy and I have to pretty much have something to say during those 10-15 minutes, so JAP provides me with the experience of keeping my mind in gear on what to say, as well as calling the match. Sometimes it's hard, but I feel we do a pretty good job at it.

Sean McCaffrey: You currently are a color commentator. What made you want to be a commentator, and was it your original aspiration in wrestling, or did you want to be a wrestler?

Mark Clemson: I always wanted to be on TV. When I was 4-5 years old I always wanted to be Bob Barker, host of the Price Is Right. That was before I watched wrestling. Then that faithful day when I saw WWF Superstars and saw Hulk Hogan and "Macho Man" Randy Savage fight over Elizabeth, I was hooked and have been a fan ever since. I'm not much of an athlete and never really wanted to be a wrestler, but when I went to my first LIVE WWF TV taping I was really amazed by the production trucks, TV cameras and the commentator set up and basically from there I was hooked. Plus I always found the commentators really had the coolest job in the world: Getting Paid For Being a Fan!

Sean McCaffrey: Who are your favorite wrestlers to watch today? Least favorite?

Mark Clemson: My favorite WWE wrestler has to be Kane. I loved his character from the day he came back in 1997. I wasn't sure if I would like his new character change, but I like it so far. As far as indy's I have a lot I like to see such as Homicide, Danny Maf, Slyk, Mana, Sinn and Los Lunatics to name a few.
My least favorite WWE wrestler probably has to be Shawn Michaels, but not because of his wrestling ability, he's a great wrestler. The big reason I don't like him is because 2 of my ex girlfriends in high school LOVED him and wouldn't stop talking about him. It got me kind of jealous. lol.

Sean McCaffrey: What do you think about the current state of indy wrestling today?

Mark Clemson: I think the state of indy wrestling fluctuates even more than the state of the WWE and mainstream wrestling. I guess it all depends on promotions. Some promotions can draw big at every event, while some only half the time and some none of the time. Basically though, I think it comes down to promoting your shows. Some promoters may only use the Internet to promote their shows and I really believe that does not do that much of a different 99% of the time. Mainly because some wrestling websites (not DOI however) show favoritism to certain promotions and only promote them and not others. A promoter and his team has to flood the surrounding towns with posters, buy commercial time on WWE and other wrestling programming, get sponsors, research the area you want to promote to see which town would be the most interested in having a show and be prepared to take a loss if necessary. Sometimes all the promotion in the world can't draw people, but I don't think that should discourage promoters. If you keep up the hard work and dedication it will all work out eventually.

Sean McCaffrey: What's a normal day in the life of Mark Clemson?

Mark Clemson: Six months ago my life was perfect, being a senior in college with all the advantages that had, but now my life pretty much sucks. I currently work part time so I get up at 7 AM every morning to go into work for 8 and work a few hours (sometimes as high as 8, sometimes as low as 2). After that I come home and plant myself in front of the computer and either search for jobs or type up and send out resumes and resume tapes to various TV stations, production companies and what have you on the Net and newspapers. I average around 30-40 resumes a week, so I hope and pray to God I hear something from someone soon because it's getting damn expensive and college bills come in a few weeks. At night I may work at athletic events up at my old high school, watch TV or do WXW TV work, it all depends on the night.

Sean McCaffrey: Are you satisfied with your job as a color commentator, or do you want more from wrestling?

Mark Clemson: I'm satisfied as my job as the play-by-play commentator. I feel I've come a long way in 4 years and last year even got on the 1wrestling.com Year End poll of "best pbp man in the business. I think I finished 7th behind a lot of talented people. I didn't feel like I belonged there, but it was cool to see my name there.
As far was "wanting more", I think you always want to achieve more. I'm doing a lot more with WXW, which is becoming a learning experience. As far as JAP, Modtrom, TBG and I are pretty much in charge of getting promo's for TV so that could be a challenge in itself sometimes so just getting everything we want to get done is an achievement. I always strive to better myself for each and every show and I feel I've been doing that. One thing I would like to know more of is editing, I just have to get up to SI and bother Modtrom more often.

Sean McCaffrey: What has been the best match you ever called?

Mark Clemson: I don't know if I know what match I called the best, but I have favorites in each organization. Danny Maf v. Slyk from Woodbridge was one of my favorites in JAP. I also had a chance to call a show in Sept. of 2002 for JAP solo because TBG couldn't make it and I thought I did extremely well and was happy with that.
As far as WXW, I really like Afa, Jr. v. Slyk from this past year's SportsFest. To me that was the match of the night there and I was very happy with our commentary for that. I also thought we did a good job in the Sugaa/Malachi match from SportsFest 2002.

Sean McCaffrey: What was the best show you ever called?

Mark Clemson: Again I'll answer this question for both companies.
WXW my favorite and probably my best was SportsFest 2002. To me, it was the culmination of 2 years of hard work to get on that show as a commentator and I really "turned it up" for it.
For JAP, I thought the 2 best shows I called were the two Woodbridge shows w/ such matches as Balls/Homicide, Maf/Slyk and Lawler/Funk. However, I'm starting my notes and such for the 6th Anniversary show, so I'm hoping that will become my best show to date for JAP. Sean McCaffrey: Who would you rather spend a night with, Britney Spears or Christiana Aguilera?

Mark Clemson: Christina Aguilera, she seems more a bad girl and she doesn't care what people think about her, she does her own thing. I find that very attractive. I'm diggin the nose ring, too.

Sean McCaffrey: As a WXW employee, what changes need to be made, if any, to better the product?

Mark Clemson: WXW presents itself as a family-oriented show. It's cool and all, but sometimes I think it could get a little more edgier, like with the Sugaa/Malachi match from SportsFest 2002. Other than that I like the WXW product and in actuality it fits the fan base they have.

Sean McCaffrey: As a JAP employee, what changes need to be made, if any, to better the product?

Mark Clemson: Getting more promos for the videotape and TV show is the only change I would make for the JAP product and that's not really a change. I think JAP is the most underrated promotion today. I feel it has a little bit of everything from technical to hardcore to comedy to "strong style", I just don't feel JAP gets the respect it deserves, most if not all the time.

Sean McCaffrey: Your partner is Da Bald Guy. What is it like working with him?

Mark Clemson: The Bald Guy has become my best friend in the business. I first met him 5 minutes before we were to do our first ever WXW Net Cast in December of 1999 and it's been a fun and memorable time ever since. We've worked together for four years now and every time we do commentary he always says something that leaves me speechless. He's a cool guy who lets me crash at his house after all the shows and without him I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing now.

Word Association:

Afa- has taught me a lot about the business and commentary. He always pushes me to do my best and let's me know it when he feels I'm living up to my potential. I owe him a lot.

Fat Frank- weirdest man I've ever met, but a very cool guy to work for. Like I said earlier, I feel sometimes Frank and Ray don't get the respect they deserve from some wrestling websites

Lunatics- getting better each and every time I see them. Guapo is also priceless during promos. I see big things for them in the future.

Solution- I think they are the most underrated tag team on the indy scene and should be spotlighted and promoted more than they are. If they get the chance to shine, they could be the best tag team on the indy's

Da Hit Squad- I wish they still tug up on a regular basis. DHS were the first two wrestlers in JAP to come up to me and critique my commentary. They made me earn their respect and I think I have accomplished that. They were also apart of my first ever in-ring promo, where Maf almost gave me the "burning hammer", but thank god that didn't happen! They are two of my favorite wrestlers to watch and commentate for right now.

AMIL- good wrestlers and improving with each show, but I have NO IDEA if I'm calling them the right names during their matches.

Afa Jr- great athlete and was apart of one of my favorite WXW angles w/ Sugaa

Slyk Wagner Brown- I love calling Slyk's matches and love the fact that April Hunter comes out with him :0) They make a great team and I'm glad they have a chance to be the JAP Tag Team Champions. I wished his JAP Heavyweight Title Reign had lasted longer.

DRS- another great team. They have a lot of charisma and I see big things for them, too.

Grim Reefer- I haven't had a chance to see much of his work, but what I did see he's a very good athlete and I hope to see him again in JAP.

Dylan Dean- He's very good at getting the crowd to hate him, he's a great heel manager

Modtrom- The best wrestling production company around. Even though they make fun of me a lot and yell when I ask them to make me tapes, they are two of my best friends in the business. I also feel they don't get the respect they deserve. IMO though, they are the best around. MODTROM RULZ!

Eric Shaffer- He's helped me a lot prepare for my commentating and I owe him a lot. The man is one of my heroes because he had all those girls at SportsFest hounding him!

Da Bald Guy- Couldn't ask for a better commentating partner or friend. My goal is to get him to wear a tie to a show, even if it is tye-dye.

Jerry Lawler- He was great to meet in person and has given me some good advice. It's always cool to meet and talk with him at JAP shows. I also really loved his book.

Gordon Solie- Didn't get to hear much of Gordon's work, but what I did hear he was the man in his day.

Jim Ross- Between him and Gorilla Monsoon, they made me want to be a commentator. Jim Ross really knows how to put emotion into matches and angles. I hope I get the chance to meet him one day.

Bobby Heenan- He was great at what he did and I also really like his book.

Bastion Booger- he hit on my mom at an indy wrestling show in my hometown once. She told him to F*ck Off.

Giant Gonzales- Worst outfit EVER!!

Declaration of Independents - Best site for Indy Wrestling. I love the fact you guys give equal coverage to everyone and don't play favorites. I also like the fact your honest with all your reviews of shows and tapes, keep up the great work!

Mark Clemson - Currently looking for a full time job and single!! LOL. Actually I'm just a big wrestling "mark" who feels lucky to do what I'm doing. I hope I can continue to do it for years to come and whether I ever get a chance to make it to the "big time" or just stay with JAP and WXW I'll be a happy guy just to be a commentator.

Sean McCaffrey: What are your career goals?

Mark Clemson: Right now my goal is to find and full-time job and still be able to commentate. However, I would love to be a WWE commentator or be apart of their production team. My major in college was TV production and it's an indescribable feeling when you're apart of a LIVE television program, whether it was WXW Rage TV or directing the news at my college television station, it was a great feeling doing a perfectly run television show. I think the pure adrenaline rush of being apart of the production team of a PPV, Raw or Smackdown would be an awesome feeling! However, if I never make it I'll just be happy doing what I'm doing now.

Sean McCaffrey: What do you want to say to anyone reading this? (plugs/website/whatever is on your mind)

Mark Clemson: Don't give up on your dreams, always go after them! Also, I'm always looking for thoughts on my commentary for both WXW RAGE TV and JAP HARD-HITTING TV. My e-mail is meanmark@thebaldguy.net Hope to see everyone at any WXW show or the 6th Anniversary show for JAP. Oh yeah, MODTROM RULZ, buy their tapes, www.modtrom.com

BACK TO INTERVIEW INDEX