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Let's Talk Wrestling with Martin MacAlistair!
281 Plays1 year ago
In this bonus interview episode, Satsunami got the incredible opportunity to attend a charity wrestling show organised by the fantastic Iron Girders of Glasgow! Joining him today to discuss the match is none other than the one and only rising wrestling star Martin MacAlistair.
Listen as Martin discusses all things wrestling, his journey with Iron Girders and the impact that it has had on his life. You won't want to miss this one of a kind interview!
Did you attend the match? If so then leave your opinions below!
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Transcript
Introduction of Martin McAllister
00:00:05
Speaker
Welcome to Chatsunami.
00:00:17
Speaker
Hello everybody and welcome to another episode of Chatsunami. My name's Chatsunami and joining me today is none other than the one and only fantastic Scottish wrestler himself, Martin McAllister.
Experience at Iron Girders Gym
00:00:31
Speaker
Martin, welcome on the show. Thanks for having me on. Always a pleasure to be here. Yeah, how are you doing to do, Martin? Yeah, alright. I guess as we'll introduce, I was at a show last night, so feeling a bit more, you know, worse for wear.
00:00:43
Speaker
still happy. How are you? Not too bad and it's funny you do mention that show because as you alluded to there, well obviously you were there, you were on stage fighting the good fight in the ring. That was my very first show at Iron Girders. So before we go on, do you want to tell the audience listening a little bit about Iron Girders? Yeah,
00:01:05
Speaker
Yeah, sure. So, Aangirra's gym is Scotland's only wrestling-specific gym and we also are lucky enough to be able to host shows in said gym. So, with wrestling students coming and me included among them, we get trained up in the art of professional wrestling and eventually we put on shows and these shows take place in our gym. It's really just a fantastic, you know, family and atmosphere. I love Aangirra's gym but,
00:01:28
Speaker
the shows we always do are really good. Take place in Glasgow, usually about once a month. But we also run shows in other areas so keep an eye out for us. If you're nowhere near Glasgow, keep an eye out for local wrestling shows whatever you love because there's some great, great wrestling out there. No, absolutely. And I can't echo that
The Unique Atmosphere of Wrestling Shows
00:01:43
Speaker
enough.
00:01:43
Speaker
have to say because, as I said, this was the first Iron Girders show that I've been to. I've been to other wrestling shows, don't get me wrong, but yeah, last night on the 24th of June, 2023, Iron Girders held a memorial match for Steven Brown and they were, of course, raising money for Air Show Hospice. And can I just say, the absolute atmosphere last night, the whole gym was absolutely packed with
00:02:10
Speaker
fans with supporters. What I was really surprised at, not in a bad way, but there were so many families there shouting out the names. There were definitely a couple shouting your name out, of course. It just seems like quite a very supportive environment, doesn't it?
00:02:25
Speaker
Yeah, it's a tremendous atmosphere and it's funny because every show you go to we have totally different atmospheres, but I do really believe that it good as we are like a huge big family, so so many people know each other's families, we all know each other. So there's like a lot of support and what I love in that room, especially for last night for Steven. But one thing I'd always like to say, I think it's funny, is that most people at wrestling shows aren't wrestling fans. It's always like it's funny seeing those people kind of become unglued. I don't know what the correct turn of phrase is here, but you know the people will come in and they'll be like, oh yes, I'm here for a
00:02:53
Speaker
a good timing by the end of it. They'll be over the moon screaming and clapping and just having a good time. It's always tremendous that I'm good as for that especially. No, absolutely, because what I find quite cool as well was the fact that you've got your usual reserves sitting, everybody sitting down, but then you've also got a group of people as well just around the
00:03:12
Speaker
ring and what I found great about that was the participation, because don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's like a band to my worth and that you know it's the fact that the fans were also interacting, they were getting high fives, they were shouting out and of course being the absolutely fantastic
00:03:28
Speaker
wrestlers that you all are, you had that kind of back and forth with one another and I thought that
Martin's Wrestling Persona
00:03:34
Speaker
was great. The whole participation was just absolutely amazing. That's like the big thing that separates wrestling out from any other form of entertainment, whether that's television or even like theatre or I guess other sports is that, you know, no two wrestling shows are ever the same and part of that is because someone at the front of the crowd will start cheering for you or someone will start giving you grief or there'll be a wee boy at the front of the crowd who's absolutely going nuts
00:03:57
Speaker
like when people are coming out and trying to high five everyone, yeah that's gonna what makes wrestling so unique, I believe. You're never gonna see the same show twice and for the wrestlers out there, we never have the same show twice because the crowd just changes everything. No absolutely, because the last time I saw you in the ring was at, was
00:04:12
Speaker
earlier this year there was a last year where you were at ACME Comic Con. Yep, so September last year we were at ACME Comic Con. It was a long time ago then. It probably was, wasn't it? Even there, there were so many families gathered round the ring and they were all shouting your name, they were shouting the name of their favourites and I do love the fact as well that, you know, you've got that split, you've obviously got your, I don't know if this is the right term,
00:04:37
Speaker
hero wrestlers and then on the other side you've got your villain ones, you know the ones you boo, you hiss and they come out and they glare at the crowd and everything. It's such a fantastic experience overall. But before we go on to how you got into wrestling as a whole and your
00:04:53
Speaker
Well, let's face it, you're a love of wrestling. What inspired your persona for
Martin's Entry into Wrestling
00:04:59
Speaker
wrestling? Yeah, so if anyone's never really come across before Martin McAllister, I am kind of the lovable underdog hero, but unfortunately I've never won a match, so it's kind of a...
00:05:09
Speaker
It's kind of half what I've tried to present and half just real unluckiness. And I've never managed to win a match. It's now become a thing that everyone knows and keeps count of how many losses I've had. So as of recording 42 losses and zero wins. But I'm trying to like be inspired by a lot of the big wrestlers I'll probably mention when you talk about wrestling. And then also superheroes and enemy heroes as well. That's kind of like I do a lot of inspiration from them. And yeah, chasing that big win is the crux of what I've been doing recently. Yeah. Any day now. Any day now. I think it's on the horizon.
00:05:38
Speaker
Yeah, stay positive. Yeah, exactly. But speaking of staying positive and using wrestling as the role model as it were, how did you get into wrestling in the first place? This is funny because I actually don't really remember. I think it's always one of those things that's just always been there for me and I've kind of gone into it and dipped out of it over the years. One of my earliest memories is genuinely me arguing with her brother on the way to school one day about who was better, Stone Cold Steve Austin or The Rock. But I don't remember any wrestling, watching wrestling at that time, but I must have known because I had an opinion on it.
00:06:11
Speaker
But yeah, I drifted away from it for a while in school and then came back to when I was at university and then I got really back into when I moved down to England for a year. It was like a whole brand new place that I was in. I didn't have any friends, didn't know anyone until I ended up watching a ton of wrestling.
00:06:26
Speaker
to fill that time up but it's been with me ever since. I guess at some point it became more than a hobby I
Challenges in Wrestling Journey
00:06:31
Speaker
guess. What was the turning point for you though because I mean there's obviously going to be a lot of wrestling fans listening to this and following you on social media who are maybe fans of wrestling but as soon as they hear the first body hit the ring and everything they might go oh maybe that's not for me. What was it that made you think right okay this is what I'm going to do, I'm going to become my own wrestler?
00:06:54
Speaker
funny because I don't really remember if I'm honest. So to kind of take you back, it was actually five years ago yesterday I started my wrestling journey. I went into the Glasgow Pro Wrestling Asylum training school for the first time five years ago and I don't really know why. I signed up in like March of 2018 and didn't get in my first class until the June but I was not in a good place mentally and all physically and my plan was to like get in shape over the three months and I just obviously just got worse
00:07:20
Speaker
as it were both physically and mentally and it wasn't until I turned up at the school and to give you a sort of an insight of where I was the very first day I actually had to like sit on the floor and pull my shoes and my shoelaces all up so I could actually tie my shoes because I'd stopped tying my shoes because my stomach was so big so I just you know put them on I wouldn't I couldn't like lean over to tie my shoes I'd like sit on the floor and like straighten out my legs to do it was where I was when I first started wrestling and yeah it just kind of started that
00:07:43
Speaker
I think there's a turning point about three weeks in. So it's kind of like, you know, I'm going along and I'm like, this is fine. I always, as a wrestler, find yours. Can I want to see that peep behind the curtain? And a lot of people come in and maybe do like one session or, for example, Ryan Goode's gym now does a one-to-one training session. So you can go in with a coach. And some people, they come in and go, that's fancy.
00:08:00
Speaker
ring's not a trampoline, it's actually solid wood. It's wooden metal, I don't need to do this anymore. Now at this point about week 3 and one of my coaches basically pulled me aside and said, are you sure you want to be here? You don't look like you want to be here, either buck up your idea and go to the gym or don't come back effectively. Which is a little harsh to hear out loud when you say it like that, but it was kind of the tough love I needed at that point. That kind of ultimated me and I obviously chose to keep coming back to the stage that they basically can't get rid
Keys to Success in Wrestling
00:08:23
Speaker
of me now.
00:08:23
Speaker
So yeah that's become life-changing to me really has. And I mean that is inspiring to hear because there are probably a lot of people out there listening and I mean myself not with wrestling of course I'm not even gonna attempt to pretend to be like oh yeah I've been on the ring no no I've been beside the ring there's a big difference there but
00:08:43
Speaker
The fact is, in life, you know, there are a lot of things that people want to go for and everything and there are those hurdles that you'll get, whether it's someone, as you said, someone more experienced like your old instructor or people like that who say, oh, maybe it's not for you and everything. So first of all, congrats for
00:09:02
Speaker
actually pushing through and having that fortitude. But what would you say to aspiring wrestlers? Would you say the same thing that they should try their best and try and push through? You've kind of alluded to the thing about the ring and I want to bring that up because it's like one of the specific ones. Yeah, a lot of things in wrestling especially, there's going to be tough days and simply because your body doesn't want to do
00:09:24
Speaker
a lot of these things naturally. So a lot of times in wrestling you'll be landing on your back, you'll be getting thrown, you'll be doing a flip and trying to land on your back, you know, things like that and a lot of rolling, a lot of, you know, you saw your show last night, a lot of hard impacts either from people punching you or from landing or whatever and, you know, there's days where you wake up and you're like,
00:09:43
Speaker
You know what am I doing? Why is this my holiday? Why didn't I pick tiddlywinks? I think it's the same of any holiday and it's like you know something that is your passion and you know we spoke a lot about you know when you come into the podcast and things like that as well and it's there's gonna be some days it's like oh man what am I doing but if you love something you'll try you'll find that passion it might not work all the time you might need to take a step back or you might need to whatever but it's all about
00:10:02
Speaker
And I think you will probably agree with me in terms of your hobbies as well, but it's about consistency over super passionate outbursts. It's like, you know, let's get a schedule, let's become a consistent person. And that was a big change for me was that kind of mindset shift from, oh, I'm going to go to the gym to become a better wrestler. I'm going to train these days. And, you know, I became a consistent person. I think that's kind of what helped me a lot. And I think that's really the same for every hobby, I would say.
00:10:23
Speaker
No, I 100% agree with that. It's like one of these things you put on a CVE, isn't it? Yeah. And you're completely
Connections with Fans and Show Diversity
00:10:30
Speaker
right, because I mean, I myself have had those bursts of, oh, I'm going to do this, I'm going to do that, I have daydreams of, oh, what will happen if the podcast is probably a working thing? And then some days, and again, it's not so much a fault and people, it's just it's more of a human reaction where it's like some days might be harder than others, you might think.
00:10:50
Speaker
As you said, they are like, oh, what am I doing? Why am I falling face first? The only difference is you doing the wrestling ring, I just am clumsy like that. Yeah, it is. One of those things that you do have to keep working on, you're right, is that sense of consistency because I can imagine there must be a lot of people who enter wrestling and then they drop out because they have a somewhat idealized
00:11:13
Speaker
version of it. Yeah, 100% and just how we factor in that. When I first started wrestling, I joined like a beginners class, there was 20 people in that class and I'm the only one left. So that's a, you know, one in 20 odds there. That's actually really impressive to be fair. It's like the Hunger Games all over again.
00:11:29
Speaker
Yeah, because when you see things like WWE or any of the other major organisations for wrestling, you always see these massive superstars that, you know, they've got a massive following and everything, and then once they move away from wrestling, like for example The Rock or even John Cena, this is showing my age,
00:11:49
Speaker
mind you, but you know, you see these people who go from wrestling and then they have a successful movie career, they see they have all of these, as I said, adoring fans and things, and you know, at the end of the day, it's a bit like me in podcasts, and I suppose I see all these really famous broadcasters going up the charts and everything thinking, wow, I wish I was like that, but I mean, starting at the bottom is always the hardest bit, isn't it? It's like trying to climb at your own pace and get to a spot that you're comfortable with,
00:12:19
Speaker
but at the same time allow that scope for improvement. Yes, and you're always improving everything. I think one thing that I always like to kind of pick up on, especially when you ask that out of the anything that's public facing like podcasts, so for me the wrestling is you've got that personal connection which you just don't get at a high level and you know that yourself.
00:12:37
Speaker
you'll have fans that you've spoke to and people that you can communicate with. You know they influence you as much as you can influence them and it's kind of amazing to like see people turn up for you in that way. It's definitely one of the things you mentioned last night about those people cheating for me and that honestly means the world to me because I probably know who half them are and not through outside universe I've not become, you know, they weren't friends with me before that. I've met them at the shows and we've got that emotional connection to me and me to them. I also think that's such an amazing thing
00:13:00
Speaker
at that size but yeah you're right and you get those people and eventually they'll get this huge fan base but I think there's that definitely that personal connection will get lost over that scope. Yeah it must feel weird and I mean this in the best way possible weird but when you see your face on the promotional material you see people wearing your stickers and things like that. Does that
00:13:20
Speaker
I still feel weird, but you can't do used to it now. No, it's still weird. It's a very unusual feeling. One of the weirdest things is when you see yourself and you're not expecting it. You know what I mean? So if I get like someone tags me on social media and they're like, oh, so I'm on the council last night and it's a picture of me. It's like, OK, I get that. But sometimes people won't tag you or it'll be a promotional material for something or just this morning. I got a notification saying a new wrestler match is getting put up on the Iron Girls YouTube and opened YouTube and it's just my face. Is the thumbnail my face and someone else's face? I was like, oh my goodness, that's me.
00:13:50
Speaker
and it's such a weird sensation to see people talking about you and like another example would be like on twitter after a show and people would just be talking about the show and then suddenly you'll see your own name like oh Matt McCaster did this last night it was great and blah blah it's incredible it's truly amazing to see it because it's not just me shouting into the void you know i mean the void shouting back but i mean that is amazing to see the progress you've made because as you said five years ago
00:14:15
Speaker
yesterday, as of recording this episode about five years ago yesterday, the fact that you decided right, I'm gonna essentially change my entire lifestyle, you know, and make that transition from wrestling fan to wrestler and go over the ropes
00:14:33
Speaker
to wrestle your way to make a name for yourself and just say all of you at Iron Girders yourself included definitely deserve that accolation that being owned really within even though it might be a relative like i wouldn't say it's a small community because you know what social media is like nowadays even though the gym was packed and everything there might be some people who couldn't
00:14:54
Speaker
make it that night or, you know, for whatever reason. So they'll still be following you on social media thinking, oh, what did Martin McAllister get up to? Or, for example, one of your other fellow wrestlers like, what's Levi doing? Or, you know, like all of those wrestlers, what are they doing? I think it's absolutely fantastic because every so often I'll see one of them pop up and I have to say, I give them a like as well. I'm just like, I really like that because as you said, it does seem like
00:15:20
Speaker
just this really tight-knit community. I think that's great because it is kind of one of the benefits for, and again I'm not saying angered versus small, by all means it's got such a prolific following, especially with organising these matches and charity events and things, but
00:15:37
Speaker
the fact that the audience does seem so tightly knit together, you know, it's like it's not really a feeling you get with bigger shows. For example, the last major, other than yourselves of course, but the last major wrestling match I went to was in Stockholm, and that was of course with the WWE. And you know, don't get me wrong, it was an amazing spectacle, it was just so theatrical and everything, but
00:16:03
Speaker
You know, it's almost like you're just one person and a crowd of thousands in that. Whereas with Iron Girders, you do feel as if you are part of the experience. Well, minus the rest of them, but of course, I feel as if there's some legal issues there.
00:16:19
Speaker
Yeah, you're part of that experience. It's not just, I'm just gonna sit and watch the show and everything. You are gonna be cheering and especially the announcer last night. He did a fantastic job of hyping up the audience, you know, introducing each
00:16:34
Speaker
wrestler and what I love as well is the fact as well that there's just so many different varieties of wrestlers. You've got your good guys, your bad guys, you've got your male wrestlers, your female wrestlers, it's just everybody's welcome. If they're willing to obviously put in the work for it and they're willing to make a name for themselves, it's just absolutely fantastic to me as someone who obviously isn't
00:17:00
Speaker
as au fait as it were and the rest at once a year but I just think it's fantastic to
Advice for Wrestling Fans
00:17:04
Speaker
see. Yeah that's one of the big reasons I'm so in love with wrestling and I've never you know since I started to be watching it you don't get bored of it because I've seen every show is different but even in every show there's always something for everyone I think. You know I think last night's show just to use that as an example but the first half of that show, the half that I was on, there was four very different styles of matches with light of
00:17:22
Speaker
so many different wrestlers involved, teams, singles wrestlers, there was high flying acrobatics, there was the match that I had was a much more sort of grounding-pounding style. I think it's just really fascinating that and like you say, yeah there's so many different types of wrestlers out there, so many different people from all different backgrounds and stuff. I just wanted to pick up on something else you said about the difference between W.D. and I and Gerdas.
00:17:41
Speaker
or just any sort of smaller show. I think what's really cool is the WWE shows have these huge productions, you know, they basically have essentially on par with the biggest musical acts, you know, like a kiss or a Metallica or something like that, you know, they will have like that level of production crew with them who are making rings, building stages, there's all these videos playing and then you get something like Iron Gooders where it's, you know, it's just what we've got. There's like speakers and just like curtains hanging up for the rest of the
00:18:04
Speaker
I just think it's like they're both amazing in their own ways. Just all these different variations of wrestling, all these different variations of like who you can see. Yeah and I just think that's one of the big cool things about wrestling. No, I completely agree with you. As a viewer and someone who as I said before definitely not in the ring, it was just such a fantastic experience and all I can say is like again if anybody is in the area and
00:18:28
Speaker
they get the chance to see one of these Iron Girders shows. I would wholeheartedly recommend it because it is such a fantastic experience. The wrestlers they are, yourself included of course, absolutely talented as all can be really. So yeah, I would wholeheartedly recommend it. But before we wrap up and
00:18:48
Speaker
I once again say go watch an anger show. What would your advice be? Either to fans or people wanting to get into wrestling? What would your advice be to them? Open up Facebook or Eventbrite or Twitter or whatever and have a look what's happening to you right now. Whether that's a company like anger or
00:19:08
Speaker
you know a bigger company than when he's coming to town but you do get what the sort of wrestling term is for a company like Aangir as an indie wrestler, that's what they kind of call it, it's independent, try to find your nearest indie show because it'll be a very similar thing to what we're describing with Aangir as well. It's this you know of younger wrestlers, it's this little production, it's this just high atmosphere of time.
Conclusion and Follow-Up Information
00:19:26
Speaker
So yeah, that would be my advice is just
00:19:28
Speaker
have a look and see what's coming to town and I genuinely believe I love wrestling and I love watching it on television but for me there's nothing better than being in that crowd and seeing the reactions and being part of that atmosphere to me is a whole different level from watching it but you don't get commentary when you're there live which people always get shocked by.
00:19:47
Speaker
you're like, wait, where's the commentators? But yeah, if you're in Glasgow company and I can go to the show, but wherever you are, just have a look what's local and go in, bring some friends and just have a good time because it's a lot of fun if you let it be. I can only cool down what you said there, just absolutely go check it out or as you said, check out what's in the yo-yo if you're a wrestling fan because yeah,
00:20:08
Speaker
you really won't regret it. It's an experience, I have to say. Whether it's a big show, a small show, you're always going to get a fantastic experience, so definitely go. But without any further ado, Martin, thank you so much for joining me in today's episode. Thank you, and thank you all for coming along to the show last night. It was really good to have you there. Oh no, it was fantastic to be there, and I know judging by that match that yeah, great things are going to come in your future.
00:20:32
Speaker
I mean, I've not got a crystal ball. I don't know. But yeah, no, I'm more than confident that all of you are going to have great things in your future, whether that be a championship, whether that be a win or anything really. Small victories, big victories at the end of the day. It's going to be fantastic to see where you guys all go in the future. So honestly, I can't wait to see that. Thank you. Appreciate it. And yeah, before we wrap up,
00:20:58
Speaker
Where can these lovely listeners at home find your content? So, if you want to keep track of me and all things wrestling, you can find me on Twitter, at mmacalister, so m-a-c-a-l-i-s-t-a-i-r, or on Instagram, just as martinmacalister. I'm also on TikTok as well, which is a lot of fun, so if you find me there, you find me there.
00:21:20
Speaker
other place best places to find me is in and around Glasgow but if you follow any of those social media links you'll find where I'm next wrestling and you can come along so I hope to see you at a show in the near future and I would wholeheartedly reinforce that and say yeah go see Aaron Girders and of course by extension go see Martin McAllister but yeah
00:21:38
Speaker
Thank you all so, so much for listening to this episode. If you would like to listen to any of our other episodes or any other interviews we've done, this of course is the very first wrestling interview that I've done with someone. The first time Mark McCallis has been on the show. Exactly. Any likenesses that Craigie C is unfounded? Yes, there will be no slander of such.
00:22:00
Speaker
Yeah, if anyone that aren't girders is listening and is like, well yeah, maybe I want to come on Chatsanami, please feel free to reach out. But yeah, if you want to check out old episodes or old interviews, then you can catch us at podpage.com forward slash Chatsanami, where you can also send a message to us via our contact page. Please feel free to reach out. We also have a Patreon, patreon.com forward slash Chatsanami, where not only can you get exclusive episodes, but you can also get episodes out
00:22:29
Speaker
care wait so please be free to check that out. I also want to give a huge thank you to our patrons Robotic Battle Toaster and Sonya, thank you so much for supporting the show but as always stay safe, stay awesome and most importantly stay hydrated.