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TALENT YOU SHOULD KNOW: INTRODUCING TOMMY MERCER

Tommy Mercer Aims for the Pinnacle
– Larry Goodman

Pro wrestling played a role in the life of Tommy Mercer starting at a very young age.

As a small child growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, without a father, Mercer looked up to Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior as his role models.

“I’ve been pretty independent my whole life.” Mercer said.  “My mom was in the picture. She was a great mom. She still is. But she worked all the time. So a lot of the time, I was on my own. I guess that’s just the way I grew up, independent and ready to take on the world.”

At 25 years old, 6-5, 240 pounds, 8% body fat, and with two tours of Iraq under his belt, Mercer is meeting the world of
pro wrestling head on in his quest to secure a WWE contract.

Mercer attended North Ridgeville High School outside Cleveland, where he starred in football and basketball. He received interest from some Division 3 schools for basketball, but without an athletic scholarship, the financial resources just weren’t there.

Mercer joined the Army right out of high school, as a way to make college affordable. Mercer served a total of five years including his tours of Iraq. “Everyday, I was out on the streets patrolling, kicking in doors. I’ve seen it all. I’ve been
shot at. I’ve had grenades thrown at me, roadside bombs, seen it all. It’s traumatizing at first, but it’s all about how you take it in. I’m a strong willed guy. I don’t let a lot bother me, and you really can’t or else that stuff will eat you alive. I’ve seen it happen to too many people, where they are psychologically messed up for life. I was determined not to let that happen. Thank God, I made it through both tours and here I am today.”

It was during his second tour of Iraq that Mercer decided that he was going to give pro wrestling a try when he got back to the states.  He was living in Clarksville, Tennessee, when he heard about the NWA Main Event wrestling school and started training with veteran wrestler, Jeff “The Crippler” Daniels.

“Jeff’s a great guy. He’s been around 20 some years. Been everywhere and I love him to death. Anything I needed he was there for me. He took his time and brought me into this business the right way,” Mercer said. “I haven’t been in the business long, only about 18 months now, and as fast as I’m moving, I give a lot of that credit to him…and the fact that I catch on quickly. I see too many people that don’t have the right training, don’t have somebody like Jeff. I was very fortunate to get hooked up with the right guy at the right time.

During the week, Mercer works as a personal trainer, as well as attending classes in business management at
Austin Peay. ““Fitness is my life. I pride myself on the way I look, and I think a professional wrestler should look the
part, so I think that’s on my side as well.”

Mercer said that being on the road wrestling three or four nights per week has presented a challenge. “I get my workouts in Monday through Thursday, basically, and I just try and kill it.” Mercer said he prepares his own food to take on the road. “…lots of chicken breasts, protein shakes, and low carbs.”

NWA Main Event Executive Producer Bill Behrens had this to say about Mercer’s progress and future prospects. “I was
unaware of Tommy Mercer prior to my start at NWA Main Event TV in January of 2010. My first impression was that
he was "green" but looked great and had natural talent, and had received good basic training by Jeff Daniels. What I did
not know was whether he wanted to keep learning and how receptive he was to criticism. I learned quickly that not only
did he want to learn, but he did learn and quickly. In less than 6 months, I've seen great improvement in his work.
Once he turned heel, his personality and ring presence took off, and he now looks and acts like a star coming
through the curtain to the ring and in the match. He's in great shape, and as he matures will fill out his 6-5 frame
and even become more impressive. Barring injury, we will hear a lot about Tommy Mercer in the future, and I'm betting
it will all be good. It's only a matter of time before either WWE or TNA offer him an opportunity, and I believe he's
ready for it. And that he's a nice, respectful kid is simply a bonus.”

Mercer feels he has been blessed with great opportunities during his short career. “I’ve done a lot of things that people
with five or more years in the business haven’t had a chance to do. I went to the Harley Race camp shortly after
my training. That really helped me progress. Shortly after that, I did two Ring of Honor pre-show appearances. Most
recently, I’ve done some stuff with WWE. They brought me in to take a look. I got to work out with the guys. It went well.
I’m just keeping my fingers crossed with that.”

Mercer was a babyface when he first started working shows in the Nashville, Tennessee, area, but he clearly prefers the opposite role. “Heel is the way I feel the most comfortable. Not because I’m a jerk or anything. It’s just more my personality. I’m not necessarily like the old southern heels that use weapons, cheat or whatever, but it’s more comfortable for me, yes. I enjoy it.” (Ironically, it wasn’t two hours after this conversation that Mercer used a foreign object to defeat Matt Boyce for the NWA Mid-America Television Title).

Given his natural attributes, choosing a major star to pattern himself after was a no brainer for Mercer. “Randy Orton. It’s natural as far as looks, build, and personality, too, I think. The way I am in the ring, heh, it’s kind of sad, but that’s kind of the way I am. Obviously, your wrestling character is about yourself but a little over the edge. I like the way Orton works. He’s a great athlete and a great wrestler, very believable, so I learn a lot from watching him.”

Daniels described Mercer’s in-ring aptitude and work ethic in glowing terms. To demonstrate his point, Daniels recalled the story of his first day training Mercer. Daniels was running late and in an ornery mood to boot. He told his son, Jamie Ferrari, to have the trainees do a 100 Hindu squats while they were waiting. Daniels arrived to find Mercer jumping around fresh as a daisy. He asked Jamie if he had done the squats. Ferrari confirmed that he had, so Daniels said to add 100 more while he was changing into his gear. When Daniels came out, Mercer informed him he went ahead and made it 250. Daniels figured Mercer for a typical musclehead, who wouldn’t hold up once they got in the ring. “I threw everything at him. He was like a sponge,” Daniels said. “I worked with him for about two hours and said this guy’s got it.” Daniels saw Mercer as the complete package of look, size, ability, and dedication. He decided to make training Mercer his legacy to pro wrestling, and started to teach him everything he knew.

“These days, most young guys breaking in work one or two days a week,” Daniels said. “When they say they’ve been wrestling a year, it’s more like a couple of months. Mercer has been working four or five shows a year, taking bookings all over this place, and it’s paid off.”

Through a series of compelling vignettes, the treacherous nature of Daniels' relationship with Mercer has become the centerpiece of NWA Main Event television. Upon his recent return to NWA Main Event, Daniels was pleased to see that Mercer had turned his back on the fans. Daniels offered his services to Mercer, wanting to finish the job he started by taking Mercer to the top. Mercer’s fierce independence hasn’t allowed that to happen, but Daniels won’t let it go and continues to meddle in Mercer’s affair calling it “tough love”.

Mercer’s work on the vignettes belies his lack of experience. “It just comes really natural to me," said Mercer. “Every time I get in front of that camera, I want people to believe. I want people to pay attention to what I’m doing.”

When asked about his future goals, Mercer’s answer was swift and decisive. “WWE. That’s the only place I want to be. I have no other aspirations. That’s why I got into this business, to make it to the ultimate place which is WWE right now. I just want to take the most direct route there.”