The Digital Collegian - Published independently by students at Penn State
NEWS
[ Monday, Nov. 11, 2002 ]

WWE wrestler describes life inside and outside ring

Collegian Staff Writer

Steve Austin's "Stone Cold Stunner," The Rock's "Rock Bottom" and X-Pac's "X-Factor" -- he's survived them all.

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestler and MTV Tough Enough star Al Snow came to the Bryce Jordan Center to speak to a freshman seminar class from Penn State Altoona Friday.

Walking into the room, a little late and a little disoriented, Snow's bright red shirt which read "I do it 'till I'm Raw" set the mood.

Snow said he chose the name Al Snow after being nicknamed "Snowman" in high school.

"I used to walk around with no coat on in the winter and everyone called me 'Snowman' -- I just shortened that up for WWE."

Standing six feet tall and weighing 234 pounds, Snow said that when he's not in the ring, coaching or travelling, he's at the gym.

"I work out about two hours a day, four to seven days a week," he said.

Along with being a six-time Hardcore champion, a European champion and a Tag Team champion, this WWE superstar found himself in a new role -- a trainer for the MTV reality-based series Tough Enough.

Snow said he hopes the show will attract more people to wrestling. He said he likes being a trainer as much as he enjoys being a professional wrestler.

"This business has given me a lot but I want to give back to it, and I do that by helping others learn to be good wrestlers," he said.

Along with his wrestling and coaching obligations, Snow also has a wife and two children.

"Yes, I am a legal breeder. I bring my wife and kids along with me when I travel," he said.

Snow has a 14-year-old daughter and a 13-year-old son, who is 6-foot-1 and still growing.

PHOTO: Zainabu Williams
PHOTO: Zainabu Williams
WWE star Al Snow speaks to a class.

"I don't know where he came from, but I'm definitely raising a baby Bigfoot," Snow said.

He started his wrestling career in 1982 and said he made no money the first 13 years until he finally got a break.

"My big break came after a smart-ass comment in an interview," he said.

Snow confessed to reading many books on multiple personalities and deciding to make a Styrofoam mask that he could talk to in the ring.

"I'd go nuts in the ring, I'd talk to the head and yell at the head and try to beat it up -- the crowd loved it," Snow added about his experiences.

Snow reminded the class wrestling is a business, and oftentimes it's a hard business.

"The highs are really high but the lows are even lower," he said.

This is exactly what David Parry, assistant professor of philosophy at Penn State Altoona, wanted his students to hear.

"I wanted to show my students the level of dedication and expertise it takes to be in this industry," he said.

Parry is the wrestling club advisor at University Park.

He has been following professional wrestling since the 1960s.

Parry said he understands what goes on behind the scenes of the WWE matches.

"These pro wrestlers are more like starving artists. I want my students to have an appreciation for wrestling as an art," he said.

Laura Stasenko (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said she really enjoys the class and she has learned a lot about the history of wrestling.

"Coming to University Park to meet Al Snow and see the WWE match is the best part of this class," she said.


PHOTO: John McGregor
PHOTO: John McGregor
D'Lo Brown strains on the ropes, unable to tag partner Sean O'Haire, while Jamal approaches during a match at Bryce Jordan Center.
 



TOP  HOME
Blogs  About  Contact Us  Back Issues  Advertising 

Copyright © 2009 Collegian Inc.