Teague Moore of the Oklahoma Slam came back only four months after successful knee surgery to finish second in the 121-pound weight class in the inaugural season of Real Pro Wrestling. Moore, a 1998 NCAA champion at Oklahoma State University who ranks 12th on the Cowboys’ all-time win list, and who has an extensive and successful international wrestling background, recently discussed life as an RPW competitor, his family, and the future in an exclusive interview with RPW.
RPW: Talk about RPW, what stand out to you about the chance to do this?
MOORE: RPW and the chance to wrestle in a professional setting is inspiring for me because when my family and most importantly my grandchildren look back at my career I want them to know I did my best to represent them as a professional athlete. Years from now, people may not remember what it was like with out a professional wrestling league, knowing that my efforts helped get the league off on the right foot is something that my children and grandchildren can take pride in.
RPW: After all the years, all the blood, sweat and tears of competing for pride, what was it like for a chance to finally compete for some financial reward?
MOORE: Being paid by RPW was a great feeling. Years that I gave simply for the love of the sport that had very little financial payoff was tough to deal with while going through it, but looking back, it makes me appreciate the effort and rewards being put forth by RPW. Being a wrestler, and making a lifestyle commitment to the sport of Olympic wrestling means you make a conscious decision to forgo the financial security that a 9-to-5 job can give. It also means sacrificing family time and social events that you otherwise have the luxury to enjoy. I was fortunate enough to have the family and friends that believed in me and my abilities enough that they took on some of the burden to assist in my Olympic dream.
Looking back this sacrifice turned into a great business experience because of the friends and family that started the Teague Moore Wrestling Foundation which allowed me to raise the needed funds for training, travel and other expenses incurred through the Olympic training process. My wife and I took the venture very serious and learned a lot during the process. The most important thing that I learned is that my wife and I work well together and could run a business if we choose to pursue something like that.
RPW: You are a very family-oriented person. Talk about what it’s like to wrestle at the international level, and to have a wife (and now a child) who supports you through all the time needed to compete at the top level?
MOORE: Having a supportive wife and family was a key factor in extending my career as far as I have. My wife has been there for me through the good times and bad, and my family has always believed in me and reinforced their belief that I could be a world champion even when I didn’t think I could be one.
Now that I have a daughter, Talen Josephina Moore, she brings a new energy to my life. Even with the very busy travel schedule I keep, Mary and Talen are my support and motivation to get up for each day. I’ve been on the road 13 of the last 15 weekends. Mary understands the situation and constantly sends pictures of Talen which makes my time away bearable.
RPW: What do people not know about Teague Moore? What do you do or what can you say that would surprise people?
MOORE: A lot of people are surprised to find out that I’m a much different person off the mat. I take my wrestling very serious and at times probably too serious, but when I walk off the mat, opponents are friends and I look for the humor in just about everything. I’ve learned that life is too short to walk around angry at the world. Lord knows it’s not going to change things by being angry or difficult to deal with. My father and brothers death have been monumental building blocks in my outlook on life. There lives have given me perspective on friendships, religion and most importantly, on how to live.
RPW: In past interviews you were very candid about issues you had with USA Wrestling, FILA and the International level. What irks you most about that whole scenario?
MOORE: The USA Wresting and FILA situation that I have spoken of in prior articles are what they are. In my opinion, helping build an organization like RPW is the best way assist in the needed correction that our international governing bodies should take on. RPW is doing what is needed to build a platform for our sport to gain large crowd recognition.
For those who do not believe pro wrestling could become bigger than college wrestling, I would say they have at least set a goals to surpass what the NCAA has achieved in fan support. International wrestling should have at least one event that compares to the NCAA’s in prestige. Currently our U.S. Open and World Team Trials have large strides to make to become as popular. The International events have only one direction to climb and we all know where that can be. It is difficult to build followers when rules change so frequent that even athletes do not know the rules. FILA has proven itself unfit to govern the sport of wrestling.
RPW: What will you remember most about your wrestling career?
MOORE: Things I will forever remember about my career: my first national title – AAU folkstyle champion; having all of my brothers and sisters there to watch me win the 1998 NCAA’S wrestling for OSU coach John Smith; winning the University World’s in Tokyo; seeing my father cry when he watched me win the 1995 junior nationals, having my life changed by J Robinson in 56 LONG days (twice at his 28 day intensive camps).
RPW:: Will you do RPW again?
MOORE: I will definitely do RPW again. I’m healthy and ready to compete again.
RPW: What did you like most about this season, about how it was done?
MOORE: I liked the professional atmosphere that Toby, Matt and Martin have created in the world of RPW. We’ve never been given an opportunity like this.
RPW: Tell us about your current job and your involvement wrestling these days?
MOORE: I currently live and work in Boston, MA. I train wrestlers for national and international competitions. Through the generosity of Alan Meltzer I’ve been able to pursue a career in the business world while still helping younger wrestlers attain their dreams of National and World Titles.
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