We were lucky to catch up with Cliff Rogers recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Cliff thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I learned to do what I do after meeting a veteran professional wrestler named Dapper Dan (Dannie Davis). Learning this craft was something I had always wanted to do from the time I was a young teenager. When I finally got the opportunity to train I was 26 years old. My head was swimming with what all might happen and might not happen. I was convinced that the training was going to be incredibly intense. However, my trainer was very subtle and down to earth. Pro wrestling is one of those things that has to be done at your own pace. In class, we would learn a few things at the time each day. I actually took to it very quickly and became one of the more advanced in the class. When I look back on my training, I was always trying to move up to the “next level” if you will. I would see all of these moves and spots on TV and then want to learn them as soon as I could. This go-getter attitude really helped me excel, but as I’ve gotten older, I can see that it’s a little short sighted. You see, Professional wrestling has a place for just about every kind of character, and its audience is filled with different types of niches. You don’t have to be able to do everything, you just have to be able to do what’s best for you and your character. One of the only regrets I have for my training days is not slowing down enough. A big part of what I do is ring psychology. I was always able to get the physical part, but it took about a year and a half for the lightbulb to finish coming on when it comes to the psychology. This is a craft that you are never fully done learning, so it’s crucial to surround yourself with people that are doing it successfully so you can learn from them. After getting started in wrestling, I started hitting the road and taking bookings in multiple states. That right there is one of the most crucial skills you can have. The ability to network and travel is what makes you a better wrestler. You will never fully learn much from just watching videos or having conversations, you have to get out there see people in action and then get in there with them.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is ”Cowboy” Cliff Rogers. I got into the wrestling business after finding an ad online. The ad was for a local wrestling school in my area, and of course I was very skeptical just like my fellow classmates. We all took a chance and got trained by legendary territory star Dapper Dan (Dannie Davis). From the time I was trained until now, I have had a deep love for this business. I love to entertain people and leave them with memories that they will always remember. Professional wrestling is an enigma. It’s part sport, part performance, and all amazing. My goal every time I wrestle is to connect with at least one person in the crowd. If I can connect with Someone and really make them believe, then I feel like I have done my job and all the soreness is more than worth it. I also wrestle for myself, it’s a way to prove to myself that I can hang with top tier performers. I have been a fan of the business since I was a young teenager, so being able to be a part of this group of people and be accepted as a good wrestler is something that means a lot to me. One day, I would love to sign a contract and work for a major company like TNA Impact or Ring of Honor. One thing I have learned though, is to not stress about where you are or aren’t, just enjoy the ride. One of the things I am most proud of is every now and then when I see young fans wearing my merchandise and wanting to come get my autograph. Providing the kids with lasting memories is something that not everyone can say they do

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the first things I was taught is, always let the veteran control the match. It’s not only a sign of respect, but it’s also smart seeing as they have more experience. The longer I’ve been in the business, I’ve learned that not every veteran always makes the right decision. Of course, I don’t mean this with any kind of disrespect. This is a business that is always changing and evolving. When I was about two years into pro wrestling, I wrestled a man that had been in the business for almost 20 years. I didn’t give any input and just let him do what he saw fit. The crowd just wasn’t into it as much as they could have been, and there were several times during the match that I noticed something was off. I didn’t want to offend this guy so I went with it. Looking back, I’m sure if I would have tried to take control and suggest to him what we should have done, he may have respected me for it. Even if he would’ve gotten upset, I still should have done it. The reason is because, the only people that lose in a situation like that is the paying fans.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

In my personal life, I have a tendency to get overwhelmed during the days. After a long day, I like to unwind with something I enjoy. So for me, my biggest reward as an artist is giving other people that escape. There are hundreds of thousands of men, women and children around the world that have a lot to deal with. If they love wrestling, hopefully they’ll come across my videos online and get some joy out of it to help them unwind after a long day. I see that as a huge honor. I also help run an independent wrestling magazine called Southern Wrestling Hot Topics & News. So if people read the magazine and watch the podcast we have that goes with it and find some enjoyment in that during their busy lives, I’m more than happy to give it to them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.southernwrestlinghtn.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cowboy_cliff_rogers/profilecard/?igsh=MTNlNTBramxmeWJwMA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075834441664&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits

Steve Beyer
Creature Photography