This “Design of the Week” features Pro Wrestler “Big Country” Matt McGraw!
This amped-up shirt of pro wrestler “Big Country” Matt McGraw is our Design of the Week. McGraw has been on the roster of the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance (KSWA) since 2017 and can be regularly seen wrestling around the Greater Pittsburgh area.
Illustrated by Excel artist Eric Poole, the cowboy hat-wearing strongman is flexing his tattooed muscles, surrounded by barbed wire with “BIG COUNTRY Matt McGraw” emblazoned across the bottom. It’s a design that, according to McGraw, perfectly reflects his personality.
“That’s just basically me. I’m just a big country boy, you know?” McGraw laughs. “A cowboy boots, jeans, and t-shirt, beer drinking kind of guy. Basically, it’s what I’ve been my whole life, now it’s just coming out in the wrestling ring.”
McGraw decided to start wrestling professionally after a brief stint as a boxer. “I boxed for a few years, trained for a long time, had a handful of fights.” And his in-ring wrestling style has become a reflection of his background. “I would say I’m not really a technical kind of wrestler,” he laughs. “I’m more of a brawler. I like to clothesline people, you know, pound them in the corner. Body slams, spears, suplexes. A lot of power.”
“I like to hurt people. I’m good at it.”
Having an impressive and appealing t-shirt is important in the world of professional wrestling. Many pro wrestling tees are just wrestler’s names in a fancy font, others are catchphrases or slogans, while some are fully illustrated. Essentially, the shirt and design tell the story of the wrestler, who he or she is in the ring. And, most importantly, they need to sell.
“Especially on the independent scene, your merchandise is your main source of income when it comes to wrestling,” explains Big Country. “I mean, you get paid for the event. But if you really want to make decent money for the night, your merch sales is where it’s at. You want to have a great design, you want to have a great t-shirt, good quality.”
McGraw has already sold quite a few of his shirts to his fans. “So far they’ve been doing great,” he’s happy to report. “The shirt design itself is excellent. From every shade, every detail, they basically nailed it. The design just looks fantastic. It really does. It was just a flawless process. Definitely come back to them for sure.”
But before he does, McGraw will be heading into this weekend with his box full of shirts to his next wrestling event. When he gets into the ring at MJ’s Steel City Saloon just west of Pittsburgh, he is likely to look out and see many in the audience wearing his shirt.
“Yeah man, MJ’s Steel City Saloon, that’s my turf,” boasts McGraw with pride. “They always have a good crowd there. And I’m not just saying that because it’s my hometown.” The family-friendly, outdoor event does present a unique venue to experience a night of wrestling.
It’s a night on the KSWA calendar that McGraw doesn’t take for granted. “There’s nothing like it. It’s just incredible, you know, I’ve lived here my whole life. So it’s basically like performing in front of my extended family. It’s cool.” And this time he’s teaming with his tag partner T.Rantula to take on the powerful duo of Mike Malachi and Jack Massacre in a tables match. “It’s gonna be a super heavyweight clash for sure.”
And while Big Country’s sights are set on this weekend’s epic encounter, he tries not to worry about his future too much. “I’m just like a ‘go with the flow’ kind of guy. I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing and let God take it from there.” Although he does have his eyes set on the top of the mountain.
“If any wrestler told you that they didn’t care about ever being a champion, they’re lying,” admits McGraw. “You want to be the number one guy. The KSWA is home for me, and if I never go anywhere else, that’s fine. But that’s my goal, I want to be the number one guy.”
Connect with “Big Country” Matt McGraw on Facebook, and find the KSWA full roster and calendar of events at KSWA.net.
This “Design of the Week” features Pro Wrestler “Big Country” Matt McGraw!
This amped-up shirt of pro wrestler “Big Country” Matt McGraw is our Design of the Week. McGraw has been on the roster of the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance (KSWA) since 2017 and can be regularly seen wrestling around the Greater Pittsburgh area.
Illustrated by Excel artist Eric Poole, the cowboy hat-wearing strongman is flexing his tattooed muscles, surrounded by barbed wire with “BIG COUNTRY Matt McGraw” emblazoned across the bottom. It’s a design that, according to McGraw, perfectly reflects his personality.
“That’s just basically me. I’m just a big country boy, you know?” McGraw laughs. “A cowboy boots, jeans, and t-shirt, beer drinking kind of guy. Basically, it’s what I’ve been my whole life, now it’s just coming out in the wrestling ring.”
McGraw decided to start wrestling professionally after a brief stint as a boxer. “I boxed for a few years, trained for a long time, had a handful of fights.” And his in-ring wrestling style has become a reflection of his background. “I would say I’m not really a technical kind of wrestler,” he laughs. “I’m more of a brawler. I like to clothesline people, you know, pound them in the corner. Body slams, spears, suplexes. A lot of power.”
“I like to hurt people. I’m good at it.”
Having an impressive and appealing t-shirt is important in the world of professional wrestling. Many pro wrestling tees are just wrestler’s names in a fancy font, others are catchphrases or slogans, while some are fully illustrated. Essentially, the shirt and design tell the story of the wrestler, who he or she is in the ring. And, most importantly, they need to sell.
“Especially on the independent scene, your merchandise is your main source of income when it comes to wrestling,” explains Big Country. “I mean, you get paid for the event. But if you really want to make decent money for the night, your merch sales is where it’s at. You want to have a great design, you want to have a great t-shirt, good quality.”
McGraw has already sold quite a few of his shirts to his fans. “So far they’ve been doing great,” he’s happy to report. “The shirt design itself is excellent. From every shade, every detail, they basically nailed it. The design just looks fantastic. It really does. It was just a flawless process. Definitely come back to them for sure.”
But before he does, McGraw will be heading into this weekend with his box full of shirts to his next wrestling event. When he gets into the ring at MJ’s Steel City Saloon just west of Pittsburgh, he is likely to look out and see many in the audience wearing his shirt.
“Yeah man, MJ’s Steel City Saloon, that’s my turf,” boasts McGraw with pride. “They always have a good crowd there. And I’m not just saying that because it’s my hometown.” The family-friendly, outdoor event does present a unique venue to experience a night of wrestling.
It’s a night on the KSWA calendar that McGraw doesn’t take for granted. “There’s nothing like it. It’s just incredible, you know, I’ve lived here my whole life. So it’s basically like performing in front of my extended family. It’s cool.” And this time he’s teaming with his tag partner T.Rantula to take on the powerful duo of Mike Malachi and Jack Massacre in a tables match. “It’s gonna be a super heavyweight clash for sure.”
And while Big Country’s sights are set on this weekend’s epic encounter, he tries not to worry about his future too much. “I’m just like a ‘go with the flow’ kind of guy. I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing and let God take it from there.” Although he does have his eyes set on the top of the mountain.
“If any wrestler told you that they didn’t care about ever being a champion, they’re lying,” admits McGraw. “You want to be the number one guy. The KSWA is home for me, and if I never go anywhere else, that’s fine. But that’s my goal, I want to be the number one guy.”
Connect with “Big Country” Matt McGraw on Facebook, and find the KSWA full roster and calendar of events at KSWA.net.
