Kofi Kingston's WWE Title victory at WrestleMania 35 was a historic event in wrestling, but especially for the African-American community. In the build-up to Kingston's showdown with Daniel Bryan, the New Day member consistently brought up wanting to be a "beacon of light" for those like him. Following Kingston's victory, current and former African-American wrestlers showed just how much that moment meant to the community by posting emotional reaction videos online.
Willie Mack was among those who never thought he would be around to see an African-American WWE Champion.
Speaking to Fightful ahead of the Crockett Cup, Mack said, "It's great and awesome. I'm surprised I was alive to see it because I didn't think something like that would happen. A bunch of people who didn't watch wrestling back then, like the little kids now, they're going to look up and remember Kofi Kingston being the champion. And older folks will look back at it like, 'you never thought you'd see the day.' But it happened."
Mack is making his own waves in professional wrestling. The former NWA National Champion just signed a multi-year deal with IMPACT Wrestling and is highly praised for his charisma and ability to "turn it on" when the bell rings.
On a recent episode of IMPACT, Mack dropped some Sugar Hill Gang bars during a promo alongside Killer Kross. When asked which artists help him get into that zone prior to a match, Mack told me, "I listen to everything, mostly rock, hip-hop, anything that'll hype you up. ICP, Tech N9ne, Poppy, and Billie Eilish."
For those that want to listen to the same tunes as Da Mack, Absolute Power is his favorite Tech N9ne album.
Mack lost the NWA National Title to Colt Cabana at NWA Crockett Cup, reportedly due to Lucha Underground sending NWA and ROH a cease & desist over his involvement with both promotions. Undeterred, Mack will continue to press forward with IMPACT Wrestling as he is expected to play a key role in the company in 2019.
While Kofi Kingston might be the wrestler others aspire to be. That's not on Mack's mind at the moment.
"I'm just trying to be me," he said.
With his unique personality, fun-loving style, and ability to hang with anyone in the ring, being himself as certainly worked out thus far for Willie Mack.
