Steve Maclin loves the creative process of professional wrestling.
Maclin, the current TNA International Champion is not just a force to be reckoned with inside of the ring; he's also a force when it comes to vignettes and backstage aspects of the show. Maclin's recent vignette -- a fireside chat with his heated rival, Eric Young -- told a complete story without ever showing a pro wrestling ring. The vignette is something Maclin is extremely proud of, and it's something that's been on his mind for quite some time.
That's what Maclin recently told Jeremy Lambert and Joel Pearl on Fightful Overbooked's In The Weeds. During the interview, Maclin touched on a number of different subjects and he spent some time explaining his creative process for vignettes and other pre-taped segments.
"The original vignette, I had the idea maybe two or three years ago where it was going to be a lead in to a pay-per-view, kind of almost like Apocalypse Now. It was supposed to kick off a pay-per-view when I was still champion, or getting to the world title. I wanted it to be a holy shit moment. That cinematic world that blends right into the show. That’s how my mind works. I have a movie-style mentality because that is what draws people in. Those movie trailers that hook you as a fan and makes you want to see it in a theater. I feel like that’s something with a trailer going into a show as a lead in or a build up to matches where you have to hook that fan that isn’t a casual fan or how do I get more people to get eyes on it or asses in seats.
"Some fans show up and they don’t know the full story, so they have to ask questions. If they’re shown visually, I can now have the match in front of you where you understand what’s going on.For me to get these visual ideas out there, I wanted to show my side of things where it’s very hard verbally for me to explain PTSD. Everybody knows the ramifications that come with it and the result of traumatic events, but you have to see certain things where it resonates with somebody or certain ticks like driving down the road and it’s somebody in a car accident that has gotten t-boned. You always have that thought process that you can visualize and it’s always stuck in your mind as a highlight or quick flash.
"That’s what I wanted to get trying to incorporate life as Steve Maclin into taking my real life as Steve Kupryk and bringing things into that world.With the vignettes, I’m looking forward to doing more of those in the future. Pitches are constantly ongoing for me and my crazy brain in the gym when I’m working out and losing my mind of different ideas and watching certain videos of Marvel or comics or seeing something online. I’m looking forward to the future," Maclin said.
In his immediate future, Maclin is preparing to pariticpate in the Tunnel 2 Towers Foundation's T2T Tower Climb on June 1, 2025. The climb, according to the T2T website, is the "only opportunity for the public to ascend 104 stories—or 2,226 steps—from the basement to the finish line on the 102nd floor."
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was designed to tell the story of Stephen Siller.
According to the T2T website, Siller was "A NYC firefighter who was off duty during 9/11, he drove his truck to the entrance of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, strapped his 60lbs of gear on his back and by foot ran through the tunnel to the Twin Towers where he ultimately lost his life.
"Started by his brother Frank, T2T helps support our nations heroes and their families by paying off mortgages and/or providing mortgage-free homes for families of fallen first responders, especially those with young children.
"More recently, T2T has expanded its work and is building smart homes for injured veterans and first responders. They have begun buying properties across the country to build “Veterans Villages” where they will house homeless veterans and provide supportive services to get these heroes back on their feet. Villages are currently being built across the country in places like Atlanta, GA, Bradenton, FL, Memphis, TN, Harrisburg, PA, Detroit, MI, and Las Vegas, NV, just to name a few. "
Maclin, a former Marine, filmed a commercial back in October, professing his support of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
.@SteveMaclin joins the @Tunnel2Towers Foundation in their mission to do good.
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) May 4, 2025
Maclin shares his 9/11 story, what led him to enlist in the Marines and how that service continues to impact his life today.
WATCH: https://t.co/MEMFZcSPsl
To read about Maclin's desire to implement mental health advocacy into pro wrestling, click here.
Fans can find Fightful's coverage of TNA iMPACT! by clicking here. Check out the post-show podcast for a full review here.
Check out the full interview with Steve Maclin embedded above.
