Gridiron Dreams to WWE Nightmares: The Boogeyman Story

Marty Wright, famously known as The Boogeyman, joins us in an unforgettable episode of Road Trip After Hours. Have you ever wondered what it takes to transform a childhood passion into a legendary career? Today, we get personal with Marty as he recounts his journey from a wrestling fan glued to NWA broadcasts to embodying one of WWE's most iconic characters. Teddy Long and Mac Davis start things off with their usual vibrant banter before diving into Marty's incredible story, full of perseverance and dedication.

From his days on the football field to acting under the guidance of directors like Oliver Stone and Michael Bay, Marty's road to WWE stardom was anything but straightforward. Injuries may have derailed his football career, but they led him down an unexpected path into the world of professional wrestling. With the encouragement of his agent Roxanne Miller and a little white lie about his age, Marty gave it his all and embraced the challenges head-on, culminating in the creation of the unforgettable Boogeyman character.

Throughout our conversation, we explore not just the evolution of the Boogeyman but also the deeper, more personal influences behind the persona, including a touching tribute to Marty's grandmother. Teddy Long emphasizes Marty's dedication and authenticity, ensuring that listeners get a complete picture of the man behind the face paint. We also take a moment to highlight Marty's collegiate football achievements and shedding light on the intelligent and nuanced individual beyond the Boogeyman mask. This episode is brimming with engaging stories and insights from a true WWE legend.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:02

The, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the. Hailing from a mysterious abyss known as the Bottomless Pit, he's coming to get you. Be very afraid, because you are about to face your deepest fail.

Speaker 2: 0:43

Hello again, everybody. Welcome to Road Trip After Hours. Of course I'm Mac Davis. I'm your host, along with my WWE Hall of Famer co-host, mr Teddy Long. Hey, teddy, how you doing man?

Speaker 3: 0:55

Hey, I'm doing good. Mac, I want you to check your volume now. You was breaking up a little bit there when you was talking to me. Is that really on your end, or is you just?

Speaker 2: 1:03

messed up like that all the time.

Speaker 3: 1:06

It's probably me just being too damn loud. Did you just mess up all the time, or was that a technical error?

Speaker 2: 1:11

Look here, I am not going to start with you today, ms Daisy. That is not going to happen. You're not going to get me in a bad mood or start me off on a bad foot because I got a guest in here. I've been waiting to get in here for quite some time and he I've been waiting to get in here for quite some time and he's a good friend of yours. Teddy, you want to introduce who our guest is today?

Speaker 3: 1:26

Oh yeah, man, I got no problem introducing our guest today. My man, he's been a great friend of mine. You know, since the first day I met him in professional wrestling. You know, one of the nicest guys that you could ever meet. I mean, if you look at the character and then you look at him, you'd be amazed. You're not. No, this can't be this guy. So he's just so nice and, man, you know, I seen he was trying to learn the ropes, you know, in wrestling and stuff. And you know he was having a hard time because sometimes in this job here, nobody won't tell you anything. You have to, like it's on the job training. So that's the position I was in and that's why I said, man, I'm going to help him and make sure, you know, if you want to listen, then you know I'll help him and see if we can, you know, make everything work. So, without further ado, let me introduce to you, ladies and gentlemen, the legend I mean WWE legend the boogeyman alias Marty Wright.

Speaker 4: 2:18

What's going on, guys? How you doing, Mr Long, I appreciate you guys having me on you and Brother Mac, and it's a real honor to be here. Man, I thank you so much for finally finally allowing me to be on the show. Thank you, Mr Long.

Speaker 2: 2:34

Well we just want you to know. Man Boogie has been after us to do this show for quite some time. He's actually stopped me on several occasions saying, don't forget, I want to be on the show, and so we've got him in here. But I've wanted you on the show for quite some time, marty, because for me it's interesting. I saw you without makeup the first time. It was in North Carolina at a show, and you were just in the room watching the ring and what the action was in the ring, and it was the first time I got a glimpse behind who was the boogeyman. In case anybody's wondering who we're talking about Marty Wright, the boogeyman, was big in WWE still one of those faces If you go to a show any one of the shows that Teddy and I go to. His line goes on forever because people love that character, boogeyman. But before you became that character, how'd you get into wrestling?

Speaker 4: 3:25

Well, wrestling was something I've always wanted to do. I grew up watching wrestling Back in the NWA days Gordon Soley, down there in Florida, sunshine State, that kind of deal and I've always watched it. And of course, you know, as everyone else knows, wrestling is an event or something. It's a family time spent event that's being watched with your dad, your uncle, grandma, cousins, aunt and so forth. You grow up wanting to be these superstars. But prior to wrestling, I also played football before WWE.

Speaker 4: 3:58

Once my football career ended, then I started getting into the acting and then I wanted to be a stuntman. And I started getting into the acting and then I wanted to be a stunt man. Okay, and which? What led me to the tough enough show? My agent at the time, roxanne Miller God rest her soul. She passed away. She said to me Marty, you should do a, you should do this tough enough thing. I think it was like the fourth season at WWE was having one. I think it was actually the final season before they just recently kicked it back up. They just kickstarted it back again, but prior to that I was doing acting. So I did a few roles in with Oliver Stone Wow, yeah, Oliver Stone, it was Michael Bay, you know, and Any Given Sunday.

Speaker 2: 4:46

These are heavyweight names you're bringing up here, Marty.

Speaker 4: 4:49

Yes, yes, yes, but that was my whole, that was my ambition. I wanted to become an actor and so forth. But my agent sent me out to the Tough Enough show, and you know. But of course everyone knows the story about the Tough Enough the 30. I know, teddy Long knows and I still do. Teddy, am I right? Are you familiar with the?

Speaker 3: 5:10

story You're exactly right. You're exactly right.

Speaker 4: 5:15

Yes, yes.

Speaker 4: 5:17

So after that I went there with the impression in mind I had to do something to come up with, just get myself in the door, because I didn't know anyone in wrestling and so forth.

Speaker 4: 5:30

But I was 40 at the time and I said I wrote down that I was 30, okay, just so that I can get in and just get my foot in the door, although I may have thought I looked 30, you know, but I was actually 40. But I kept rehearsing over and over and over to actually have thought I looked 30, you know, but I was actually 40. But I kept rehearsing over and over and over to actually believe that was 30. But anyway, I went in there with a plan, not telling everyone to go out there and lie to get to where they want to go, but I knew I had two to three days to show myself, to prove myself, and with that I think it's the third day. They came back and they've done their research and they said well, marty, mr Wright, how old are you? And I was like, oh fuck, I said 30.

Speaker 4: 6:18

And then he goes all right, mr Wright, how old are you? I said 30. And they kept asking me at 30. But I got to the point where I was saying, matt and Mr Wright, how old are you? I said 30. And they kept asking me 30. But I got to the point where I was saying Matt, mr Long, I'm to the point where don't ask me anymore, I'm 30, you know. So then they says what did your license say? So they said go get your license. Oh no.

Speaker 4: 6:37

So I got out of the ring and I walked. Maybe I took maybe an hour to walk 100 yards. I I took maybe an hour to walk 100 yards. I mean, I was just, oh my God, this is my last thing. And I had done very well on the obstacle course. You know, I beat out everybody and done my thing and I graded pretty high. And the one thing I did do to separate myself from everyone else although they were all underneath the canopy, and you know when it was time to go eat and so forth Well, I went there on a mission.

Speaker 4: 7:07

I went there to get a job. You know, I wasn't going to leave home without a job, and I mean go back home without having a job and also knowing that I perform extremely well. You know, these are guys that I could be the closest person to my age, it was 12 years apart, Okay, guys that I could be the closest person to my age was like it was 12 years apart, okay. So, um, in any case, um, in, in a short make a long story short, I ended up getting a job. I wouldn't even actually. They asked me to leave, they asked me to get off the set, but I wouldn't leave. Matt and Tom it's, I wouldn't leave.

Speaker 4: 7:40

And Teddy he knows, he's seen the look upon my face, matter of fact, that he sat around the ring one time we were having a production meeting and I was so pensive and teddy long, it was. Wrestling was a very difficult job and you know, I'm talking 40 years of age, I'm just trying to learn how to do this craft and so forth. And I was over there just frustrated and I was just looking crazy and teddy says to me he says hey, bo boogie, just let me, just let me know where you're going to go crazy. Okay, just let me out, just let me ease out, ease up. You know, but it was, it was, it was. It was a very difficult situation for me, you know, as far as learning stage, but Well, how did the boogeyman originate?

Speaker 2: 8:22

Was that with you, did you come up with the boogeyman originates? Uh, was that with you, did you come up with the boogeyman, or was?

Speaker 4: 8:26

that created. Yes, the boogeyman is everything for me, from head to toe, from toe to head man I was in a dark place at the time.

Speaker 4: 8:33

But but I must go ahead and go back to what mr long was saying. A lot of folks don't know anything about my football football career. I went to a four-year college, nai school, heart of america, tarkeel, missouri, graded out all conference honors. All four years Also got drafted in the 12th round in 1980, 1900, 1987 by the Cleveland Browns. I was behind Ozzie Newsome. I played three years.

Speaker 4: 8:59

Yes, yeah, I was behind Ozzie Newsome, but unfortunately that was short-lived. I blew a hip flexor and a hamstring which kind of ended my career. On top of that I severed my Achilles heel. So all those were difficult times for me to get back into, you know, as far as football being able to be mobile. So I actually lost a step with quite a few steps. But I played three years arena football as well two years with the miami hooters and one year with the barnstorms. Actually, the inarguable year was in 1995 with kurt warner. Yes, who? Everyone knows who kurt warner is. So, yeah, yeah, so I've been along a list of great, of great people.

Speaker 4: 9:43

But yeah, my football career was far before WWE. In fact, as you can see, dwayne Johnson is one of the models for Under Armour. I was Under Armour's first model. I did oh man, yes, I did the USFL. That's when they first brought the brand in. The one of the guys that was in the movie with the replacements knew well, he went to school with the owners and their home office was there in Baltimore, so they wanted to come out and do a little product. But yeah, I was in their first catalog. So all those guys, I'm like man. Everyone says, man, you ought to get an Under Armour commercial with the Rock. And I'm like, well, he's actually following my footsteps. No, but man, you ought to get an Under Armour commercial with the Rock. And I'm like, well, he's actually following my steps. No, but yeah, so that's a lot that people don't know in terms of that, just a little hidden secrets and so forth. But acting was my first deal.

Speaker 2: 10:39

So was acting the reason why you were able to get over so well with the Boogeyman character? Because you were able to embrace over so well with the boogeyman character, because you were able to embrace that character, to make it feel as creepy or fun as it should be. Was that acting career very helpful for that?

Speaker 4: 10:53

Oh, y'all, without a doubt, and also being in a dark place at that time, I had an incident happen to me at OVW where I mean a lot of people that I'm aware of that I had my teeth missing or knocked out or caved in, so there was an accident in the ring and that's when actually, the boogeyman was born. So when I became that, when I got into that dark hole, that dark place, I would come to class and just draw up this character bit by bit, bit by bit, and the character is a very interesting character. If you look, from the beginning, the first face paint I had I have no tree of life that I have it doesn't look anything. There was only two basic layers of colors the red and the black. Now, as that character has evolved, there's three to four layers of paint that I use, and it's late.

Speaker 4: 11:45

Well, I don't want to give away my, all my secrets, but I wanted to design a character that would, would, tell a story and, um, that character, I can give you, uh, an instance, for if you have a picture of anyone but, um, if you can recall the, the yellow streak in in, in the center of my, my, of my head, my face, that's the Tree of Life. Along with the Tree of Life, the dots that are scattered amongst my head. Do me a favor, pass me that for me real quick. I'm gonna just give you a quick illustration, Okay, so now you see, the yellow represents the Tree, the yellow is represents the tree of life. It's in the center.

Speaker 4: 12:26

The dots that are scattered amongst my head the yellow, the white and the black are the forbidden fruit that are falling off the tree. The black that is around my eyes and mouth is the black owl that sits in the tree waiting for the worms to come out to feed on the fruit, the forbidden fruit that have fallen off, which I in turn, as a bird. The black owl eats the worm. So, and that is a symbol of Native American, the broken promises United States government broke with the Native American, and that's a tribute to my grandmother. I wore this mohawk since I was in college. So there you have it. That face has a story to it.

Speaker 2: 13:10

And I never knew that. That's something I have never heard of. Teddy, go ahead, I'm sorry.

Speaker 3: 13:14

Yeah, let me say this, man, I am so glad, as I continue to listen to you, marty I am so glad that we had the opportunity to bring you on the show, because there's some things that you're talking about now that me and you are even good friends, that I didn't even know.

Speaker 3: 13:27

But I also want people to understand one thing you know this is not all you know. You know this is all you see is the boogeyman on TV. But no, here's my background, here's what I come from. So people need to know that. You know what I mean. And I keep hearing everybody say character. Don't get me wrong. Some people I consider characters because they'll go out to the ring and there'll be one thing and as soon as they come back to the locker room, they're themselves. So that's a character. But when a person goes out and he makes it work, whatever he's doing, I don't consider you a character. I consider you Marty Wright is the boogeyman. That's how I look at it. Look how you just described the symbols on that mask and the paint that you have on your face. You're dedicated to this. You know what I mean. You're involved in this. This is your life, so you're not a character. Marty Wright is the boogeyman, that's all I got to say. And character Marty Wright is the boogeyman.

Speaker 3: 14:24

That's all I got to say and I'm not trying to throw myself in there. But you know, marty, like people I'm not a character. I'm Teddy Long. I'm the Teddy Long you see on TV, on the street. I do the same thing in the street, in the gym that I do on TV. I don't put on nothing. So I'm not a character either. I'm me.

Speaker 4: 14:46

You know something, mr Long, I appreciate you touching up on that because and some people ask me, man it takes you three hours, and you know, to actually go through that. And as I do metamorphosize into that character, I do have a different entity that overtakes that character that I can see, and I would prefer, when I'm in paint, to want no one to never call me Marty.

Speaker 3: 15:08

Exactly Right. You go from Clark Kent to Superman.

Speaker 4: 15:14

Yes, but yes actually.

Speaker 3: 15:15

Okay, I'm just saying, you know what I mean. You are exactly right, you are exactly right, and that's the other reason why, man, I'm glad that you know, you're able to you know, so people would understand. You know, marty Wright is the boogeyman. That's all I can say, and I'll tell you one other thing. To let people really know just how concerned you are about being the boogeyman. You show up at a town and you let a motherfucker that ain't got no words and they told you they had worms for you and you showed up there and they ain't got no worms.

Speaker 3: 15:46

See, a lot of people would substitute it. They would let them go get some jelly worms or some candy worms or something. But you won't do that. Either they go get those worms or you're not doing it.

Speaker 4: 15:59

I'm not going on the show and I appreciate that. Mr Long, that's how real that character is for me. Yeah, it Long, that's how real that character is for me. Yeah, it's you.

Speaker 4: 16:08

And I must say, Mac and Teddy Long he's not mentioning this but through my whole course of my career I listened to everything that man has to say, you know, and everything that he has improvised with me and told me the little tweaks to do as the boogeyman, like sometimes a little shake, or to when I reach into my burlap pouch for the worms, and this is stuff that I just didn't know. I mean, I had all the real stuff, but he gave me that little twist. He would say put it up to the sky, make it big, and I'll never forget that. So all that comes from Teddy Long.

Speaker 4: 16:43

Listening to what Teddy Long tell me how to improve that character and I just want to give a shout out to you, Mr Long, and I thank you for that, because it's not. I mean, that made that so much better, you know, that made that so much spectacular. And what we do is tell a story and that only exemplifies, you know, the story Boom, hit these worms, Boom, boom, boom. You know, and made it bigger than what it is, larger than life, and I appreciate that, Mr Long.

Speaker 3: 17:13

It's like building a house you start from the bottom and work your way to the roof.

Speaker 4: 17:17

Yes, yes, yes. And I remember once when I was first coming down the ramp and I was just, you know, going on Twitch every now and then, but I, I would do it. I did it to a point where Mr Long, he would always grade me every time after every show. He said, okay, now you can, you did that. He said that was good, but you need to, don't, don't do this so much. You only give that to him, don't let him see everything. You know. You give that to him little by little and he instructed me on that and Teddy and I became good friends. You know, and I appreciate that. You know sincerely, because he, he helped that character, or help that help. The evolution of Boogeyman.

Speaker 2: 17:56

I think one thing that Teddy has about him and something that I've seen in him and based on what you're saying now I know you've seen it and I've talked to other people who've said this too Teddy does not mind lending a hand, not just to lend a hand, but to try to help lift you up and not let you go down. He wants to see you succeed. That's unusual in this business.

Speaker 4: 18:17

Yeah, he wants to see you succeed. I can always say he's always been that type of person towards me. He's always shown me good, good friends. He's always told me the truth, you know. But, um, yeah, I appreciate you guys having me on and a lot of people don't know that I did bodybuilding for seven years. I won the southern states, qualified for nationals, you know, but I do. I run a boot camp here now, you know. That's. That's where my real, my passion is, you know, just lifting weight to what I do as far as helping people, you know, inspire other people to be the best versions of themselves, and my boot camp here at Tava Waters in Denver, colorado, where I live. I'm also hosting my eighth annual challenge fitness challenge coming up in August possibly I'm not confirmed on the date yet, you know. But, mr Long, he puts a shout out for me. Mac, I would appreciate it if you even put a shout out for me. Get people out here and get out and work out and exercise and enjoy life, because without that man, that's the only thing that we hold we have control of.

Speaker 4: 19:16

And, speaking of exercise, that gentleman on the other side of the microphone, mr Teddy Long, when we rode together. We would always ride. We'd always find a town Boom. First thing we do, we go find a gym. We go straight to the gym and I tell you, mac, you know I thought I was in pretty good shape. You know what I mean and you know this. And that Teddy Long, first time I went to the gym with Teddy Long brother Look here, man and he had the freaking like the treadmill or elliptical. He had the fucking piece of cardio equipment, smoking, I mean seriously. And he's sitting there talking, drifting, sweating, I mean seriously. But he does it from start, from as soon as we get in there to the time we leave. But that's one thing I can respect about T-Long. We always worked out, and that's another thing. When we rode together, the first thing we got to find a good gym and find us a good golden corral or somewhere where all you can eat Boogie.

Speaker 2: 20:13

I do want to say, for the people who are watching right now, go to boogies on his Facebook page. I think where's your workouts? Where am I seeing your workouts?

Speaker 4: 20:23

That's on my Instagram, real boogie coming against you, coming to get you on my instagram. Um, like you said, it's a, it's a wide range. I try to make exercise like heaven. You know what I mean.

Speaker 2: 20:36

It's a place where we all one thing I do want to mention, marty, is that I'm surprised because, as we've been talking, I've known you for a couple years now because of teddy uh, and we've talked many times. I have never thought and I'm just taking a shot in the dark that you and I are probably about the same age no-transcript of my life.

Speaker 4: 21:18

You know it's, it's, it's, it's one of the things that I know that I'm abundantly gifted with. You know that's something that nobody can ever take away from me or can take away anything else. Your health is your only thing, that you truly have control of yourself. Everything else outside of that, outside of the shell of this body, I'm not going to take it with me. Everything I'm taking with me lies within my ear.

Speaker 2: 21:40

Absolutely correct. Well, boogie, I certainly appreciate your time. Teddy, anything else before we go? Oh man, I certainly appreciate your time, Teddy.

Speaker 3: 21:46

anything else before we go? Man, I'm just enjoying every minute of this man, I am too. What a pleasure it is to have Boogie man on and being himself Marty Wright talking about his workouts. His boot camp is coming up and I'll always send a big shout-out for that, but we'll make sure that we cover that right here on the podcast. We'll make sure we cover that boot camp for you and let everybody know what's going on now. And man, the only thing I can say is man, god bless you. And.

Speaker 3: 22:10

I'll tell you what I want to do, because I know you're going to send this to your sister, so I want to send a big shout out to your sister. She's one of my biggest fans and I want her to know that I love her very much. What's her name again?

Speaker 4: 22:21

Yvonne, yvonne, yvonne.

Speaker 3: 22:24

Yeah, I just want to give a big shout out to Yvonne and let Yvonne know I love you, yvonne, you my baby.

Speaker 4: 22:33

Yeah, she's going to love that too. Y'all, she's going to love it.

Speaker 2: 22:36

Well, boogie again. Thank you so much. We look forward to maybe having you on the show some other time and be able to actually talk a little bit more because, like Teddy says, the time has flown by. I'm looking at the clock right now going wow, we've gone way over time than we normally do, but you're such a great guest and you're such a great talker and telling great stories, brother, I certainly appreciate it. Thank you very much. Thank you very much.

Speaker 4: 22:56

I appreciate you, mac. Thank you, guys, god no-transcript no-transcript.

Speaker 3: 50:23

Matt, is the screen clean now?

Speaker 2: 50:27

It still looks a little blurry to me, Teddy.

Speaker 3: 50:34

How about now? That looks better that was the front screen yeah, that looks much better.

Speaker 2: 50:42

Okay, I can't see him on mine when he talks Teddy, say something. Fuck off, did he pop?

Speaker 3: 50:49

up on screen when he said something. When he talks, Teddy say something, Fuck off?

Speaker 2: 50:52

Did he pop up on screen when he said something? Yeah, teddy, he might not be alone right now. Oh good, I am alone, that's. T-long.

Speaker 4: 51:04

That's T-Long. Right there, brother. It would not be him if he wouldn't say fuck off.

Speaker 3: 52:48

Thank you. Hey. Boogie. No, no, hey, boogie, you want to talk a little bit about your football career and stuff, man, because a lot of people don't know that.

Speaker 4: 52:57

Oh yeah, man, I mean, that was my first love. I completed four years of college on an NAI level.

Speaker 3: 53:11

Yeah, well, I think we really need to talk about that because you know, that way they'll know that you're really not as dumb as you look on TV. You know, they'll know you're smart.