For the past 16 years, WWE has been my home. It’s where I grew up, found myself, failed, learned, and got to live out things the younger version of me could only dream about.
When I first walked into FCW, I just wanted a chance to prove I belonged and to bring something different to professional wrestling. That chance became a life full of moments I’ll carry with me forever — WrestleMania, championships, King of the Ring, arenas around the world, and the gift of connecting with all of you by being myself.
The New Day gave me a bond with @TrueKofi and @WWEBigE that I’ll cherish for life. You believed in us, even when our ideas were wild, and because of that, we got to show people that being unapologetically yourself is a strength.
UpUpDownDown became another piece of that same mission: a place for joy, friendship, and humanity. I’m so thankful to everyone, past and present, who helped build it brick by brick.
To the locker room, producers, trainers, crew, camera teams, ring crew, everyone behind the scenes, and the props department - thank you. WWE has the most special and hardest working props department that youll ever find. Love you guys and none of this happens without you.
And to everyone who has been part of this ride: thank you for believing in me. Thank you for letting me be Xavier Woods. Thank you for giving me the confidence… to walk away as Austin Creed.
🚨 🚨 TONIGHT 🚨 🚨
#MCWProWrestling returns to Joppa, #Maryland TONIGHT, Saturday April 25th, for #MCWHigherGround '26🔥 Meet former #WWE Superstar HEATH SLATER during the pre-show meet & greet and check out 9️⃣ HUGE matches including a Champion 🆚 Champion match as @Mike_Walker_30 defends his title against #MCWRageTV Champion @SunshineDannyG‼️
Doors open at 630PM with a 730 belltime—grab your tickets 🎟️ at the door or save 💰 with the online exclusive Family 4️⃣ Pack 💥
🔗 https://t.co/lZRPeKOe4d
🚨 🚨 THIS SATURDAY 🚨 🚨
On Saturday April 25th, #MCWProWrestling returns to The RJ Meyer Arena in Joppa, #Maryland for #MCWHigherGround ‘26 with former #WWE Superstar HEATH SLATER and ALL your favorite MCW Stars🔥
🎟️ 🔗 https://t.co/XNfyCQ1377
Check out these 9️⃣ ACTION-PACKED MATCHES signed for Saturday night👇
🏆 MAIN EVENT—MCW CHAMPIONSHIP 🏆
@Mike_Walker_30 (c) 🆚 #MCWRageTV Champion @SunshineDannyG w/Maia Martinez
🏆 2 Out Of 3 Falls—MCW Tag Team Championship 🏆
Sexy & Blessed 🆚 The Helm w/ @JulietteWrestle
• @HeathXXII, @The_SValentina & @ReggieCollins19 🆚 The Brain Trust
•@TheDolomac 🆚 @BookOfReno
• Devil’s Business 🆚 The Brothers Gray
• @AlexDivineHSK & @ChrisSlade25 🆚 The Burkhart’s
• @TheGiaScott 🆚 @Vicious_Vicki_
• Javari Wolf 🆚 @MyronMalonePro with @HellfireMcGuire
• AriSwole 🆚 @itsBrandonScott
👨👩👧👦 Family-friendly for all ages
💰 Discounted Family 4️⃣-Packs available online
🚪 Doors Open: 6️⃣PM
🔔 Bell Time: 7️⃣3️⃣0️⃣PM
🚨 Head to https://t.co/XNfyCQ1377 for tickets 🎟️ and additional event information 🔗
The #MCWProWrestling family sends its thoughts, prayers and condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Mark Hildreth aka Van Hammer.
#RIPVanHammer
I was 18 years old, working the front desk at Powerhouse Gym in Linthicum, Maryland. Fresh out of high school. No college plans. Just one goal become a professional wrestler.
I took that job because I knew guys from WWF and WCW trained there when they flew into BWI. Truth is… I would’ve worked there for free. One day, November 12, 1993, in walks a guy I instantly recognized—Van Hammer from WCW.
I’m six or seven months into training at this point, and I’ve got my pro debut coming up in two days November 14, 1993, at Kenwood High School in Baltimore.
So what do I do? I break every rule of wrestling etiquette and start telling him all about it.
Like a dumb, excited kid chasing a dream.
But here’s what shocked me…
He didn’t brush me off.
He kept coming back up to the desk between sets, asking questions. Where I trained. What the show was. Who was running it. Before he left, he grabbed a pen and paper and said, “Where’s the show? Leave me a ticket at the door.”
Now keep in mind this is 1993. No cell phones. No social media. No way to follow up. And in my head? No chance he’s actually showing up. I figured he was just being nice. So I didn’t tell the promoter, Didn’t leave a ticket, Didn’t think twice about it.
Then I’m backstage before my debut…
And someone walks up to me and says: “Hey… Van Hammer is here. He brought his family to watch you wrestle.” I couldn’t believe it. That moment turned into something way bigger than I ever expected.
Because that wasn’t just “Van Hammer.” That was Mark Hildreth.Over the years, he became one of the most loyal, genuine, and caring friends I’ve ever had. We went from me being an 18-year-old kid looking up to him on TV… To real friends.
Mark battled addiction, but he never hid from it. He helped me more than he’ll ever know guiding me, connecting me with the right people, and showing me how to help others going through it. To this day, I still rely on those same connections when someone I care about needs help.
Around 2009–2010, he even lived with me for a while. That’s when I really got to know him. And I’ll tell you this…He was the greatest salesperson I’ve ever seen. No exaggeration.
The kind of guy who could have nothing… get a sales job… and within six months be the top guy in the company with money in the bank. It was unreal.
But more than that he took care of his people.
Years later, after he moved to Florida, he’d still pop into MCW shows. Never needed the spotlight. Just watched, talked to the younger talent, helped where he could and many times scheduled his flights up to see his mom around MCW shows so that he could swing in and see me and watch the show.
Then three years ago, he got that itch again.
Came up, got in the ring as a guest referee… and you could see it—he was happy. Truly happy. Just being back in front of a crowd, hearing that reaction.
The older I get, the more I realize how fast this all goes.
And when it’s all said and done… it’s not the matches or the moments in the ring that matter most.
It’s the people.
Mark Hildreth was a great human being. A loyal friend. A guy who showed up when it mattered.
I’ll always be grateful for the time we had, the laughs we shared, and the impact he had on my life.
Love you, Mark.
Rest in power
Aristote, of All Natural, faces one of the biggest challenges of his career when he steps in the ring with former #MCWRageTV Champion and #ShamrockCup☘️ winner @itsBrandonScott‼️
🎟️ 🔗 https://t.co/lZRPeKOe4d
See if Aristote can get to Higher Ground when we return to The RJ Meyer Arena in Joppa, #Maryland on Saturday April 25th 🔥
#MCWProWrestling #MCWHigherGround
Aristote, of All Natural, faces one of the biggest challenges of his career when he steps in the ring with former #MCWRageTV Champion and #ShamrockCup☘️ winner @itsBrandonScott‼️
🎟️ 🔗 https://t.co/lZRPeKOLTL
See if Aristote can get to Higher Ground when we return to The RJ Meyer Arena in Joppa, #Maryland on Saturday April 25th 🔥
#MCWProWrestling #MCWHigherGround