Willie Mack William McClinton Jr . ( January 5 , 1987 ) is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Willie Mack . He is best known for his work with California - based promotion Pro Wrestling Guerrilla , National Wrestling Alliance , NWA associates Alternative Wrestling Show and Mach One Pro Wrestling , and Lucha VaVOOM . Career . Independent circuit . Willie Mack began his wrestling training while still in high school , but put it on hold until he graduated . He then attended Martin Marin ’ s WPW Training School in Anaheim , CA and wrestled at their weekly events at the Anaheim Marketplace . Knowing that he needed further training , Mack moved on to Bart Kapitzke ’ s AWS School in City of Industry , CA and began wrestling for the NWA sanctioned Alternative Wrestling Show . At AWS he got noticed by NWA producers and was invited to appear at tapings of NWA Wrestling Showcase where he had the opportunity to face such wrestlers as Adam Pearce , Brent Albright , Joey Ryan , Chris Escobar and more . Mack also wrestled at the tapings as part of a tag team with his best friend and fellow WPW graduate Jerome Robinson . Mack began wrestling for another NWA sanctioned group , Mach One Wrestling , who run weekly events at the American Sports Center across the street from where WPW had run previously . Mack was instantly one of the most popular wrestlers in the group . On February 5 , 2010 after defeating Scorpio Sky in a number one contenders match for the M1W Championship , Mack entered himself into a 3 - Way elimination match later that same evening , making it a 4 - Way . After Joey Ryan and James Morgan were eliminated , Mack defeated reigning champion , Australia ' s Bobby Marshall to claim the title . Since then , he has been taking on all challengers for his belt . On March 5 , 2011 , Mack lost the M1W Championship to James Morgan in a four - way match that also involved Nick Madrid and Andrew Hellman . On November 2 , 2013 , Mack participated in a tournament to crown the first MexPro Wrestling United States Champion . He defeated Jacob Diez and SoCal Crazy in the semi - finals , but he lost to CJ Kruz in the finale . On November 3 , 2013 , Mack was defeated by Samoa Joe at Championship Wrestling from Hollywood ' s Open Door , in a Dream match . On November 14 , 2013 , Mack was defeated by the CWFH Santino Bros . Wrestling Champion Robby Phoenix . Pro Wrestling Guerrilla ( 2010 – 2014 ) . Mack debuted for the Southern California - based company Pro Wrestling Guerrilla on December 11 , 2010 , winning his first match . It has been acknowledged on DVD commentary that he attended PWG shows as a fan before training to be a wrestler . On March 4 , 2011 , Mack participated in the 2011 Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament , pairing with Brandon Gatson in a loss against The Young Bucks ( Matt and Nick Jackson ) , the eventual winners , in the Opening Round . On May 27 , Mack gained a substantial win by upsetting Kevin Steen . He then began a streak of wrestling top names on the independent scene , defeating Chris Hero in the first round of the 2011 Battle of Los Angeles before losing to El Generico , the eventual winner , in the Semifinal Round . [ 5 ] On December 10 , Mack beat Chris Hero for a second time in what ended up being Hero ' s PWG exit match . He continued his streak by beating Naruki Doi on January 29 and Roderick Strong on March 17 , 2012 . Mack took part in the 2012 Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament , teaming with El Generico as 2 Husky Black Guys . The duo beat Roderick Strong and the debuting Sami Callihan in the Opening and the RockNES Monsters ( Johnny Goodtime and Johnny Yuma ) in the Semifinal Rounds , before succumbing to the Super Smash Bros . ( Player Uno and Stupefied ) in the Final . On May 25 , Mack faced and beat debutant Michael Elgin . On July 21 at Threemendous III , PWG ' s nine - year anniversary event , Mack received a shot at the PWG World Championship , but was defeated by defending champion Kevin Steen . The match saw an interference by Brian Cage , which launched a feud between Cage and Mack . The 2012 Battle of Los Angeles , taking place in September , saw Mack lose against Sami Callihan on Night One . The following month at Failure to Communicate , Mack lost in his first encounter against Brian Cage . At Mystery Vortex on December 1 , he faced Cage once more , this time in a match also involving B - Boy and T . J . Perkins , with Mack emerging victorious . World Wrestling Entertainment ( 2014 ) . On September 1 , 2014 , it was confirmed that McClinton had passed WWE ' s medical testing and would be reporting to the promotion ' s developmental territory , NXT , shortly . He was released on October 13 , 2014 before ever beginning his WWE training . Lucha Underground ( 2015 – present ) . On February 2015 , it was announced Mack worked at Lucha Underground ' s TV Tapings . He wrestled under the ringname The Mack , Big Ryck ' s cousin . On February 8 , 2015 , along with Kill Shot and Big Ryck participated in a torunament for the LU Trios Championship , but they were defeated in the semi - finals by the eventual winners Angélico , Son of Havoc and Ivelisse Vélez . Personal life . McClinton Jr . attended Los Angeles Southwest College .