Mark Freer (wrestler)
Encyclopedia
Mark Freer is a retired American
professional wrestler, known by his ring name A.C. Golden, who competed in Mid-Atlantic and Southern
independent promotions during the late 1980s and 1990s. He was a longtime mainstay of the United States Wrestling Association
in Memphis, Tennessee
, where he and New Jack
won the USWA Tag Team Championship
in 1993, as well as in the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation
where he was a top contender for the MEWF Heavyweight Championship
up until his retirement in 1998. He also made occasional appearances in the World Wrestling Federation early in his career.
independent circuit
as The Golden Phoenix. One of his first major opponents during his rookie year was against Dirty Dennis Allen
whom he faced in Woodbury, New Jersey
for WWA Wrestling. That same year, he appeared as a preliminary wrestler in the World Wrestling Federation. In his first WWF match, he teamed with George Skaaland, son of the legendary Arnold Skaaland
, against The Powers of Pain
(The Warlord
& The Barbarian
) at the Civic Center
in Springfield, Massachusetts
on August 29, 1989. The match was later aired on WWF Wrestling Challenge
. A day later on WWF Superstars
, Freer was pinned by Akeem
at the Cumberland County Civic Center
in Portland, Maine
after a big splash. At the end of the match, Freer was handcuffed to the ring ropes by Akeem's tag team partner Big Boss Man
and beaten with his nightstick. A year later, he and Joe Sturnam lost to Rhythm & Blues
(The Honky Tonk Man
& Greg Valentine
) in Syracuse, New York
on April 3, 1990.
By 1991, Freer was back on the indy circuit and found success in several promotions, most notably, Gordon Scozzari's American Wrestling Federation, the Wrestling Independent Network and the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation
. On July 11, 1992, he entered a championship tournament in Pasadena, Maryland
for the vacant MEWF Heavyweight Championship
and lost to Max Thrasher in the finals. Later that year, he wrestled "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert
in a special "challenge match" at an MEWF show in Hampstead, Maryland
on November 21, 1992. The event was to raise money for the North Carroll High School
, the show taking place in the school's gymnasium, with the proceeds going to purchase computer software
for its business department.
In early-1993, Freer began wrestling for the United States Wrestling Association
in Memphis, Tennessee
. Under the name Homeboy, he and New Jack
began teaming together and quickly became contenders to the USWA Tag Team Championship
. On June 21, 1993, they defeated The Southern Rockers (Rex King & Steve Doll
) for the belts at the Mid-South Coliseum
in front of 2,000 fans. They continued feuding with The Southern Rockers and defeated them in a rematch the following week. On July 5, he and New Jack lost to King and Doll in separate singles matches, and lost the tag team titles to C.W. Bergstrom
& Melvin Penrod later that night.
After this, he returned to the MEWF where he spent the last years of his career. In one of his last matches, he lost to Glenn Osbourne in the finals of a championship tournament for the MEWF Heavyweight Championship in Baltimore
on February 1, 1998.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestler, known by his ring name A.C. Golden, who competed in Mid-Atlantic and Southern
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
independent promotions during the late 1980s and 1990s. He was a longtime mainstay of the United States Wrestling Association
United States Wrestling Association
The United States Wrestling Association or USWA was a professional wrestling promotion based in Memphis, Tennessee. It was founded by former CWA owner Jerry Jarrett.-Foundation:...
in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, where he and New Jack
New Jack
Jerome Young is an American professional wrestler, better known by his stage name New Jack in ECW.He is known for his willingness to take dangerous bumps and his stiff hardcore wrestling style, often taking high risks and "shooting" on opponents, though he is only known to shoot on opponents who...
won the USWA Tag Team Championship
USWA Tag Team Championship
The USWA World Tag Team Championship was a tag team championship in the Memphis, Tennessee-based professional wrestling promotion, the United States Wrestling Association.The title was originally known as the WCWA World Tag Team Championship....
in 1993, as well as in the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation
Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation
The Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation was a Mid-Atlantic independent professional wrestling promotion based in Essex, Maryland. Founded by promoter Dennis Wippercht and wrestler Tim "Lucifer" Burke in 1991, the MEWF was one of the leading independent promotions on the East Coast during the 1990s...
where he was a top contender for the MEWF Heavyweight Championship
MEWF Heavyweight Championship
The Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Championship is the highest ranking singles title in the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, one of three in the promotion....
up until his retirement in 1998. He also made occasional appearances in the World Wrestling Federation early in his career.
Career
Mark Freer made his professional debut around 1988 and spent the first year of his career wrestling in the Mid-Atlantic and SouthernSouthern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
independent circuit
Independent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
as The Golden Phoenix. One of his first major opponents during his rookie year was against Dirty Dennis Allen
Dirty Dennis Allen
Dirty Dennis Allen is an American professional wrestler. Allen trained at the legendary Monster Factory in the late 1980s. Allen worked closely with Larry Sharpe and Charlie Fulton.-Career:...
whom he faced in Woodbury, New Jersey
Woodbury, New Jersey
Woodbury is a city in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, 10,307 residents were counted. Woodbury is the county seat of Gloucester County....
for WWA Wrestling. That same year, he appeared as a preliminary wrestler in the World Wrestling Federation. In his first WWF match, he teamed with George Skaaland, son of the legendary Arnold Skaaland
Arnold Skaaland
Arnold Skaaland was an American professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager.-Career:Skaaland served in the U.S. Marines during World War II. After a short-lived attempt to make a living through boxing, he became a professional wrestler and debuted in 1946 as "Arnold Skaaland"...
, against The Powers of Pain
Powers of Pain
The Powers of Pain are an on-and-off professional wrestling tag team. They are best known for their tenure in Jim Crockett Promotions and the World Wrestling Federation.-Jim Crockett Promotions:...
(The Warlord
Terry Szopinski
Terry Scott Szopinski is an American professional wrestler. He is best known by his ring name The Warlord and for his tenures in Jim Crockett Promotions and the World Wrestling Federation as one half of the Powers of Pain alongside The Barbarian.-National Wrestling Alliance / Jim Crockett...
& The Barbarian
Sione Vailahi
Sione Havea Vailahi is a professional wrestler best known in wrestling as The Barbarian.-Life and career:Born and raised in Tonga, Sione was one of five teenagers sent by the King of Tonga to Japan to study Sumo wrestling in the mid 1970s. Tonga Fifita was one of the other teenagers...
) at the Civic Center
MassMutual Center
The MassMutual Center is a multi-purpose arena and convention center, in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. Built in the city's Metro Center across from Court Square, the facility opened in 1972 as the Springfield Civic Center and was at that time considered to be the largest arena in the...
in Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
on August 29, 1989. The match was later aired on WWF Wrestling Challenge
WWF Wrestling Challenge
WWF Challenge is a professional wrestling television program produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It was syndicated weekly and aired from 1986 to 1996. The show premiered as WWF Wrestling Challenge and became simply known as WWF Challenge in 1995. The show featured matches, pre-match...
. A day later on WWF Superstars
WWF Superstars
WWF Superstars is an arcade game manufactured by Technos and released in 1989. It is the first WWF arcade game to be released. A series of unrelated games with the same title were released by LJN for the original Game Boy...
, Freer was pinned by Akeem
George Gray (wrestler)
George Gray is an American professional wrestler best known as One Man Gang and Akeem "the African Dream".-Early years:...
at the Cumberland County Civic Center
Cumberland County Civic Center
The Cumberland County Civic Center is a 6,733-seat multi-purpose arena, in Portland, Maine. Built in 1977, at a cost of $8 million, it is home to the Portland Pirates ice hockey team, various trade shows and the Maine Principals' Association high school basketball tournament...
in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
after a big splash. At the end of the match, Freer was handcuffed to the ring ropes by Akeem's tag team partner Big Boss Man
Ray Traylor
Ray Walter Traylor, Jr. was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Big Boss Man and World Championship Wrestling under various ring names, most notably Big Bubba Rogers.-Early years:Traylor, a prison guard in...
and beaten with his nightstick. A year later, he and Joe Sturnam lost to Rhythm & Blues
Rhythm and Blues (professional wrestling)
The Rhythm & Blues was a tag team composed of The Honky Tonk Man and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine in the World Wrestling Federation from 1988 to 1991 and later on in the independent circuit for a short run.-Background:...
(The Honky Tonk Man
The Honky Tonk Man
Roy Wayne Farris , better known by his ring name The Honky Tonk Man, is an American professional wrestler. A 1975 graduate from University of Memphis with a B.S. degree in Education. Coached high school football 2 seasons at Munford High School in Munford, Tennessee...
& Greg Valentine
Greg Valentine
John Wisniski, Jr. is an American professional wrestler, better known as Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. He is the son of wrestler Johnny Valentine.-Training:...
) in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
on April 3, 1990.
By 1991, Freer was back on the indy circuit and found success in several promotions, most notably, Gordon Scozzari's American Wrestling Federation, the Wrestling Independent Network and the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation
Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation
The Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation was a Mid-Atlantic independent professional wrestling promotion based in Essex, Maryland. Founded by promoter Dennis Wippercht and wrestler Tim "Lucifer" Burke in 1991, the MEWF was one of the leading independent promotions on the East Coast during the 1990s...
. On July 11, 1992, he entered a championship tournament in Pasadena, Maryland
Pasadena, Maryland
Pasadena is a census-designated place in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. The population was 12,093 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pasadena is located at ....
for the vacant MEWF Heavyweight Championship
MEWF Heavyweight Championship
The Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Championship is the highest ranking singles title in the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, one of three in the promotion....
and lost to Max Thrasher in the finals. Later that year, he wrestled "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert
Eddie Gilbert
Edward Gilbert may refer to:*Eddie Gilbert , Australian Aboriginal cricketer*Eddie Gilbert , American wrestler*Ed Gilbert *Edward Gilbert, U.S...
in a special "challenge match" at an MEWF show in Hampstead, Maryland
Hampstead, Maryland
Hampstead is a town in Carroll County in the U.S. state of Maryland. The population was 5,060 at the 2000 census. Hampstead School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.-Geography:Hampstead is located at ....
on November 21, 1992. The event was to raise money for the North Carroll High School
North Carroll High School
North Carroll High is a high school located in Hampstead, Maryland, in Carroll County.North Carroll is located at 1400 Panther Drive. The school mascot is a panther, and the school colors are red, white, and black. The school is a part of the Carroll County Public Schools system...
, the show taking place in the school's gymnasium, with the proceeds going to purchase computer software
Computer software
Computer software, or just software, is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it....
for its business department.
In early-1993, Freer began wrestling for the United States Wrestling Association
United States Wrestling Association
The United States Wrestling Association or USWA was a professional wrestling promotion based in Memphis, Tennessee. It was founded by former CWA owner Jerry Jarrett.-Foundation:...
in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. Under the name Homeboy, he and New Jack
Jerome Young
Jerome Young in Clarendon, Jamaica, attended high school in Hartford, Connecticut at Prince Technical, is a sprint athlete. He was caught doping in 1999, which cast suspicious shadows over his entire track & field career....
began teaming together and quickly became contenders to the USWA Tag Team Championship
USWA Tag Team Championship
The USWA World Tag Team Championship was a tag team championship in the Memphis, Tennessee-based professional wrestling promotion, the United States Wrestling Association.The title was originally known as the WCWA World Tag Team Championship....
. On June 21, 1993, they defeated The Southern Rockers (Rex King & Steve Doll
Steve Doll
Steve Doll was an American professional wrestler, best known for his tenure in the World Wrestling Federation as Steven Dunn in the tag team Well Dunn.-Professional wrestling career:...
) for the belts at the Mid-South Coliseum
Mid-South Coliseum
The Mid-South Coliseum, also known as "The Entertainment Capital of the Mid-South", was a multi-purpose arena, that seated 10,085 people, in Memphis, Tennessee...
in front of 2,000 fans. They continued feuding with The Southern Rockers and defeated them in a rematch the following week. On July 5, he and New Jack lost to King and Doll in separate singles matches, and lost the tag team titles to C.W. Bergstrom
C.W. Bergstrom
C.W. Bergstrom is a semi-retired American professional wrestler who was active in North American regional promotions during the early 1990s including a memorable stint in the United States Wrestling Association as Principal Bergstrom...
& Melvin Penrod later that night.
After this, he returned to the MEWF where he spent the last years of his career. In one of his last matches, he lost to Glenn Osbourne in the finals of a championship tournament for the MEWF Heavyweight Championship in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
on February 1, 1998.
Championships and accomplishments
- National Championship Wrestling
- NCW United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- United States Wrestling AssociationUnited States Wrestling AssociationThe United States Wrestling Association or USWA was a professional wrestling promotion based in Memphis, Tennessee. It was founded by former CWA owner Jerry Jarrett.-Foundation:...
- USWA Tag Team ChampionshipUSWA Tag Team ChampionshipThe USWA World Tag Team Championship was a tag team championship in the Memphis, Tennessee-based professional wrestling promotion, the United States Wrestling Association.The title was originally known as the WCWA World Tag Team Championship....
(1 time) - with New JackJerome YoungJerome Young in Clarendon, Jamaica, attended high school in Hartford, Connecticut at Prince Technical, is a sprint athlete. He was caught doping in 1999, which cast suspicious shadows over his entire track & field career....
- Universal Independent Wrestling
- UIW Tag Team Championship (1 time, first)
- Wrestling Independent Network
- WIN Heavyweight Championship (1 time, first)
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI ranked him # 302 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1993
- PWI ranked him # 390 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1992