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LUKE HAWX, WILDKAT WRESTLING PROFILED BY USA TODAY

With The Iron Claw being officially released to theaters this week, USA Today ran a profile today on Luke Hawx and his New Orleans-based promotion Wildkat Sports, as a number of their talents worked on the film.  Hawx worked as assistant wrestling coordinator for the film.

On his talents working on screen for the film, Hawx noted, "It means the world because it’s something they never expected to do when coming to train for pro wrestling.  Nobody thinks they’ll be in a movie. You think you have to be in Hollywood to be in movies, not New Orleans. So now their lives are changing. This isn’t the first film they’ve been in, and these are great projects. It changes the way people look at them. It helps grow their image. And it’s great to see them living a dream they never knew they would get a chance to.   I think it’s a dream come true. Who wouldn’t want that opportunity? So for them, it’s just a dream come true. It’s like ‘pinch me and wake me up’ because there’s no way this is happening.”

Hawx discussed playing Steve Austin on NBC's Young Rock in the piece, noting, "“I did no stunts, it was all acting.  It gave me the ability to step out a little bit. It gave me range. It gave me a character to play. I had to walk and talk like him. It was important for me to portray Austin as true to life as possible even though it was a family comedy. I got a ton of feedback, how much I looked like him, how much I sounded like him. It was a great opportunity and I really appreciate Seven Bucks Productions and Brian Gerwirtz.”

On that role, Hawx said, "The best compliment I got was from Chris Bauer, who is an incredible actor, highly respected, he’s your favorite actor’s favorite actor,” Hawx said. “He said I should be known as the actor who can fight, not the stuntman who can act. I worked with him on Heels and that was a great compliment.”

On the release of The Iron Claw, Hawx said, "We’re going to go as a team Thursday night when it comes out.  I’ll be happy to be there with them. It’s fun to see yourself on the screen. They are in a movie, and the movie is going to be big. It’s going to win awards. It’s a blockbuster. How many people can say they’re in a blockbuster?”

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