Shawnee man makes masks for wrestling

Associated Press

Published: October 5, 2008

SHAWNEE (AP) - Shawnee resident Ron Thompson loved the thrill of body slams, pins and suplex moves of professional wrestlers as a child, but he decided to take a different route to follow his devotion to wrestling. He became a mask maker.

Thompson's love for wrestling started in the 1970s when Mr. Wrestling No. 2, wore a black and white mask during his wrestling career.

"I've always been a wrestling fan," Thompson said.

Thompson said as he grew older, he strayed from wrestling. He said he started watching wrestling again when his friends started watching.

"I thought I would grow out of it, but I came back into it," Thompson said.

Thompson received training from Oklahoma State Technical Branch's Auto Upholstery Course, but he decided auto upholstery wasn't what he wanted to do.

To couple his passion for wrestling and his need to own a wrestling mask, Thompson looked for a new profession. Thompson said he purchased a mask on eBay and said, "I can make these things."

He started selling his masks on eBay in 2002, but he started his own Web site for Wrestling Wear Galore in 2005. He started creating in a spare bedroom of his home, but the business grew and Thompson needed more space. He purchased the residence behind his home and moved his sewing machines and equipment there.

Thompson said he designs the pattern for a mask and then makes it. Once a mask is made, he photographs it and files the pattern. He also looks at Mexican mask magazines for inspiration.

Thompson said he mostly sells to independent wrestlers in the smaller leagues like Oklahoma City and Tulsa, but his business is not restricted to the United States.

"I sell all over the world, including Italy and Japan," he said. "I sell more to clients outside of Oklahoma."

Thompson said he also has sold masks and other wrestling gear to wrestling legends Danny Dorring and Amish Roadkill.

Thompson said he thinks he is the only mask maker in Oklahoma, and there are few others in the United States. He said many mask makers are in Mexico, because most wrestlers in Mexico start their careers wearing masks.

Masks have been used dating back to the beginnings of lucha libre (free wrestling) and have a historical significance to Mexico dating back to the days of the Aztecs.

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