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The art of professional wrestling

A captivating blend of athleticism and theatrics, New Breed Wrestling’s unique appeal lies in its ability to elicit pathos in audiences, drawing them into the passionate rivalries and petty feuds within the world of professional wrestling.

“Pro wrestling is, like, a combination of sports [and] entertainment,” said New Breed Wrestler Daniel Galvan, who performs under the moniker Daddy Danny Ismael. “… The goal is to tell a good story. … It’s kind of like sports meets theater. … It’s very physical, it’s very demanding, but at the end of the day our goal is to entertain people.” 

McAllen resident Danny Chance, his wife Demmae Selena Mendoza and his brother Ramon Valdez took over the then-called Wrestling Revolution. They eventually rebranded the wrestling promotion by changing the name to New Breed Wrestling but kept core events such as “Hardcore Horror.” 

Along with his promotion, storyline writing and booking duties, Chance is the head trainer at New Breed School of Wrestling LLC located at 304 E. Pecan Blvd. in McAllen. He said he is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of wrestling talent. 

Chance said he finds great satisfaction in helping aspiring wrestlers overcome fears and develop the skills needed to succeed in the ring. 

“I love seeing them watching behind the curtain,” Chance said. “They’re super nervous. … They want to throw up. …  And there I am, just like, ‘You’ll be fine.’ …  So, when they go out there, all that nervousness, like, literally just goes away … and then they’re in character. I love seeing that.” 

The wrestling promotion offers free matches every Sunday during September at The Landmark on Tower, located at 103 N. Tower Road in Alamo. This makes the art form accessible to the community and introduces a new generation to the thrill of the sport through high-level stunts and theatrical storytelling.

“Pro wrestling can provide a really great experience for people in this day and age where we’re always on our phones, always on social media, always looking down,” Galvan said. “… You come out here with your family, and you just engage in real life. You make noise, you see physical contact and you see a great story.”

At its core, professional wrestling is a physically demanding sport. Wrestlers undergo grueling training regimens to develop strength, endurance, agility and flexibility, according to Chance.

“People think, ‘Oh, I want to be a wrestler. I see it on TV,’ and they show up to the school and ask how long it will take,” he said. “… Well, it depends how consistent you are.”

Chance said it takes months to properly develop the skills to perform the high-level stunts in the ring, including learning proper techniques for hitting opponents.

Galvan said, in 2022, he decided to quit his job at the time and fully immerse himself in a three-month professional wrestling training program led by Dustin “Goldust” Rhodes, a former WWE wrestler, in Leander.

But, beyond the dedication to athleticism, professional wrestling is a masterclass in storytelling. Wrestlers craft compelling characters, develop rivalries and weave intricate narratives that resonate with fans.

Galvan found inspiration in the word “Daddy” and created a humorous, outlandish persona that he hopes resonates with audiences.

 “I was a quiet kid,” he said. “The one thing where I felt good in school or did well was cracking jokes. … Maybe, it was self-deprecating humor. … [Daddy Danny Ismael] is kind of an extension of my real personality.”

He said his wrestling style is influenced by movies and stand-up comedy.

“I’m doing things that are unexpected and are just like, ‘Why would somebody slap somebody else in the butt?’ I mean, it’s ridiculous, but that’s kind of what I’m playing off of, giving the fans something they didn’t expect.” 

Galvan said he also values the theatrical aspects of wrestling. 

“I’m feeling pain, but my character is also feeling pain,” he said. “I have to use my body to show people that that’s happening. The theatrics of it is I’m using my body as best as I can to communicate to the audience what is happening to my character.”

Chance told The Rider evoking strong emotions in the audience is key to creating unforgettable wrestling moments. He tells his wrestlers to focus on the four basic emotions: anger, joy, sadness and laughter.

“If you can make them feel one of those, you’re gonna get a memory out of it,” he said. “… They’re gonna see you and think, ‘Oh, I hate you, I like you, [or] he makes me laugh,’ something that will make it a core memory.” 

Chance said Wrestler Martin Gomez uses “‘Dragon Ball Z’ references and ‘One Piece’ and, like, anime references in his matches.”

“At first people were like, ‘I don’t get it.’ But, after the fourth or fifth match, he’s, like, ‘Give me your energy,’ and everybody’s, like, putting their hands up.”