Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Mulitalo
Hi Austin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As clique as it sounds, my life has been all about overcoming obstacles and adversity. I was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and moved to the USA when I was young. It was just my beautiful Mum & I with hardly anything to our names and family that resides here in the USA. All while I was trying to adapt and somewhat fit in.
I played sports and competed at a very high level in traditional mixed martial arts throughout my childhood. I was always aiming for better and bigger things. Throughout my experiences in/out of school, I always felt like I had a higher purpose, a natural calling to help guide & mentor people around me. Bring the absolute best out of people. At that point in my life, when I was in high school, I decided to be a part of something bigger than myself and fulfill that calling. I enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard as an Infantryman shortly after I turned 17 years old. I went to Basic Training between the summer of my junior & senior years of High School, which genuinely changed my life. I left my beautiful Mum, stepdad, and friends and took a chance on myself. I went and made something of myself. When I returned, I was confident in myself and my ability to make something of myself for the first time. Shortly after that, I graduated high school in 2019 and went to Infantry School in Fort Moore, GA. I returned, got to do a job that I enjoyed doing, and got into recruiting for the U.S. Army National Guard.
Another milestone for me was after I turned 19. I took something that had always been there for me for most of my childhood and made it a center point of my adult life: Professional Wrestling. From when I started training at the Harley Race Wrestling Academy, it’s been an enjoyable four years. Traveling all over the USA (in 8 different states), competing against the best competition, winning over eight championships, and performing in front of sellout crowds—nothing can top that!
When I am not hair flippin’ & dropkickin’, I am spending my time guiding, mentoring, and shaping the next generation of U.S. Army Soldiers as a Liaison at Basic Training in Fort Leonard Wood, MO (which is where I am stationed), overseeing the most extensive training Brigade in the entire U.S. Army with over 3,000+ Future Soldiers that I am proudly able to lead and support.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason, even though many times, I might not know or understand why things happen. I feel everyone has a story, and they are all relatively different. For me, it’s learning how to be & do better. I didn’t have my father in my life growing up, so I have been surrounded by a lot of strong women, and when I needed a father figure, my grandpa & my recruiter stood up and stood by me through thick and thin and with their guidance and the women in my life’s support they helped shape me into the man and person I am today.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a Professional Wrestler. I go by the ring name “Astonishing” Austin Mulitalo. I like to dub myself the charismatic energy that resides within Professional Wrestling. I say that and feel that way because of who I am and what I can do. It’s a loss art to be able to go in a room full of people that you don’t even know or people that don’t know you and just grab their attention, captivate your audience, and most importantly of all, making somebody feel something.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The whole pandemic was kind of weird for me because everybody that I know their lives just kind of stopped. They quarantined and stayed at home, but I was still out and about working, and it didn’t seem like life stopped for me. But the biggest thing I learned is not to live with regret. Life is so crazy, and it could end tomorrow. Do what you love, live life as passionately as possible, and, of course, have fun!
Pricing:
- *insert shameless plug* I have a really cool website with all my merch that you should totally check out: www.austinmulitalo.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.austinmulitalo.com
- Instagram: theastonishingone
- Facebook: Astonishing Austin Mulitalo
- Twitter: 1ofakind1of1TA1
- Youtube: “Astonishing” Austin Mulitalo
