Former WWF wrestler lendinghis expertise to WCMS grapplers

By DAVE CARDEN and DALE STUBBLEFIELD for the Southern Standard

Above, Duke ‘The Dumpster’ Droese in character during his stint with the WWF. Right, Mike Droese shows middle school wrestler Dawson Dyer some of the finer points of wrestling during practice Monday afternoon. (Dale Stubblefield photos)

It’s a long way from the Wrestlemania XVII ring to Warren County Middle School, but WWF wrestler Mike (Duke the Dumpster) Droese has made the trip. Droese has took over the mat and is the new wrestling coach for the middle school, replacing coach Jeff Watson who stepped down after last season.

The 35-year-old former professional wrestler has moved to McMinnville in search of a new profession. Droese is working at the Warren County High School with the special education children in order to get his teaching certificate from Tennessee Tech University.

His love of children and desire to improve their way of life seems to be the driving force for this former professional wrestler. Droese’s devotion to teaching will be a bigger challenge than being in the ring with some of the biggest names in professional wrestling.

Droese has battled such superstars as Triple H, Goldberg and Jerry “The King” Lawler.

“The highlights of my career in the WWE have to be when I beat Jerry Lawler in Memphis and my feud with Hunter Hearst Helmsley,” said Droese. “I got my start with the WWF when I walked up to Vince McMahon at a convention and gave him my card. I received a phone call a couple of days later and signed with the WWF, which is now the WWE. In my first match in the WWF I faced Mike Bell and after the match I threw him into a dumpster, that’s the only time I actually used a real dumpster in a WWF match.”

The 6-foot-5, 306-pound teacher has a great gift with kids. Coach Watson has nothing but praise for the former pro wrestler. “After watching him work with the kids for a few minutes, I would say our new coach is doing an excellent job of training the middle school team,” said coach Watson.

Middle school assistant principal Jimmy Walker used the words “Gentle Giant” when talking about Droese.

Droese decided it was time to move on after a back injury plagued him for several months.

“I was injured during a match against Triple H at the Meadowlands. Triple H was going to throw me over the top rope and I was to land on the floor. I was supposed to grab the rope to help break my fall, but I missed it and landed flat on my back. I continued to wrestle for about six more months doing three pay-per-views and finally I decided it was time to move on. The WWF had become a very political organization and it was all about power. I enjoyed every moment, but I felt with everything going on in the WWF I had to start a new chapter in my life.”

The skills he learned in high school wrestling are best put to use at the middle school in teaching children from the smallest weight class to the athletes that only get to wrestle in exhibition matches.

Droese was trained by Bobby Wales and started professional wrestling when he was 18 and just out of high school in Miami.

After high school Droese continued his education at the University of Miami where he won one of his biggest battles earning a degree in criminology and philosophy.

On behalf of all the wrestling fans of Warren County, we welcome coach Mike Droese and wish him the best in all his endeavors.