Mark Madden (born December 29, 1959) is an American sports talk show host in Pittsburgh. He is best known for his work as a professional wrestling color commentator for World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Madden hosts a weekday afternoon show from 3-6 PM on local radio station, 105.9 The X, and serves as a part-time sports columnist for TribLive.
Career
Professional wrestling
World Championship Wrestling (1992–2001) Madden wrote for Pro Wrestling Torch from 1992 to 1994. His most notable moment during this time came during an interview with baseball legend Hank Aaron, who was working for the Atlanta Braves at the time and was informed by Madden of the employment of "Cowboy" Bill Watts by World Championship Wrestling, then a sister company to the Braves via their common ownership by Turner Broadcasting System. Madden had informed Aaron about racist comments Watts had made to the wrestling media before being hired by WCW as head booker and president, leading to Aaron to push for Watts' removal.
The story gave Madden national attention, and he was eventually hired by WCW to work as a TV color commentator and magazine writer by Watts' replacement as WCW president, Eric Bischoff. Much of his time during WCW's peak in the Monday Night Wars was behind the scenes, though he did run the WCW Hotline, a 900 number service with "insider tips" alongside Gene Okerlund. He also befriended his childhood idol, Ric Flair, whom Madden would watch as a child on Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling via his UHF antenna on WJNL-TV in Johnstown (now Jeannette-licensed WPKD-TV); the two remained close friends for decades.
Starting in early 2000, he began appearing on WCW television on a regular basis, replacing Bobby Heenan (in both a cost-cutting move as well as Heenan's own declining health) on the commentary booth on WCW Monday Nitro & WCW Thunder, as well as the pay-per-view events. Primarily a heel during this time, Madden's wrestling persona would be similar to his radio talk show persona in Pittsburgh. He did see some in-ring action against Okerlund (both losses), as well as being unprovokingly attacked by Tank Abbott who started randomly attacking people (ironically at Madden's encouragement) until Bill Goldberg answered a challenge that never was resolved on WCW television.
During his run as color commentator on WCW, Madden began wearing Hawaiian shirts at the insistence of Vince Russo. Madden, who didn't like wearing a shirt and tie, liked it so much that he continues to wear them today on his radio show and as a panelist on a Sunday night sports show on WPXI until he was fired from the show in 2021.
Shortly before Vince McMahon purchased WCW in March 2001, Madden was fired for making disparaging remarks about the company, lobbying for the return of the fired Scott Hall, and disclosing information about the sale of WCW.
Post-WCW (2001–present) Madden spent several years as a regular columnist for Wade Keller's Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter.
Within the wrestling world, Madden was known for his legitimate running feud with Diamond Dallas Page. Madden has often blamed Page for his firing from WCW (though he was happy to go at the time) and has often referred to him as "DDMe" on his online articles and radio shows. While Page has offered to appear on Madden's show, Madden declines each time. While Madden gave Page credit for turning around the lives of Jake Roberts and Scott Hall, he cited Page's use of TV cameras to film the progress of their rehabilitation in Page's home, which he felt was unnecessary and more or less was used to fuel Page's ego. By 2020, however, Madden and Page had made up at a Starrcast event, at the encouragement of Sean Waltman. Madden is also known for his long-running feud with Jim Cornette,
After weeks of teasing it, in 2021, Madden began co-hosting The Best Wrestling Show. with former WWE VP of Global Television Production Mike Mansury, a wrestling podcast produced by Pat McAfee. The podcast was available for free on YouTube. The podcast went on hiatus on May 13, 2021, after a little over two months due to Masury taking another job and him & Madden unable to work out logistics.
On August 11, 2021, Madden was booed while in attendance at the All Elite Wrestling event at the Petersen Events Center for AEW Dynamite and AEW Dark: Elevation, sitting ringside. During the Dark: Elevation taping, he was acknowledged on-air by former WCW colleagues Tony Schiavone & Paul Wight and guest commentator Eddie Kingston during the Sammy Guevara-Serpentico match when Guevara threw Serpentico's tag team partner Luther into the barricade in front of Madden.