Jeff Bearden’s ’86 time as a student at McMurry was marked by athletic excellence and active club participation. Bearden was involved in the HEI men’s club and the men’s basketball team, earning first-team All-Conference honors. Attaining his Bachelor of Business Administration has proven invaluable across the diverse industries Bearden has worked in. From playing professional basketball in Belgium to a professional wrestling career to now focusing on the companies his wife, Brittany Bearden, started, we will explore the various moves and career decisions that have led Bearden to achieve professional success.
Bearden’s career journey has had many twists and turns. After graduating, he briefly played professional basketball in Belgium before becoming a professional wrestler. His wrestling career took him to 25 countries multiple times. He lived in Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Africa, and Europe at various points in his life. While in South Africa, Jeff worked in the security industry, providing celebrity bodyguarding, event security, and nightclub security. He even appeared in the movie “Sweepers” with Dolph Lundgren, helping choreograph and perform in fight scenes. In 2009, Jeff met his wife Brittany, and they married in 2010.
When Bearden’s wife, Brittany, launched At Large Public Relations in 2010, he began learning about the PR industry and assisting in the business where and when he could as he was still active in the wrestling ring. The following year, she started Clarens Ghostwriting and Publishing, and Bearden took on daily operational responsibilities. Although the transition from wrestling to the PR and publishing industries wasn’t always easy, it made sense for Bearden, allowing him to retire from the physically demanding wrestling world and help Brittany with their businesses. In 2015, he was inducted into the South Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame, and at the end of 2017, he had his retirement match in Bremen, Germany. In 2021, Bearden released his book and audiobook on Amazon titled “The Man Behind the Makeup,” detailing his wrestling career. After this book’s release, he co-authored two more books with Brittany: one about the public relations industry and the other on how to write and publish a book.
“I enjoy helping people get their ideas and stories out there for people to read or listen to,” Bearden reflects.
When asked to share an anecdote or two about some of the adventures he’s been on, Bearden had this to say, “I have been stabbed five times by spectators, shot at, caused riots, almost blown up on a train, to name a few things.” Bearden goes into more detail about these wild adventures in his book, “The Man Behind the Makeup.”
Unfortunately, life isn’t always linear, and challenging times come upon everyone. One of the most challenging events Bearden has faced is his diagnosis of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), initially misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease for five years. A new doctor, experienced with professional football players, recognized the signs of CTE, which explained Bearden’s mood swings and memory loss. Although the future seems bleak, as CTE will eventually lead to dementia, Bearden strives to stay positive, following his doctors’ and wife’s guidance. He credits his wife Brittany for being understanding, patient, and loving, which has been crucial in coping with his diagnosis.
“I have seen a lot of beautiful places in God’s world and met a lot of interesting and famous people. If I had it all to do over again, there isn’t much that I would change.”
Bearden advises everyone to follow their dreams and do everything they can to make them come true. “You only live your life once,” he says, “so try to live it with as few regrets as possible.”