The Herro’s Journey: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of David Herro
Two Chicago filmmakers, one Wisconsin pro wrestling icon.
With the upcoming release of The Herro’s Journey—an emotional new documentary chronicling the life and career of independent wrestling promoter David Herro—filmmakers David Vox Mullen and Danny Reyes (also known together as “Under the L”) are shining a spotlight on one of Wisconsin's best-kept secrets.
I sat down with the duo to talk about wrestling, storytelling, and what it means to leave behind a lasting legacy.
First off, who are you guys? And what drives you?
MULLEN: “I’m a Chicago-born entertainer, storyteller, and producer. I’ve spent most of my life making people laugh, think, or feel something—through music, stand-up, podcasting, acting, or filmmaking.
I grew up on the South Side with a blue-collar work ethic and a creative soul. Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have. I’m always chasing connection, conversation, and legacy over likes.”
REYES: “I’m an independent filmmaker from Chicago, too. I studied Film Production at University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC), and did improv and screenwriting training at Second City. I started as a freelance videographer, but eventually pivoted toward a focus on filmmaking. My goal is to direct a full-length feature film by 2027. Storytelling—especially through a lens that feels real and emotional—is what keeps me going.”
Tell me how y’all met. What is it like working together?
REYES: “We actually met in 2011 through a mutual friend. I was freelancing at the time and I ended up helping Vox film some live coverage for a podcast network. That turned into a friendship, and later we co-produced a sketch comedy web series called The Windy City Rejects. After working separately for a few years, we teamed back up to create Under the L productions.”
MULLEN: “Danny is family at this point. He’s one of the few people who gets the insanity in my brain and can actually translate it into something cinematic. We push each other, we trust each other, and that’s why this project turned into something special.”
What sparked the idea for The Herro’s Journey?
REYES: “After reaching some success with my short documentary on Gideon Ray, Vox and I had a conversation about doing a full length feature.
Vox introduced me to Dave Herro at a bar in the west suburbs of Chicago and my exact words to Vox afterwards were, ‘we have a fucking movie.’”
Vox, you come from stand up comedy. What’s the connection between wrestling and comedy?
MULLEN: “Stand up comedy and pro wrestling are both heightened realities that live and die by crowd response—in both worlds, timing is everything. You can’t fake authenticity because people will smell it a mile away. There’s a rhythm to it, a dance. In stand-up, you ride the energy of the room. In wrestling, it’s the same with the crowd, the storytelling, the payoff. Both are storytelling on the edge, and I love that rush.”
What does professional wrestling mean to you?
REYES: “Pro wrestling is a big part of my life and has been since I was a kid. I started out a fan during the Attitude Era, and I stuck with it even during the times when it wasn’t always ‘cool’ to be a wrestling fan. Monday Night Raw is on every week in my house, and I try to go to as many independent shows as I can. Funny enough—it has become a yearly tradition for my wife and I to attend an AEW show on the eve before Thanksgiving. She has grown to enjoy wrestling as well, which I’m always shocked about.”
MULLEN: “I grew up watching WWF in the 1980s, and never looked back. I was always drawn to the characters who didn’t play by the rules but had that undeniable charisma like, 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper, The Rock, and Stone Cold Steve Austin. But, if I had to pick a favorite of all time, it’s Triple H. He had it all—intensity, psychology, presence, and the ability to evolve. He is the total package when it comes to storytelling in the ring.”
What do people misunderstand about pro wrestling? And what hard truth do they need to know?
REYES: “From my experience, wrestling is perceived as a basic form of entertainment that is run by simple minds, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Wrestling, especially when it comes to booking and psychology, is a master class in emotional knowledge. It’s not easy to make people feel one way or another—it takes a real story unfolding in the ring to get them where you want them.
The painful reality? It’s a business that’s not emotionally, physically, or mentally easy. You have to work really hard to succeed—and be willing to sacrifice a lot, including your time. And the more you succeed, the more you will be insulated by those jealous of your success.”
So, tell us who David Herro is. What does he mean to you?
MULLEN: “Dave is one of the most genuine, passionate people I’ve ever met in the business. He’s a promoter, yes—but he’s also a great connector and an even better friend.
He’s got a lot of heart for the wrestling world, and an uncanny ability to recognize and nurture talent. Dave has built a legacy, and he’s still hustling like he just got started—the film really shows that. I’m proud to have him in my life.”
REYES: “Dave Herro is an anomaly in the world of professional wrestling. What I mean by that is he is a genuinely good person… in a world of not-so-good people. The wrestling business can be dark, and with the scandals that have come out over the last few years, you can see how dark it gets. To tell a story about a person who has such a kind soul—that's what attracted me to Dave as someone I wanted to get to know, along with so many others.”
Who left the biggest impression during production?
MULLEN: “Al Snow. I’ve toured with him, I’ve worked closely with him, but seeing the depth of his knowledge, his patience, and his love for the craft during this production—it just hit me in a new way. He is a genius in his own right.
And Adam Scherr (Braun Strowman) was incredibly insightful—he is sharp and thoughtful, and his perspectives stuck with me.”
Tell us about the big premiere. When and where?
REYES: “The red carpet premiere is happening May 23rd at 7:00 PM at The Bend Theater in West Bend, Wisconsin. The Bend reached out to us and we thought it was fitting because West Bend is David’s hometown.
Multiple people from the project will be there, including David Herro (of course), WWE legend Al Snow, Ohio Valley Wrestling alum, and more.”
After the premiere, what’s next?
REYES: “After the premiere, we are taking it to Florida for another screening—and then we’ll hit the film festival circuit. We’re only just beginning!”
Last words: What do you want people to take away from The Herro’s Journey?
REYES: “This is a love letter to professional wrestling. It shows the good that wrestling can do for a person’s life and well-being. And, it’s a story that so many people can relate to—a father leaving a lasting legacy for his son.”
MULLEN: “I want people to walk away with a deeper appreciation for the human beings behind the spandex and stunners. This film isn’t just about wrestling—it’s about sacrifice, resilience, love, and identity. I want fans of wrestling to see it, sure, but I especially want people who don’t understand or appreciate wrestling to give it a shot. They might be surprised about how much they relate to it.
And, I really want to share my friend Dave Herro with the rest of the world.”
The Herro’s Journey premieres May 23 at The Bend Theater in West Bend, Wisconsin. For ticket information please click and visit the link.
Check out Great Lakes Championship Wrestling (GLCW) to keep up with David Herro and news about more local pro wrestling events.