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http://www.cheap-heat.com/an-interview-with-drew-galloway-part-4/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/an-interview-with-drew-galloway-part-4/#comments Mon, 11 May 2015 10:19:11 +0000 DPM Interviews Drew Galloway WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=11644 Welcome back for the fourth – and unfortunately last – part of our chat with Drew Galloway. Hear what he has to say about a wrestler's lifestyle, getting over and… well, a lot of things. WtW: Do you prepare your promos thoroughly? DG: Oh, no, never! Usually I have an idea of what to […]
Welcome back for the fourth – and unfortunately last – part of our chat with Drew Galloway. Hear what he has to say about a wrestler's lifestyle, getting over and… well, a lot of things.
WtW: Do you prepare your promos thoroughly?
DG: Oh, no, never! Usually I have an idea of what to say, with the 1314 promo I only knew the points I wanted to put through and I ended up talking for at least 15 minutes, maybe 20. I made it up as I went along.
WtW: You are holding six titles at the moment…
DG: Yes, six: I just won the sixth in SWA last Saturday [April 25 th ] . I won the first against Chris Hero in my first match back in the indies, in Evolve.
WtW: Have you lost any singles matches since leaving the WWE?
DG: Yes, with Dreamer, then… a four-way elimination match with Brian Cage, Uhaa and Chris Hero, I was the last eliminated [by Cage] after a low blow from his manager. Roderick Strong also beat me in a Cage Match, he kicked me against the cage at least twelve times.
WtW: Does each title still count for you as much as they would if you weren't holding so many?
DG: Yes, absolutely. My goal is to be the best wrestler in the world, not only in Scotland or in America. So my goal is making the titles bigger than they ever were. Paraphrasing JFK, "Ask not what the title can do for you: ask what you can do for the title". The title doesn't define me, I define the title. When people see me I want them to wonder what's the title I'm holding, so maybe they'll look up the promotion, and the promotion gets some buzz.
WtW: Also, whoever beats you for any of those titles will be huge.
DG: Sure. Once I drop a title… well, I'd like to think I'll have helped build the name of the title, make it bigger.
WtW: What's the deal with TNA? Where are you going with that promotion?
DG: First of all, my contract with them allows me to keep appearing anywhere, in the indies. That was my request. Then… I want the title. I'm happy to keep adding titles in different countries, and the goal is to get the TNA title. My goal, as I keep telling everybody, is to be the first travelling world champion since Ric Flair, if I'm not already; I think the TNA title would cement this. Brian Elliott [editor of Fighting Spirit Magazine] was the first one to put his finger on it, he told me that nobody had really done it, wrestling in all those places, since Flair, he said that I could be the first in so many years, so that's my main goal now. If I win the TNA title while still doing all this travelling, that would be the icing on the cake. So far I've achieved every short-term goal I had set myself when I parted ways with WWE, people gave me great opportunities within the first three months, so I had to keep setting bigger goals… that's the big goal right now.
WtW: Who are your favourite opponents?
DG: Before the WWE it must be Sheamus, we wrestled all over the place. In WWE, I wish Sheamus and I got to wrestle, because we would have had unbelievable matches, they would have been legit fights with a good story. But we never got a chance to have a match one on one except in FCW. If I end up back there one day, even though I'm having so much fun right now with what I'm doing, we would have a storyline ready. The night I won the Intercontinental Title, he won the Heavyweight Title, and everyone knows we are such close friends…
WtW: Is there anybody in the business you really cannot stand?
DG: Not really, no. I always try to get along with everybody, I've got no time for negativity.
WtW: How do you cope with this lifestyle, wrestling in at least two different continents every week?
DG: I don't know. Just… I'm driven, obsessed. This is all I ever wanted to do, and when I left WWE I set myself such big goals that it feels easy. And to think that I don't really like to travel. This is a hell of a job to pick when you don't like to travel, but I love wrestling. Even when I'm tired, I feel like I can't go on, I'm lying down backstage, people look at me, then I go and have my match and I give my best, often people who saw me tired just minutes earlier are surprised. But I love wrestling, it's the only thing I can do, no matter how I feel. I'm always able to switch on and have fun whenever I'm in the ring, it's the only place where I feel safe. It's easier to perform in front of thousands of people than to talk to people one-on-one, it's easier to talk into a camera than in a social situation.
WtW: What does a wrestler need to be "over"?
DG: Think of DCT: his facial expressions are what really set him aside. Last week I wrestled Mark Coffey in SWA – by the way, Mark is also a brilliant wrestler – and at the end the whole Polo Promotions did a run-in, allowing me to win with a roll-up after a big confusion. Then they all beat me up, Joe Coffey and Damo O'Connor made the save, then they threw DCT on the ring and… just the facial expression he made when he looked up and saw me was absolutely hilarious, I almost burst out laughing.
Yesterday I was coaching an intermediate class at Damo's school and they asked me how to get on the shows. I told them that they need to figure out what makes each of them different. ICW is everyone's goal, or at least it should be, so they need to think how they can get on a show that has characters like Joe Coffey, who is a wrestler, the wrestler, but also created a great character, you have Damo who is 6'4", maybe 6'5", 23 stone, hairy and moves like the little guys, you got fantastic high flyers, you have Jester the hardcore guy, you have Grado the everyman, the most over guy ever, you have all those guys, so you need to understand what is going to make you different. I used DCT as an example: one day he figured out that he could make very funny faces and grew a pornstache.
It's up to each and every individual to figure out what will get them over. Get in your underpants and be honest with yourself: if you are 5'5" and not in the best shape, you're not going to tell yourself that you'll use the same gimmick I use, you can't be the big aggressive guy. Being honest with yourself is the 90% of the battle. See how you look, what you are good at, what interests you. For instance if you have a weird hobby you can turn it into a character, and that will get you over.
You need to get yourself over, not your moves: one day you may not be able to do them any longer, for any reason. Injuries maybe… or age.
Also, a small detail: take your time on the ring, don't try to rush move after move. Give the fans time to react. I was discussing this with Tommy End the other day…
WtW: You have been called "A fake Scotsman". What's your reaction to this?
DG: Yeah, a fake Scotsman. I only spent my entire life in Scotland. I am 100% Scottish, I lived here my entire life. I'm very proud to be Scottish.
WtW: Talking about "fake": what do you say to people who tell you that wrestling his fake?
DG: Well, if you ask Lionheart he will just point at his neck… those whose minds are set aren't going to be convinced, so I don't waste my breath. If someone is just curious, I just say… well, we're not lying to you, we're not saying it's not predetermined, all I say is… well, Brock Lesnar left WWE because he couldn't take the schedule and the bumps any longer, and went to UFC where he became the champion. And that's Brock Lesnar.
It's so physically demanding, we don't have an off season like the other sports, we go on until we break and that's when we can afford to take a holiday; we travel every single week, to different countries or, in America, to different States which is pretty much the same, multiple flights every single week, driving for hours and hours, you get very few days off… if you have a family and kids you'll rarely see them… I've been on the road for six weeks now… I mean, I am back home in Scotland, I'm not technically on the road, but I do live in the US… if I had a wife and kids… I don't even know. I would still do what I'm doing, but I don't know how the guys cope with never seeing their kids, I would crack up.
I've been gone for six weeks now, and I'm lucky that I've been in Scotland for this time… but travelling to all those different countries, living out of hotel rooms with people I don't know, often speaking languages I don't speak… the only thing I know is what I do when I get in the ring, in those twenty minutes, but then you can get lonely, you can get depressed… it's very physically taxing, very mentally taxing… more mentally than physically. The bumps and the miles are very real. But it's so very rewarding.
And also… if you think it's fake, watch my match and see if you see me stamp my feet when I'm punching somebody: if you do I'll shake your hand. I mean, why would you stamp your feet when you're punching someone? I try to use believable strikes that make noise and leave a mark. Of course I'm not going to injure my opponent, but… he's a man, a trained wrestler, he can take a hit, right?
WtW: Just to conclude… do you know anything about Italian wrestling?
DG: Well, Santino is Canadian… there is this guy who trains in Glasgow, at Damo O'Connor's school… Massimo Italiano. He seems pretty good. I know that some time ago there was a promotion, I think Rikishi wrestled there for a while: once, before going to America, I stayed in Sheamus' s house in London while he was in Italy wrestling. How is wrestling over there?
WtW: It's growing a lot. There are some good promotions, one is called Italian Championship Wretsling, ICW (and it's older than the Scottish ICW, too)…
DG: Oh, there is an Italian title? Who holds it? I want it!
WtW: The champion is called Red Devil, a very good and pretty experienced wrestler, a very tall high flyer who's also very technical.
DG: Do they all have ringnames there?
WtW: Almost everyone. You have him, Charlie Kid, Mr. Excellent, OGM the genetically modified wrestler…
DG: Ah, OK. I imagine that Mr. Excellent must be a technical wrestler, right? I always kept my own name. I've always been Drew Galloway, in WWE I was Drew McIntyre, I never wanted to have a ringname that doesn't at least sound like a name, I think that the most successful guys are always the real people with the volume turned up. Not that there's anything wrong with strong characters, mind, but it's harder to make them work. I mean, you have The Undertaker… sure, it was the man who made the character a legend. They gave him a mega-gimmick and he made it work. And for years they didn't really let him wrestle, he was this stiff guy… it was only with his feud with Bret Hart that the people finally saw he could wrestle very well, even for the standards we have now.
What I mean is that there are matches that once seemed huge, think of Hulk Hogan against André the Giant at Wrestlemania III, who are not exactly… special now. Although I still find good the match between Hogan and Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania. The crowd went absolutely daft, that's what matters.
With this we conclude our long and – hopefully – interesting chat with Drew Galloway. We hope you enjoyed it, and… until next time!
You can read our columns on wethewrestling.altervista.org
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http://www.cheap-heat.com/an-interview-with-drew-galloway-part-3/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/an-interview-with-drew-galloway-part-3/#comments Wed, 06 May 2015 10:26:53 +0000 DPM Interviews Drew Galloway http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=11560 In the second part of this great interview, Drew told us about WWE: how it felt to be at Wrestlemania, how fun it was being in 3MB and what happened when he left. Let's see now what happened just after that day. WtW: In Scotland, you were the very first champion in ICW history. […]
In the second part of this great interview, Drew told us about WWE: how it felt to be at Wrestlemania, how fun it was being in 3MB and what happened when he left. Let's see now what happened just after that day.
WtW: In Scotland, you were the very first champion in ICW history. How much has the promotion changed since then?
DG: There's no comparison. When we first started in Maryhill there were probably less than 50 people at the shows, but Mark Dallas had a vision and he stuck to it. The first time it didn't go so well, then he tried again, he was losing money, so he stopped. Later he restarted again, he started working with Duncan Gray who works backstage, he runs concerts, they got really good stuff going, then the first documentary came and things just exploded. One time I came back, I was backstage, I looked out and the Classic Grand was sold out: I couldn't believe how big it was.
WtW: As soon as you came back to Scotland, you appeared in ICW. Why did you pick it?
DG: As soon as I left WWE I knew I was going to come back to ICW, I wanted to make my mission statement there. So I called Dallas and told him about the plan that I had in mind. We arranged everything to make sure that my presence was kept a secret from everybody, three people knew.
WtW: Who are those three people?
DG: Just me, Dallas and Chris Renfrew, who helps him write the shows and was also involved in the angle. And Jack Jester as well, it was actually four people.
WtW: Sorry for the interruption, please tell us about ICW.
DG: No problem. A bunch of promoters had messaged me as soon as I was gone from WWE. If I had been upset I would probably be pretty pissed off, they all immediately started harassing me. Luckily I was not upset, I was excited. Dallas was the only one who did not contact me. So I called him saying "Hey, motherf**ker, why didn't you call me?" and he said that he thought I might need some time. I appreciated that. Anyway, I told him my plan of coming back to ICW making a huge bang. I mean, a lot of eyes were on me at the time, many were surprised I was gone from WWE, which was very nice to hear. When I came here for the show I was hiding in the basement, I could hear the reaction for the "Still Game" guys ["Still Game" is a very popular Glasgow-based sit-com whose cast appeared, unannounced, at that same ICW show] , who also were a surprise. I wondered if the fans would even care when I came out. Then when I did come out, hooded, I saw and heard the reaction, there were so many people… I thought "Oh my God, this is the coolest place ever". ICW is the coolest place ever, every time I go. The fans are cheering me everywhere except Glasgow, but even if they are booing, as long as they are reacting and having a good time, I'm having a good time. The fans are so passionate… a friend of mine was watching On Demand last night, he's not a big wrestling fan, and he was just amazed. No matter where ICW goes, the fans are just crazy and passionate. It is great. I mean, the worst thing for a wrestler is if the crowd doesn't react.
WtW: What about the Glasgow ICW fans?
DG: You know what they are like. So many support the heels. I mean, the NAK are the biggest babyfaces, in Glasgow. They are supposed to be heels. Every time I come out I embrace the booing. At this point I am trying to make the people, at least in Glasgow, think that I'm a bit of a dick.
Now Grado, he is the most over wrestler in any show – except for the ICW events in Glasgow. He needs to start adding layers to his character, that's what we are working on when he's on the ring with me or with Lee [Jack Jester] . He is getting more aggressive, I slapped him about, Lee made him use the corkscrew, he's freaking out a bit because, if you ever want to do something different in Glasgow… and he will have to, because those fans are the way they are… they do what you don't expect them to do. They are booing me, I mean… of course I embrace them, my point of view is that, as long as you are making noise, I don't care if you cheer me or if you boo me. If you are making noise, I am winning. I'll change the match to suit however the crowd reacts, I don't mind, as long as you, the fans, are entertained.
Take for instance my match with Joe Coffey [at ICW Barramania] : he was by far the babyface, and we structured the match around that. I had just flew in from America, I had just won the Dragon Gate USA title, I was in the building at 8pm and I was wrestling Joe at 10pm. I heard the crowd reaction when Simon Cassidy announced my name; I thought it would be somehow like that, but probably me being with TNA put the Glasgow fans totally against me, many must have thought I was leaving.
But I'm sure that if Coffey had won the title, even though now he is probably the only one who is over with everyone, within two months the fans would turn on him.
In ICW nobody can know what is going to happen. I mean, Lionheart came back after a broken neck and the crowd booed him!
Mind, I love it: they are like part of the roster, they force to always think on your feet, you always need to ask yourself how you can change, adapt. They keep you creative, because they have watched the whole thing grow, and they have grown with it. You must adapt, but you also need to make sure you still are the puppet master. Certain guys get upset if the crowd turns on them, you see them moping around �cause they got booed when they weren't supposed to. I keep saying that it's entertainment, and if the fans are making noise, they are entertained and you are doing your job. If at the end of the match you say "F**k, that was a good match", then I did my job. And also if I manage to make you think that the other guy is going to win.
WtW: Sure you did it with me in the match with Joe Coffey, I didn't expect him to win before the match but I believed he was going to, in the last five minutes.
DG: I'm glad. I always structure a match to make it look like the other guy is going to win. Also my match with Renfrew [at the Square Go] , he did his Stunner, I kicked out, then he did the SuperStunner off the second rope and I heard everybody, I thought "They think this is it". That was good.
WtW: How much of you there was in those feuds in ICW, especially the one with Jack Jester that ended with you winning the title and the two of you embracing in the centre of the ring?
DG: 100%, especially in that one, it was totally real. Everything we did, we made it as real as possible. Everything we said, everything we did we had to believe. On the night I was really emotional, we put so much into the feud. It was also two years since my mom had passed, so I dedicated the match to her. It was a big deal for both of us, and we were both very happy with it. I almost never cry in front of my family, if I was going to do it it'd be in front of 1,600 people.
WtW: Any other stories about ICW?
DG: Yes, when I was in the ring with Sabu, some weeks ago. He is so unpredictable. Also, the first time I touched him during a match, I kicked him right in the face. We were outside the ring and there was a wet spot, somebody had spilled a beer, so as I went to boot him I just slipped and hit his face with full strength. He looked at me as if to ask why. Afterwards I fell so bad, we were in the tour bus and I spoke with Renfrew, I got myself so worked up… I mean, I had just legit battered a 50-year-old man… but he was OK with me.
With this, Drew told us everything about ICW, whose Heavyweight Title he holds. In the next (and last) part of this interview, we'll talk about something more personal.
Four other articles see on wethewrestling.altervista.org
http://www.cheap-heat.com/an-interview-with-drew-galloway-part-3/feed/ 0http://www.cheap-heat.com/an-interview-with-drew-galloway-part-2/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/an-interview-with-drew-galloway-part-2/#comments Mon, 04 May 2015 10:11:48 +0000 DPM Interviews Damo O'Connor Drew Galloway WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=11541 Let's go back to that bar in Ayr, where Drew Galloway just told us about his WWE debut! WtW: You were the first and only Scotsman to ever wrestle at Wrestlemania. How is it different from the other WWE PPVs? DG: Night and day. It is a week-long event, with the Access, all the […]
Let's go back to that bar in Ayr, where Drew Galloway just told us about his WWE debut!
WtW: You were the first and only Scotsman to ever wrestle at Wrestlemania. How is it different from the other WWE PPVs?
DG: Night and day. It is a week-long event, with the Access, all the signings, the appearances… the fans are in the area for the entire week, it is non-stop. When they did it in New Orleans, for example, pretty much everybody was on Bourbon Street every night. There were 80,000 people at the show, there must have been at least 20,000 on Bourbon Street every given night. To walk down it was insane, it was all wild wrestling fans.
One night Sheamus and I were there, in New Orleans, with Finlay and his wife; we took over a balcony and we watched. You feel like a Hollywood celebrity when you are at �Mania, you risk being trampled to death by the fans, and everyone is so knowledgeable, so cool. The biggest wrestling fans from all over the world are there.
This year I did the Evolve show there, in the �Mania week. I told everybody we should call it Wrestling Week, not �Mania Week. All the biggest wrestling fans in the world come together for �Mania, but they also go check out the indy shows. The smart marks… and I'm the biggest smart mark, I'm the one who took it too far and became a wrestler, really, at 10 I used to send out for autographs, I'm the biggest smart mark there is… they all come together in one place and they are so knowledgeable, every single person you talk to. It's not like going to small-town America, where most only know what they see on television and they believe it. Which is cool, by the way. At �Mania you have fans who can tell you more about your career than you actually remember, matches you've forgotten about, which is so cool.
Then you get to the actual show and the atmosphere is so different, everybody wants to give everything because… first of all, it's Wrestlemania. Then… you see. when I was The Chosen One I couldn't sell how I was feeling, when I walked out I had to keep a straight face, I couldn't look around, I just had to look straight ahead, but in my head I was exploding, I thought "Oh my God, this is insane". The one I did when I was in Team Johnny against Team Teddy I wasn't a particular character, I was just Drew McIntyre, so I walked out and during my entrance, you see it if you watch it back, I just burst out laughing because there were just so many people, incredible, I was at Wrestlemania… it was not prepared, it was a legit reaction, I looked around and I saw all the people, I realised that I really was a wrestler at Wrestlemania and 80,000 people were just looking at me and I couldn't help laughing. I thought "This is all I ever wanted to do, and I'm doing it right now".
At �Mania you just want to give everything you have.
In the first one I was in a Ladder Match, I took a blow to the balls… it did not feel good, but it was worth it because in the future people well watch that Wrestlemania and see me fall off a ladder and black and blue my balls. It did not feel good, but it was Wrestlemania, if you are ever going to do a spot like that, it is the place to do it.
WtW: Do you think you have already met the next Scotsman who will perform at Wrestlemania?
DG: I don't like to single people out, and you never really know for sure. But I do think Damo O'Connor has a good chance: he's so different. They are not looking for cookie-cutter characters any longer, they are not all models now, in the WWE there are a lot of different looks, and Damo is as tall as I am, 6'4", he is gigantic, hairy, he looks like a bear, he's Irish and moves like a cruiserweight. If anybody has a chance, it's probably him. I would sign him.
WtW: Let's move on to 3MB (that, with Hornswoggle, became 3MB + 1KB). It looked like you were having fun. Were you, or are you just that good an actor?
DG: Well, if you are handed something like that… first of all, it was supposed to be different from what it was: nobody had told the boss that I needed surgery on my wrist the following week. I mean, it was always going to be somehow comedy, but not as ridiculous as it was. But I broke my wrist, I got surgery, I couldn't be touched nor I could touch anyone for six months, so the other two guys had to do all the work.
But yes, we could either be upset and complain or accept the fact that after all we still were on television every single week in multiple segments, millions of people were watching, we were still living the dream. And we are friends, we decided to have a laugh embracing those silly characters. Fighting them was not going to work anyway. We were making jokes at each other the whole time, backstage. We went out partying and video it, then we'd say that we did it because it was our character. And then we put them online: it was just us drinking and partying.
It's like Damian Sandow, he embraced everything he was given. He got the big opportunity with the Money in the Bank briefcase, everybody cashes in… he didn't. He got a silly character and he embraced, and now he seems to have a good chance to get back in the title frame.
WtW: What happened then?
DG: I have no idea. They had lost a lot of money with the launch of the Network and 3MB was… I mean, we were pretty over, especially in the rest of the world; somehow the fans were having a good time with us, because we were having such a good time. But I think they thought: "Do we really need this on the show right now?" I couldn't logically be put in anything serious again, after being so silly for so long… it was the right time for me to go. After eight years, six of which on television, it was a right time to take a break from each other. And after I was gone, it was up to me to re-invent myself instead of just disappearing like most people do.
I was actually sleeping, when I woke up I saw all the messages and then a missed call from a number I recognised… and then I understood I was out. I called back, they were trying to break the news to me in a really nice way, I was all nonchalant. Everybody thought I'd be f**king devastated.
Immediately after I was gone everybody tried to contact me, Chris Jericho asked me to be on his podcast the following week… Jinder Mahal messaged me to tell me he had been let go and asking if I had heard anything… I was fine though, no problem. Sure, it was a little scary, but when I sat down to think about it I felt like a big weight had been lifted off my shoulders. And I started having all those ideas, 1314 to start with…
WtW: Would you go back if you had the chance?
DG: Never say never, but WWE is WWE, they are pretty much self-running. They don't need anybody, the name WWE is what matters, it's such a global juggernaut. Now I'm having so much fun, I'm part of companies that are growing, that rely on people working hard to grow the company. I like the idea that I can be part of growing different companies: ICW, Evolve, even TNA… and I'm helping with my creativity and my knowledge of wrestling, I'm using what I've learned to benefit a lot of people including myself, I'm allowed to come up with ideas on what to do, while in WWE it's like a TV show, you are given your role and your lines, you are part of a machine that's already in place.
For me the biggest thing is to be creatively fulfilled, and right now I totally am, in the ring and out. I'm not in any rush whatsoever to be back, but… never say never.
WtW: If you did go back, how would you like to do it?
DG: The biggest and the most obvious story of all is a feud between myself and the McMahon family. The kid who was promised the world and ended up stuck in a band and then fired, then Seth Rollins got their endorsement and did win the title, and all that jazz. Really, the most obvious feud in the world, me going back to terrorise the McMahons and Rollins. If you watch my old videos, I looked so young. If I went back now, with a beard… I was a kid and I'm a man now. It's a money-making storyline. That's the thing that would entice me to go back, if they offered me to do that storyline. It's very entertaining, like when Stone Cold feuded with the McMahons, he was the everyman who ended up doing everything to his bosses. Of course I'm not Stone Cold, I couldn't do exactly the same things, but there would be a good build-up, at 23 I was promised the world, I was the chosen one, a future world champion… cut the video montage to me stuck in a band… cut again to them cutting their losses and boom letting me go. Some of the guys, older and more experienced people, told me that it's a feud waiting to happen, have McMahon talking some sh*t and me popping up and attacking him, people wondering who the f**k I am… the smart fans recognising me, knowing I've gone away, made a name for myself… the kid who was promised the world is back and went crazy, he is now terrorising Rollins… the chosen one attacking… well, attacking the new chosen one…
WtW: From 3:16 to 1314 then?
DG: Well…
With this brilliant idea, we conclude the second part of this interview.
In the third we'll be discussing what Drew did as soon as he left WWE, focussing in particular on ICW and its fans! Don't miss it!
Interview by Marco Piva
wethethewrestling.altervista.org
http://www.cheap-heat.com/an-interview-with-drew-galloway-part-2/feed/ 0http://www.cheap-heat.com/an-interview-with-drew-galloway-part-1/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/an-interview-with-drew-galloway-part-1/#comments Sat, 02 May 2015 06:58:21 +0000 DPM Interviews Bad News Barrett Drew Galloway Drew McIntyre Sheamus WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=11475 Hello everyone. This is the first part of a long interview that my friend Marco Piva made to Drew Galloway, for our italian website, wethewrestling.altervista.org After a series of botched attempts at this interview, after a number of miscommunications worth of a Mel Brooks movie (only the last one being a man giving me […]
Hello everyone. This is the first part of a long interview that my friend Marco Piva made to Drew Galloway, for our italian website, wethewrestling.altervista.org
After a series of botched attempts at this interview, after a number of miscommunications worth of a Mel Brooks movie (only the last one being a man giving me the wrong directions), after an impressive number of Facebook messages and emails, I'm finally in Ayr, sitting in front of the hottest commodity in pro wrestling today, the one and only, the (formerly?) chosen one, the current holder of no less than six titles, THEE… DREW GALLOWAY . Who, as a teenager, used to work in this very bar to pay for his wrestling lessons. Thanks to that bar too, then.
It won't be easy to hammer our very long chat into the shape of an interview, even split in four parts, but I'll be doing my best. And I promise, I won't cut anything important.
Let's go.
WtW: Just to warm up: where did you train?
DG: When I first started there was no wrestling school here in Ayr – actually, there was no wrestling school in Scotland. I needed to travel twelve hours by train to go to Portsmouth, in southern England, right at the bottom of the country, for three-day or week-long training camps with the FWA guys. I went on every possible holiday I had. And this was when I had just turned 15, fourteen years ago. There were some good trainers there, Doug Williams, Mark Sloan, James Tighe… of course everything was focused on the British style of wrestling, that's how I was trained. Every match was mostly chain wrestling (actually, Robbie Brookside calls it simply "wrestling"), a little bit of heat, a small comeback and that was it.
WtW: In the first part of your career, you had a fantastic feud with Sheamus O'Shaunessy and Stu Sanders, two wrestlers we now know as Sheamus and Bad News Barrett – and then the three of you went together to the WWE; can you tell us how it happened, and how did you help each other to excellence?
DG: The first time I met Sheamus I was working for Irish Whip Wrestling (IWW), who had a TV show on The Wrestling Channel; it was the first season. I went over for a show with my then-manager Charles Boddington. Sheamus was a bouncer at the time. We went for a night out after the show, I was 18 or 19 at the time; I met a girl, disappeared and missed my flight. The next day I finally showed up, Graham [Charles Boddington's real name is Graham McKay] was desperately looking for me. But to get a new flight would have been really expensive, to change flights without a fee I'd have to wait two days. So Sheamus said I could stay with him, we got to know each other, we realised we had similar goals, we wanted to go to America, we both loved the same wrestlers (Bret Hart was our favourite), we had the same philosophy in wrestling, so we became very good friends in those couple of days and we started talking about what we could do together in wrestling. And he's still one of my best friends in the world today.
Then the promoter in IWW wanted to set up a feud between Sheamus and I in the second season of the show; I didn't have Charles with me any longer, so I wanted a faction. He let me know about a big guy he saw in Wales (Stu lived there at the time), there also was a French guy Sheamus liked, Pierre Marceau, who is now in NXT with the name of Marcus Louis: we were The Foreign Legion. Sheamus and I were wrestling all over Ireland, we started trying lots of different stuff, the promoter gave us a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match, we recorded it with Sheamus's own video camera and watched it back to try to get better; then we asked for a Submission Match, and we did that… we watched Bret Hart vs Mr. Perfect and we tried to emulate that match… we were constantly testing each other trying to get better. Then, on the TV show, there was The Foreign Legion against Sheamus. At that point he had been undefeated for, like, two years, he had the belt. Finally I defeated him for the belt, which was a big thing.
Then some stuff happened, they kinda forced Sheamus out of the company. Then, when they eventually asked me to drop the belt at a show I said no, because I was unhappy at the way they had treated him, he was and is my friend. So I just gave them back the belt, telling them I didn't think I'd be going back because they f**ked over my friend. They asked me to go over and do a match and I refused to work with them again and I haven't worked for them since. They thought I'd go back because I wanted to wrestle… but Sheamus and I had big goals, we wanted to go to America, no matter what; we were going to help each other get there, and if anybody f**ked us over we'd tell them to go f**k themselves, and that's what I did, even though I was the champion at the time.
Then Sheamus got some information about a tryout for the WWE and gave me all the details, he gave me their email and told me what to do, I emailed the person in charge at the time and got everything set up, we went in at the same time. The first time it was in Manchester, but John Laurinaitis wasn't there. We still wrestled each other, but we were told to go back the next time when Johnny Ace would be present. So the following tour, six months later, we went to London. I was 21 at the time. Arn Anderson put two big guys in the ring, two giants. One was Rob Terry, I can't remember who was the other. They had never wrestled in their lives, so… I mean, this other guy couldn't even do a forward roll. Then he said "You and you", pointing at me and Sheamus. So we looked at each other and said "Sweet, he picked us together, thank God". We had what we fell was a really good match, the agents were really complimentary afterwards, they told Johnny Ace he had to sign us. Johnny grabbed me first, I walked with him towards catering and said to me "I think I'll bring you to America" [here Drew does a pretty good impression of Laurinaitis] , so I looked at him and I said "I'm thinking of letting you". I had just turned 21 at the time, that was amazing. I got signed right there and then. Then I spoke to Stu, he was there as well, and he said he got signed too. So we looked for Sheamus, and Johnny had not spoken to him yet. I told him to go find him, so he did. And he got signed too. All three of us got signed together, which was amazing. We had gone through the whole journey together, especially Sheamus and I.
So we went to the concession stand and got a beer. And then the real journey begun.
WtW: Wow. That was a story. Anyway: when you finally went to America, did you have to change your wrestling style?
DG: Yes, slightly. It was all a matter of listening and learning.
WtW: Anything specific you had to change?
DG: I became more strike-based. Again, that was just me listening to the others. Nobody actually changed me: like with anything, if you are smart you take what you like and disregard what you don't. I was getting taught by so many good people. I mean, in England I had some good trainers, but there everyone was great, and they gave me their different views and told me how to stand out, how to think outside the box. I took what I liked from it to make it a believable style, as I didn't think that the style of wrestling I had at the time was very believable. I wanted people to think "I know wrestling is not real, but when I watch that Drew Galloway I'm having some doubts".
WtW: There you became Drew McIntyre. Why did you choose that name?
DG: On my first week in OVW the WWE writers were there. At the time they only visited every six months, although I thought they'd be there all the time. Just luck. They needed an opponent for somebody, and they decided to take a look at the new guy. So they just threw me in, let me do a promo and a match, clearly they liked me: the following week I was on television, on Smackdown . I had just turned 22. It was insane. Three weeks after getting to America, I was already on television. I was in Gorilla [the Gorilla position is the area just behind the scenes where wrestlers wait to be called for their matches] just before my match, and Stephanie McMahon asked me: "Is Galloway your real name?". When I said it was, she insisted that I changed it, at the time they were making sure they could retain the rights to the wrestlers' names. So Michael Hayes and I ran to Talent Relations and asked somebody to Google for Scottish surnames. I wanted a name with three syllables, it seemed easier to chant. Like GAL-LO-WAY, you see? So we started scrolling down the list.
For a second I nearly was Drew McDonald, but… no, there was already one, you know, and the stories they told about him… well, I really didn't want to be confused with him. Mind, he is… he was a good friend of mine, I miss him a lot, but I really didn't want Vince to think that the stories they told about him were about me, you see.
Then Michael Hayes saw "McIntyre", I looked at him and we both said "That's it", and we ran back to Gorilla for my match. Seconds before I walked out they buzzed the ring announcer to tell him about the change. When I walked out to the ring for my first match, it was against one of the Major Brothers [it was Brett Major, now known as Zack Ryder] , the Titantron was flashing the name "Galloway". You couldn't see it on television, they cut it to make sure you couldn't, but it was.
WtW: Anything else you want to tell us about that match?
DG: I remember the time getting cut. I was not used to that. We were supposed to have six minutes, but when we already were on the ring the referee casually said that we had three. I had never been in a situation in which I had to stick exactly to a time … but I called the match and we did. I had to figure out how to do it, on television, as I went along. Nobody had taught me how to work a hard camera either. I was figuring everything out as I went along.
We conclude here the first part of our long interview with Drew. In the next, he'll tell us about Wrestlemania, 3MB and the end of his working relationship with the WWE. Don't miss it!
To read our others interviews you can check В http://wethewrestling.altervista.org/ .
Bye!
http://www.cheap-heat.com/an-interview-with-drew-galloway-part-1/feed/ 0http://www.cheap-heat.com/il-salotto-del-wrestling-an-interview-with-john-wayne-murdoch/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/il-salotto-del-wrestling-an-interview-with-john-wayne-murdoch/#comments Thu, 16 Apr 2015 17:01:48 +0000 DPM Interviews Ian Rotten IWA Mid-South John Wayne Murdoch http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=11199 Dearest friends, Cheap-Heat goes EXTREME! DPM Diego Piacentini and "The Master" Marco Piva-Dittrich interviewed JOHN WAYNE MURDOCH, a man who will go to any length to win his matches. Read what he has to say. DPM: Hi John, and welcome to We the Wrestling. What made you want to become a wrestler? […]
Dearest friends, Cheap-Heat В goes EXTREME !
DPM Diego Piacentini and "The Master" Marco Piva-Dittrich interviewed JOHN WAYNE MURDOCH, a man who will go to any length to win his matches.
Read what he has to say.
DPM: Hi John, and welcome to We the Wrestling. What made you want to become a wrestler?
JWM: I had always been able to take a lot of pain plus I loved wrestling so doing it just made sense.
В
DPM: Who was the most important person in your development as a wrestler?
JWM: I would have to say it's Ian Rotten.
DPM: Can you tell us about your relationship with him?
JWM: At first being around him was very odd: sometimes you can't tell if he is joking with you or if he is pissed! Hahaha. But now he is like my wrestling father
DPM: Is IWA MID South your wrestling "home"?
JWM: I'd say so, yes. IWA MS is like an orphanage for wrestlers nobody wants: Ian takes us in and feeds us with knowledge and makes us better workers.
DPM: What makes the ultraviolence wrestling world so special?
JWM: Because it's still such a underground cult type vibe and the fans are amazing; plus, the limits you push your body are just extreme.
DPM: Who are the best and the worst person in the business?
JWM: The best I'd have to say is Reed Bentley, my tag partner. The worse… man, that's hard. So many fake people in wrestling to name them all.
DPM: You have been wrestling for over 10 years now: how has your style changed and evolved in this time?
JWM: I always wanted to wrestle the way I do now but at first I didn't know how to place things in a match. Now I do and it makes everything look crisp.
DPM: Some years ago you changed your ringname from Damien/Damien Payne to John Wayne Murdoch: why did you take this decision? Is there a difference between Damien and JWM?
JWM: I made the change due to everyone telling me I needed to and yes, the difference is Damien had no substance, it was just a name.
DPM: You are known for your ultraviolent matches – in which however you still display very good technical skills. How hard is it to mix those two styles on the ring?
JWM: It's easy. A lot of guys use Ultraviolent matches to hide the fact they can't work, so when you put someone like me in those matches and I can work it's just better. But to answer your question my style never changes, I just sometimes involve weapons
DPM: What is the most mental stipulation you ever wrestled under? And what do you consider to be the craziest spot you ever made?
JWM: I did NRBW and they had towels soaked in lighter fluid and they wrapped the wire in it and set it on fire: that was crazy. The craziest spot has to be the flipping pile driver off a roof.
DPM: What do you say to people claiming that "wrestling is fake"?
JWM: People that say that couldn't last a day in wrestling so they don't matter in my book.
DPM: What are your dreams for the future?
JWM: I wanna be in Japan or Germany.
DPM: Who are your top ten wrestlers of all time?
JWM: Bert Hart and Shawn Michaels: those are two that come to mind. I have so many it's hard to come up with a top ten.
DPM: Thank you so much! Anything to say to the Italian fans?
JWM: Hey, this is John Wayne Murdoch. I wanna say hello to everyone in Italy.
Well, that was interesting. And not dangerous at all, I swear!
Many thanks to John Wayne Murdoch for this very honest interview, and good luck to him for all his future endeavours!
See you next time.
#DPM
http://www.cheap-heat.com/il-salotto-del-wrestling-an-interview-with-john-wayne-murdoch/feed/ 0http://www.cheap-heat.com/il-salotto-del-wrestling-an-interview-with-anthony-stone/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/il-salotto-del-wrestling-an-interview-with-anthony-stone/#comments Sun, 12 Apr 2015 11:51:57 +0000 DPM Interviews Anthony Stone Beyond Wrestling http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=11039 Welcome on this new column. I’m DPM, an italian wrestling fan. Me and "The Master" Marco Piva-Dittrich are here with another friend, but who is the first on Cheap-Heat.com. This time we are introducing you to an independent American wrestler, especially linked to Beyond Wrestling: Anthony Stone. Anthony was incredibly kind when we contacted him, […]
Welcome on this new column. I’m DPM, an italian wrestling fan. Me and "The Master" Marco Piva-Dittrich are here with another friend, but who is the first on Cheap-Heat.com.
This time we are introducing you to an independent American wrestler, especially linked to Beyond Wrestling: Anthony Stone.
Anthony was incredibly kind when we contacted him, and replied to all our questions.
Wtw: Why did you became a wrestler?
AS: This is a hard question to answer. I felt wrestlers were larger than life characters and felt they were super human. They touched me in a very special way in the sense if I wanted to be a wrestler I would have to train hard and get in top shape. It motivated me to be concerned with my health and conditioning. And because these wrestlers had left such a powerful impression on me I thought I could return the notion and pay back and perhaps be a bigger role model for future generations to chase whatever dream they inspire to do.
WtW: Who is the most important person in wrestling business for you?
AS: One thing that a lot of people don't understand about professional wrestling it's a brotherhood. The show doesn't happen without everyone involved. This starts at with the promoter to the bookers who contact the talent to the crew running advertisements to the staff at the arena to the audio and video production crew to the very fans who show up and support the product. In my opinion the most important person involved in the wrestling business would be the audience. We as performers have to put on a show which we hope engages the crowd to want to return and continue to support us.
WtW: You have been with Beyond since the early days. How has it changed since?
AS: Beyond Wrestling is such a unique brand of wrestling. In the very beginning Beyond Wrestling for me was a place where I could challenge my skill set and abilities inside the wrestling. The young guys and girls who would gather there traveled to Beyond Wrestling to leave an everlasting impression. And that is my ultimate goal. In the early days the boys and girls would challenge each other to put out the best match possible. Whereas a lot of these beginning foundations still hold true today the biggest difference is the boys have turned what was just a social media fan site into a profitable organization. There was zero money involved and the guys and girls just performed for the love of the art of wrestling. In my opinion it really hasn't changed much in fact I believe it's gotten better.
WtW: Who is the worst person in the wrestling business?
AS: I'd like to answer this question differently. I think the worst thing in wrestling in generally would be egos. Everyone has an ego, yes. However we have seen egos take away many dream match opportunities. Hulk Hogan vs Ric Flair at Wrestlemania 8. The two world champions of the world at the time colliding at the biggest stage didn't happen. Why? Because of egos. Sting vs Undertaker. Another dream match which all the fans want to see even still to this very day. Will it happen? I'm not sure it ever will. The same could be said about other performers of course but in the end it's the fans who get left out of such exciting moments which could have happened and never did.
WtW: What do you say to people claiming that wrestling is fake?
AS: I tend to agree with them most of the time because I believe that all of sports are fixed. But honestly you can't really convince a person that wrestling is fake once they truly believe it. Sure you can always say "Let me give you a Piledriver" when the natural response is "Why would I let you give me a Piledriver?" That already gives away the fact that wrestling is entertainment. When I explain the injuries which occur and how very real it can be that's when they see wrestling with a different shade of light. Know what I mean? I think kayfabe is long gone. With social media nowadays technology almost makes it impossible to keep all the secrets of wrestling out which is why I do everything in my power to avoid the dirt sheets as I still enjoy the wrestling product and don't want to be ruined for me.
WtW: In Beyond, you had a long feud with Dave Cole. Is it over? What does he bring out of you, and you of him?
AS: My feud with Dave Cole was very special to me. I never considered our battles a feud at all. To me our best of seven series was a contest of competition between two veterans. Most of the time when two guys are in a "feud" there is some dispute over a title, woman, back stab, etc. With Dave Cole and myself it was just matches in the spirit of good competition. When I step into the ring anytime with Dave Cole I know it's going to be a battle of wits. Never can I make the same approach twice with wrestling him. We have that chemistry you always hear about certain greats when they pair off against each other. So we always challenged ourselves to literally raise the bar and outdo one another. As proven on any given night he can beat me as I can defeat him. I feel he believes the same can be said about how he might feel towards our series. It brought out the best in each other. I would always share a wrestling ring with Dave Cole cause you never know what's going to happen but you know it's going to be something special.
WtW: Who is the opponent you are most comfortable wrestling against?
AS: Before you step into a ring you have to be not only comfortable but have confidence in yourself. Without that you shouldn't walk inside the squared circle. I'm comfortable stepping in the ring with just about everyone because I have the experience to walk into a match knowing I have the confidence to tell a story and put on a compelling match that's going to have the fans invested in what I do. Believe in what I do. I have my favorites sure because there are guys out there who can push my limits we already mentioned Dave Cole. But AR Fox, JT Dunn, Biff Busick, Brandon Webb, Brickhouse Baker, Eric Corvis are just others off the top of my head that have that special strive about them which makes me want to put out more.
WtW: You hold the LPW Heavyweight title: what does it mean for you to have been chosen to win it and hold it for quite some time (since last September)?
AS: I have been with Lucky Pro Wrestling since its inception. I love what Chris Sullivan and Jim Burgoyne are putting together as a product. They have taken a lot of the New England veterans and brought in a lot of new up and comers and mixed them into a perfect mix which is presenting an exciting product. I was proud to be invited into the organization as I felt it's a proper representation of what New England should be. When I defeated Mikey Webb who I feel is an incredible talent with a very bright future it was a special moment for me as I feel the title is one of the more precious titles in the area. It's an honor and a privilege to hold the title. I hope to leave an impression which will remain in the hearts of the Lucky Pro Wrestling fans for a long time to come.
WtW: What does theВ future have in store for you?
AS: I have some goals in mind which I hope to accomplish within the next few years. For starters I would like to work with another local company which I feel is another well establish promotion in the area Chaotic Wrestling has been around for close to 20 years and it's carried a legacy which the best of the best of New England and I want to represent my area as best as I can. Speaking of going to where the best work Ring of Honor is another place where I would like to land work in the future. I'd like to work overseas and though out the rest of the United States. The biggest goal I have in professional wrestling is the be remembered for what I contributed to the business. I don't want to be just another cup of coffee or someone that was a flash in the pan. When my time is done I want to be known as one of the best wrestlers to ever come out of New England.
WtW: Who are your top ten wrestlers of all time?
AS: Bret Hart, Rob Van Dam, Mr. Perfect, Shawn Michaels, M Dogg20 Matt Cross, Hulk Hogan, John Walters, CM Punk, Owen Hart, and Brian Danielson. No particular order although I will say Bret Hart is my favorite of all time.
Concluding this interview, Anthony even thanked us for having interviewed him: a true gentleman.
Read you next time my friends… we'll be violent!
Visit our friends at We The Wrestling
http://www.cheap-heat.com/bwf-radio-162-christopher-daniels/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/bwf-radio-162-christopher-daniels/#comments Sun, 25 Jan 2015 22:00:18 +0000 bored wrestling fan CH Podcast Interviews http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=9250 This week on BoredWrestlingFan Radio,В Joe, JT, G, Mark, and Jorge all give their Royal Rumble picks. В We run down the latest wrestling news and rumors,В including rumored names for the Royal Rumble match itself. В We send our well wishes to our good friend Black Bart, who needs quadruple bypass surgery. В You can wish him well on […]
This week on BoredWrestlingFan Radio,В Joe, JT, G, Mark, and Jorge all give their Royal Rumble picks. В We run down the latest wrestling news and rumors,В including rumored names for the Royal Rumble match itself. В We send our well wishes to our good friend Black Bart, who needs quadruple bypass surgery. В You can wish him well on his Facebook profile .
In the second half of the show, Christopher Daniels joins us via time travel. В We talk to him about his entire career, including wrestling Rhino in ECW, being The Natural Heavyweight Champion at the Ballpark Brawl, all the way up to his current run in Ring of Honor. В Find out what fellow wrestler owes him $200. В Why does he drink appletinis? В We find out his plans for teaching people to properly take the Styles Clash. В We get his thoughts on the latest Marvel Comics news, and much, much more. В Tune in!
BoredWrestlingFan Radio Episode 162 (MP3, 2:09:34)
This week’s break song was “Rainmaker” by Iron Maiden. В Buy it here !
http://www.cheap-heat.com/bwf-radio-162-christopher-daniels/feed/ 0http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-a-show-with-gabe-tyler-reks-tuft-part-two-austin-pulling-him-aside-under-appreciated-wrestlers-more/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-a-show-with-gabe-tyler-reks-tuft-part-two-austin-pulling-him-aside-under-appreciated-wrestlers-more/#comments Tue, 16 Dec 2014 09:00:50 +0000 Carlos Canales Interviews http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=8065 Here is the second part of my interview with Gabe Tuft (aka Tyler Reks). As with the first part of our interview, Gabe opens up about his life as a Professional Wrestler. He recounts an experience that most of us will never have but long to be a part of and I feel a little […]
Here is the second part of my interview with Gabe Tuft (aka Tyler Reks). As with the first part of our interview , Gabe opens up about his life as a Professional Wrestler. He recounts an experience that most of us will never have but long to be a part of and I feel a little closer to the world in which these entertainers live. I hope that you enjoy the second part of our sit down and hope to see you real soon. Thanks everybody.
7.Are there any Wrestlers from your early days that you think have been under-appreciated/used in their careers?
Definitely. Tyson Kidd and Curt Hawkins are two that come to mind immediately. I'm not sure why but neither guys were never really given the kudos they deserve. TJ can out work ANYONE in the ring. His matches are flawless, the psychology is spot on, and the vets learn from him – in my opinion. If you have a bad match with TJ then you basically should burn your boots and never step foot in the ring again. He can make ANYONE look good and get himself over at the same time.
Hawkins is very similar as well. I think a little extra attention from the higher-ups and some hands on action from creative and he would have resurfaced and done amazingly well.
8. As a child I was also a fan of Professional Wrestling, I truly believed in the heroes/villains and their allegiances/enemies. Are there any story lines or characters that have stuck with you from your childhood?
Beefcake gave me nightmares when I was a kid. I always dreamed he was running after me with those giant sheers.
9. Given the rigors of Professional Wrestling, what is your advice on body maintenance and care?
Stay in shape. As a professional wrestler you're an athlete and need to be prepared to go the distance at any given time. You should be able to have a clean, crisp 20 minute match at the drop of a hat. If you blow up after 3 to 5 minutes, then you aren't reaching your potential and you never will. Train for the job you want, not the job you have.
How to attain that kind of conditioning is a whole different story. I actually wrote an article on it not too long ago. One of the programs that got me back into ring shape for my recent match with Hawkins at Pro Wrestling Syndicate was one of the programs we offer at Body Spartan, called Body Beast. You can read the article here: http://bodyspartan.com/train-become-professional-wrestler/ It's honestly the only program I've ever done that truly prepared me for ring work. I know I'm shamelessly plugging it here but I only plug fitness programs that I know work…and this one does.
10. Do you have a favorite move, and why is it your favorite?
Well, I'm biased on this one. I have two. My first favorite move was my version of the Burning Hammer. It's easy, I can get anyone into it, and it was all mine. Totally modified from Kenta Kobashi's version to be "safe", it was unseen in the WWE previously and the crowd and the boys dug it.
The second one was called, "The Guilty Spark". I named it that for two reasons. One, I was a huge Halo fan during my time at WWE and the Guilty Spark was a character in the first game. Second, I "borrowed it" from Colt Cabana without asking. Colt was always cool to me in FCW and I admire his work to this day. Hence the "Guilty" in the name. The move itself is basically standing on the second rope, on the inside, with your opponent on your shoulders in a fireman's carry. Then you step off the ropes and drop your opponent on the top ropes.
11. We all have bad days at work and often wish for a re-do, is there a match or situation that you feel could have worked better than it did?
Oh yes indeed. That would be my first Royal Rumble. This is when Husky and Hennig were part of the upcoming Nexus group with Punk. In a huge production meeting backstage I was told that me and a few other low card guys were going to be taken out by Nexus fairly quickly. Basically, it was PC for "Feed the low card guys to Nexus to make Nexus look good". I knew my role and shut my mouth and didn't complain. Especially since Punk stood up in front of everyone and said, "You guys should all thank Reks for doing this and taking the fall for us." That really made me feel appreciated and not like some random jobber.
I met with Punk and he said slide in when you come down the ramp and take me out with a big boot. Bump me, bump Husky, and bump Joe then we'll just overpower you, three on one. This way you still look strong. I'll give you the high kick and we'll be done. Cool?
Needless to say I thought it was great for a first Rumble appearance. It was what followed that I wish I could have changed. When my music hit and I stood at the top of the ramp, I did the thing where I pulled my dreads away from my face and then I charged the ramp, full sprint. I could feel an energy in the crowd and I knew that this was going to be awesome. When I slid into the ring though, Punk never got up off of his knees. I was taken off guard but went for the big boot anyways. Before I got there, Husky and Joe tackled me, shoot style. I'm pretty sure my boot accidentally connected with Punk's forehead in the process. I was just completely thrown off guard and confused. Sorry Punk.
As Joe and Husky were pummeling me I asked them, "What's going on?" Husky said, "We're changing it. Go with it!". So I did. Apparently when the Rumble started and they were in the ring, Punk told them (regarding other guys), "Give them nothing." The result was me getting jobbed out and looking like a tool. I had literally had my head stepped up by a top guy, just like I'd heard about all the years before.
After the Rumble, Steve Austin pulled me aside and talked to me. It was probably one of the most vivid and real moments of my WWE career. Austin said, "Look, I'm guessing you probably did what they told you to do, which is OK. BUT did you feel the energy out there?"
I said, "yes"
Austin said, "That crowd wanted you to do something. They were 100% behind you. It was your look, your physique, and the way you charged that ring. They wanted to believe you stood a chance. When you feel that **ck what you're told to do and do what you feel is right. You should have beat the piss out of those guys for your full time limit and that crowd would have eaten it up. Then, when it's time to go, let them take you out but go out swinging. You're a big guy and that crowd would have been behind you."
I'm quoting from the best of my memory here but I wish I had known that before I went out. I think Austin was right and I always wonder how that night would have turned out if I had picked up on that and taken that chance.
12. When leaving the spotlight sometimes people choose to move on from their past profession. You've been very open in acknowledging your past career in Professional Wrestling, is there anything you would like to say to your supporters?
Honestly, although my time as a WWE Superstar and as Tyler Reks was short compared to many of the top guys, I truly feel as though Hawkins and I amassed quite a cult following. The internet viewing audience watched our Midcard Mafia cartoon, NXT, and followed us on Twitter/Facebook. That group of fans, no matter how small or large they were or are, was amazing. They supported everything we did, brought signs to shows, and blasted #ReksAndHawkins at every chance they got. I was honored to know that the world was watching us and enjoyed what we brought to the table. We never would have got where we did without them. Thanks everyone.
http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-a-show-with-gabe-tyler-reks-tuft-part-two-austin-pulling-him-aside-under-appreciated-wrestlers-more/feed/ 1Follow Tuft on Facebook and Twitter . Also check out Body Spartan and Tuft’s other business, Local Marketing 2.0 .
http://www.cheap-heat.com/13-questions-with-nwa-president-and-ceo-bruce-tharpe/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/13-questions-with-nwa-president-and-ceo-bruce-tharpe/#comments Fri, 12 Dec 2014 04:58:26 +0000 Cassidy Haynes Interviews AAA Alex Shelley AXS Bruce Tharpe CMLL Davey Boy Smith Dixie Carter Fergal Devitt Finn Balor GFW Global Force Wrestling Goldberg HoH Jason Kincaid Jax Dane Jeff Jarrett Jushin Liger Kurt Angle Lance Archer Lance Hoyt Mike Tyson National Wrestling Alliance New Japan Pro Wrestling NJPW NOAH NWA NXT Paul London Rob Conway ROH TNA WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=7944 In my latest installment of В “Questions With” I had the honor and privilege to sit down and chat with the current Owner and President of the National Wrestling Alliance, Bruce Tharpe. 1) With TNA, Global Force Wrestling, House of Hardcore, Ring of Honor and others fighting for TV spots and exposure, where do you […]
In my latest installment of В “Questions With” I had the honor and privilege to sit down and chat with the current Owner and President of the National Wrestling Alliance, Bruce Tharpe.
1) With TNA, Global Force Wrestling, House of Hardcore, Ring of Honor and others fighting for TV spots and exposure, where do you see the NWA’s place over the next 5 years?
NWA will continue to maintain its position in the market and increase its popularity and positive exposure. We don’t see ROH or GFW as competitors – we work with both of them in New Japan and believe that the more wrestling products out there is good for the fans. Plus it gives wrestlers more places to work and earn a living. There is enough room for all of us.
2) As we all know there has been a wave of talents released from WWE, and TNA. With that being said, are there any free agents that you may be interested in bringing into the NWA?
There are a lot of free agents we are interested in working with – the list is endless. And you can break it down into tag teams – heavyweights – junior heavyweights – etc. And we have great talent in the NWA as well but in terms of free agents – Paul London is an amazing talent – Kurt Angle would be an amazing talent to work with – we would love to do some type of project with Mike Tyson and we also think that Goldberg has some great matches left in him.
3) Speaking of WWE and TNA, how closely do you follow those brands? Are there any wrestling companies outside of the NWA that you try to keep up with?
I wish I had the time to watch more wrestling on television but I don’t do most of the wrestling I watch – if it isn’t NWA – is New Japan because I truly feel that a hybrid NWA – New Japan style is the wrestling product of the future.
4) Has there been any kind of working relationship with WWE or NXT? Are you interested in sending new talents their way?
We have had no relationship whatsoever with WWE / NXT however we greatly respect their success and would always consider a working relationship with them
5) People feel that there has been a shift from Traditional Wrestling in the WWE, including but not limited to, Women’s Wrestling. Do you feel that your company’s continued focus and showcasing of all areas of Wrestling, such as Tag Team matches, is in the long run, advantageous?
The NWA / just like New Japan Pro Wrestling – is focused on presenting the most believable – credible – athletic matches possible. We also have some of the most unique and compelling personalities on television. We are not sports entertainment – we are a different product. But we feel we are no less entertaining – only in a different way.
6) There has been a lot of discussion about NWA’s legal issues a few years back which led to you taking control, and also saw the loss of a few major promotions. How much about this time are you willing/able to discuss? While some details may understandably be off the table for discussion, can you describe what this experience was like for you as you were going through it?
Regarding the legal issues I am glad they are over but they were needed to streamline the organization. I think the NWA is in a much better place than where it was at some 10 to 15 years ago.
7) What can you tell the average WWE or TNA fan about why they should follow the NWA in 2015?
Because the NWA presents a different product than WWE and TNA – and we believe that this is the wrestling style of the future that is going to catch the United States by storm.
8) How do you feel about Jeff Jarrett’s new promotion and Global Force Wrestling’s partnership with New Japan Pro Wrestling? Do you worry that this will affect your working relationship with NJPW in any way?
I am not concerned with Jeff Jarrett’s GFW as New Japan works with many differemt groups – including ROH – CMLL – NOAH – and the NWA.
9) A hot topic as of late has been TNA Wrestling and their business practices. What do you, as a promoter and owner of a major promotion, think of Dixie Carter? Where do you personally see TNA in 5 years?
I don’t really follow TNA but from what I can gather Dixie Carter isn’t necessarily a “wrestling person” as her backgound is in different areas. To really succeed in wrestling – you have to know wrestling – and I think that’s one area where Dixie has had problems. I’m not good at predicting the future so I’m not sure where they will be in 5 years but I hope they are still around because that’s better for the fans and the wrestlers.
10) I personally am a huge fan of the NWA and follow many of the promotions under the NWA banner regularly. Tell the average fan what NWA Wrestlers they should look out for? What NWA talents do you feel deserve mainstream attention and publicity? Who would you consider to be a “break-out star”?
Obviously all of our champions are main event competitors. Rob Conway is our World Champion. Jushin “Thunder” Liger is our World Junior Heavyweight Champion. Lance Archer and Davey Boy Smith are the NWA World Tag-Team Champions. All world class wrestlers. Breakout stars to keep your eye on include Godzilla Jax Dane – Houston Carson – James Claxton – Damien Wayne – Jason Kincaid – Steve Anthony – Byron Wilcott to name a few.
11) I have noticed that you have spent a lot of time in Japan over the last few years. Can we expect to see the NWA Titles featured on NJPW TV that will be airing on AXS TV in the United States in 2015?
I don’t have the answer to that question for you – but I will say that the NWA is actively working on its own television project in the US featuring New Japan talent.
12) It’s no secret that you have lost a good deal of weight recently. What has inspired you, and helped you make the changes necessary to accomplish your goals?
Actually the wrestlers that I am working with in Japan inspired me to get in shape. They are all in fantstic physical condition from guys like Gedo and Jado – to younger stars like Tanahashi and Okada. And guys like Fergal Devitt – Alex Shelley – Rob Conway and Jax Dane. Just being around those guys inspired me to eat healthier and workout. No doubt my travels to Japan have changed my life! Thanks very much for noticing.
13) Which aspect of the business do you enjoy more, promoting and working behind the scenes, or being part of the show – like your managerial character in NJPW?
Working behind the scenes and being a character on TV are so totally different – yet both quite rewarding. My work behind the scenes with the NWA is very important yet sometimes tiring – tedious and frustrating. My work on TV in Japan is usually a 20 minute adrenaline rush. So in terms of actual fun – I would have to say being the “NWA Shacho” in Japan.
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http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-a-show-with-gabe-tyler-reks-tuft-part-one-no-desire-for-a-wwe-return-who-helped-him-so-called-beefs-current-focus-more/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-a-show-with-gabe-tyler-reks-tuft-part-one-no-desire-for-a-wwe-return-who-helped-him-so-called-beefs-current-focus-more/#comments Thu, 11 Dec 2014 17:04:56 +0000 Carlos Canales Interviews http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=7912 In my first solo interview I had the pleasure of sitting down with Gabe Tuft (aka Tyler Reks). What I had hoped was going to be a small decent first interview turned into this great conversation with some amazing stories that have never been told. These stories give an incredible view into a fascinating world […]
In my first solo interview I had the pleasure of sitting down with Gabe Tuft (aka Tyler Reks). What I had hoped was going to be a small decent first interview turned into this great conversation with some amazing stories that have never been told. These stories give an incredible view into a fascinating world that isn’t oft revealed. In fact, the white people in charge have decided to split this interview into two parts due to the depth of our conversation. I sincerely hope that you enjoy it and I will be back with Part Two of my conversation with Gabe Tuft, as well as more interviews, very soon.
1. You've been discussing Body Spartan quite extensively for the past few months, it seems that your passion in the ring has also made the transition to your new endeavors. How easy was the transition from Professional Wrestler to Entrepreneur/Author?
It was instinctual for me. I'm one of those guys that knows what needs to be done to put food on the table for my family and I go out and do it. Was it tough to start a new business? Absolutely. Nothing worth attaining ever came easy. However, something your readers probably don't know is that I found the drive and motivation to write that book from my younger brother. Tragically, he passed away last year, the day after Christmas. My brother had a passion for life and worked harder than anyone else I've ever met. He started his own successful business from scratch and was a dedicated family man. I think in my own way, I honored his life and his memory by mimicking his work ethic and his drive to succeed. That made authoring my fitness book, Body Spartan: Genesis , a natural instinct.
2. Having worked on the road for weeks at a time, is there a piece, or pieces, of advice that you wished had been given to you?
Looking back at the experience, yes. I would say that this to any of the new guys – There is NO blueprint to get noticed in this business. What one guy does backstage or in the ring may or may not be what you were taught or told to do at the training center. Following what that guy does just to because he's getting a push is a bad idea. Don't be a sheep and follow the heard. Stand out, be different, KNOW YOUR VALUE. If your value isn't what you think it should be, find a way to make yourself valuable. That part usually comes with hard work, dedication to your skills and business, and taking chances and risks. Break the rules if you have to but do it confidently.
3. Trying to work your way to the top in any profession is nearly impossible, we all need support and friends to help us along the way. Those people are often unknown by the general public, but mean so much, is there one such person or certain people that you couldn't have done it without?
There's a handful. Hawkins was really my best friend on the road and passed on a wealth of knowledge to me. He wasn't afraid to tell me when I screwed up in the ring or with something I said. For that, I thank him. Other people that helped me significantly were (in no particular order) Fit Finely, Arn Anderson, Edge, Kane, Chavo, MVP, Christian, Jericho, Paul Burchill, Tyson Kidd, Harry Smith, Lance Hoyt, Doctor Tom, Steve Keirn, Billy Kidman, and Norman Smiley.
I know it seems like a lot of people, but a good worker listens to the best and crafts his own skills from the advice given.
4. As someone who has stated that there is a lot of flair and less "meat" to some Professional Wrestlers (no insinuations). Would you ever consider writing a storyline/creating a character, or do you feel that active involvement in Professional Wrestling is currently outside of your professional interests?
I think that's beyond what I want to do right now. My focus is currently on helping people change their lives through fitness. We're running monthly fitness support groups with 5-15 people in them and coaching them through Body Spartan online. The results are amazing. I'm watching people's lives change as a direct result. They are more confident, healthier, happier, have more energy, and they are now chasing other dreams they never thought they could attain. It's incredibly rewarding and I feel like that is my current calling.
5. You've been asked many questions about behind the scenes (outside of character and storyline) "beefs", do you feel that these types of questions and answers could honestly inform the public on your experience/opinion of Professional Wrestling?
I think I should clarify this. I don't have "beefs" with any of the guys on the roster. Now, there are guys I don't get along with due to certain events that happened backstage, in the ring, or elsewhere but I honestly don't have any ill will towards them. I've been asked several times about these events and have told people how they went down and what my opinion is of that particular roster guy or girl based on those events. So yes, I think it does inform the public on my personal experience of professional wrestling at WWE.
6. What about those situations do you wish to be truly understood?
One thing that is important to remember here is that I'm not going back to WWE. I have no desire to do so. It's not because I didn't get what I wanted out of it but rather because the time away from my family simply isn't worth it. Hawkins and I were getting a push when I quit, which says a lot in itself about my mindset when I left, and I honestly believe that we would have been tag champs within a few months based on this. So all that being said, I really have nothing to gain by telling my personal experiences and telling the truth when people ask me about my experiences.
Am I bitter towards guys for the things they did to me? No. This is a dog-eat-dog business and I understand that. Do I wish that those events had unfolded differently? Of course I do. As silly as this sounds I had always dreamed of working with certain top guys and when certain things happened, I honestly had no desire to work with them. All of the fun in what we do just got sucked out.
One other thing I should mention is in regards to my Twitter posting the day my 90 days was up. Many people have stated I "ranted" and was "bitter". What NO ONE knew except me, was that the office and I were squabbling over a medical bill that involved an emergency visit to the ER for crippling, low back pain that I experienced not even 30 days after I quit The trainers and doctors on the road all knew about my lower back issues but the office simply ignored my requests to have the company insurance cover my medical expenses. So I played hardball and dropped some tidbits on the internet as a tactic. The strategy worked and I received an email from the head of Talent Relations the very next day asking me to stop and that they would cover my medical bills. Admittedly, it was a lower blow than I usually tend to throw but I feel it was justified given it was obviously due to my time in the ring and I was still technically under contract when it happened.
I'm a guy that stands up for what I believe is right and am not silent when others are being taken advantage of. On the day I left, after I told Jane Geddes why I was leaving, I also spent a good half an hour professionally explaining to her all of the things that were wrong with the business and why several of her low and mid-card talents were ready to walk out the door as well. I think the information I gave her was extremely helpful and led to some changes in the way things operate with the talent. That's another interview in itself though.
Please check back for Part Two when Gabe and I speak about, among other things, his first Royal Rumble experience, “After the Rumble, Steve Austin pulled me aside and talked to me. It was probably one of the most vivid and real moments of my WWE career. Austin said…”
Follow Tuft on Facebook and Twitter . Also check out Body Spartan and Tuft’s other business, Local Marketing 2.0 .
Make sure you check out part 2 of this amazing interview! You can read the rest by clicking HERE !!!!
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