Breaking Kayfabe #6 w/Adam Cole

Adam Cole with the CZW World Junior Heavyweight Championship

Hey yo and welcome to another edition of Breaking Kayfabe.  I am as always, Mr. C.C..  In this edition of Breaking Kayfabe, I will be talking with a fast rising independent star who started his career in 2008 with Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW).  He has worked in some of the bigger promotions in the North America such as ROH, CZW, Evolve, Dragon Gate USA, Maryland Championship Wrestling, Chikara, and others.  He has also worked CZW's tour of  Germany when he defended the CZW World Junior Heavyweight Championship against wXw wrestlers.  I am pleased to bring you this interview with current CZW World Junior Heavyweight Champion, Adam Cole.

Mr. C.C.: Thanks for taking time to do this.

Adam: Not a problem.

Mr. C.C.: I am sure you are busy getting ready for the ROH iPPV Final Battle with your tag team partner Kyle O'Reilly.

Adam: Oh yea, for sure. Me and Kyle talk about it all the time. This is a dream come true for us. We were at Glory By Honor just watching the show together and saying we have to get here, we have to make it to the big stage. Now we're here, and we are looking to make an impact in New York and in ROH on their biggest stage.

Mr. C.C.: You have been a fast rising independent star since breaking into the business in 2008, how has this fast rise been for you?

Adam: It's been very very motivating. I've always wanted to be a wrestler since I was a kid, so I knew in my mind that I would be involved in some way, shape, or form. I know it's cliche, but it's true when people say that you get out of something what you put into it. I put my heart and soul in this sport every single day, so to see that it's all paying off has just continued to light that fire under me to work harder and keep bettering myself

Mr. C.C.: I know you've trained with Les Thatcher, but he wasn't the one who first trained you, but you broke in Combat Zone Wrestling with DJ Hyde. Or was there another person or promotion you broke in with?

Adam: Nope you got it it was CZW. To be honest I wasn't a life long follower of CZW. I saw my first CZW show at Best of the Best in 2007. CZW gets such a bad rap sometimes as being a "garbage" company, which isn't the case at all. They have great wrestlers, great flyers, the best deathmatch workers in the world. CZW was a great choice for me. DJ Hyde has been nothing less than spectacular when it comes to helping out his students. He's one of those guys that when he sees that you want it, he goes out of his way to make sure you are taken care of and tought. He took me on the raod many times and got me a lot of my early bookings, just because he saw how serious I was about succeeding

Mr. C.C.: You also trained with Jon Dahmer in CZW. How was he to train with?

Adam: Dahmer was great. He's another guy that doesn't get the credit he deserves. Dahmer is an old school guy. He's been around the block and has experienced it all. DJ did a lot of the drills and whipped us into shape, while Dahmer took the time to show us the fundamentals and when and why to do things. He was a great instructor and I wish more people got to learn from him.

Mr. C.C.: Now within CZW, you have made a quick rise as a contender for the World Junior Heavyweight Championship. How were those series of matches with Sabian with you ultimately winning the title?

Adam: Regardless of how I felt about Sabian between the ropes, and how Sabian felt about me, he will always be one of the guys that I truly respect. He was one of the main reasons I even trained at CZW in the first place. That Junior championship has so much history. Guys like Trent Acid, Sonjay Dutt, and Ruckus have all held that championship. It's been defended overseas, both by previous holders and by myself. For me to get in there with Sabian and have a series of matches for a belt that is so important to wrestling was a real cool deal. All of the matches were different and they really tested our conditioning and ability to be diversified. Then finally winning the belt was once again a dream come true for me. I completely intend on having a run with the championship that people remember when it's all said and done.

Mr. C.C.: Where overseas did you defend the title and was in CZW or another promotion?

Adam: I defended the belt at wXw (Westside xtreme Wrestling) in Germany this past November when CZW did a tour over there. I wrestled a guy named Zack Zabre, Jr. who is by far my favorite opponent. I'd love to get in there and tangle with him again, hopefully in a series of matches. You can check out CZW's tour of Germany at smartmarkvideo.com.

Mr. C.C.: As fans may or may not know, CZW does have an agreement with wXw and they've come to North America and did a show.

Adam: Yes, that's right.

Mr. C.C.: How did you get to train with Les Thatcher and Al Snow?

Adam: DJ Hyde had a big part in that. He brought Les and Al in for seminars for the CZW guys. It was great having guys like Al and Les at your fingertips, getting to pick their brains and them being so willing to help out the younger guys. I got to train with Al about five times and Les for two whole weekends. That experience is invaluable.

Mr. C.C.: With you training with those two veterans, did any bookings come from it?  Or was it just a learning experience?

Adam: It was mostly a learning experience. I got to wrestle Al Snow at an MCW show in Maryland from one of the seminars, so that was a nice treat.

Mr. C.C.: Al Snow has been in the wrestling business nearly 30 years. When you get to hear him speak about stuff, you get to hear how outspoken and passionate he is about wrestling. Did you get that when you've trained and talked with him?

Adam: Yes, for sure. Al doesn't come to these seminars and clinincs because he has too. He really wants to give back to the business and feels to an extent that if the veterans who have drawn real money don't give back, the business that they loved won't be the same. Wrestling is always changing, as far as what people want to see and whatnot. But Al is there to keep everything in perspective and make sure that pro wrestling stays as pro wrestling.

Mr. C.C.: So whenever you get the chance to work and train with such veterans, you absorb as much as you can?

Adam: Yes, you have too. If you don't it is such a waste of your time and theirs. You can't be one of these guys who thinks they know it all, because you don't. There is ALWAYS things to learn and experience. Especially from the guys who have paved the way for guys like me to even be wrestlers.

Mr. C.C.: Now aside from CZW, you have been up and down the East Coast, primarily in the Northeast. Is that were you want to stay for now?  Or you are going to branch out to other parts of the United States and the world?

Adam: I love the East Coast I really do. It is the hotbed for independent wrestling, but I definitely don't want to limit myself here. You have to stay fresh and you can't learn all that needs to be learned in this area. I would love to wrestle all over the U.S. in Florida, the Carolinas, Texas, California and everywhere in between. Going back to Canada and Germany is on my mind, as well as England. I would love to go to Puerto Rico, Japan, Australia. Pretty much if you can put a wrestling ring there, I want to go.


Mr. C.C.: Where abouts in Canada did you wrestle and in what promotion?

Adam: Ring of Honor just did a show in Mississauga, right by Toronto, Ontario. The fans there are INSANE. Just a great crowd to wrestle for. I'd love to work for a company that regularly runs in Canada if they'd like to have me, cause it rocks up north!

Mr. C.C.: Toronto does have a history with pro wrestling going back to the old Maple Leaf Wrestling days. There are a number of good promotions in Canada that would be great if they got you.

Adam: I'd sure love too.

Mr. C.C.: Aside from CZW, you have competed in various promotions in the Northeast such as CHIKARA, how was working against your ROH tag team partner O'Reilly in the Young Lions Cup?  How was the tournament in general?

Adam: Me and O'Reilly originally met as competition for each other. We were both rising stars, and we both wanted to take that next step, so it was natural that we'd find each other across the ring on more than one occasion. O'Reilly always brings out the best in me in the ring, and I take great pride in the matches we've had. It was great getting to wrestle for CHIKARA at the Young Lions Cup. CHIKARA is probably the fastest growing independent in the world, and it's for good reason. I would love to get in a CHIKARA ring again, and hopefully 2011 will be that time.

Mr. C.C.: It's no surprise, you and O'Reilly find yourself in the same promotions such as EVOLVE. How was your experience in EVOLVE as it works on a different format then most promotions?

Adam: EVOLVE is one of those promotions that I think people will look back on and say wow, that was something special. I absolutely loved every second of it. Gabe Sapolsky is a man with a great vision with whatever he doe and EVOLVE is no different. I have faith in Gabe and in companies like EVOLVE and DGUSA because they truly are cutting edge.

Mr. C.C.: Since working with Gabe Sapolsky in EVOLVE and DGUSA, do you find that you are more easily able to get in either promotion because of that? You are more able to regular bookings in those promotions?

Adam: Well it's no secret that Gabe is the figurehead for both companies, so if Gabe wants to bring you in, your brought in.

Mr. C.C.: You worked with World Xxtreme Wrestling and their sister promotion WXW C4, did you get to meet the Wild Samoans?

Adam: Yes. All the Samoans are great wrestlers and they treat everyone like family. Always a pleasure to work there.

Mr. C.C.: Backstage they are vastly different then what you see on TV or when they are in character.

Adam: Yes, they couldn't be nicer people.

Mr. C.C.: How about some word association? You say the first thing that comes to mind.

Adam: Ok sounds good.

Mr. C.C.: Kyle O'Reilly


Adam: The future.


Mr. C.C.: I've been hearing good things about him (Kyle O'Reilly) and he seems to have a bright future.  Tommy Dreamer.

Adam: Great teacher. I got to wrestle Tommy at MCW and it was a learning experience the whole way through. Great guy.

Mr. C.C.: The Kings of Wrestling (Chris Hero and Claudio Castignoli).

Adam: The best tag team in the world bar none.

Mr. C.C.: Jimmy Jacobs.

Adam: An inspiration. Jimmy is a smaller guy just like me, but he's proof that if you work hard and don't settle, you can be a great performer no matter what your height and weight is.

Mr. C.C.: Very true. Rich Swann.

Adam: Another guy who is on the brink of breaking out. Just wait until the end of 2011, We'll all be talking about Rich Swann.

Mr. C.C.: Tyler Veritas, the man who defeated you for the CZW Wired TV Championship.

Adam: My best friend.

Mr. C.C.: Steve Corino.

Adam: A mentor of sorts. Steve has been great to me since we've met, and he's always taken the time to help me out in anyway possible. A man to watch on the mic that's for sure. I have nothing but great things to say about Steve.

Mr. C.C.: Arik Cannon

Adam: had probably my most talked about match all year with him at DGUSA's Enter the Dragon pay-per-view. He's a guy I'd love to get one on one. Very talented.

Mr. C.C.: Any upcoming shows you want to let the fans know about?

Adam: Ring of Honor's biggest show of the year is THIS Saturday in NYC (New York City). Final Battle 2010! Be there or order on gofightlive.com.

Mr. C.C.: Thanks for your time.

Adam: No problem. Take care.

Facebook: Adam Cole's Cole Miners

Breaking Kayfabe #5 w/Chris Dickinson

Hey yo and welcome to another edition of Breaking Kayfabe. I am as always, Mr. C.C.. On this edition of Breaking Kayfabe, I will be bringing to you this interview with an up and coming indy wrestler who got break in the northeast. He has worked for such promotions as JAPW and EVOLVE. He has hopes of working in other promotions across the United States and the world. He is currently on half of the JAPW Tag Team Champions and one half of the tag team the United States Death Machine, Chris Dickinson.

Mr. C.C.: Thanks for taking time to do this.

Chris: No problem.

Mr. C.C.: The last year of your career has been a big one for you, would you agree that its been the biggest year yet?

Chris: Yeah, without a doubt. I've done a lot of traveling and been fortunate enough to be exposed to a much wider audience through bigger and better bookings but in actuality it's really just the beginning.

Mr. C.C.: With all the traveling you've done, you to always seem comeback to the northeast. Is that to give back to the area that you got your start in?

Chris: Well I live in New York City, so it's my base of operations and most of my bookings are in the northeast anyways. It's definitely a trip working for JAPW which is a company that I followed as a fan since 2000. I really would love to work for CZW and doing EVOLVE has been an interesting experience. As far as ROH goes, I'd love to be over there too and I look foward to hitting everywhere. Northeast is always going to be a big place for indy wrestling.

Mr. C.C.: Where and how did you get into wrestling?

Chris: It's funny... I was hanging out with my girlfriend at my mom's house and she asked my mom when it was that I started saying I was going to be a professional wrestler and my mom claims I was at least five or six years old. So yeah, it's always been a big dream of mine. As far as getting involved, I was about 14 years old when I first walked into the Charity Hall in Bayonne, NJ and attended my first class at the JAPW school they had back then. I picked up the basics pretty quick and eventually JAPW [wrestling school] folded and I bounced around with Magic who was the trainer wherever he would go to train guys. Whenever people asked about my trainers it seems like Magic never gets enough credit in the midst of all the [Ricky] Steamboat, [Harley] Race, and Guido questions I usually get but fact is Magic to this day is like a father to me. He took me under his wing and treated me like a son. He would pick me up three times a week for training when I was still in high school and got me all my first bookings from the time I was 14 to 16. He never asked for anything and I love this man dearly. He's still a close friend and deserves all the credit in the world for training ALOT of cats that you've watched over the years.

Mr. C.C.: Even though some might say you are a veteran with having that many years under your belt, do you still feel like you are not where you want to be with your level of skills in the ring?

Chris: I don't think I'll ever be happy when it comes to that. Anyone in the business that's going anywhere knows you should always be striving to take it to the next level every time you step in the ring. I don't want to be the same wrestler I was the last time I trained let alone wrestled a match. I'm always trying to constantly improve as quickly as possible because I'm so competitive and sometimes I can even be my own worst enemy. Sometimes things just happen naturally but if youre not constantly trying to better your own skills then don't waste your time with professional wrestling.

Mr. C.C.: That mentality of getting better and pushing yourself has allowed you to go places in wrestling you've wanted to go so far?

Chris: I believe so, like I said before when I was 14, 15, 16 years old training and doing small indy shows my goal was to be doing exactly what I'm doing right now. Am I happy? Of course, but in life you get to a certain level no matter what it is and it's up to you to either advance or stay where you're at. It doesn't have to be wrestling, it can be anything. It honestly takes a while for me sometimes to sit back and realize all the cool stuff I've been able to do but I'm usually more consumed with what I need to do to advance than dwelling on the past or the present.

Mr. C.C.: Currently, you are half of the JAPW Tag Team Champions. Now I know that Sami Callihan and yourself were feuding before they teamed you two up. Was becoming JAPW Tag Team Champions something that was going to happen initially when you two started teaming together?

Chris: I really don't think so to be honest. Obviously you should always be striving to be the top guy or guys in this situation and in some honest cases a title means you are doing something right. Sami and I kinda came together out of nowhere after we had a really brutal match at a show that unfortunately was not taped, but it was really one of my best matches and I think he felt the same so we formed the Death Machine out of mutual respect for each other and next thing you know we are the champs. I feel Sami like myself is always trying to improve no matter what it is, he is a super hard worker and always trying to outdo himself whenever possible. We share alot of the same ideas just as much as we are competitive with each other and its truly a pleasure to work with him in any situation.

Mr. C.C.: How did the team name United States Death Machine come about?

Chris: My theme is a song by a band called Austrian Death Machine titled "Get to the Choppa." We both love them, we are a machine, we bring death, and thats the story.

Mr. C.C.: Never heard of that band. But giving yourselves a team name is a throwback to old school days when some teams would do that instead of just using their names you would say?

Chris: Of course. I love old school everything. Sadly on the main stage here in the [United] States, tag teams are a joke nowadays, but on the indies, especially the last few years, I've seen a ton of awesome tag team stuff. I love tag team wrestling in general.

Mr. C.C.: I agree that tag team wrestling in the United States has been lacking. Which tag teams have been some of your favourite teams to compete against and with?

Chris: Well we've only had a few matches so far but I think it would be a lie to say anyone else but the Garden State Gods. The Hit Squad is going to be something else.

Mr. C.C.: I was going to ask about The Hit Squad. How pumped up are you to be going up against a legendary JAPW tag team?

Chris: I'm very excited. Hit Squad were a big reason I got into indy wrestling as much as I did when I was 14. They were on the first real modern indy show I went to and I was hooked on them since then. They were like an institution in the northeast. I have had a picture of them hanging on my wall since I was 14 and that's a shoot. I don't care who calls me a mark. I loved those guys and now I have nothing but respect for them.

Mr. C.C.: Most people in the business start out as marks. So I don't see being one as a bad thing.

Chris: We are all marks. No matter which way you put it, everyone's a mark.

Mr. C.C.: Exactly. Aside from the northeast, where else are you looking to travel and wrestle and in what promotions if you could?

Chris: I would love to go anywhere that wants to have me. But like I said before, ROH is a next step I need to begin to take and PWG would be amazing. The big picture for me is Japan. Its been my main goal since breaking in and personally I would LOVE to work for Pro Wrestling NOAH. They promote the style of wrestling I love the most and I feel I would fit in well there.

Mr. C.C.: Well, I do hope you get those opportunities in the near future. Any upcoming shows that you are a part of that you want mention?

Chris: All of the JAPW stuff is going to be awesome, check them out at JAPW.NET. We are doing joint stuff with CZW too, they always deliver. I think I'll be back at FORCE 1 when they start running. Please do yourselves a favor and check out everything from BEYOND Wrestling, that's my heart and soul right there. Honestly support ALL indy wrestling. There is something out there for everyone and it all deserves your attention.

Mr. C.C.: I agree. Support all indy wrestling. Well, once again thanks for your time and continued success in wrestling.

Chris: Thanks for having me, it was cool talking to you!

Breaking Kayfabe #4 w/Scotty Mac

Hey yo and welcome to another edition of Breaking Kayfabe. I am as always, Mr. C.C.. On this edition of Breaking Kayfabe I am bringing to you an interview with a man who got his start in Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling in the late and early 2000s getting training in Can-Am Wrestling from Rob Gillespie then in ECCW's House of Pain from Chance Beckett and Michelle Starr. From there he went on to be a five time ECCW Heavyweight Champion while
competing for them. Aside from competing in ECCW, he has competed in various other promotions along the Pacific northwest. He has always stuck close to ECCW becoming one of the promotions most familiar and popular superstars while becoming the current two NWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion and new owner of ECCW. I am pleased to bring you this interview with Canadian indy superstar Scotty Mac.

Mr. C.C.: Thanks for taking time to do this.

Scotty: No problem.

Mr. C.C.: How did you get started in wrestling?

Scotty: When I was 19 I started training. My buddy got a job in radio in
Alberta and I went with him. I got started with Steve Gillespie and Can-Am
Wrestling. Then I went to ECCW and started training with Michelle Starr, Chance
Beckett, and the House of Pain.

Mr. C.C.: I know you had a feud with Black Dragon.

Scotty: Brett Como aka the Black Dragon was a big influence on me. I did a
program with him [Black Dragon] and won my first Heavyweight Championship in a
steel cage match.

Mr. C.C.: He [Black Dragon] was one of your first big feuds?

Scotty: He was, but I also had big matches against Dr. Luther, Juggernaut, and
Christopher Daniels. That was during the time when they were bringing in guys
like Steve Corino, Tommy Dreamer, and Jim "The Anvil" Niedhart.

Mr. C.C.: I know you did Halloween Hell last weekend and it is your biggest show
of the year.

Scotty: It is. it is our biggest show of the year. Steel cage match once a
year. Don't want to give it to them every month and over do it. We also had a
fans brings the weapons match. We had a lot of weapons from keyboards, fire
extinguishers, jello mold with brass knucks in it, etc..

Mr. C.C.: From the pictures I've seen, the keyboard had blood on it.

Scotty: Yes, there were a lot of keys flying around. Halloween Hell is our
biggest show and it gives our fans their money's worth. It was an extreme
lumberjack fans bring the weapons match. It was just a crazy match that was very
well worked by all.

Mr. C.C.: It was for the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship as I understand
it?

Scotty: Yes.

Mr. C.C.: How do you feel being in a class of legends like Dino Bravo, Angelo
Mosca, etc.?

Scotty: It's very cool being in the company of such great talent and the longest
reigning champion in history is an honour. I became the longest reigning
champion last year.

Mr. C.C.: How did you get to be the new owner of ECCW?

Scotty: There is a new ownership group in place and Dave (Republic) wanted to
move away from being in professional wrestling.

Mr. C.C.: As I understand it, Dave wanted to pursue other interests outside of
wrestling?

Scotty: He still has a political interest in pro wrestling and MMA out here. He
hasn't been as hands on with with ECCW in the last couple of years. But his
involvement with professional wrestling still remains in the political side.

Mr. C.C.: Have you helped Dave Republic in his bid to bring WrestleMania to
Vancouver?

Scotty: I personally haven't had any involvement, but would like help him in
anyway I can. Dave Republic has influenced me in many ways and as I said, would
love to help him in his bid for WrestleMania.

Mr. C.C.: Would you go to another promotion or bring in someone for a show in
ECCW?

Scotty: There isn't a lot of money to bring in outside talent. I've worked for
Mike Davidson and WXF out of Winnipeg. I've worked in Quebec, did the Northern
Tour, Iowa, Ireland, and other places.

Mr. C.C.: Would you like to work in Saskatchewan.

Scotty: Saskatchewan, yeah, if things worked out. If I was traveling out that
way and a promotion wanted to book me then yeah. If a promotion wanted to book
the me or whoever was the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion , then they or I
would go. I'd love to travel to as many places as possible.

Mr. C.C.: Do you put your shows on DVD?

Scotty: We've had mainly Halloween Hell and Pacific Cup on DVD. We've been
putting matches on the Internet. We've been putting matches out on YouTube.
There is not a lot of money to go around. We have a lot of women's wrestling
and we'd love to put that on DVD. There is a lot of talent in the Pacific northwest
and want to showcase it. We had guys named Mattis Wild and Austin Spencer work
for us and got signed to FCW. Davey Richards was here before being with ROH.

Mr. C.C.: I know that you got to do some work with WWE. How was that?

Scotty: It was a great experience. I wish had more of an opportunity to work
longer there.

Mr. C.C.: So you didn't get as much time as you wanted to show what you can do?

Scotty: We were looking for time in front of the agents. But the first two days
we were not in the ring. The third day was brief. Being a smaller wrestler,
you really have to impress with what you can do. Guys like [Bryan] Danielson,
Kaval, and Evan Bourne are too good not to sign. That's how I'd like to be
perceived.

Mr. C.C.: That is where ROH have it right by having Danielson as their World
Champion and TNA have it right with the X Division.

Scotty: They are ahead of the WWE in that way. The WWE is the standard though.
But they have to realize that people fans don't want to see guys signed because
they are 6'5" but because they are good. A fan can believe can that a guy of
[Rey] Mysterio's size and of Danielson's size can beat a bigger guy.

Mr. C.C.: The WWE has realized that by making Rey Mysterio the World Heavyweight
Champion.

Scotty: If you look at smaller wrestlers like Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart, they
paved the way in the 90s. Then [Eddie] Guerrero and [Chris] Benoit made it so
even smaller guys get a chance. It was cool to see them at WrestleMania 20 to
see them both holding up the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships. It's good
to see the smaller guys getting the push.

Mr. C.C.: So we are getting back to cruiserweights, junior heavyweights, and
light heavyweights being the top guys?

Scotty: There is room for all sorts of shapes and sizes.

Mr. C.C.: Have you ever worked with someone who got themselves over at your
expense to make themselves look better?

Scotty: Not too much thankfully.

Mr. C.C.: I've asked for this before on the ECCW forums, but Madison, Ladies
Choice, and yourself were on a TV program on MTV years ago entitled "Select."
Ladies Choice put a choke on the host Brian Adler and walked off. Was that
supposed to happen?

Scotty: He [Ladies Choice] marches to the beat of his own drummer. He does what
he wants, when he wants. Thankfully my friendship with Brian Adler made it work.

Mr. C.C.: When I seen it, I wondered if that was real.

Scotty: It gave us some exposure that we didn't have before. Brian Adler was
the reason I was able to meet Screech. He told me that he was going to be
there, so my partner [Dropkick Murphy] and I went down and met him.

Mr. C.C.: That's awesome meeting someone you grow up watching.

Scotty: I loved "Saved by the Bell."

Mr. C.C.: Any upcoming shows for ECCW or your self personally?

Scotty: ECCW is better then it's ever been. It's a great show from top to
bottom. No filler. Hopefully we will have Kyle O'Reilly back for Seasons
Beatings on December 26th. I hope to make ECCW bigger and better then it's ever
been.

Mr. C.C.: Speaking of Kyle O'Reilly, he has done well for himself.

Scotty: Yes. He's been doing stuff with ROH and will be big in 2011.

Mr. C.C.: I know he does work for EVOLVE and I recently interviewed Gabe
Sapolsky and he also said that O'Reilly will be a superstar.

Scotty: He's relocated to St. Louis and when we get him it's great. But 2011
will be a big year for him. Tenille Tayla and KC Spinelli will be on a Tough
Enough style reality show on a new channel called The Cave entitled "World of
Hurt." It is done by the Lance Storm wrestling school.

Mr. C.C.: I know that Billy Suede is one of the first guys from Lance Storm's
school to work in ECCW.

Scotty: He is a great talent. He is a smaller guy like me and can see him
following in the footsteps of Kyle O'Reilly.

Mr. C.C.: Let's do some word association and say the first thing that comes to mind.

Scotty: Sure.

Mr. C.C.: Aaron Idol.

Scotty: Amazing talent and potential that will never come to be. Vision
imparement and shoulder injury that put him on the sideline. He could of been
with Dragon Gate and ROH. One of the best I've been in the ring with.

Mr. C.C.: Dave Republic.

Scotty: Generous, big heart, very intelligent, and amazing friend.

Mr. C.C.: Chance Beckett.

Scotty: One of the most gifted wrestlers to lace up the boots. But his personal demons got the better of him. I got the honour and privilege of getting to train and wrestle with him. I don't what he would have been able to accomplish if he was able to conquer his personal demons.

Mr. C.C.: Vance Nevada.

Scotty: [Laughs] Wrestling historian. Excellent at wrestling politics and a
pleasure to be in the ring with.

Mr. C.C.: Davey Richards

Scotty: Intense and a little bit mysterious. Him and I were always cool. Had
some of my best matches with him.

Mr. C.C.: Dropkick Murphy

Scotty: Full of personality. Just a lot of fun to watch. He came out with me
for my match and Bridgeview Hall in Surrey went nuts. That was his return.

Mr. C.C.: Sid Sylum.

Scotty: Protege at one point. He has the tools to make something of himself in
wrestling.

Mr. C.C.: Ravenous Randy.

Scotty: Charismatic and absolutely hilarious. One of the best guys I've met.

Mr. C.C.: Nicole Matthews.

Scotty: Hmmm, stumped me on this one. Techincally sound and will one day be
regarded as one of the top female workers in North America. She will be in the
league as Sara Del Rey and Cheerleader Melissa

Mr. C.C.: Puma/TJ Perkins.

Scotty: I don't know him that well. Looks like a very talented young man.
Another one of those smaller guys that's talented and hopefully doesn't get
overlooked

Mr. C.C.: Ray Brooks.

Scotty: "Southern Comfort," one of the nicest guys I've met.

Mr. C.C.: When I first started getting into the promotion he was called "the
Jobbers of Jobbers."

Scotty: Oh, yes. Him, Moondog Manson, and Ladies Choice have been there in ECCW the longest.

Mr. C.C.: Ivory/Lisa Moretti.

Scotty: I was in the corner of Rebecca Knox when she lost the SuperGirls
Championship. Then after she lost, I got kicked in the nuts. I did a mixed tag match with her [Moretti]. She seems like a good person.

Mr. C.C.: You didn't get to talk to her much?

Scotty: Not much, but very good wrestler.

Mr. C.C.: Eric Young.

Scotty: Eric Young was before my time. Dropkick [Murphy] trained with him.
Went to TNA last year and got to meet him. Friends with Angelina Love and said
hello to Kazarian and [Christopher] Daniels and met him briefly. Don't know him that well.

Mr. C.C.: Nelson Creed.

Scotty: I like him personally, but don't get along with him professionally. One of
the few guys I don't have a professional relationship with. Good wrester, lacks charisma.

Mr. C.C.: The Cremator

Scotty: Great big man that I like for to realize his potential.

Mr. C.C.: Bryan Danielson

Scotty: A privilege and honour to have worked with. He could very well be the
best in the world.

Mr. C.C.: Christopher Daniels.

Scotty: Amazing in the ring and outside of the ring.

Mr. C.C.: Thanks for your time.

Scotty: No problem. Look forward to talking to you again.

For more on ECCW and Scotty Mac, you can check out the following links:

ECCW website: ECCW.com
Facebook: ECCW group
YouTube: ECCW channel
Twitter: @smacwrestling

Breaking Kayfabe #3 w/Louis Kendrick

Welcome to the third edition of Breaking Kayfabe. I am as always, Mr. C.C.. On this edition of Breaking Kayfabe, I am will be talking with an up and coming indy wrestler who went from fan as a child to pro wrestler early in adulthood. He has made his mark in the team ranks from the Midwest to the northeast teaming with Flip Kendrick, his brother. You may know him as Louis Lyndon or formerly Brian Lyndon in Hybrid Wrestling. I am pleased to bring to you this interview with Louis Kendrick

Mr. C.C.: Thanks for taking time to do this.

Louis: No problem. Looking forward to it.

Mr. C.C.: Was getting into wrestling something you always wanted to do or did you just fall into it?

Louis: I was seven or eight, definitely really loved it I'd say. Lost sight of it until about eighth grade and from there I felt like it was something I would do in life. My excitement over ECW and WCW cruiserweights when I look back on it now equated to a want. Seems obvious to me to become apart of wrestling at some point in high school or beyond that.

Mr. C.C.: For those that don't know, you are from Michigan, correct?

Louis: Yes, I reside from Mt. Clemens, MI and at times the campus area of East Lansing as well.

Mr. C.C.: Being as you grew up in Michigan was any local wrestling available to you growing up? Or was it the bigger promotions that would come through town?

Louis: I never was a go to indy wrestling show guy. I probably went to two shows in my life for the purposes of strictly watching wrestling. ROH and WWE. My dad does not like wrestling besides of TV WWE. So I had no one to really take me. Plus I think in the eighth grade I really didn't know anything about indy wrestling. High school was just ECW, WCW, WWE, and me going straight to All Japan [Pro Wrestling] and Toryumon when I got tired of WWE. Wrestling friends of mine did mention IWR and maybe GLAPW [Great Lakes All Pro Wrestling]. But really I had no idea beyond ROH, CZW, and IWA MS for indies at all. I would just buy insane amounts of tapes from RF Video or HighSpots for that.

Mr. C.C.: If your dad doesn't like wrestling aside from the WWE, then who would you say was the first person to introduce you to wrestling?

Louis: My friend Brandon. Parents befriending and a classmate I believe. He was into as was his father. We watched a pay-per-view or two. I remember not being able to stay up for Raw and having to record it. Loved it. It was during the time of your 1-2-3 Kids, Quebecers, The Lex Express, and of course Bret Hart.

Mr. C.C.: So you really got into wrestling just before the Attitude Era?

Louis: Yeah, I was in for a minute. Then once 94' hit I believe I was out again for whatever reason. The Attitude Era brought me back.

Mr. C.C.: So between the big three of the time being WWE, ECW, and WCW, who would you say were influences?

Louis: Influences, hmm. I would say The Rock was one the biggest at the time for me. He had it all. Then the crusierweights were next: Juvi [Juventud Guerrera], Super Crazy, Tajiri, Taka [Michinoku], and Jerry Lynn. I always tuned in for the those matches. For a time I think I even argued that Jerry Lynn was better than Triple H. I was little misguided at the time I feel like. Maybe just not wanting to not be norm and like DX so much.

Mr. C.C.: Certainly some talented individuals. As wrestling evolved, did your influences change?

Louis: Yeah definitely. Taka continues to be in there as well as the Rock. Beyond that I found myself watching shoot style pro wrestling guys like Volk Han and Kiyoshi Tamura. I found time to watch some women's wrestling. Really like the Mariko Yoshida and Jaguar Yokota. Guys like Kenta Kobashi, Jushin Lyger, [Bryan] Danielson, Ikuto Hidaka, CIMA, and newer guy like Prince Devitt. The main thing that really changed me was discovering of the all British style wrestling. Clive Myers is basically my gimmick. I really went away the big leagues I feel like. Just always looking to find the different guy doing the different thing that makes me audibly go "wow."

Mr. C.C.: When did you start actively seeking out wrestling schools? Or were you more self-taught?

Louis: Basically in about 2003 I started getting interested in possibly going pro, but I had no car. I met Josh Raymond, trained with him a couple times. Once in a barn with a guy named Matt Maverick. I also trained with the owner of GLAPW a few times as well. Whoever I could go to with someone else already going. I was done with it though by the end of 03'. I kinda picked up things from various people along the way and got word to debut in 06' in the summer for this place in Ohio called WASP. I also wrestled for AIW [Absolute Intense Wrestling] at that point as well. I got lucky in the fact I knew people and was accepted in with Hybrid Wrestling when they first started. It was around July 2007, where I decided I could be better. I wasn't the worst, but definitely was not good. I had just got a car and decided it was time to go to wrestling school for real. I looked around and found Price of Glory Wrestling. Got lost trying to find a freeway for first time trying to go there. I never had really driven anywhere besides up to east lansing at that time. Wrestled my last match pre-official training that weekend with Josh Prohibition. The next week i started with none other than Josh Raymond as my trainer at Coldwater after all those years. Trained with Keith Creme as well CJ Otis for at least 14 months I feel like there. It was worth it!

Mr. C.C.: Out of all the training you did, who was the one that you say was a mentor to you?

Louis: I feel like Josh taught me the most, but CJ was the guy who took me under wing after he got back from Japan. I feel like he was just prepared for wrestling really well.

Mr. C.C.: Since you were in some ways already broken in to wrestling, besides the training, how did they further along your career in terms of getting booked? Or did they?

Louis: Training helped me get some chances in MI [Michigan], IN [Indiana]. Nothing big, but things I needed to grow I feel like. I kinda stalled really early in my re-debut, but somewhere in august 08' I feel like the training really payed off. Got a chance to meet Ian Rotten and work at IWA Mid South as well as Luchacore. Started to get more work right about then... on a consistent basis.

Mr. C.C.: So from there you, ventured into more of the Midwest circuit with promotions like Heartland Wrestling Association?

Louis: Yes, around that time Hybrid stuff as well Luchacore lead to me actually being heard of it. Simply sending a message and getting a reply back shortly after to do the show. I feel like at that point I had not once been able to do something like that.

Mr. C.C.: In your early days of traveling the Midwest, how was it?

Louis: Well... Fun I would say. Very negative in the pocket, but still worth it I feel. My brother, Jack Verville, and Brian Skyline were usually the four. Got to go Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, and to a lesser extent Illnois. Felt like we made countless connections. There was one trip with the trainers that comes to mind that was little rough. I think on the way to Luchacore. Drinking while driving happened on my part. Never again. Riding with trainers was always a different animal than with your peers.

Mr. C.C.: What's the best road story you have out of your whole time in wrestling? Were there any ribs pulled?

Louis: I feel like the people I ride with are really less rib driven. One story the comes to mind... more ridiculous than best. I got to ride around with HUSTLE, SMASH wrestler KUSHIDA. Got to drive him around basically to a couple shows. We had a show on Friday at a place called CWE in Austintown, OH. Went fine. We then went hotel in preparation to pickup Paul Orndorff for IWC on Saturday. Random, yeah. We had continental breakfast at our hotel... Kushida and I that is. We picked up Orndorff at the airport and dropped him off at his hotel, which apparently was different than ours. He wanted us to have continental breakfast with him too. So we had continental breakfast with Paul Orndorff as well. He talked about us being small and needing to eat. He talked about the government. Real akward stuff, heh. We left the hotel and proceeded to go to Elizabeth, PA with my own paper MapQuest directions. A terrible mistake honestly on my part in not having a GPS. I took one wrong turn when we supposed to get off a highway. Ran into the most traffic ever with time ticking for Orndorff to have his autograph session. "Just get off freeway," he says. I proceed to drive off the freeway through some dirt on the road little below. Even more lost now. The main street we were supposed to get off of is pretty much unreachable. Orndorff was subdued, but I can feel the anger rising. It sucked. I call the owner of IWC and directs to go some street. Out of nowhere he appears in front of me driving... we follow and we make it there late. After all that, Kushida, who had said nothing for like the last two hours... says "Oh... are you ok?" I was not... worst day, most ridiculous road story. Don't get lost with a veteran, it sucks.

Mr. C.C.: That's a crazy story. Did you mark out when you met Ondorff?

Louis: I mean I knew of him, not so much of his work at the time. I marked out that I was driving a guy who had been on the first WrestleMania. Very surreal.

Mr. C.C.: Now that you've had a number of years in wrestling, have gone back to the wrestling of past and studied up and watched it to gain a better understanding of where the business has come from and just basically learn?

Louis: Yes definitely. I had gone back to watch older WCW, NWA, World Sport stuff, and WWE stuff. I was very caught up on the new stuff or just Japanese stuff when I first started. I have realized that there so much good stuff from back in the day. I was not watching Arn Anderson or even [Ricky] Steamboat a few years ago. Definitely has changed. I want to be as well rounded as I can be.

Mr. C.C.: I know you mentioned who your influences and mentors are, but watching the older pre-90s stuff, who would you say are influences from the kayfabe/golden age of wrestling/"wrasslin" eras?

Louis: Hmm, from that age I would say Tiger Mask or Ricky Steamboat. An actually I forgot about it, but man Randy Savage is one the best ever. He is had it all kinda like Rock for me.

Mr. C.C.: For those that don't really know much about you, what kind of gimmick do you have?

Louis: I am not a martial artist. The gimmick is that I am big fan kung fu movies and even martial art inspired video games to the point that I believe I am a star in a kung fu movie. Through watching the movie "Snake in Eagle Shadow" I acquired the ability to use Snake Style... I think.

Mr. C.C.: What is your wrestling style? How have you adapted your gimmick into your wrestling style?

Louis: On the surface, I am pretty much your traditional super junior I would say. Some highflying, some submissions, and some strking type deal. I definitely feel the gimmick adds a little more theatrics and excitement. I throw poses out, trips, and even kicks that are movie inspired. It adds another flavor to just being a junior.

Mr. C.C.: What ring names do you go under or do you just go under Louis Kendrick?

Louis: I go by Louis Lyndon exclusively currently. I have gone by Brian Lyndon in Hybrid, but it has since changed.

Mr. C.C.: Right now you are mainly a tag team wrestler. How did you get to teaming with Flip Kendrick as the tag team Aeroform? Where did the team name come from?

Louis: Well, basically, I guess people thought since we were brothers and rode together we would make a good team. Never had planned to be a tag wrestler at all. It started in AIW in 08' kinda grew from there. Aeroform is a tricking move and we thought Aero - Aerial and Form - Martial Forms would go well together. People had trouble with the name and meaning. We had planned to change it, but Gabe Sapolsky decided we should keep it for EVOLVE. Decided at that point we would just go with it. Has worked out and not been as mispronounced since then.

Mr. C.C.: Speaking of Gabe Sapolsky, I recently interviewed him. How did you get involved in working for him in Dragon Gate USA and EVOLVE?

Louis: Good question. Hmm... I think he saw a video of the JAPW Best of Light Heavyweights in 2008. He sent Flip and I emails about more footage. He liked enough that I got a chance to be in the first Fray of the debut DGUSA show. It was awesome. He booked me for the Jeff Peterson Cup of 2009 as well. From there he told me of the his plan to start in EVOLVE and bam here we are. Got really lucky, some dude (Lee Okami) put us over (Flip and I) on a JAPW message board in 2008 from our work at Hybrid. Changed everything for the good.

Mr. C.C.: How do you both get into Heartland Wrestling Association? I seen your TLC match for the HWA Tag Team Championships which was really good.

Louis: Well, they had seen our work from other promotions basically, plus I had some standing already. At that point we had done IPW for most of 2009... a sister promotion basically. High flyers were needed so they called us.

Mr. C.C.: Now, Les Thatcher has severed ties with HWA. Was he there at the time you both got your starts in the promotion?

Louis: No, not all. I am not sure when he left, but I have only heard of him.

Mr. C.C.: Have you done work outside of the United States in Japan, UK, Europe, etc. or have you stuck to working in the United States?

Louis: Only the US. I am hopeful the resume will increase at some point.

Mr. C.C.: If you had to pick three places outside of the United States to apply your craft, where would they be?

Louis: Easy Japan (DDT), Mexico (CMLL), and somewhere in the UK. Really the only first two matter to me.

Mr. C.C.: Which three promotions would you like to debut for if you had the chance? In the United States that is.

Louis: WWE, ROH, and PWG.

Mr. C.C.: Nice choices for promotions. As you've been paying your dues, have you worked in some bad promotions for some bad promoters?

Louis: Nothing overly bad. One promotion in the Grand Rapids I have been too. No names necessary... just plain terrible. Be it money or just a bad show. Nothing else has been overtly bad. EWF in IN [Indiana] was little rough. Locker room was like ice... with one small heater. Definitely a place only early in your career.

Mr. C.C.: Out of all the feuds you've had whether it be in singles or tag team competition, who have been some of your favourites to feud against?

Louis: Haven't been in many feuds really, but the set of two matches and the four way ladder match I had with Marion Fontaine in Hybrid is probably my favorite. Very entertaining stuff.

Mr. C.C.: Where do you see yourself in wrestling in five years?

Louis: Either out of the business or doing something big in wrestling. Not really one to hang out if things aren't working. Hopefully, I had a big break or something and I am still in it by then.

Mr. C.C.: If you do end up retiring in five years, which wrestlers would like to work with if you have the chance?

Louis: Wow, hmm. Lets go with El Generico, Prince Devitt, Jushin Lyger, Kenny Omega, and CIMA.

Mr. C.C.: Just before I wrap this up, I will play a game of word association. Say the first thing that comes to mind when I name a person. Flip Kendrick.

Louis: Crazy.

Mr. C.C.: Jon Moxley.

Louis: Promos.

Mr. C.C.: Johnny Gargano.

Louis: Afro stealer.

Mr. C.C.: [Laughs] I seen that picture.

Louis: Yeah, always seems to have it when I'm looking for it.

Mr. C.C.: Gabe Sapolsky.

Louis: Opportunity.

Mr. C.C.: "Fat" Frank Iadevaia.

Louis: Negotiator.

Mr. C.C.: Josh Prohibition.

Louis: Solid (worker).

Mr. C.C.: Up In Smoke (Cheech and Cloudy).

Louis: Not high (do they even smoke?).

Mr. C.C.: Tim Donst.

Louis: Jukebox.

Mr. C.C.: The Irish Airborne (Dave and Jake Crist).

Louis: Unexpected.

Mr. C.C.: Arik Cannon

Louis: Hilarious.

Mr. C.C.: Last one, Reid Flair.

Louis: Surprising.

Mr. C.C.: One more, Hallowicked and Jigsaw.

Louis: Tremendous.

Mr. C.C.: Anything you would like to plug or promote like a website, MySpace, or upcoming events?

Louis: Yes, AAW has a show this Friday. Details for that are at http://www.aawrestling.com/ . Also, check out, AIW Wrestling November 26th. Info at http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=143603935682408 . Both are a great time.

Mr. C.C.: Anyways to keep in contact with you like Twitter, MySpace, or website?

Louis: You can find me at http://www.myspace.com/louiskendrick on MySpace, as well as http://twitter.com/RyoCoola on Twitter.

Mr. C.C.: Thanks for your time and continued success in wrestling!

Louis: Thank you. It was a good time.

Twitter: @RyoCoola
MySpace: MySpace.com/louiskendrick

Breaking Kayfabe #2 w/Gabe Sapolsky

Welcome to the second edition of Breaking Kayfabe. I am as always Mr. C.C.. On this edition, I will be talking with Gabe Sapolsky, a man who has risen through the ranks behind the scenes in professional wrestling to become a respected booker and promoter. Rising through the ranks of merchandiser in ECW to co-founder of Ring of Honor to vice president of the North American chapter of the Dragon Gate promotion called Dragon Gate USA. As well in 2010, Sapolsky has once again founded a promotion called EVOLVE which has achieved some early success and more.

Mr. C.C.: Thanks for taking the time to do this.

Gabe: Thanks for having me.

Mr. C.C.: Not a problem. I've been reading some of your history in the business of professional wrestling and you got a start in ECW as a merchandiser. How did that come about?

Gabe: I wrote Todd Gordon a letter asking if I could do a newsletter and he took me up on the offer. It was before the Internet, so I'm sure he didn't get a lot of letters like that. Now he'd get 25 emails a day like that.

Mr. C.C.: So in a backstage role, it wasn't hard breaking in you would say? Was a career in pro wrestling a dream you always had?

Gabe: It was a different world back then. Yes, it was always a dream.

Mr. C.C.: So during that time, kayfabe was still closely guarded? The business was still guarded and the appearance of it being real attempted to be maintained?

Gabe: Nah, not really. It was definitely much, much more guarded than it is now, but once you gained the trust of a couple of people it was easy to break through.

Mr. C.C.: Seeing as ECW was your first employer in wrestling, was gaining the trust of Paul Heyman one those people? Or did Heyman come a little later?

Gabe: Yeah, definitely. It probably took a good six months until Heyman really started acknowledging me. Then I guess he figured I wasn't going anyplace.

Mr. C.C.: But now he probably thinks different with your success with ROH, DGUSA, EVOLVE, etc.. Now, as I understand, you were there with ECW throughout it's peak.

Gabe: I was there the whole time.

Mr. C.C.: ECW caught that niche market of wrestling fans. How "rabid" were the ECW fans?

Gabe: They were incredible. They were one with the product. ECW was theirs.

Mr. C.C.: I've said many times that ECW grabbed the niche portion of fans, do you feel the WWE's Attitude Era was their attempt at grabbing the niche fan base that ECW had? As well, do you think the Attitude Era was done because of what ECW was doing?

Gabe: Attitude Era was taking what ECW created and mass marketing it because they had the TV exposure and money to do it.

Mr. C.C.: Do you agree with the opinion that Vince McMahon did a watered down version of hardcore wrestling?

Gabe: Well, they were doing some crazy stuff there. It was as extreme as ECW, but its hard to call some of the stuff they did watered down.

Mr. C.C.: As ECW was one of the first hardcore/extreme promotions in North America, why did XPW and why does CZW get labeled ECW ripoffs? They are just following a mold ECW set out for that type of wrestling.

Gabe: Well, XPW was definitely a rip off. They were trying really hard to be ECW. I haven't heard CZW called a ECW ripoff. I think they always put their own spin on things.

Mr. C.C.: From watching the history of XPW DVD, they often tried to feud with ECW with some going to XPW, what was the feeling in the locker room when Shane Douglas, one of the top guys in ECW left for XPW? Was there a bitterness towards him?

Gabe: I didn't have any to him, I really don't care about XPW. I have no idea why I'm being asked about it in 2010.

Mr. C.C.: Touche, touche.

Gabe: It's not relevant to anything.

Mr. C.C.: Right and I agree, they didn't have the same impact as ECW.

Now after ECW folded, you went to working full-time for RF Video. What was your time like there?

Gabe: It was good for a while.

Mr. C.C.: It wasn't something you felt you wanted to do long term?

Gabe: I don't remember, it was a long a time ago.

Mr. C.C.: So your involvement in RF Video is how you met Rob Feinstein?

Gabe: No, I knew him from the ECW days.

Mr. C.C.: So, how did you both come up with Ring of Honor? I understand you two founded ROH.

Gabe: A big part of RF Video business was the ECW Fan Cam Series and that needed to be replaced after ECW went under. We looked around at different indy groups and then figured there was lots of great talent and we had some new concepts so we decided to just do it ourselves and start our own promotion.

Mr. C.C.: Did you ever imagine that ROH would become what it is today?

Gabe: I don't know what it is today. I don't watch it.

Mr. C.C.: Or did you see it becoming as popular as it is?

Gabe: Oh yeah, I think it can be more popular.

Mr. C.C.: You said you don't watch it, but being on HDNet is what is hindering ROH from being seen by a much more wider audience. Would you agree?

Gabe: That's not really my concern.

Mr. C.C.: During your time with ROH, did you ever hear fans who didn't like ROH call it a promotion geared towards "smarks?"

Gabe: Yeah, it was. It wasn't a product for everyone, just like ECW wasn't for everyone. The people who were into it, loved it and that's what counted. It's about finding your niche and learning to live in it. That's what we are doing with DGUSA and EVOLVE now. We want to serve one type of fan and serve them as best we can. Not all music is meant to be for everyone. Not all food is meant to be for everyone. You have to find your niche and do your best to satisfy that audience.

Mr. C.C.: Have you ever heard ROH called the next ECW due to the niche fan base it has?

Gabe: It was two totally different things in two totally different times.

Mr. C.C.: Also during your time with ROH, how did you get to be a booker for FIP and how did that come about?

Gabe: I was in Florida all the time for ROH production so Sal Hamaoui gave me the FIP gig so we could tie it in with ROH production and help raise awareness of FIP. We felt we could have a product with some of the hot names at the time that complimented the ROH product.

Mr. C.C.: While you were there with FIP, you enjoyed your time?

Gabe: Oh yeah, it was a blast. The crowds down there were great and it was a lot more of a loose atmosphere than ROH. You could relax a lot more and have fun, while at the same time seeing some great wrestling. It was a great time.

Mr. C.C.: I've noticed that people still ask you about ROH and FIP, but was leaving both companies due to you becoming the vice president of Dragon Gate USA?

Gabe: How do you not know the answer to that question?

Mr. C.C.: How has the response been from the fans in regards to DGUSA (Dragon Gate USA)?

Gabe: It's been great. We really hoped to become pro wrestling's premium product and I think the fans have responded. When I say that I mean when it comes to in ring action, as we have the tremendous roster from Japan in addition to the top indy workers, and also in our products. For instance, we have deluxe packaging on our DVDs, have great bonus discs and do everything we can to make them the highest picture quality possible. I think the fans have responded.

Mr. C.C.: I seen the Mercury Rising pay-per-view and have to say that it's one of the top pay-per-views of the year. Truly great stuff.

Gabe: Thank you.

Mr. C.C.: With the weekend of events DGUSA did in Phoenix, did you purposely plan it out that way due to the WWE being in Arizona for WrestleMania? Or was it just a coincidence?

Gabe: No, we planned it that way. WrestleMania weekend sees tens of thousands of fans travel in from all over the world. It is a hub. We want to take advantage of that and expose our product to those fans, who will then go home and talk about our shows.

Mr. C.C.: In your own mind, you were successful in exposing new fans to the DGUSA product?

Gabe: Somewhat, but you always want more.

Mr. C.C.: Wrestling promotions are a business, so you want more fans to grow your promotion in any ways possible. Now, how important has it been for DGUSA in establishing partnerships with other promotions like Chikara and Maximum Pro Wrestling for instance?

Gabe: It's really important. There's a lot of great independent wrestling groups but there's also a lot of terrible ones. The bad ones can drag down the good ones, because they can give the fans the wrong impression of indy wrestling. I think its important for the quality, professional groups to really bond together and help each other rise up.

Mr. C.C.: I notice you offer special bonus matches from other promotions on your DVDs from time to time. Is that part of the commitment you are making in exposing the fans to the quality promotions out there?

Gabe: Yes, exactly.

Mr. C.C.: You also allow the other promotions talent on your shows. How have the fans responded to someone who isn't on the core DGUSA roster?

Gabe: They have all played a big part on the DGUSA roster. Mike Quackenbush, Jigsaw, Gran Akuma, Hallowicked and the CHIKARA talent have made a huge impact and been a really important part of the first year of DGUSA. Now we are seeing talent like Jon Moxley, Ricochet, Johnny Gargano, Brodie Lee to name a few make their mark. Ricochet got over huge with his spectacular high-flying on the last Chicago show. Moxley is a guy that is really connecting with the crowd. Chuck Taylor is making some noise too. I know I'm missing some names too, there's a lot of great talent with high ceilings of potential now. The fans will see them develop into stars right before their eyes.

Mr. C.C.: Speaking of Jon Moxley, he is a the future of wrestling. His match against Tommy Dreamer at Mercury Rising was very good. His skills on the mic are second to none. He went from little known to being booked everywhere. A guy to watch for years to come.

Gabe: He has a tremendous character and promo ability. He's totally different than CM Punk, but he reminds me a lot of Punk in 2003.

Mr. C.C.: I know you've ventured into Canada for shows. But is DGUSA just going to stick to putting on shows in North America?

Gabe: Yes, I'm just involved with DGUSA in North America. I don't have anything to do with DGUSA's shows in other places of the world.

Mr. C.C.: Now aside from working with DGUSA, you have once ventured into owning your own promotion once again. What was the decision for doing so?

Gabe: There was a lot of great talent we could feature and we had some new concepts so we decided to start EVOLVE. Our next event will be November 20th in Union City, NJ, right outside the Lincoln Tunnel. You can go to www.EVOLVEwrestling.com for info.

Mr. C.C.: For those that don't know, can you can share the philosophy behind EVOLVE.

Gabe: It is giving wrestling a fresh and modernized approach with a total focus on win/loss records and the real person outside the ring.

Mr. C.C.: So have you decided on bringing in any titles at this point in time?

Gabe: Just wait and see.

Mr. C.C.: I've noticed that you've brought in Canadian Kyle O'Reilly, who got his start in Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling. How has he worked out?

Gabe: He's a future star.

Mr. C.C.: I've noticed you've been promoting shows for EVOLVE in New Jersey. Have you thought about promoting outside of New Jersey with EVOLVE?

Gabe: Sure, right now we are just trying to get the brand and concepts over.

Mr. C.C.: Would you say from the initial response that EVOLVE has been well received so far?

Gabe: Yes, I have gotten lots of positive response. We weren't trying to be an overnight sensation. We were looking to slowly build a brand and earn a reputation and I think that has happened.

Mr. C.C.: Why have you decided to go with the "win a qualifying match to get on the roster" type concept?

Gabe: We dropped that.

Mr. C.C.: I didn't hear that. Now going on to wrestling in general, where do you see it headed?

Gabe: Hopefully it is headed in a good direction.

Mr. C.C.: Anything you would like to plug and promote.

Gabe: Make sure to check out DGUSA on live iPPV on October 29th with "Bushido: Code Of The Warrior" on www.GoFightLive.tv. You can also get DGUSA DVDs and gear and all the latest news at www.DGUSA.tv. DGUSA will have its final shows of 2010 on Oct. 29th in Fall River, MA and Oct. 30th in Rahway, NJ so come check them out. For EVOLVE DVDs and news go to www.EVOLVEwrestling.com and check out our event on Nov. 20th in Union City, NJ, just outside Manhattan. Thank you everyone.

Mr. C.C.: Thanks again for your time and make sure to support DGUSA or an EVOLVE show near you. In fact, support indy wrestling near you.

DGUSA: DGUSA.tv
DGUSA Twitter: @DragonGateUSA
EVOLVE: EVOLVEwrestling.com

Breaking Kayfabe #1 w/Austin "Consequences" Creed

Welcome to the first edition of Breaking Kayfabe. Breaking Kayfabe is pleased to do the inaugural interview with former TNA superstar Austin “Consequences Creed.

Mr. C.C.: Thanks for taking the time to do this.

Creed: No at problem man, thanks for doing it.

Mr. C.C.: Everybody knows about your TNA release. How did that come about? Was it mutual, or did TNA say “thanks for coming out, goodbye?”

Creed: In regards to my release, they just did not having anything for me creative wise. So rather then holding on to me and keep me from pursuing other avenues, they decided to let me go.

Mr. C.C.: You felt it was better to do that, then just lounge around per se not doing much?

Creed: Yeah, I think at this moment in time it was the best thing for me and TNA. They are going in a new direction and I really did not fit into where they were going so it is all for the best.

Mr. C.C.: But if that was the case of going in a new direction, why did they keep Jay Lethal?

Creed: We are two totally different kinds of characters and his [character] has some use with all of the new things going on as to where mine did not. It looks like it is becoming less kid oriented and with me being super kid oriented, it just did not work out.

Mr. C.C.: Now being that TNA is trying to hit the 18-35 demographic and you being and you being oriented towards kids, have you entertained the idea of going to the WWE?

Creed: I’ve entertained the idea of wrestling wherever I would fit. As one door closes, another one opens, and wherever that next door takes me is where I will land.

Mr. C.C.: As of now, you are content to working the North American indy circuit?

Creed: Right now I’m having a blast working the worldwide indy circuit. I’ve been hitting Canada for anime/comic conventions and I’ll be heading to Japan in May. So things are working out alright for me.

Mr. C.C.: Speaking of Canada, how was Wizard World?

Creed: OMG! It was awesome! I met these guys that made a comic called “Bad Kids Go to Hell.” The only thing is that its not for kids, but if you’re old enough, then I definitely put my stamp of approval on it!

Mr. C.C: I noticed on the card you teamed with Elmo, how did that go?

Creed: That didn’t go through. I heard something about it, but I never saw Elmo [says with a sad face]. I wrestled a guy named Hornet who was from Fiji and he was really good.

Mr. C.C.: I laughed and thought it was awesome you were initially scheduled to work with Elmo.

Creed: Yeah, I hear that he is amazing in the ring! [Laughs].

Mr. C.C.: How was it getting to see other TNA stars again like Kevin Nash, former Knockout Traci Brooks, and wrestling legends like Demolition, Iron Sheik, Honky Tonk Man, among others at Wizard World?

Creed: It was nice getting the chance to see and talk to them. Finally catch up with friends after not having seen them for a while. Demolition are always great to see and they are two of the nicest guys that I have met while in wrestling. [Iron] Sheik was [Iron] Sheik which means he was awesome as usual [laughs]. It was all around a really good time.

Mr. C.C.: If invited back, you would defiantly go?

Creed: [Laughs]. I am going back next month! This time it’s Anime North, but it’s the same people running the wrestling show. So it should be another good time.

Mr. C.C.: I know Great Canadian Wrestling is know for putting on big wrestling conventions. The events they put on are very well run and professional?

Creed: This is true, they are great professional organization and sometimes that is hard to find on the indys.

Mr. C.C.: So while you have been paying your dues, you have worked for unprofessional promoters and promotions?

Creed: Wrestling is just like every other job on the planet. You are going to run into shady unprofessional people. But that’s just a part of life in general?

Mr. C.C.: Very true. Now going to back to TNA, have you watched much of TNA iMPACT, pay-per-view etc. since being released.

Creed: Yeah, of course. If you are going to be a wrestler, I feel that you need to watch as much wrestling as possible.

Mr. C.C.: The reason I asked is because other wrestlers have said they don’t watch the product, example former WWE superstars.

Creed: Got ya. Well, each person has their own thing and is going to do things differently. I still have a lot to learn about wrestling and in order to get better at something, you have to study it. Since we don’t have textbooks, watching is how I do it.

Mr. C.C.: With learning as you go and watch tapes and such, what style or wrestler do you study mostly or do you watch or everything possible?

Creed: I really watch everything I can get my hands on. There isn’t one specific style that I try to replicate, but I try to take a little from over here and a little from over there to create my own thing.

Mr. C.C.: Who was the first wrestler that inspired you to learn their style and just learn in general?

Creed: Honestly, I have no idea. I’ve wanted to wrestle for as long as I can remember, But as for favourite wrestlers, it’s 2 Cold Scorpio, Brian Pillman, and Crash Holly. There totally different guys, but they are all at the top of my list because they are/were amazing.

Mr. C.C.: Very true. The Brian Pillman DVD showed how much he absorbed the business. Is that something you are to do and continue to be a life long student of the wrestling?

Creed: Of course, I learned a lot from watching that DVD, especially the way he was able to sell himself. H wasn’t the biggest guy, but he managed to make it to the top and that was really inspiring.

Mr. C.C.: Knowing that Pillman trained at the famed Hart Family Dungeon and Stampede Wrestling, if you had the opportunity would have you have gone up to Calgary to train and follow in his footsteps?

Creed: If the opportunity arose then of course! But by no means would I do something purely because someone else has done it. I do not want to be like anyone else and I don’t want to compare myself to anyone else. I am me and I do what I what I do because that is where my life takes me.

Mr. C.C.: I feel the same way. A lot of people have compared Brian Kendrick and John Morrison as the Shawn Michaels. Is giving such a comparison sometimes setting them up for failure?

Creed: You can only be as good as you can be and I feel that you can’t compare people to others or say things like that because everyone is different in their own way. So setting them up for failure no. Both guys are great athletes and they both already shown that they are not failures in this business.

Mr. C.C.: I didn’t necessarily mean failures, but more they can’t live up to that comparison/

Creed: You can’t really rate something until it’s done because you don’t know what is going to happen along the way. Anyone could live up to the expectations of other people, but what’s important is that they live up to the expectation they set for themselves.

Mr. C.C.: That is something you live by and try to instil in your younger fans?

Creed: Yes. I believe that we are role models. When I was a kid I looked up to these wrestlers and wanted to be just like them. So regardless of what people may think and whether they want to be or not, we are role models. That means that we need to show these kids that look up to us some sort of morals, manners, and rules to live by. We can’t get in trouble in our personal lives because that effects the children that look up to us. That’s my soap box and I’ll get down before I really get going. [Laughs].

Mr. C.C.: [Laughs]. As the fans may or may not know, you are studying to get your doctorate in childhood autism, how is that going?

Creed: I’m actually doing homework while we are talking. Multitasking is one of my many talents. [Laughs]. Yeah, I’m shooting my for my PhD in educational psychology and it’s going well. I’ve got a few more years left and then you’ll have to call me Dr. Creed!!!

Mr. C.C.: You will be a real doctor unlike Dr. Stevie claims to be. I remember watching the episode of the Spin Cycle and you two went back and forth on that.

Creed: Yeah, [laughs], that was a pretty funny episode.

Mr. C.C.: Once you get your doctorate in your field of study, will you retire from wrestling or will you do both wrestle and practice educational psychology?

Creed: Retire?! NO WAY! Wrestling is my number one. My education will be there for me to land when I’m no longer able to do this stuff anymore.

Mr. C.C.: You will be the second wrestler who is a doctor that I know of. The other is Shawn Stasiuk.

Creed: He is in chiropractic something isn’t it?

Mr. C.C.: Yes, but he also has an interest in getting back into wrestling.

Creed: Got ya.

Mr. C.C.: You said that you will be heading to Japan in May. Which promotion will you be touring with?

Creed: That will be May 8th with New Japan [Pro Wrestling]. And I will begin teaming with Kota Ibushi in a tag team tournament. This will be my first time going to Japan and I’ve been gunning for it a while now. From what I hear, it is awesome over there. They have video games, anime, and pro wrestling. My three favourite things!!!

Mr. C.C.: Kota Ibushi is very good in he ring. I seen a match he did in Chikara with Jigsaw, El Generico, and one of the Young Bucks. It was very good.

Creed: His high flying abilities are through the roof!

Mr. C.C.: Yes they are and you will make a unique pair. But this tournament is an annual tag team tournament?

Creed: Yes, from what I understand, this will be an annual thing and this is the first year!

Mr. C.C.: So you are making history by participating in the first one. What is the name of the tournament?

Creed: It’s the Super J Tag Tournament or Super J Tag Cup/Super J-Cup.

Mr. C.C.: From what I am reading, this tournament is a companion to the Super J-Cup.

Creed: Yeah, it’s the companion tournament. Same concept, but just tag teams instead of singles.

Mr. C.C.: Should be a great tournament for both singles and tag teams. Aside from Japan, have you got any offers to wrestle in Europe, UK, Mexico, etc.?

Creed: Possibly going to France, possibly, but other than the Japan show and my Canadian stuff, I have not set up any other international shows. But all my information can be found at GoCreedGo.com and on my Twitter @AustinCreed.

Mr. C.C.: In France, would you be working with NWA France (ICWA) or NWE?

Creed: Not sure, but I’ll be sure to let everyone know if things come through.

Mr. C.C.: Alright. Word association. I will name some people an you say the first thing that comes to mind.

Creed: Got it.

Mr. C.C.: Jeff Jarrett.

Creed: Guitar

Mr. C.C.: Jay Lethal.

Creed: Oh yeah!

Mr. C.C.: Dixie Carter.

Creed: TNA.

Mr. C.C.: Jim Cornette.

Creed: Tennis racquet.

Mr. C.C.: Beer Money, Inc..

Creed: Drunk.

Mr. C.C.: Since I know you talk to him on Twitter, Jesse Neal.

Creed: NO MERCY!

Mr. C.C.: A.J. Styles.

Creed: Dropkick.

Mr. C.C.: Vince Russo.

Creed: Beard.

Mr. C.C.: Hermie Sadler.

Creed: Nice.

Mr. C.C.: Kevin Nash

Creed: Hilarious.

Mr. C.C.: Rob Terry.

Creed: Large.

Mr. C.C.: Brutus Magnus.

Creed: British.

Mr. C.C.: Doug Williams.

Creed: Uppercut.

Mr. C.C.: Finally, Christopher Daniels.

Creed: Leader.

Mr. C.C.: Anything you would like to plug like upcoming shows and whatnot?

Creed: Just go to the website, GoCreedGo.com and the Twitter @XavierWoodsPhD.

Mr. C.C.: Well, thanks for your time and good luck with your studies and continued success in wrestling.

Creed: No problem, thank you for the interview.

Website: GoCreedGo.com
Twitter: @XavierWoodsPhD
MySpace: MySpace.com/mountzero

Note: This interview was conducted in April of 2010 and since then, Creed has signed a WWE developmental deal. He is now under the name Xavier Woods.