I recently conducted an interview w Friend and NE indy wrestler Spider. WE hope you enjoy the interview, and would appreciate CONSTRUCTIVE responses on the content of the interview. Thanks ..Gray Ghost..
1. What attracted you to becoming a professional wrestler?
I saw Wrestlemania 7 and I was hooked. There was just something about it. Then I saw SummerSlam of the same year, where Bret Hart beat Curt Hennig for the IC title. It was a heck of a match and it's where I really became a Bret Hart fan. If I had to pick one wrestler I model myself after, both professionally, and personally, it's Bret Hart.
2. Who trained you and whom do you consider your greatest influences in the business today?
Bert Centano trained me. He's been in the business like 20 years including time spent in the WWF. He's a excellent old school worker. As for current guys that have influenced me, Chris Daniels is amazing. Speaking of "Amazing", Red is awesome as well. Mike Quackenbush and his students impress me a great deal, cause it's a style you don't see in the US really. I did a training camp with Dr. Tom Pritchard which helped me out with tag team psychology as well as a camp with Mexican legend, Skayde. In addition, Petey Williams, Jerrelle Clark, and Kazarian are all awesome and DEFINITELY worth watching.
3. Who do you feel your toughest opponent has been?
That's a hard question because there are different kinds of tough. Mike Quackenbush was my toughest opponent to keep up with. He's in amazing cardio shape and is SO quick. Azreal was my toughest opponent physically because it was when i was still learning the biz, and screwing stuff up and I got hit SO hard by him a couple times I didn't know where I was. I deserved it though and hold no grudge against him. Psychlogically my toughest was when i was told I had to wrestle XPW's Supreme. He is one of the most intimidating people I've seen in the business and it was scary that I had to face a man with such a hardcore reputation who also outweighed me by about 200 pounds.
4. Who have you enjoyed working with in the ring the most?
Quackenbush was really fun, but I was umprepared for him in actuallity. I would love to work him again now that I know more of what to expect. It was also awesome to be in the rin with Mikey Whipwreck. I also love working with Luis Ortiz, Gran Akuma, Nocturne, Dave Cole, and I've had good matches with J-Busta as well.
5. What kind of training do you do to prepare for upcoming matches?
I try to get in a ring as much as possible. It's tough because there are no
schools open in Connecticut. I train in Worcester with Jay Jaillet and those Mass guys some times. I also go to the Loomis Arena in Plainfield, CT when I can. I try to stay in the best cardio shape I can and work out to keep what little muscle I have toned. I also study tapes. That's very important. It's the only way to know what else is going on in the pro wrestling world right now.
6. Youve worked for a lot of promotions around, do you have any particular favorites, and why?
Yes, I have. I've worked in CT, Mass, RI, NY, PA, NJ and FL. My favorite promotions to work for have been CCW, NAWF (back in the day), LXW, and WXW. I hope to work for PWF: NE in the near future, and when Powerhouse runs I've been put in good matches and given a chance to shine.
7. Are there any promotions in the NE that you havent worked for, who you'd really like to?
See # 6... No, just kidding. In addition to PWF: NE, I never got the chance to work for NECW. I would also like to get to EWA and possibly Chaotic. I need to get better though for CW for sure. And ROH and TNA are always a goal to work at.
8. Besides the actual match itself, what else do you like about working in the indys?
I like the interactivity with the fans. I like how the crowds and buildings are small (but not too small) - it makes everything more intimate and gives the shows a totally different feel from any wrestling you watch on TV.
9. IF you could give some brief advice to someone just beginning training, what would it be?
Get trained the right way. I've gonna shoot here, and I don't do this often. There are some guys like the Fortified Hooligan, Johnny Trendy, Joshua Jax, Snake Brody, Donnie Camaro, and others who are obviously not trained. There are also a couple guys who have been partially trained but then left the school they were at to try and wrestle pro and then went back to backyard wrestling. These guys are all pathetic if you ask me. I used to do backyard wrestling too. I'm not proud of it, but it sure was fun at the time. But when I wanted to wrestle FOR REAL, I went and I paid my hard-earned money and I got trained. When I was ready I started working shows a little at a time and continued to improve. I'm sick of seeing these "pro-wrestlers" who are not professional in any way. They bring the quality of the shows down. If anyone remembers the X-Boku show from Danbury, about pne third of the people on the show didn't belong in a ring. If you wanna be a pro wrestler, get trained the right way, learn respect for wrestlers and the business and work shows when you're ready. Phew that was long winded....
10. What are your future goals in wrestling?. Where do you see yourself in say..three years?
Well, my main goal is to continue to entertain. Obviously some mini goals are to work for the feds I named above. I just want to wrestle as much as possible and learn as much as possible. I hope to keep everyone who sees me entertained and enjoying my matches. TNA or ROH are a reasonable goal for the next 3 years, and ultimately WWE is every worker's goal. In addition I would like to travel. Maybe Mexico or Japan to wrestle - as well as some new US states. We'll see where everything goes.
Id Like to thank Spider for his time and candor in answering these questions. Check out Spiders Website for more
http://www.geocities.com/danquirk/
