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CAGEMATCH: Thank you for giving us from www.cagematch.de the chance to ask some questions.
B-BOY: Not a problem... shoot away
CAGEMATCH: What first made you want to get into pro wrestling? Were you a wrestling fan growing up? When did you say, "That is what I want to do"? And what did your family/friends say about that?
B-BOY: Well first off, I've always been a fan since I was like 2 years old or something. So that should answer both of your first questions. It's like any other story that you hear ya know, always had a dream of doing it, plus I was in the wrong crowd so I also needed something positive in my life, So I decided to myself, to live out a dream.... Concerning family and friends, my father was like why are you going to do that, while my mother was all for it. My friends actually didn't believe me when I told them, but the some that did believe gave me their full support.
CAGEMATCH: You started wrestling in August of 1998. Where did you get trained and what did you feel after your first week? Was it hard to start wrestling?
B-BOY: I first got started out here in San Diego, well actually Oceanside about 40 minutes up north from where I was raised is where it was. ... The first week was hard, we actually did cardio before we even got into a ring, I first trained on like mats ... getting the bump down and such, the first week I had like stingers around my neck and back due to the initial shock, just trying to get my back used to it. My chest was always like a dark blue/purple color due to the chops... I mean it looked like I was in a car wreck each day, but I kept coming back. It was pretty hard, due to the financial aspect of the training center and me working fulltime, as well as going to college.
CAGEMATCH: You had a lot of different trainers in your career. Who had the most influence on your style and attitude?
B-BOY: I think each and every one of my trainers have had a big influence on my style of working. So it's really hard to just decide on one. Training and learning more about wrestling is like a life long process, you can always learn and train, everybody can bring something new to the game, you just have to have a open mind and take in everybody's knowledge.
CAGEMATCH: What was it like to be in the ring as a wrestler, for the first time (after just a couple months of training)? Was it exciting or was it hard for you to wrestle in front of a live crowd?
B-BOY: The first match I had I was very nervous, but at the same time my adrenaline picked up, I was focused and I loved each and every moment. To work in front of a live crowd I have to admit was nerve wrecking but during the match it kinda dissolved and I was more focused on just doing my job... So I guess to answer that question It was more exciting then hard for me.
CAGEMATCH: The casual wrestling fan (in Germany) doesn’t know much about Independent wrestling and especially in SoCal (South California). The names of Super Dragon, Frankie Kazarian, Cheerleader Melissa and of course B-Boy come to mind. Can you give us a brief overview about the wrestling scene in the state of California?
B-BOY: The overview of the scene out here in California is actually really good. There is so much untapped talent that is surfacing nowadays here in Socal and Norcal but gets no real attention due to the east coast being primarily the top place to be, not to mention most of the wrestling media is out there as well. Like I said out here in Cali there is so much to learn and there are so much styles that a lot of people know as in lucha/strong style/traditional.... I mean it's everything you can see from any other promotion.... but a lot of workers out here are not seen which is ashame.
CAGEMATCH: You wrestled several times for a promotion called All Pro Wrestling. How did you get involved in them and what is your impression of this well known promotion?
B-BOY: I actually started with them in I believe 2000... did a couple of shows and they never called back.... the beginning of 2003 though things started to change... with all the apw merges in the Cali area, they started coming to the shows APW LA or GSCW , was when they first saw me I believe and I guess they liked what they saw and started booking me more often. For the most part it's been good, they have treated me good so I got no complaints.
CAGEMATCH: You currently are the titleholder of the APW WorldWide Internet Championship. You've held several titles in your career. Is "wearing a championship belt" or "being a champion" something special for you?
B-BOY: Being a champion is something that holds an honor, it basically says that your a cornerstone of a promotion, so u can say it's special to me, cause it's an honor for a promotion to give that much trust in you.
CAGEMATCH: Before you began working for CZW it was kind of "when you say B-Boy you automatically say Super Dragon as well". You guys had some of the best matches in SoCal since 2001. What do you think about your feud/matches with him and what do you think of the person "behind the mask"?
B-BOY: The fued with Dragon is always there... A lot of fans say that we are the top two in Cali and it changes on who's one each year... The fued is an ongoing fued that will probably keep going to one of us is done with wrestling. He has been one of my best opponents to step in the ring with. The person behind the mask is cool, we get along and there isn't no jealousy between us at all, so you can say that we are buddies.
CAGEMATCH: Now let's talk about the CZW. How did you get involved with them and what do you think about the promotion after wrestling there for nearly one whole year?
B-BOY: I got involved with them thru me persisting and asking Zandig to book me, he finally did for Best of the Best 2, I told myself that I need to give a good performance going into it and I tried my hardest... and after Best of the Best I finally came back at Cage of Death 4.... Zandig was more impressed with me at Cage of Death and invited me into the locker room fulltime in February. The promotion to me is one of the best I've ever worked for. The whole locker room made me feel part of the family and they have helped me through bad times... I feel I owe CZW, because that is one promotion that really has helped my career.
CAGEMATCH: It seems that 2003 was your "breakthrough" year as you get more and more bookings outside of California. Did you expect something like this when you learned about your booking at CZWs Best of the Best in 2002?
B-BOY: Not at all.. I honestly thought that I would be still in Cali trying to get to all these places. I guess I have been real fortunate and lucky that I have had these breaks and been able to keep the ball rolling ya know. I guess I can honestly say that I'm very very lucky.
CAGEMATCH: Let's move back to the west coast and to Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. How did you get involved with them and what do you think about the promotion after wrestling there several times? Do you think PWG can become a major promotion in the independent circus?
B-BOY: PWG is ran by a couple of buddies of mine, I was skeptical at first cause there is so many co promoters to it that I thought there would be heat amongst them... but there really hasn't. I got involved with them cause like I said earlier, all the guys who runs it are my buddies and I love working for them when I can, My insight on PWG is that they are starting something good, they have invovled good angles, they have good matches I mean who knows where it can go ya know, hopefully it'll be a major force in indy wrestling and I honesty think with the push it's been getting that it could really be one.
CAGEMATCH: You got the opportunity to wrestle in IWA's Ted Petty Invitational 2003. What are your thoughts on the tournament itself and your performance, especially against Chris Hero, which many fans saw as a Match of the Year 2003 candidate?
B-BOY: The tournament itself was a success, one of the best shows I've been on, the amount of talent that was on the itself was unbelievable. With my performance on the tourney, I'm never really happy with myself, I'm my own biggest critic, but I was happy with my matches throughout the tourney. Hero is a really really good worker, whoever hasn't seen Hero work is like living under a rock to tell you the truth.. The man's got skills, but I was very pleased with the match with Hero and is one of my best to date. I'm very humble when people look back at that specific match and call it a match of the year candidate.
CAGEMATCH: What are your future plans? WWE? Japan? NWA TNA?
B-BOY: My plans right now is to keep having fun and doing what I love to do. WWE isn't the thing for me so I wouldn't say that, Japan is a definite goal, and TNA would be a good plan as well. I'm just very content with the way things are going right now and I just don't wanna jinx it at all.... I think the main future plan is to keep doing what I love to do and get paid well doing it.
CAGEMATCH: What do you think about the fans? Do you feel fans today are too demanding? Is it to much "we want more high spots and bumps"?
B-BOY: Fans today is too demanding, but then again some fans are actually starting to lighten up. My take on fans nowadays is simple, they pay to see you wrestle so I think they should should be appreciative of the work you do in the ring, some fans are very subjective on the matter and are all about there own opinons which is cool, but don't see the whole picture and lately fans are starting to figure it out. Of course your gonna have fans that would see the high spots and big bumps like that, but if you notice workers these days are getting hurt, espcially this year, doing those....It's just overall opinon and your cup of tea so to speak.
CAGEMATCH: What was the funniest story you've experienced inside a wrestling ring/locker room?
B-BOY: Ah... I have many but what happens in the ring/locker room stays in the ring/locker room.... so sorry I can't answer that, I do not want to violate anyone's privacy.
CAGEMATCH: Now we are just a couple of weeks away from your first trip to Germany. Did you expect to travel to Germany this soon in your career? And what did you think when you first heard, that you'll travel to Europe?
B-BOY: Umm Europe is actually a circuit I've been wanting to go for.... like the UK and Germany. I didn't expect to be booked so soon, I finally emailed the guy and he sent me some dates and everything was crazy and next thing I know I'm booked on the trip. It is gonna be damn fun when I do head out there and I'm looking forward to it as well, by the way if you know any good bars or clubs in Essen make sure to holla at me at the show and let me know!!!
CAGEMATCH: You'll wrestle for Westside Xtreme Wrestling at their "... and then we called 187" show on January 31th. As I've said you've never been at an real european wrestling show (except CZW's Shockwave), so what do you expect from wXw, the show and the fans?
B-BOY: I don't know what to expect, hell someone told me I have fans over in Germany, and I was like "how do they even know me?" I'm just expecting to do my job for the promotion and hopefully entertain the fans while I'm out there.
CAGEMATCH: Is there anything you want to say to your German fans?
B-BOY: I just wanna say thanks for the support, every little bit helps any wrestler. It's been a crazy road for me becoming a wrestler and now I can honestly say that I'm happy and thanks to the fans in the US and now Europe I hope to continue to entertain you guys. I hope I do well at the show on the 31st and once again just thanks for the support.
CAGEMATCH: That's it for now. Thanks a lot for answering our questions! For now we wish you all the best for your trip and some of us will see you in Essen.
B-BOY: Thank you... like I said hit me up about the club or bars close by!!!!! Essen be ready The New Age Punisher is coming........
WORD ASSOCIATIONS
Super Dragon: Cool in a murderous way.
"Wrestling is fake!": Fuck people who say that
HiV: One of the most dominant stables in wrestling
"Strong Style": Stiff
619: My Home
John Zandig: My Boss, good man....
Shining Wizard: ouch!!!!
Sports Entertainment:What I do for a living
