No Punches Pulled with John Curse

[Robert Lotti]

Welcome to another edition of the No Punches Pulled interview series. The series returns with the man who made NYWC possible John Curse.

RL: Were you a wrestling fan growing up?
JC: I was a huge wrestling fan when I was a kid. I think it was around 1974 when I first discovered WWWF. I would watch it on Saturday nights at midnight. At one point I got in trouble for staying up so late and would hide the TV under my blanket and watch. Wrestling was so different back then. Chief Jay Strongbow was my favorite, Bruno Sammartino was a close second. I was iinto wrestling a lot more than my friends. Johnny Ave was a close second follwed by Dirty Lou Belluci.

RL: When did you decide you were going to get into wrestling?
JC: It was sometime around late 1995 when I discovered ECW and this rekindled my love of wrestling. I was blown away by it. I never thought I was big enough. I knew I was tough and strong and had an amateur wrestling background and some martial arts training. I made it through Marine Corps bootcamp. So I knew physically and mentally I could handle it. I had it embedded in my mind that you had to be over 6', and then I saw Mikey Whipwreck who was roughly the same size as me and it was like, yeah I can do this too.

RL: How did you discover the ECW House Of Hardcore school?
JC: I found the HOH actually before it even opened. One of my co-workers was a neighbor of Taz and got me in touch with him. I remember the phone call well. We discussed weight training, my sports background, a lot of different things. So I was on board from the start. I was the first student at the HOH, wasn't really thinking I was going to start that day when I signed up so I didn't have gear with me. Taz & Perry Saturn asked if I wanted to start that day so I ran out and bought shorts and sneakers and started.

RL: What were your inital impression of Taz & Saturn?
JC: They're both very intimidating. They weren't there to make friends. It was all business. They were great teachers. I learned the old school way. Basically I go the shit beat out of me on a regular basis but I wouldn't have it any other way and I'm glad these are the men that trained me. You can say that if it weren't for them there would be no NYWC and that is a fact.

RL: How tough was the training?
JC: My training was brutal. Marine Corps bootcamp and my amateur wrestling training helpe me get through this.

[jcurse]

All the spelling/ grammar errors were not on the interview I sent back. You should copy and paste my responses. Did you actually retype everything?

[Robert Lotti]

Aug 1, 2013 2:11:04 GMT -5 jcurse said:

All the spelling/ grammar errors were not on the interview I sent back. You should copy and paste my responses. Did you actually retype everything?

It's fixed.

[Robert Lotti]

RL: What are your memories of Chris Chetti?
JC: He was very quiet when he started. At the HOH it was Pat Smith and myself as the first two students and Chetti, Danny Doring, & Roadkill all started shortly afterwards. Chetti really kept to himself in the beginning, I remember him always reading books fo school. I was like 31 at the time and the rest were like 18-20. Pat told me that he was Taz' nephew through marriage and Chetti was his cousin. I was like "wtf am I the only one not realted to Taz"? But chetti was awesome once he started talking and once you get to know him he's very funny.

RL: What are your memories of Danny Doring & Roadkill?
JC: Great tag team. I'm glad they did well and am proud to have trained with them.

RL: What are your memories of Tom Marquez?
JC: He was a pretty intense guy in the ring, kind of like a Taz Light.

RL: What are your memories of appearing on Monday Night Raw back in 1997?
JC: Dream come true. My boss almost didn't let me take off for this. I remember Tommy Dreamer how he had been wrestling for years yet the Team Taz guys were going to be on Raw before him.

RL: What are your memories of ECW Barely Legal?
JC: Draeam come true. I'm honored to have played a small part in the history of ECW and appear on their first PPV.

[Robert Lotti]

RL: What are your memories of Mikey Whipwreck back then?
JC: Mikey was always a role model. He also helped train me. He was and still is one of my favorite people in wrestling.

RL: What are your memories of Sabu?
JC: Tough, crazy. For the record on Raw, it was Tommy Dreamer's friend Don, who was part of Team Taz that missed Sabu when he jumped(fell) on the R.

RL: What are your memories of Rob Van Dam?
JC: Talented.

RL: What are your memories of Tommy Dreamer?
JC: He was always very encouraging to myself and the guys I trained with. He also helped train me. He always gave 100% in his matches, I remember one show where he was in so much pain he had to walk out of the building hunched over an office chair.

RL: What are your memories of The Sandman?
JC: I had to carry a cooler full of Budweiser and Vodka for him once and was amazed at how much he drank before his match.

[Robert Lotti]

RL: How did Critical Mass Pro Wrestling come about?
JC: The wrestling faction? I have no idea, I wasn't a part of it. The school, I was asked to open a school with a couple of guys.

RL: What are your memories of Mike Mayhem?
JC: Talented, but had his demons. Had he stayed focused he would have made a name for himself.

RL: What are your memories of Dickie Rodz?
JC: He's like a son to me. He helped put us on the map. However sometimes I'd like to kick the crap out of him. He's an integral part of NYWC's history.

RL: What are your memories of Tyler Payne?
JC: Awesome guy, I miss him. He's one of the reasons we are still around today. Helped pick up a lot of the slack for me in the early days and I am forever grateful.

RL: What are your memories of Ru Star Pat Buck?
JC: Ambitious.

RL: What are your memories of Johnny Ova?
JC: Misguided.

RL: What are your memories of Mason Raige?
JC: He was the NYWC big man back in the day. He was intense. I wish he was still around.

RL: What are your memories of Brian Myers & Brett Matthews?
JC: Two guys you knew would make it. I'm very proud of them and happy for them also.

RL: What are your memories of Diabolico?
JC: Short, and he had a Rolex.

RL: What are your memories of Chief Dudley?
JC: Great guy always smiling. He was a tough SOB. Always happy to see him.

RL: What are your memories of Ref Andre?
JC: Dezante, miss having him around.

[jcurse]

Again, the new spelling and grammar errors are not due to me. There are also a few missing words. What gives? What gives?

[Robert Lotti]

This is what happens when I'm in a hurry.

[Robert Lotti]

RL: How did you end up partnering up with Greg Stengel?
JC: We had a promotion with no building, he had a building with no promotion. Seemed like a good fit at the time.

RL: What are your memories of Mike Mondo?
JC: Our first graduate to go to the WWE. I'm very proud of him. He's my friend, and always will be. His first day in the ring he looked like he had been training for years. He's a natural.

RL: What are your memories of Ken Scampi?
JC: Liked the Fisherman gimmick. He's smarter than he looks.

RL: What are your memories of Dan Barry?
JC: He's another one of the NYWC originals. We wouldn't be around if it wasn't for him.

RL: What are your memories of Nick Noshus?
JC: Almost destroyed NYWC.

RL: What are your memories of Souther Vinny Stylin'?
JC: He was one of the funniest guys around.

RL: What are your memories of Nuke?
JC: Very talented.

RL: What are your memories of Lamar Braxton Porter?
JC: Very athletic. He's a Dr.

[Robert Lotti]

RL: How did the name NYWC come about?
JC: My former partner came up with it, I never liked the name but I guess we're stuck with it now.

RL: When did you think NYWC became a force on the indies?
JC: Are we? I think if I was looking at NYWC from the outside I might feel that way but to me it's NYWC and what we do.

RL: What are your memories of Tommy King?
JC: Perfectionist. "Tommy King will not put his name on shit."

RL: What are your memories of Tony Burma?
JC: One of my favorites. I wish he would come back already.

RL: What are your memories of Foxy Foxxy & Damien Dragon?
JC: They were cool.

RL: How did things change when Mikey & Shane came aboard?
JC: Shane came aboard first, he saw a bright future with NYWC, and he brought Mikey along for the ride. We've all been a part of NYWC for over 10 years now.

[Robert Lotti]

RL: What led to NYWC to leave Deer Park Community Center?
JC: Greed on the part of the DPCC.

RL: How did you react when Frank Goodman bashed NYWC?
JC: It was funny to us. It made us work a little harder. Business was good for both companies.

RL: Do you think he feared competition?
JC: Not at all.

RL: What stands out as NYWC's greatest times?
JC: Whenever one of our guys gets signed to a contract.

RL: What led to other companies having shows at the sportatorium?
JC: We have a building that for the most part is unused. So instead of wasting it we've decided to work with other companies instead of against them.

RL: Do you see NYWC as a developmental territory for WWE or TNA?
JC: No, for the simple fact that it's too expensive to live out here compared to other areas of the country. Guys under developmental contracts are not getting crazy money so I believe WWE chooses areas where the cost of living is somewhat lower to run their developmental systems.

RL: Word Association-Mikey Whipwreck
JC: Pal

RL: Shane
JC: Little brother

RL: Crusher Doogan
JC: Pal

RL: Steve Forge
JC: Big dog

RL: Brian Vitko
JC: One of my best friends.

RL: Appolyon
JC: Big dog. Moves like a cruiserweight. Should be in WWE.

RL: Stockade
JC: Very talented

RL: Alvin Alvarez
JC: Kiss Army

RL: Big O
JC: Would give you the Big O shirt off his back. He's a good friend.

RL: Tony Nese
JC: Really is The Premier Athlete. Helped elevate NYWC.

RL: DJ Phat Pat
JC: Another big guy doing stuff that I didn't think was possible.

RL: Spyder
JC: Wanker

RL: King Mega
JC: Sophisticated gentlemen. He's awesome I would hang out with him and not have to talk about wrestling.

RL: Starlets
JC: Need more of them.

RL: Alex Reynolds
JC: Very talented. Should be signed.

RL: John Silver
JC: Very talnted, should be signed, I should be nicer to him. At least he knows who would be better for his Mom.

RL: FTW
JC: Earl Cooter is awesome. I like working with him.

RL: ICW
JC: Solid shows

RL: ACE
JC: Mike Morgan is great and puts on good shows. He's good to the boys and it's a good palce for them to work.

RL: Vinny The Guido
JC: Annoying

RL: Arwen Guerra(original NYWC fan)
JC: damn she has a nice butt. She's very talented. I'm always impressed by her work.

RL: Robert Lotti
JC: What's in the rolling suitcase? Loyal fan. Love his reviews. I find them to be pretty accurate.

RL: Sean "The Mic" McCaffrey
JC: I need to go out drinking with him. Wish he was till involved in wrestling.

RL: Larry Legend
JC: The best announcer around.

RL: What are your thoughts on people who fake post on message boards?
JC: Entertaining. I'm an adult. I'm not really to bothered by fake posts.

RL: What are your thoughts on the NYWC message board?
JC: Needs more followers. Without the NYWC message board who know where we would be today?

RL: Where do you see NYWC go from here?
JC: To a bigger platform where more people can watch NYWC.

RL: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
JC: Working at Taco Bell.

RL: Is there anything you'd like to say to the fans?
JC: Thanks for supporting us. We're working on the website so be patient. We try to keep our fans happy. There's a lot that goes into running a school, and a promotion, and we all have jobs and families outside of NYWC. A lot of things change from one show to the next, things don't always go as planned but we always give you a solid show, one of the best in the country, regardless of what matches are announced or not. We will continue to improve our product and grow as a company.

Most of the NYWC roster and fans would like to ask Robert Lotti a question. What's in the rolling suitcase you bring to shows? What gives Robert?

RL: As most know in the bag is a megaphone, notebook, CD player, & a pack of CDs. Thank you for the trip down Nostalgia Avenue John.