|
Post by Robert Lotti on Oct 6, 2013 14:00:13 GMT -5
Welcome to another edition of the No Punches Pulled interview series. In this edition, it's former NYWC tag team champion Syther.
RL: Were you a wrestling fan growing up? S: Absolutely! Still wearing that Shawn Michaels hat?
RL: Haven't worn it lately. At what point did you decide you were going to be a wrestler? S: April 27th 1992 I was three years old and I remember watching The Berseker(no, not Stcokade) try to stab The Undertaker(again, not Stockade) with his sword. Surprisingly, that made me want to be a wrestler, not a viking.
RL: How did you discover the NYWC academy? S: NYWC alumni Gary Bodenburg aka Nick Noshus/Iceberg, was a teacher a my high school and after reading an article in the paper about the wrestling school, my 10th grade English teacher encouraged me to speak with him. I did and started training a few months later.
RL: What were your initial impressions of Mikey Whipwreck & Curse? S: I was scared shitless of Mikey and still am to an extent nowadays. He commanded more respect than my own father did which made me fear for my life. What was cool, was that he took me outside and showed me the trap door for the ECW ring the session before I started training. My first memories of Curse are him walking around the Deer Park Community Center in a speedo lubed up with self-tanner.
RL: How hard was training? S: Harder than anybody could imagine. You don't know what it takes to be in the business until you actually try it for yourself. Mikey took training very seriously and ran it like a boot camp from the cardio all the way to the in-ring drills. There were countless times I would actually be sick to my stomach on the car ride to training.
RL: What are your memories of your debut with Joe Etell & Matt Conners against King Mega in December 2006? S: That was cool. I was the time keeper at the time and when I stood up and ripped my button down shirt off, I couldn't believe the pop I actually got. I bumped like a champ for Mega and looking back on that match you could tell who was going to stick around.
RL: What are your memories of Joker's Wild battle royall at Psycho Circus 2007? S: I went chop for chop with Eddie Guapo and gained his respect. Oh yeah I think Spyder did a top rope move in the corner and hurt Stockade's foot LOL.
RL: What are your memories of your match with Mikey at Aftermath 2007? S: Again it was Mikey, so I was scared. On top of that it was my first singles match in front of the main crowd and we were opening match. The pressure was on, but I managed to bump around well for Mikey. He blew out his knee giving me a superkick too, so we had to end the match prematurely. But Mikey granted my wish and beat me with a top rope whipper snapper.
|
|
|
Post by Robert Lotti on Oct 7, 2013 20:03:23 GMT -5
RL: What are your memoeries of Dirty Rednex? S: They were the frist opponents for the Black Circle and it was fun to work with them. Had both teams been more in tune with their characters at the time, the matches would have been better. The Rednex get a bad rap though, they got more heat than anybody at the time. Dirty Moore was good on the stick and Dirty Vinny masturbates in tanning beds.
RL: What are your memories of Dan Dynasty & Jamie Van Lemer? S: I always insisted that they should have had the lucky charms marshmellows as designs on their tights. They were fun to work, but it was hard being the greenest wrestler in the ring during those matches. By far our second match with them was bettr than the first. Again had The Black Circle come into its own faster, the matches would have been 10 times better. Van Lemer was the best smelling wrestler I have ever got in the ring with, but was slippery as hell because of that damn tanning oil. Oh and Dynasty is a USED TA BEE!!
RL: What are your memories of Angus Brothers? S: Not the smartest people in the world lol....But I will admit that our tag match with them at the Evening Fo Evelyn show was one of my favorite tag matches. The lighting made that building seem like MSG and that felt amazing. The only problem was that we botched the finish. Who picks someone up for a doomsday device from a fireman's carry position?
RL: What are your memories of Mike Spinelli? S: Firstly let me just thank Spinelli fo the kind words in his edition of No Punches Pulled. I remember Spinelli giving me a hard time when I first started until he realized that I wasn't going anywhere and then I gained his respect. Too bad the two black and green guys never got a chance to work each other. I picture having a hardcore match with Spinelli to be similar as donating blood with Spinelli.
RL: What are your memories of Prince Nana & King Mega? S: This was my first experience with working with somebody(Nana) who had been around the indy scene for such a long time. He was professional and open to any suggestions. The match we had with them was a lot of fun.
RL: What are your memories of a 3 way match with John Silver & Dirty Joe? S: Three way matches are very hard and we were the opening match, but we managed to pull it off well. I remember doing a Whisper In The Wind to everyone on the outside. Eugen didn't like that too much, oh well.
RL: What are your memories of winning the NYWC tag team title from Dead Presidents? S: It was Los Lunatics, megaphone boy! You still carrying that thing aorund? They made me specifically work my ass off in that match. I got victim kicked so many times that I couldn't sit down to take a shit for days. But it was definitely nice of the company gives the titles to a team that was so over at the time.
RL: I still do bring the megaphone to the shows. What are your memories of Blake Morris & Mike Reed? S: The tag matches we had with them were great, both in Ronkonkoma and in Deer Park. Mike Reed was so easy to work with and Blake Morris was always very talented. I'm actually glad to see Morris is back working with NYWC. It will definitely add some flavor to the shows.
|
|
|
Post by Robert Lotti on Oct 8, 2013 20:47:22 GMT -5
RL: What are your memories of Psycho Circus back in December 2008? S: My first Psycho Circus. I remember hitting Alex Reynolds as hard as I could with a trash can. Getting thrown through the jack in the box was absolutely insane and apparently it was a good idea to have the nails sticking through the inside of that jack in the box.
RL: What are your memories of your match with King Mega at Aftermath 2009? S: That was first singles title match. I remember watching Yokozuna vs. 1-2-3 Kid mathes to get ideas. The crowd reaction was great especially when I got thrown over the top rope through a table. Mega & I both agree that it was a great match. I need to see it again.
RL: What are your memories of the 4 way ladder match at Straps & Ladders? S: One of the best main events in NYWC history. All eight of us prepared for that match so much and we beat each other senseless. I almost killed Manny Martinez when I gave him an electric chair though a ladder HAHA. Fortunately for him, Crusher Doogan fixed the ladder seconds before he came crashing down.
RL: What are your memories of Celtic Saints? S: Stockade & I worked with these guys so much, but never in a regular tag match on a show, which would have been the best. I loved working with both Mike and Kieran but after repeated clotheslines from Mike, I'm glad he became a singles wrestler after I left! Seriously, Irish Mike is such a down to earth nice guy who didn't take shit from anybody either.
RL: What are your memories of Naturally Fly Latinos? S: Working with all those Mexicans was fun, whether it was Manny, Spyder, Benny, or Victor Cruz. Spyder taught me how to do the Tito Santana flying forearm and made my Syther design come to life on my tights.
RL: What are your memories of your match with Francis Kipland Stevens? S: I always enjoyed working with Francis....and pissing him off outside the ring lol. The match we had was really good too, except the match went so much longer than it was supposed to. Should have been more gimmick..less wrestling.
RL: What are your memories of feuding with Stockade? S: Not much because of all the damn concusiions...just kidding. There is no better definition of what it means to be "married" to some one in this business. Ever since I started wrestling on shows I was working with Stockade. No doubt about it when we first worked together we didn't exactly see eye to eye. Our wrestling styles differed vastly and it definitely showed in all our matches. Nevertheless i'd like to think that we learned a lot from one another. First we teamed together as The Black Circle. We did that for years, getting to win the tag team belts and working with every tag team in NYWC at the time. For the reaminder of my tenure in NYWC we feuded with each other. I think both he and I would agree that at times we wish worked anybody but each other, not to mention I was tired of getting the shit beat out of me.
|
|
|
Post by Robert Lotti on Oct 9, 2013 18:57:15 GMT -5
RL: Whar are your memories of Daemon Crowley? S: I loved working with him. He always listened. The singles match I had with in Por Jefferson was one of my favorites, but the three way with Tony Burma in Port Jeff left a deep purple scar on my ass because he decided to press slam me over the tope rope into the guardrail. I wish he was still around, he could have been great.
RL: What are your memories of Appolyon? S: Ask my dentist!! Appolyon knocked two of my teeth out as well as beat the living hell out of me. Both singles matches I've had with him were great though. He hits hard and is so agile for a big man, but outside the ring he's a teddy bear.
RL: What are your memories of your match with Azrieal? S: Great match. The opening spot was absolutely ridiculous yet funny. It was also the first time ina while that I actually won a match too.
RL: What are your memories of teaming with Tommy Dreamer & Quiet Storm against Rex Lawless, Appolyon, & Azrieal? S: Tommy Dreamer doesn't understand what a Syther is??......
RL: What are your memories of winning the NYWC tag team title with Mikey? S: I had a black and green American flag painted on my face because it was September 11th and my Dad suggested to me the finish we should do for that match, which we did. That match was great and a lot of fun. I wish I could see it again.
RL: What are your memories of Big Time Rush? S: Always fun working with them. I can't do th things Ryan Rush does in the ring, and most of the time he can't either! Oh and Tony Burma's wedding was the best wedding I have ever been to.
RL: What are your memories of the three way match in ACE Pro Wrestling with Spyral & Brolly? S: That was a great experience. That was my first appearance for an outside company. Travelling with Bruno Marciano and Azrieal was fun. At first I'm sure the other workers didn't know what to make of me, but at the end of the night they accepted me. The Dirty Rotten Scoundrels are hilarious. The match itself was fun and the crowd enjoyed it. I should have never taken that flipping Styles Clash from Spyral though.
|
|
|
Post by Robert Lotti on Oct 10, 2013 21:04:37 GMT -5
RL: What are your memories of House Of Madness 2010? S: That match was fun. The Jigga Jigga on top of a pile chairs from Burma was great.
RL: What are your memories of losing the tag team titl to All Money Is Legal? S: That match itself was okay and the finish was an absolute clusterfuck but Tom Pritchard liked me in that so I reall can't complain too much.
RL: What are your memories of Psycho Circus 2011? S: Starting out that Circus with Rex was great. I smashed him in the face with the wonrg end of the chair LOL. Oh well, I'm sure I didn't do that much damage. Gettting Ric Flair slammed off the top rope onto thumbtacks by Dickie and getting chokeslammed through a table by Stockade was fun too.
RL: What are your memories of Tandemonium? S: Two really great gut different tag matches. They could have been The Rockers of NYWC and I always enjoyed trying to help them figure out tag moves to do. I could never wear kick pads during these matches though because I always let Odie borrow them. Matias is pretty hot too, if I do say so myself.
RL: What are your memoreis of your match with Dickie Rodz? S: Working with Dickie was so easy. Coming up with ideas for that match in particular was so much fun. It was a great match except for the part where I lost my bottle of red mist in between my ass cheeks and had to just spit in Crusher's face. I miss Dickie.
RL: What are your memories of Fusion 2011? S: I remember that day like it was yesterday. Everything is still quite vivid and it brings me back to a time I wish I could relive. Earlier that morning I graduated from college with my bchelor's degree in childhood education. I couldn't wait to get out of there because I knew I was wrestling 3 times that night. When I got to the building we had roster photo shoot, which I loved. About two hours before the show Shane & Mikey came up to me and told me I needed to cut a promo to set up next month's match. At first I didn't know what to make of that but then they told me I could speak perfect English and say WHATEVER I wanted and boy did they get what they asked fo. The matches I had that night were pretty good. In my first match of three I got my lip busted open by one half of All Money Is Legal. My second match against John Silver & Pat Buck was just fun and the 3 way dance main event wasn'tt exactly the type of match I lik to wrestle, but we got the job done. The promo I got to cut ath the end of the night was shocking to both the workers and fand alike.I was able to set the tone for the next month as well as blow off some steam by actually "shooting". I got to do that way before CM Punk did lol.
RL: What are your memories of matches with Kieran? S: What more could you ask for than working with one of your best friends? I've known Kieran since I was 12 years old and even at that time we both knew we wanted to be wrestlers. He is arguably my best opponent and is an extremely underrated, talented worker. He started training after me, but quickly surpassed me no doubt. The match we had at our high school is one of my favorite matches. I proved to myself that even with my character I could work a serious main event-paced match. The second match we had at Port Jeff was completely different. Even though I personally wanted to havve a similar match to our last one, Kieran insisted we just go out there and have fun. We did just that as it was one of the most different and entertaining matches in NYWC history. We wrestled on our knees like midgets and entertained thatt crowd to no end. The only regret I have is, I just wish that more people could have seen that match.
|
|
|
Post by Robert Lotti on Oct 15, 2013 20:46:33 GMT -5
RL: Why did you leave NYWC? S: To simply put it, the same reason everyone decides to leave this business. We decide it's time to move on and become serious with our lives. I moved to Florida with the intention of starting my career doing what college gave me a degree to do and that's to teach. My own personal reasons brought me back to New York and almost got me back into an NYWC ring. However, for whatever reason that wasn't meant to be and the storyline never took off. For those who truly love this business we simply can not stay away no matter how hard we try. I found myself back in Florida wrestling yet again before making an exciting career move.
RL: Word Association S: How can you possibly use one word to describe these people?
RL: Curse S: Pessa shit! Always had a lot of laughs with him.
RL: Mikey Whipwreck S: Intimidating yet fair, always an easy night when you team with him.
RL: Crusher Doogan S: "Jump Jump". Had fun when he trained.
RL: Stockade S: S.D.G.T.G.I.F+B.K.+Mickey D's OOTB BOOB. Beat the fuck out of me.
RL: Steve Forge S: I still don't know whht Feifel West means.
RL: Oscar S: Plucking butthole hais in the shower.
RL: Alex Reynolds S: cunts and pillows man. Super talented.
RL: King Mega S: Shieky. I need to see my heavyweight title match against him. That was fun.
RL: John Silver S: Pig bitch Wiiiiife!!!
RL: Former NYWC photographer Victoria Longtin S: The absolute best. I'm sure she's seen Syther without face paint.
RL: Francis Kipland Stevens S: Needle Face. Left turn at Christmas.
RL: Starlets S: I may sound like a broken record but.....They need more!
RL: DJ Phat Pat S: On shows so fast.
RL: Kenny Royal S: Boca Tanning and back suplex cross body off the top rope. Great wrestler, wish he was still around.
RL: Anthony Nese S: Never really got close. Chiseled out of stone.
RL: Papadon S: Avoiding him at training.
RL: What do you think of people who fake post on message boards? S: Can people who do that a least put me over?
RL: What do you think of the NYWC message board? S: When I was wrestling for NYWC I always checked it out as I'm sure the majority of the roster still does to this day. It was cool to see what the fans thought of the shows and wrestlers.
RL: What will you miss most about NYWC? S: NYWC gave me everything including happiness both in and outside of the ting. Yeah at times I wanted to strangle some people there but I will forever be indebted to them for the friendships I made and the fun times I had. This also gives me an open forum to personally thank the NYWC for the sendoff they gave me. To revolve an entire storyline around me and then to give me a sendoff that was better than any guy from NYWC that got signed to WWE means more to me than anyone can imagine. Those who know me best know that I feel this way and have been finding the right way to say it for a very long time. I just hope that everyone from NYWC can turn their heads away from any negativity that would be associated with my name to acknowledge my sincere gratitude.
RL: Any advice for anyone who wants to get into wrestling? S: Put a bullet to your head now.....just kidding! Wrestling is absolutely amazing. Stay in school so that you have a backup plan just in case this doesn't work out for you. Watch your back and be wary of the people and promoters around you. Realize that this is a business and somewhere in it, there is money to be made. All in all have fun and be a team palyer but don't get taken advantage of.
RL: What will you do now that you're no longer wrestling? S: Right now I'm overseas in China pursuing my teacing career. I am teaching oral English to University students. When I get back I'm sure I will be involved in wrestling in some capacity.
RL: Is there anything you'd like to say to the fans? S: Thank you for those of you consistently came to see me wrestle. Since it certainly wasn't for the money, I wrestled for you guys. Thank you for loving me and cheering as loud as you could. Keep looking me up because you never know what I will be doing next.
RL: Thank you for this interview and good luck at teaching.
|
|
forge
Junior Member
Posts: 51
|
Post by forge on Oct 17, 2013 11:01:22 GMT -5
|
|