No Punches Pulled with Joe Etell

[Robert Lotti]

Welcome to another edition of the No Punches Pulled interview series. In this edition, it's "Indestructible" Joe Etell

RL: Were you a wrestling fan growing up?
JE: Yes , I've been a fan since 1991 when I was 8 years old.

RL: When did you decide to give wrestling a shot?
JE: Around 2003. Had a conversation with Steve, and he basically made me realize what is the harm of giving it a shor even if it doesn't work out.

RL: How did you discover the NYWC academy?
JE: I met fellow wrestler Oscar at a gym in Staten Island and he suggested I come there.

RL: Wht were your inital impresions of Mikey Whipwreck?
JE: I immediately knew I made the right choice to go to NYWC and get trained the right way.

RL: How tough was training?
JE: A lot tougher than any training today.

RL: What are your memories of your debut teaming with Syther & Matt Conners against King Mega?
JE: I was very nervous and determined. I felt like I had been training for so long and wanted to get on shows so bad. This was one of my first chances, so I wanted to make a good impression to get on future shows.

RL: What are your memories of being a part of Dirty Rednex?
JE: It was not something I ever imagined myself doing, but most top wrestlers didn't start off in the exact gimmick that made them famous. I took it as a learning experience for a guy just starting out.

RL: What are your memories of Javi-Air?
JE: I was supposed to have my first singles match against Javi, but I think he had another show. I instead wrestled Bruno Marciano.

RL: What are your memories of Benny Martinez?
JE: fuck Benny

RL: What are your memories of Dead Presidents?
JE: Boogalou helped me in my training early on. I remember him bitch slapping me when I messed up a spot in one of the Dirty Rednex matches.

[Robert Lotti]

RL: What are your memories of Prince Nana?
JE: I didn't really know Nana.

RL: What are your memories of Mik Spinelli?
JE: Spinelli was great. He always stood by me and tried to help when I was still a student and never getting booked. Defintiely a great worker, I wish he stayed arounf longer.

RL: What are your memories of Tony Burma?
JE: Burma was another one that tried to help when I was still a student. Burma has a little hardcore in his gimmick, as do I know. I hope one day he will come back and we can get crazy.

RL: What are your memories of Nick Berk?
JE: Nick was fun to work with. I remember him refusing to take my stiff clotheslines in NYWC lol. In CZW he put in a food word for me to Zandig, I really appreciated that.

RL: What are your memories of Stockade?
JE: My first ever ever match on a student show I wrestled against him. Other than that, he is scum.

RL: What are your memories of Apollyon?
JE: Had my 2nd singles match in NYWC against him, then known as Joey Braggiol. I still think of it as one of my favorite matches?

RL: What are your memories of Billy & Danny Angus?
JE: The Angus Brothers are the biggest idiots I have ever met in my life. They were so good whne they first started, but their stupid egos thought they would signed right away. When that didn't happen, they became the laziest people in history. The never trained, they showed up roght beofre their match and left right after. Danny stopped wrestling for 2 years, came back without training and just thought he would still be good and had one of the worst matches I have ever seen in my life. I heard 2 weeks ago, he was trying to get on a show again!!

RL: What are your memories of Dan Dynasty?
JE: Dynasty was one of my favorite workers in NYWC. I thought he had the most charisma in NYWC at the time. I was hoping to wrestle him in my firstt ever student show match. Another one that I wished stayed around longer.

RL: What are your memories of Quiet Storm?
JE: I drove Quiet Storm to the ECW arena years ago for PWU. My car broke down at Wendy's 15 minutes away lol. We got a ride to the building, but had to get towed all the way home.

[Robert Lotti]

RL: How did you end up in Pro Wrestling Unplugged?
JE: Angus Brothers got booked there and needed a ride. Being there I became friends with Johnny Kashmere & The Maximo Brothers. Eventually when Todd Gordon stopped running it, Kashmere gave me a spot.

RL: What are your memories of Johnny Kashmere & the late Trent Acid?
JE: I had a few matches against the "new" Backseat Boys of Kahsmere & Walsh in FTW. Trent started coming around too, I was really hoping to get a match against him. I didn't know him very long, but the few times we met, he instantly bonded with me and tried to help me with bookings and advice. I talked to him about FTW only about a week before he died.

RL: What are your memories of Todd Gordon?
JE: I didn't really know Todd. Joel Maximo introdeuced me and he took my number if he needed me for a booking.

RL: What are your memories of All Money Is Legal?
JE: Not a lot of memories. They were a talented team. I drove them to PWU once and they paid me gas money.

RL: What are youur memories of The Sandman?
JE: Sandamn is a lazy piece of shit. He refused to lose(he ended up losing by DQ), he demanded to be the first match, he nver even went in the locker room. I offered to have a hardcore match(I wouls've taken everything), he said he wasn't into that. What the fuck is he into? 60 minute iron man matches? I told him i was a face and that my weapon is a pipe. He laughed and said "you're a face with a pipe?" He is face with a cane!! The match consisted of 2 minute chain wrestling, then he caned me, got DQed and legit left the building. Real class act.

RL: What are your memories of Teddy Fine?
JE: Teddy Fine was a talented guy. Great PWU champion.

RL: What are your memories of Lucky?
JE: I had a good feud with Lucky that was supposed to go further in PWU. We had a thumbtack match planned that never happened. I had one of my best matches at the time with Lucky. Watching it now, I don't even think it is that good lol, but it definitely helped me progress.

[Robert Lotti]

RL: How did you end up in Fighting Spirit Wrestling?
JE: I was good friens with Joel Maximo. He came to me to hel plan stuff for the first show.

RL: What are your memories of Shane Douglas?
JE: Shane was one of my favorite TV names to meet. He told me a ton of ECW and Ric Flair stories, always very helpful. It was an honor, teaming up with him on 2 occasions. I hope returns to FSW at some point.

RL: What are your memories of SAT?
JE: I met the SAT athe NYWC school. They would come down occasionally since the were also trained by Mikey. They took a shine The Angus Brothers and got them booked at PWU. None of them had a car, so that's where I fit in. SAT would get me bookings and I would drive them. We used each other. But somewhere along the line, a beautiful friendship was born.

RL: What are your memories of EYFBO(Mike Draztik & Angel Ortiz)?
JE: Ortiz & Draztik were two of my favorite guys at the Ludus. Very talented and had a lot of potential. Unfortunately it didn't work out with them at the Ludus. They were very difficult to deal with. Ortiz flat out refused to even lose the belt. Draztik, we speak occasionally. Ortiz, I hope dies.

RL: What are your memories of Joey Ace?
JE: I was a big fan of Joey Ace's character and promos. We had a great I Quit match.

RL: What are your memories of Papadon?
JE: Papadon was around when I first got started at the NYWC school. We had a match at House Of GLORY that I mesed up in. He berated meafter the match. I resented him for a while after that, but we hve worked together in FSW recently and are cool.

RL: What are your memories of Sam Shields?
JE: I was always a fan of Shields. We main evented one of FSW's biggest shows. My biggest memory is him powerbombing me on the guardrail. So much worse than I expected.

RL: What are your memories of Talon?
JE: Talon was a great addition to The Elite. It was originally supposed to be me, Shane Douglas, and Joe Gacy. Gacy was busy with alot other bookings so he never stayed in FSW. I've had my problems with Talon, but I can't deny that he is a talented and ruthless competitor.

RL: What are your Jorge Santi?
JE: Santi was good when he showed up, but I had to kill him...twice.

RL: What are your memories of Mike Mondo?
JE: I never really knew Mondo too well, but I was always a fan of his in ring work. When I first started training, him and Matt Striker ha a match for the NYWC title that blew me away. I worked him once in a 4 on 2 match I believe.

[Robert Lotti]

RL: What are your memories of Homicide?
JE: It was a test for me, because in the 3 times, we wrestled, we barely planned anything. I gained a lot of respect from some vets after hanging with Homicide.

RL: What are your memories of Mike Verna?
JE: Verna came to FSW seemingly out of nowhere. When EYFBO left, we were short some main eventers. He was so new, no one even thought of him in the main event anytime soon. He had such a surge of popularity, he forced himself into the main event and took that title. I respect that. I also hope he dies tomorrow.

RL: What are your memories of Ian Aldwin?
JE: He beat me for the title. I respect him, but I will eventually kill him.

RL: What are your memories of Tony Nese?
JE: Nese also started with me at the NYWC school. The day I met him, I had poison ivy. In an attempt to train anyway, I came in with gardener gloves. He often tells the story about how weird it was the first time meeting me, when I shook his hand with gardener gloves.

RL: What are your memories of Gilbert?
JE: I thought Gilbert was great. Definitely a great FSW champion. I could see Gilbert being a top WWE guy.

RL: What are your memories of winning the FSW title?
JE: It was my first and only title win. I had several close wins for the belt in the past. I will always remember that night. All my friends and family were in attendance. Couldn't ask for anything more. I went to a bar with my friends afterwards. They told this girl how I won the belt. I started making out with her at the bar. She told me to come home with her. I went to a buy a condom. When I came back, she was gone lol. Still a good night.

RL: How did you end up in FBW?
JE: Troy Thompson was helping stuff backstage with FSW, when he decided to open his own company. He wanted to do an ECW angle and he picked me because of my hardcore style.

[Robert Lotti]

RL: What are your memories of Eddie Edwards?
JE: It was thrown together fast. Davey Richards couldn't make it. I came to the show not expecting to wrestle, but he needed someone to take his place against Verna & Big O.

RL: What are your memories of Matt Striker?
JE: Striker was in the NYWC school when I first started. He put me over once for having the right attitude. I saw him recently at HOH and again put me over for my improvement over the years. It meant a lot. Striker is definitely underrated. You will never understand how good Striker really is unless you are in the ring with him.

RL: What are your memories of The Opposition?
JE: My favorite tag team in FSW.

RL: What are your memories of SNOT?
JE: I like their music.

RL: What are your memories of Omega Black?
JE: I didn't think the gimmick would work. But they have all impressed me.

RL: What are your memories of The Hit Squad?
JE: Had a really fun match against Hit Squad and 3 other teams. We basically did it on the fly.

RL: What are your memories of a Brian Myers?
JE: I really didn't get to know Myers that well. Only about 3 months into my training, he got signed to WWE. At the time, he was away at college, so I only saw him at shows, which was only a few times. I've seen him a lot more since WWE. I was happy to get to work with him in a 3 way with Tommy Dreamer. I hope to get a one-on-one one day.

Word Association

RL: Mikey Whipwreck
JE: Respect

RL: Curse
JE: Death

RL: Shane
JE: Redemption

RL: Crusher Doogan
JE: Funny

RL: Elena Maximo
JE: Bad ass

RL: House Of Payne
JE: Powerful

RL: Certified Sexy
JE: Future

RL: Magma
JE: Improved

RL: Blake Morris
JE: Awesome

RL: Kris Rex
JE: Potential

RL: Rex Lawless
JE: Huge

RL: Dickie Rodz
JE: Trainer

RL: Valkyrie Women's Wrestling
JE: Nothing

RL: FBW
JE: Growth

RL: What are your thoughts on those who fake post on message boards?
JE: They are cowards who can't make it in wrestling, so they bash others to make themselves feel better. I don't even hate them, I feel bad for them.

RL: What are your thoughts on the NYWC message board?
JE: I didn't know there was a board lol.

RL: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
JE: I'm hoping to get into some more bigger indies like CZW, HOH, or some more places further out.

RL: How do you think wrestling has changed since you started?
JE: Yes, most new guys are cowards who would never survive the training I had. If one thing is too hard, or they don't get the match they want, they hit the internet and start bashing everyone.

RL: Is there anything you'd like to say to the fans?
JE: Thank you for appreciating my sick habits. The best is yet to come.
You haven't seen anything yet.