Post by Robert Lotti on Aug 5, 2009 23:11:18 GMT -5
Welcome to another addition of No Punches Pulled. This month it's former NYWC interstate champion Joey Braggiol.
RL: Were you a wrestling fan growing up?
JB: Yes, I started watching wrestling with my Dad one day and I couldn't stop watching it. I was addicted.
RL: When did you decide you were going to be a professional wrestler?
JB: When I watched it throughout the years I always said to myself man I wish I could be one but never thought anything of it. When I was 17 I went to a local promotion show run by HWA(Hardcore Wrestling Alliance). It was ultimately their final show they ran called Psycho Circus. Ever hear of it? Well, I was there with my Dad and it was a great show and after the show I said I want to do this. I don't remember who I talked to but this guy introduced me to Paul Lauria who was the owner and I set up a meeting the next night and joined right then and there. But HWA soon folded and I enen up at QWA.
RL: What were your initial impressions of Mikey Whipwreck?
JB: When I met Mikey I was excited. I watched Mikey all the time so it was great to be trained by him. He is a great person and trainer, and I thank him dearly for everything.
RL: How hard was the training?
JB: Training was definitely hard. It was the hardest thing I had done in my life at the time. Cardio was excruciating. I remember it like it was yesterday. We started in a line doing steps and we had to in unison or else we would have to start over. While we did steps we used to have to run in the ring, run the ropes then run in place and do back bumps, then back to steps and then everyone went we did many squats. After that we would start training for the night. For a big guy, it was tough but I made it.
RL: How did you come up with "Mr. Yellow"?
JB: One night me, my Dad, and Mikey were sitting around trying to come up with a name and my Dad gave me the name Braggiol(For those that don't know it's an Italian meat. It could also mean something else ha ha.). But we were going to do a stable with Pappalicious and Tony Braggiol so Mikey said "you ever see Resovoir Dogs?" and I said yeah and he said "why don't we all use colors to represent us like they did in the movie. Hence I was Mr. Yellow.
RL: What are your memories of working for USA Pro?
JB: It was fun. I had just started out and wrestling two places was great for experience.
RL: What are your memories of QWA?
JB: It was great. I wish we had more than two shows, maybe it could have been something. Also, that's technically where I started so that will always be a great memory.
RL: What are your memories of you & Pappalicious vs. Mega & Ken Scampi in ICW?
JB: That was my 1st match in ICW. I do not remember much of that match because it was a long time ago but it was a good match and it was fun.
RL: What are your memories of Tara Charisma?
JB: Tara is a tough woman. She took plenty of tough nights during training and she made it through cardio and never quit.
RL: What are your memories of Wayne?
JB: Wayne was and still is a great guy. I've known him my whole career. If it wasn't for him & Mikey I wouldn't be where I am today with NYWC.
RL: How did you end up in NYWC?
JB: Well, QWA had closed it's doors and Scampi told me he was going to train at Critical Mass. At the time I was wrestling with LICW also and that was the Critical Mass school so I went down there and started training and the rest is history. I think I debuted on the 2nd ever NYWC show in 2003 and been there ever since.
RL: What are your memories of Lamar Braxton Porter?
JB: Lamar was a great tag team partner. I had fun doing the Affirmative Action tag team. He was also from HWA and remember training with him a few times.
RL: What are your memories of Prince Charles?
JB: We were a good combination. We worked well together. We were good friends. Then he decided to join the Foreign Legion and sell his managerial rights to Bobby Fester. I will get my hands on him.
To Be Continued
RL: Were you a wrestling fan growing up?
JB: Yes, I started watching wrestling with my Dad one day and I couldn't stop watching it. I was addicted.
RL: When did you decide you were going to be a professional wrestler?
JB: When I watched it throughout the years I always said to myself man I wish I could be one but never thought anything of it. When I was 17 I went to a local promotion show run by HWA(Hardcore Wrestling Alliance). It was ultimately their final show they ran called Psycho Circus. Ever hear of it? Well, I was there with my Dad and it was a great show and after the show I said I want to do this. I don't remember who I talked to but this guy introduced me to Paul Lauria who was the owner and I set up a meeting the next night and joined right then and there. But HWA soon folded and I enen up at QWA.
RL: What were your initial impressions of Mikey Whipwreck?
JB: When I met Mikey I was excited. I watched Mikey all the time so it was great to be trained by him. He is a great person and trainer, and I thank him dearly for everything.
RL: How hard was the training?
JB: Training was definitely hard. It was the hardest thing I had done in my life at the time. Cardio was excruciating. I remember it like it was yesterday. We started in a line doing steps and we had to in unison or else we would have to start over. While we did steps we used to have to run in the ring, run the ropes then run in place and do back bumps, then back to steps and then everyone went we did many squats. After that we would start training for the night. For a big guy, it was tough but I made it.
RL: How did you come up with "Mr. Yellow"?
JB: One night me, my Dad, and Mikey were sitting around trying to come up with a name and my Dad gave me the name Braggiol(For those that don't know it's an Italian meat. It could also mean something else ha ha.). But we were going to do a stable with Pappalicious and Tony Braggiol so Mikey said "you ever see Resovoir Dogs?" and I said yeah and he said "why don't we all use colors to represent us like they did in the movie. Hence I was Mr. Yellow.
RL: What are your memories of working for USA Pro?
JB: It was fun. I had just started out and wrestling two places was great for experience.
RL: What are your memories of QWA?
JB: It was great. I wish we had more than two shows, maybe it could have been something. Also, that's technically where I started so that will always be a great memory.
RL: What are your memories of you & Pappalicious vs. Mega & Ken Scampi in ICW?
JB: That was my 1st match in ICW. I do not remember much of that match because it was a long time ago but it was a good match and it was fun.
RL: What are your memories of Tara Charisma?
JB: Tara is a tough woman. She took plenty of tough nights during training and she made it through cardio and never quit.
RL: What are your memories of Wayne?
JB: Wayne was and still is a great guy. I've known him my whole career. If it wasn't for him & Mikey I wouldn't be where I am today with NYWC.
RL: How did you end up in NYWC?
JB: Well, QWA had closed it's doors and Scampi told me he was going to train at Critical Mass. At the time I was wrestling with LICW also and that was the Critical Mass school so I went down there and started training and the rest is history. I think I debuted on the 2nd ever NYWC show in 2003 and been there ever since.
RL: What are your memories of Lamar Braxton Porter?
JB: Lamar was a great tag team partner. I had fun doing the Affirmative Action tag team. He was also from HWA and remember training with him a few times.
RL: What are your memories of Prince Charles?
JB: We were a good combination. We worked well together. We were good friends. Then he decided to join the Foreign Legion and sell his managerial rights to Bobby Fester. I will get my hands on him.
To Be Continued