No Punches Pulled with Crusher Doogan

[Robert Lotti]

Welcome to another edition of the No Punches Pulled interview series. In this edition, it's long time manager Crusher Doogan.

RL: Were you a wrestling fan growing up?
CD: Oh yeah since I was 5.

RL: When did you decide you were going to get into the wrestling business?
CD: I wanted to be a pro wrestler since I was 10.

RL: What were your initial impressions of the late Boris Malenko?
CD: Nothing like his character. Such a sincere man who took his time with a kid from New York and was like my second father. I miss him everyday.

RL: How tough was training?
CD: Wow I trained 4 days a week, 3-4 hours a day. I got a job to work around training. They had so many veterans there and I learned everything I could from everyone. Even did shoot wrestling on Sundays and got stretched by the boys going to Japan. But I wouldn't trade it for anything. I loved it.

RL: What are your memories of Dean, Joe, & Debbie Malenko?
CD: Dean is a friend to this day and the quiet jokester. Joe is the silent type, nice guy, that can rip your head off in a blink of an eye. Debbie was in Japan a lot when I was training, but I trained with her brother Rob and would train with Deb when she was in town.

RL: What are your memories of your 1st match ever?
CD: My first match happened by accident. I was driving my tag team partner Johnny Boone, Brady Boone, & NWA Jr heavyweight champion Denny Brown to a camp show in Bradenton, FL. Someone didn't show up, so I wound up working twice. I won both matches in front of 600 kids.

RL: How did you end up in NYWC?
CD: I had gotten a flyer on my car at a WWE show at Nassau Coliseum and went down and met Curse at the original school.

[Robert Lotti]

RL: What are your memories of Mike Mayhem?
CD: Taught useless moves.

RL: What are your memories of Tyler Payne?
CD: Acquired taste.

RL: What are your memories of Johnny Ova?
CD: Great kid. I used to pick him up at the train station to bring to training.

RL: What are your memories of Mason Raige?
CD: Lots of potential, but got started to late in the biusiness.

RL: Who's idea was it for you to become a manager?
CD: Mine. My body needed a break and that was the next transition.

RL: What are your memories of Psycho Circus 2004?
CD: I'm lucky if I can remember the last one...lol. If that's the first one NYWC did, that was insane. We used the fence, barbed wire, ladders, it was sick. I remember hitting Shane in the stomach and he had a roasting pan under his shirt. My han looked like a baseball mitt. Then Curse & I fought for the briefcase, which Curse got and he became commisioner.

RL: What are your memories of your 1st run as NYWC commissioner?
CD: Lots of fun, sucked losing it at the circus?

RL: What are your memories of Nuke?
CD: Great kid, never recovered from the circus.

RL: What are your memories of Matt Striker?
CD: Great talent better on the microphone.

RL: What are your memories of BS Xpress(Tony Burma & Mike Spinelli)?
CD: We had a great time and they won the NYWC tag straps from 2 future WWE stars. Not too bad.

[Robert Lotti]

RL: What are your memories of Stockade?
CD: My second son. Can't say enough about him. Hopefully will be a big star overseas someday. He has the talent.

RL: What are your memories of Syther?
CD: Another great talent and complete nut. I miss him.

RL: What are your memories of Mikey Whipwreck?
CD: I met Mikey when I was in Florida. Great guy, who gives too much of his body for the biz. We've been up and down together, but it's better to have him on my side then against him.

RL: What are your memories of Foxy Foxxy & Damien Dragon?
CD: Great people. Always had a great time with them.

RL: What are your memories of Dickie Rodz?
CD: Last of a dying breed of old school wrestlers. Great person and friend who has been training with me for over 10 years. An NYWC original.

RL: You missed NYWC shows from Aug-Dec 2006. Can you explain?
CD: Sometimes your personal life needs to take the front seat, so I took a break.

[Robert Lotti]

RL: What are your memories of Appolyon?
CD: I always hate when people say he is great for a "big guy". He is great. Period.

RL: What are your memories of Rex Lawless?
CD: Hasn't reached his potential yet. The future is his.

RL: What are your memories of Nikki Syx?
CD: My second daughter. Can be the best on the women's scene if she wants.

RL: What are your memories of Team 3D?
CD: God. I thought I broke my ribs. My head truned green and lips purple because I couldn't breathe. Th match couldn't end quick enough.

RL: What are your memories of Ref Forge?
CD: Great guy. Great ref. Does a lot for NYWC.

[Robert Lotti]

RL: What are your memories of King Mega?
CD: Another one who I'd rather have on my side then against us. Great talent.

RL: What are your memories of Southern Vinny Stylin'?
CD: Always made me laugh.

RL: What are your memories of Dead Presidents?
CD: Two of my favorties. Had an awesome time with them.

RL: What are your memories of Brett Matthews & Brian Myers?
CD: Two guys we started at the old garage. You just knew they had something and couldn't be happier for them.

RL: What are your memories of Plazma?
CD: Another one who started with us at the old place. Think he was 15 or 16. Great talent, funny guy. Very happy for him.

RL: What are your memories of Tony Nese?
CD: Skinny kid who worked his ass off. Now look at him.

RL: Word Association- Mikey Whipwreck
CD: Great trainer. Great friend.

RL: Curse
CD: He is NYWC. Without him, were working nowhere.

RL: Shane
CD: Briilant mind for the business.

RL: Alex Reynolds
CD: His time is near.

RL: Papadon
CD: Consummate professional. Great worker.

RL: Francis Kipland Stevens
CD: Hard worker. Took something from nothing, and it turned it into something great.

RL: John Silver
CD: Another 4" and the kid is signed.

RL: NYWC Starlets
CD: Not enough of them.

RL: Victoria Longtin
CD: Awesome photographer and lovely person.

RL: No Punches Pulled interview series
CD: I like it. Get a little information on the person.

RL: Mike Morgan
CD: Great promoter. ACE is a great place.

RL: Larry Legend
CD: Can't say enough about him. Another professional.

RL: What are your thoughts on people who fake post on message boards?
CD: They need help.

RL: What are your thoughts on the NYWC message board?
CD: I like it. Gives the fans a voice and opinion.

RL: How has wrestling changed from the time you got into the business to now?
CD: It will be 20 years this July. When I got in, there were more big companies. As much as it's changed, it's stayed the same.But it has to keep evolving otherwise it will die off.

RL: Would you ever want to run your own promotion?
CD: I did in Florida for a bit. I like being a trainer and manager better. Too many headaches.

RL: Where do you see NYWC in 5 years?
CD: Hopefully as the top indy fed where our guys keep getting signed and putting on great shows.

RL: Is there anything you'd like to say to the fans?
CD: Whether you like me or hate me, thank you for paying attention to me. Keep coming out and supporting us.

RL: Thank you for this interview.