My first question is do you watch TNA and if so how long have you been watching TNA?
I do watch TNA, however, I don't catch every single show on a regular basis. I've been watching it on and off since the organization started.
What are your thoughts on the new Gutcheck Challenge with the fans voting?
I love the fact that the fans can vote now. I've done Gutcheck twice and I have to say that after each time, I always felt like I was hanging on every word that they told us. I didn't know what to expect. With fans voting, I feel like we all have a chance to move on and maybe get somewhere because of it.
Which wrestler inspired you to become a professional wrestler?
Easily, "The Immortal" HULK HOGAN. I've been a Hulkamaniac for as long as I can remember and have had the pleasure of meeting the man himself back in 2009. My other influences include Scott Hall, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, and Bam Bam Bigelow.
Who trained you to be a wrestler?
I was primarily trained by The Tsunamis (Jonny & Donnie). A lot of advice and other training came from Ollie Tharp, current NXT referee Jason Ayers and GT Vega. I also attended a seminar with Austin Aries.
Which promotion do you primarily wrestle for?
The last promotion I wrestled for on a regular basis was "Infinity Pro Wrestling" in Indiana.... more recently, I worked for NWA: Bluegrass in Kentucky.
What is your finishing move called and what exactly is it?
My finisher is called the "Ox Driver". It is a spinning package piledriver. I pick my opponent up in a normal package piledriver, spin in a circle while holding him up, and then when I get a few spins/momentum, I jump and finish the piledriver. Think airplane spin + package piledriver.
For those that have never seen you wrestle what makes you stand out?
The fact that I don't do anything really fancy. I like the old stuff- the classics. I don't think matches need to have a million near falls and I miss the days when finishers meant something. The fact that I embrace the old school, I think, is what makes me stand out.
What is your gimmick?
My gimmick is old school. I wear the one-strap singlet like Andre the Giant. I grow the beard out, shave my head, and it's all in tribute to guys like Ox Baker, George "The Animal" Steele, etc. My gimmick is an old school shout-out to all the guys I grew up idolizing. I'll be your classic heel, or I'll be your kids' hero - just know that I'm a mixture of everything you loved (or hated) about wrestling, when it was actually called wrestling... not "sports entertainment".
You consider yourself a throwback to the old school. What do you think are the biggest differences between the New School and the Old School?
Pacing. I feel the new school is so much faster. The slower paced, methodical, storytelling of old is close to extinct. The new school strings together high spots and near falls and sometimes, for me, loses a lot in the storytelling. Finishers don't mean anything - example: when Hogan hit the leg drop or Randy Savage nailed the elbow drop 9 times out of 10, that match was DONE! It was something you could bank on and look forward to. When Jake Roberts hit the DDT - it was an easy, nonchalant 3 count away from being history. Nowadays, a DDT is used as often as a punch or a dropkick. Does that mean that the wrestlers of today are tougher than our predecessors? Selling a move would be another thing. In the fast-paced action of today, sometimes the sell is sacrificed in order to get all the high spots in. Your knee has been worked on for the entire match, yet magically you're sprinting around and throwing kicks/dropkicks/etc. and after the match you're walking around just fine? One time, I sold a rib injury not only during my match, but after, at intermission, and on my way to the car after the show was over. I had fans showing concern, my then-fiance, and even the promoter asked if I was OK as I was leaving the venue. I just felt it added authenticity to the show and made my opponent look like a legit badass for "crippling" me like he did. As long as there were fans in the immediate vicinity - for all they knew, I was probably going to cough up blood.
Have you ever had a match with anyone in the Gutcheck Challenge?
The only times I've ever wrestled another Gutcheck contestant is during the actual tryout itself... I wrestled Q.T. Marshall in Florida and Lani Kealoha in Ohio.
If you could have a match with anyone in TNA who would you choose?
Lots of talent in TNA....The fan in me would love to get in the ring and challenge the Hulkster. But, in all honesty, I really like Bobby Roode and I think he'd be great to work with.
Is there any wrestler out there that you would compare yourself too?
I don't know if I could compare to anyone, really. I borrow so much from many different legends/veterans of the business. If i had to choose someone, I'd probably have to go with the late, Bam Bam Bigelow. (Side note: My wife says she sees me more like Ryback. lol)
