The CZW Bombshells were not featured at all at CZW’s Tournament of Death 12 yesterday. However, for those that are missing a bit of bombshell action the above clip offers a smidgen of it. And I really mean a smidgen. The match is short as heck, but at least it showcases Jessicka Havok and Navaeh somewhat. Denver Colorado helps call this match and points out that Havok is the current Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU) Champion. In fact, as of this writing she is still having a monster run with it at 400+ days. Despite Havok’s size advantage, Navaeh takes her down quickly and works on her arm a bit. This causes Havok to get angry and charge, only to land hard on the outside. Navaeh jumps on her and starts throwing punches and Havok returns some strikes. Neither wrestler pays attention to the ref counting so both get counted out in a lame decision that Colorado correctly labels as such.
Fortunately for CZW fans, yesterday’s action had no such calls. Some highlights included Danny Havoc defeating Scotty Votekz in a 1000 Light Tube Match to win CZW’s Tournament of Death 12, Sami Callihan wrestling his last CZW match and next year’s event being announced as a “BJW vs. CZW” show. The full results are available at the ever reliable Wikipedia.
Every now and then I come across a fan who thinks CZW never progressed beyond it’s 1990′s hardcore wrestling roots. While the group still has ultraviolent deathmatches such as the the one shown in the clip above and the CZW Tournament of Death is still a mainstay in the promotion (including the upcoming Tournament of Death 12 taking place exactly one week from now), there is more to CZW than just blood and guts.
Case in point the clip below:
Alex Colon vs. Rich Swann
Now that CZW has FINALLY begun showing full matches on their official YouTube channel, hopefully more fans can learn of all the diverse wrestling talent the promotion has to offer. This match from CZW Proving Grounds 2011 showcases two driven cruiserweights and not a drop of blood is spilled throughout. In fact with Swann’s comedy, it looks like a match more at home at a CHIKARA show than a promotion known for ultraviolent deathmatches.
Swann comes out with a bucket of KFC (and I’m not talking Kayfabe Commentaries) and even the ref gets a nibble. However, Colon proves to be a buzz kill and kicks the bucket right into the crowd. Oh well, perhaps it saved a few fans from having to go to the concession stand. Swann looks at Colon with pure hatred after this and declares, “It’s chicken time.” Swann then manages to jump all over the ring before finally letting go of a drumstick. The two take turns striking and sending each other into different corners and Colon even gets in a brief chopfest.
As the match wraps up, the competitors tease going to the outside, but instead Swann is planted on his head with a dragon suplex on the ring apron that sends just Swann outside. Swann somehow manages to comeback and nail a standing 450 splash, but gets rolled up by Colon and eventually pinned.
A great tradition ISW started fairly recently is Free Match Monday, which each week takes a match (usually at least decent, if not awesome) and offers the full bout to fans completely free on their YouTube channel. Don’t you wish all indie promotions did this (I’m looking at you, CZW)?
As for yesterday’s offering, the powers that be at ISW picked a whopper with Chris Dickinson and Jaka aka Jonny Mangue. The opening reminds me slightly of the main event of WWF Survivor Series 1995, when Diesel took off a turnbuckle and to show he wasn’t backing down Bret Hart did the same (speaking of that event check out that joshi match from it sometime also featuring WWF stars including these two). Instead of taking off turnbuckles, Dickinson and Jaka throw their respective head coverings at each other.
Getting to the meat of the action the match is very slow until Dickinson hits a beautiful powerbomb, but before long Jaka takes Dickinson down with a plancha over the top rope. A fan has brought some toilet paper with him and Jaka savagely puts it in his mouth. Somehow this doesn’t save him from Dickinson suplexing him on the bare floor. Dickinson gets a brief chopfest in at the bar in the crowd , but Jaka reverses the momentum.
Jaka flies off the ring apron and crashes with Chris through a merchandise table. Apparently this legitimately gets some very blurry people very angry.
The match picks back up with Chris attempting a cheap shot in the ring, but Jaka no-sells it and punishes him with a bunch of shots. Connecticut hasn’t seen a beating like this since Linda McMahon’s last Senate campaign!
Dickinson comes back, but finds himself in a Texas cloverleaf of all things from Jaka. The two fight until eventually trading shots and Dickinson ends that by planting Jaka with another beautiful powerbomb. Dickinson misses an elbow from up top allowing Jaka to deliver some offense even earning a two count.
The action concludes when Jaka misses a splash from the top rope allowing Dickinson to hit a wheelbarrow suplex and then lifting Jaka up again to polish him off.
Sugar Dunkerton and Aaron Epic vs. Eric Corvis and Nicholas Kaye
Here is a great new addition to Beyond Wrestling’s YouTube page. Before I get to the positives though I have to nitpick a little. Although usually awesome Denver Colorado is a little off here and tries too hard to sell the dominance of the heel team that is The Front. He does this at the expense of this great match from CZW between The Front and The KOA by ignoring their moves, which are often phenomenal. It reminded me of when Tony Schiavone used to talk over the action in WCW just to blabber on about the NWO. Oh well, at least Colorado is actually talking up the talent in the ring rather than taking away from a perfectly good lucha match.
Now to the action itself. It starts off with the faces at a disadvantage when The Front jump The KOA from behind. The faces do not stay down for long and Sugar Dunkerton slams Eric Corvis’ head against the mat a bunch of times before Aaron Epic lays in a swift kick to that same head. Dunkerton and Epic next get to show off their high-flying skills when the match spills outside and both dive over the top rope.
The heels gather some momentum and Corvis gives Epic a sick chop then plants him on the ground only to pick him up and deliver another sick chop. Nicolas Kaye comes in and tangles Epic in the ropes. This allows him to climb the ropes and come down with a vicious stomp.
Dunkerton managers to get the hot tag, but what Colorado describes as “elbows galore” proves not to be a strong enough offense. Corvis puts Epic away by flipping him into the turnbuckles and getting the pin.
Interviewer’s Note: Tommy End is a wrestler perhaps best known for wrestling as one half of the Sumerian Death Squad along with partner Michael Dante. The team held the tag straps in Germany’s Westside Xtreme Wrestling (WXW) promotion until this past August. A native of Holland aside from Germany, End has toured all over Europe and overseas in the United States and Japan. In addition to being a tag team specialist, End has made his mark as a singles competitor. This year he wrestled in the finals of wXw’s 16 Carat Gold Tournament with El Generico. This interview wrapped up on December 13, 2012 so any references to time should be taken from that perspective. He can be followed on Twitter @tommyend. In this interview End and I focus on the topic of tag team wrestling in Europe.
Daniel Johnson: For those unfamiliar with you as a performer how would you describe yourself? Tommy End: Dedicated to my craft. An anti-hero in many ways, but definitely not the standard measure of which an anti-hero would be classified. Most people think that I have a lot of things against me, and I fight that cliche with other cliches.
Daniel Johnson: Do you consider yourself to be strictly a tag team wrestler? Why or why not? Tommy End: Well no, I still get booked in a lot of singles. However due to the success me and Dante are having as a tag team I definitely enjoy being a tag wrestler a lot more.
Daniel Johnson: Did you always plan to be a tag team wrestler or did you originally want to be a singles competitor? Tommy End: Originally I would only do singles, but my good friend and student Michael Dante had this thing that would happen one day or the other. It just felt like the time was right to make it happen. Luckily WXW thought the same and the rest is history.
Daniel Johnson: What were some of your favorite tag teams growing up? Why did you like the ones that you did? Tommy End: To be honest, none. I never really got into tag wrestling since I didn’t specify wrestling that way when I was younger. A match was a match to my standards. We never really had that much wrestling in Holland to begin with. I grew up watching a lot of NJPW on Eurosports, then WCW and then I didn’t get into WWE wrestling until I was 15 or 16 years old.
Daniel Johnson: Do you remember your very first tag match in front of an audience? If so what was that experience like? Tommy End: I think it was already with Dante, but in 2004 in Belgium. We wrestled on this game convention which was a blast. I can’t really remember much about the match itself, but I’m sure it was horrific haha.
Daniel Johnson: Have you ever been in a tag team with a wrestler that you just didn’t click with? Tommy End: Nope.
Daniel Johnson: When did you know that the Sumerian Death Squad had a future as a tag team? Tommy End: The moment Japan came knocking.
Daniel Johnson: How important do you think gimmicks are in wrestling? How much effort did you put into designing a gimmick for the Sumerian Death Squad? Tommy End: I think they are the most important thing to have. Wrestling is not about moves, nor is it about popping a crowd. I enjoy getting people on an emotional level and you can’t do that if you don’t have a character. If you don’t have that charisma, that X factor that makes people follow you, care about you or hate you, you are just cannon fodder. Excelling who you are as a person, as a wrestler, into something that defines you as that person is what makes wrestling great: the story of you. In regard to the SDS, our gimmick was created out of our mutual love for conspiracies and things that make no natural sense in this world. Most of what we do is based on it, and we gently put small references of that into our promos, merchandise and our personalities. I think right now we have a very unique approach, unique move set and unique presence in the ring.
Daniel Johnson: Are there any tag team gimmicks that don’t currently exist, but that you would like to see? Tommy End: Not that I can think of.
Daniel Johnson: I read that you actually trained your partner in the Sumerian Death Squad. What are the advantages to teaming with someone you have trained? Tommy End: Yes, definitely. I know him inside and outside the ring, and have done so for 17 years. I know what he is capable of, and he knows what I can do. So combine the two and you get what we do right now.
Daniel Johnson: I became aware of your work mostly by seeing your matches in Germany and in WXW in particular. For a complete outsider to the German wrestling scene who are some of the bigger tag teams currently out there? Tommy End: RockSkillet, a team consisting of my student Jay Skillet and the ever so talented Jonathan Gresham. The Leaders of the New School, consisting of TNA’s British Bootcamp Marty Scurll and Zack Sabre Jr. Both guys alone are insanely talented, good friends and even better opponents. Big Van Walter and Robert Dreissker. Big Van Walter doesn’t need any introduction. As far as I am concerned BVW is the best heavyweight in Europe at this moment, and teaming it with one of the most talented youngsters I have seen in a long time, Robert Dreissker, I hope to see a lot more of this team.
Daniel Johnson: Who should those interested in getting into German tag team wrestling check out? Tommy End: All of the mentioned above including me and Dante as the Sumerian Death Squad.
Daniel Johnson: Is there any one tag team that you have faced as a member of the Sumerian Death Squad that you think you worked best with? If so why do you think you had the best chemistry with that team? Tommy End: Never really tagged that much with different people.
Daniel Johnson: Are there any current European tag teams that you have yet to face that you would like to face? Tommy End: Wade Fitzgerald and Mark Haskins, The Dunne Brother, Fabulous Bakewells (Lucha Britannia), The Bhangra Knights and The Bucky Boys.
Daniel Johnson: How many tag team championships have you had and which title win was most important to you? Tommy End: The WXW World Tag Team Championship and the ICWA-NWA France World Tag Team Championship. Both mean the world to me and are not the smallest titles in Europe. They are both just the beginning. The thing is that there aren’t many promotions that have tag team divisions so we’re happy that we’ve been/are champions in two of the biggest in Europe that do.
Daniel Johnson: In August the Sumerian Death Squad lost the WXW World Tag Team Championship to RockSkillet a tag team consisting of Jay Skillet and Jonathan Gresham. Do you have any memories of working with these two wrestlers and did anything stand out about either of them? Tommy End: That match is still pretty fresh in my memory. Despite of coming short in the end I don’t think we have ever had a bad match with them and I think that says a lot. Jay is my own student who I just this weekend had an outstanding match with in single competition, and John is a great guy and an incredible talent. I hope our paths will cross again many times.
Daniel Johnson: Who are some of the younger tag teams just starting to come out of the European wrestling scene? Who should fans keep an eye on? Tommy End: RockSkillet.
Daniel Johnson: You have also done some shows for CZW while they were on tour in Germany. What are some of your fonder memories of working CZW? Tommy End: Making great friends, being in a great lockerroom and just being a part of a good product.
Daniel Johnson: Do you ever plan on working on any of CZW’s shows in the United States. Why or why not? Tommy End: I can’t shed too much light on that for now, but that might say enough. Wink.
Daniel Johnson: You have also wrestled in your native Netherlands and Japan. Are there any other countries you have wrestled in or that you plan to wrestle in, in the near future? Tommy End: Apart from Japan and Holland I have wrestled in America, Spain, Germany, France, Poland, Norway, England, Belgium and more. I have pretty much seen all of Europe.
Daniel Johnson: Did you wrestle any differently in Japan than you typically do? If so how? Tommy End: Wrestling not so much, more the way our characters are portrayed changed. In terms of ring presence and interviews post match.
Daniel Johnson: Readers of this website may not be as familiar with wrestling in the Netherlands as they are with some of the other places you have wrestled. What is the scene like there. For example, how many promotions are there and what does a typical crowd look like? Tommy End: To be honest there isn’t a lot of wrestling in Holland. The biggest is by far Dutch Pro Wrestling (DPW), than we have the always traditional Pro Wrestling Holland (PWH) and the more wrestling orientated Pro Wrestling Showdown (PWS). I work for PWS at the moment and have worked for PWH in the past. The Dutch crowd can be tricky. For the most part I have never heard a dead crowd in Holland, but I have heard them dying in the end. Wrestling in Holland is taking baby steps and unfortunately sometimes people in companies make sure we take more steps back than more steps forward. I hope that eventually everyone will realize that it takes everyone to get where we want to be and that is promoting professional wrestling in the right way.
Daniel Johnson: I also read in an interview you did with WrestlingFever that you have been on TNA’s radar. If the Sumerien Death Squad were signed to TNA what teams do you think you would work best with? Tommy End: I’m pretty sure we could work with any team out there.
Daniel Johnson: Which company do you think you would fit better in WWE or TNA? Tommy End: That is a really hard question. I think both promotion would benefit from having more real tag teams, and I mean that in such manner that I feel that there are too many teams out there that are just created by the creative team instead of being an actual tag team. I see in a lot of promotions that tag team wrestling is almost completely gone, so I think it needs a boost, and not just in the bigger companies, but just in wrestling in general. So again, it’s a hard question but I’d have to say from a wrestler’s point of view the WWE.
Daniel Johnson: You previously teamed with Zach Sabre Jr. in a team known as Crimson City Saga. How did that team come about and also how did you pick that name out? Tommy End: We tagged once, liked it and asked WXW to make us tag more often. Our name came from our favorite comics. His being Sin City, mine being Crimson.
Daniel Johnson: I also had some questions outside of those about European wrestling. Back in March you wrestled El Generico in the finals of WXW’s 16 Carat Gold Tournament. What was it like working in that tournament and how do you prepare psychologically to main event a show that big? Tommy End: I have been in all 16 Carats, and all of them where important to me. I never got further than the quater finals and this year I stepped up my game a lot and ended up in the finals with who I consider one of the best on the independent scene: El Generico. To be honest I wasn’t well psychologically, I was in a rough spot. Like always I turn all my grief, problems and heartache into my wrestling. I think this is one of my biggest assets as a human being, that I am able to turn negativity into fuel to be used for something positive. I remember me and Dante training hard for 16 Carat. I have a strict way of training, but I remember we cranked it up a notch in that period, good times!
Daniel Johnson: In a similar vein what was the best and worst crowd reaction you ever got and what, if anything did you do to try to make the best crowd better and the worst crowd less bad? Tommy End: No idea, really. I hope that doesn’t sound arrogant, but I cannot recall ever having that. I might have just forgot because I don’t dwell too long on those matters, but apart from remembering crowds sometimes being silent I don’t really have a certain event happening with a crowd I remember. I’m usually pretty good at pissing them off, if I wasn’t it would’ve been my own fault for not having a strong enough personality. The best crowd reaction has always been at the end of a giant pay off, best feeling in the world when a crowd responds to you and the other wrestler’s hard work. Wrestling is very psychological so if the cards are played right the fans will give you the biggest applause or the biggest mouths, and that is what makes wrestling for me.
Daniel Johnson: I always like to hear about road stories and ribs. Do you have any that you would be willing to share? Tommy End: Haha, to be honest I am actually one of the more silent guys backstage or during road trips. There have been many road trips and there have been many stories and many ribs, but none stick out. I’m usually there for guidance for a lot of the guys, so I am the last one to actually get involved in any of it.
Daniel Johnson: As part of my last few questions I like to ask five non-wrestling related questions just to bring a little uniqueness to the interview. If you don’t have an answer or don’t want to answer one of them just feel free to say, “skip.” Outside of wrestling, what television shows do you enjoy watching these days? Tommy End: The Walking Dead, Game Of Thrones!
Daniel Johnson: What was your favorite movie that came out this year? Tommy End: Prometheus/The Dark Knight Rises ( I am a huge nerd!).
Daniel Johnson: What is your favorite food that you tried for the first time this year? Tommy End: I can’t recall trying something for the first time this year. That might be from being dropped on my head every weekend or just not really having tried anything new.
Daniel Johnson: What is your favorite song to come out this year? Tommy End: Oh man, you can’t ask me that question! I listen to so much music! I honestly couldn’t tell you. There is too much for me to put down here! At the moment I’m destroying the Cancer Bats’ album on my MP4 player.
Daniel Johnson: Did you vote in your last local election? If so would you be willing to say for who? Tommy End: Well, my interest in conspiracies goes deep, so you decide with that knowledge if I voted or not.
Daniel Johnson: What is the weirdest part about being a professional wrestler? Tommy End: Explaining to people what it is that you actually do. Wink.
Daniel Johnson: Is there anything you would like to add? Tommy End: Search for the Sumerian Death Squad on Facebook and keep up to date with where we are going and where you can catch us!
Watch Tommy End in battle! A little bit of Europe comes to Japan when the Sumerian Death Squad take on Yuko Myamoto and Isami Kodaka (then BJW Tag Team Champions) at the Sapporo Wrestling Festival:
Interviewer’s Note: At the age of 24, Jonathan Gresham has already traveled the world as a wrestler and has performed in Japan, Hong Kong, Europe and all over the United States. A few of the more notable promotions he has performed for include CZW, Beyond Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Zero1. In September 2012 he won ZERO1′s Tenkaichi Tournament, which featured many of the world’s top junior heavyweights. The in-ring product he delivers is unique and draws from sources ranging from his trainer, Mr. Hughes to Japanese sensation, Ikuto Hidaka. In this interview Gresham and I focus on the topic of junior heavyweights going beyond what junior heavyweights have been stereotyped as.
Daniel Johnson: Who was the first junior heavyweight wrestler that you connected with as a fan? Jonathan Gresham: I would have to say it was Sean Waltman.
Daniel Johnson: I read that Bam Bam Bigelow was the first wrestler you really liked. Did bigger wrestlers stick out to you more at first? If so, why do you think that is? Jonathan Gresham: I reckon. I think at that age everyone wanted to be the big bad strong guy. And that’s what Bigelow was.
Daniel Johnson: When did you first decide you wanted to make a jump from being a fan to being a wrestler? Jonathan Gresham: When I was around the ages six to nine I’d say.
Daniel Johnson: Was there any particular style of wrestling that you learned first? If so, why did you learn that style first? Jonathan Gresham: I learned the American way of wrestling first.That is because my trainer is Mr. Hughes.
Daniel Johnson: If any, what junior heavyweight wrestlers have you learned from either by being personally trained by them or watching their matches? Jonathan Gresham: Dean Malenko, Ikuto Hidaka, Tiger Mask and Chris Benoit. Just to name a few.
Daniel Johnson: I read that your first match was with Heath Miller (currently WWE’s Heath Slater). What was your wrestling ability like at that time? Did you use any high flying moves or did you use a more mat-based approach? Jonathan Gresham: Yes, Miller was my first match. I was just doing the basics of wrestling during that time. Hughes really wanted us to have that down before we tried to do more.
Daniel Johnson: Has your preference for a style of wrestling changed since then? What is your favorite style of wrestling to work today? Jonathan Gresham: I have tried and studied many different styles of wrestling. I can’t really say I have a favorite one. As I use them all competing against many different wrestlers.
Daniel Johnson: Who have been your favorite opponents so far? Feel free to break it down by style if you like. Jonathan Gresham: Zack Sabre Jr., Jason New, CJ Banks and Ikuto Hidaka.
Daniel Johnson: Getting into the world of gimmicks: What if any gimmicks can junior heavyweight wrestlers pull off better than larger wrestlers? Jonathan Gresham: I don’t know. I never thought about that.
Daniel Johnson: What has been your favorite gimmick that you got to use so far? Least favorite? Jonathan Gresham: I don’t really have a gimmick. So I’d have to say just being me.
Daniel Johnson: What, if any, would you say is the stereotype of a junior heavyweight wrestler? Jonathan Gresham: That all we do is jump around with little to no psychology.
Daniel Johnson: Who is one wrestler you can point to that most differs from this stereotype? Jonathan Gresham: Zack Sabre Jr.
Daniel Johnson: What, if any, misconceptions do you think there are about you as a performer? Jonathan Gresham: I would not know where to start with this question, but I’m guessing it is the same answer as before, ” jump around with little to no psychology.”
Daniel Johnson: Who are some junior heavyweight wrestlers today that you would say are particularly well-rounded and can work multiple styles of wrestling? Jonathan Gresham: Hidaka, CJ Banks and [Mike] Quackenbush are the only ones that come to mind.
Daniel Johnson: Would you say this is the best time ever to be a junior heavyweight wrestler? Why or why not? Jonathan Gresham: Again, I can’t answer that question. I wasn’t in the business back in the 198′s. During that time being a junior seemed to be a big deal as it was kind of a new thing at that time. So comparing it is pretty much impossible, but I can say now is a good time for pro wrestling in general. Different countries are opening up to the idea of a having pro wrestling in their area. So the sport is growing and expanding which is good for business.
Daniel Johnson: How do you see the world of junior heavyweight wrestling changing in the near future? Jonathan Gresham: From traveling around meeting and competing with a lot of different guys I have to say in the next few years there will be new faces of junior divisions all around the world and they all are great talents.
Daniel Johnson: You mentioned in the next few years there will be news faces of junior divisions all around the world. Who are one or two wrestlers that you think this would apply to and what specifically makes them stand out? Jonathan Gresham: I believe a wrestler from Hong Kong named Jason New will make a huge impact sometime soon, while helping the world take notice to wrestling in Hong Kong.
Daniel Johnson: This is a really broad question so feel free to interpret it as you want: Is there anything junior heavyweight wrestlers are not doing today that you think they should be doing? Jonathan Gresham: They should not always be the “fire works” part of the show, sometimes mix it up and tell a story. As juniors we have the ability to be many different things.
Daniel Johnson: I had two off the top of your head questions. Off the top of your head who are your favorite junior heavyweight wrestlers from the following places: the United States/Canada, Mexico, Europe and Japan? Jonathan Gresham: United States: Dingo (Mid West), Mexico: Argenis, Europe: CJ Banks(United Kingdom) and The Hunter Brothers(United Kingdom).
Daniel Johnson: Off the top of your head what is the best junior heavyweight match of all time? Jonathan Gresham: Man, I don’t know. There are so many. I can’t think of just one to be honest.
Daniel Johnson: As part of my last several questions I like to ask five non-wrestling related questions just to make this discussion a little bit different. If you don’t have an answer or don’t want to answer one of them then just say, “skip.” Outside of wrestling, what television shows do you enjoy watching these days? Jonathan Gresham: The Walking Dead and Friends(I know its old).
Daniel Johnson: What was your favorite movie that came out this year? Jonathan Gresham: John Carter.
Daniel Johnson: What is your favorite food that you tried for the first time this year? Jonathan Gresham: Salmon pizza.
Daniel Johnson: What is your favorite song to come out this year? Jonathan Gresham: I don’t have one.
Daniel Johnson: Did you vote in your last local election? If so would you be willing to say for who? Jonathan Gresham: Yeah I did and no.
Daniel Johnson: How do you see your career changing for the future? Basically, where do you see yourself in five years? Jonathan Gresham: To be honest, I don’t have a clue and I try to enjoy right now as much as I can. So I try to not think too far ahead.
Daniel Johnson: Is there any place you have yet to work that you would like to work? If so where? Jonathan Gresham: Canada.
Daniel Johnson: Who are your dream opponents to work with? This question applies to both junior heavyweights and non-junior heavyweights? Jonathan Gresham: I think Sabre Jr. is at the top of the list. Also, KUSHIDA, Masato Tanaka, Shinjiro Otani, Doug Willams and Alex Shelley.
Daniel Johnson: I always like to try to ask this or something similar: What is the weirdest part of being a professional wrestler? Jonathan Gresham: The fans. You meet some interesting people at shows.
Daniel Johnson: Do you have a particularly good story about one unusual encounter you have had meeting a fan or fans? Jonathan Gresham: Not really. It is just the people I tend to meet. Like some have travel schedules like wrestlers, but they don’t wrestle.They just come to watch the shows. I could not imagine traveling the world, to watch wrestling. Its a passion as well I guess. Its gotten to the point where we are on first name bases which is pretty cool to me.
Daniel Johnson: My last question is: Is there anything you would like to add? Jonathan Gresham: Nope, I’m good. Thank you for having me!
Check out Jonathan Gresham in a junior heavyweight bout! Here he takes on Jonny Mangue in an encounter from Beyond Wrestling:
Interviewer’s Note: ACH began life in Texas, but since that time has traveled the United States to compete in some of the most well-known and fastest growing independent promotions. He first got into wrestling as a fan of major promotions, but since that time he has jumped into the independent scene as a wrestler and as a spectator. Now a five year veteran of the wrestling industry, ACH has worked for CZW, CHIKARA and Beyond Wrestling among others. While he has enjoyed success stateside in the future he would like to wrestle in Japan and possibly showcase his skills in a Super J Cup competition. In this interview ACH and I focus on the topic of performing in wrestling tournaments.
Daniel Johnson: My first question is for those unfamiliar with your career where and when were you born and when did you debut as a wrestler? ACH: I was born Born December 7th and in San Antonio, Texas.
Daniel Johnson: When did you have your first match? ACH: I debuted in February 2007.
Daniel Johnson: How would you describe yourself as a performer in a nutshell? ACH: Um-mm. Exciting.
Daniel Johnson: Getting into the topic of wrestling tournaments what was the first wrestling tournament you remember watching? ACH: My first major tournament watching was WWF’s “King Of The Ring”. I don’t recall which one. I wasn’t a huge WWF fan in the 1990s. My first indie tournament was the Texas version of the J Cup.
Daniel Johnson: Are there any moments that stand out for you as particularly impressive or just made you think, “wow” and if so, why? ACH: I don’t remember which KOTR it was. So, I don’t have any moments from it. But The J Cup from Texas I do remember! That night in the main event it was JT Lamotta versus Bret Thunder. That match was “wow”, brother! They gave me a new outlook on the junior weight class in wrestling! JT Lamotta is one of my favorite wrestlers and that night was the first time I saw him in action!
Daniel Johnson: Nice! Since that time you’ve wrestled in some wrestling tournaments yourself. Do you know how many you wrestled in exactly and what were they? ACH: Lol. Oh, man! Beyond Wrestling: Tournament for Tomorrow, Magnum Pro [MP]: Battle Royale Cup, Absolute Intense Wrestling [AIW]: The JT Lightning Invitational Tournament, CZW: Best Of The Best, CHIKARA’s Young Lions Cup, and I think I missed a couple. Lol, sorry.
Daniel Johnson: You mentioned CZW Best of the Best. You were eliminated in the first round of that tournament by AR Fox in a three way match also featuring Lince Dorado. How do you think the match turned out? What were the positives and did you feel there were any negatives? ACH: I think the match turned out pretty good. The positives in the match were I was able to showcase for a different type of fan base. CZW fans can be harsh if they don’t get into you. And on top of that I was in the ring with the most over guy in the promotion being AR Fox! I’m really hard on myself, so you don’t want me to get into the negatives, brother! Lol. Nah, some of my negatives our a bit personal so I wouldn’t feel comfortable talking about them.
Daniel Johnson: Had you seen any CZW Best of the Best tournaments prior to participating in one? If so are there any matches or moments that stick out to you as being particularly impressive. ACH: Unfortunately, I was very sheltered in the beginning of my career. I wasn’t an indie wrestling fan when I started. Only because I had no clue it was there! But I did do a history report and studied Best of the Best tournaments from the past. And the one that sticks out the most to me was Best of the Best V. The quarter-final match: Mike Quackenbush versus Claudio Castagnoli was poetry, man!
Daniel Johnson: This is a little off topic, but what do you think of CZW’s current status in the wrestling world in general. Do you think the company should be more well known given its longevity and quality? If so why do you think CZW is not a bigger name? ACH: I think CZW is well known. It’s one the top five indie promotions in the world if you ask me.
Daniel Johnson: Back on topic, more recently you wrestled for CHIKARA’s Young Lions Cup X. What was the experience like of wrestling all the way to the finals? ACH: Awesome! I got to wrestle five guys with all different styles! Also, I got a chance to wrestle in a new state! The four way that took place in Everett, MA was one of the funnest matches I’ve been in. Matches like that are why I enjoy my job.
Daniel Johnson: Nice to hear you enjoyed wrestling in MA, that’s where I’m from! Anyway, what did you think of the structure of the tournament with four way matches leading into singles matches? How, if at all do you think it helps the tournament stand out? ACH: Haha. Sweet! I think with it being structured the way it was helped keep it interesting. The curiosity in a four way is always at a high point! And some of the four way matches had fresh faces, so everyone stayed tuned in to what would happen next and wanted to see who would advance. It also keeps the tournament short so fans won’t get burned out so fast.
Daniel Johnson: How much pressure was it to perform in the final match of the tournament? What did you do to prepare for it? ACH: I was pretty nervous! I remember talking to Quack before the show that night and he pretty much told me this needs to be Wrestlemania! Well, he didn’t say that, but I took his words that way! Lol. I zoned out in the locker room that day. I took myself away from the boys so I could prepare my mind.
Daniel Johnson: The last specific tournament I wanted to focus on was Beyond Wrestling: Tournament for Tomorrow that you wrestled in last year. How did you first get started with Beyond Wrestling? ACH: Word of mouth. I was getting some buzz back home in Texas and I was in a fray for DGUSA a couple of months before the tournament. A bunch of guys put me over to Drew Cordeiro [Denver Colorado, the man, not the place] and he had an open vote to see who the fans wanted to see in the tournament.
Daniel Johnson: Beyond Wrestling seems like a pretty unique promotion. For instance when it first started they didn’t have any shows in front of fans. What, if anything do you find is still unique about Beyond Wrestling and can other promotions learn from the company? ACH: I love it! I think other promotions can learn to trust the product like Beyond does. He lets you go out there and have fun. It’s a job, but you get to express yourself freely while getting yourself over.
Daniel Johnson: You wrestled AR Fox, Pinkie Sanchez and Aaron Epic in three separate matches for the tournament. Did any of the three matches in particular stand out as being the best one for you? If so why do you think that one is the best? ACH: I loved them all the same. I don’t compare the matches because each one had a unique thing about it. But if I had to pick one…AR Fox. Only because it was my coming out party to the east coast.
Daniel Johnson: Did the tournament include any talent that you saw for the first time there? Are there any matches that you didn’t wrestle in that stuck out to you just as a fan? ACH: I can’t recall any of the matches that night. There were so many! But JT Dunn is one of the guys that stuck out that night!
Daniel Johnson: The Tournament for Tomorrow was another case of you wrestling all the way up to the finals of a tournament. What is it like to go into a new place and get the fans immediately behind you as was shown through your success that night? ACH: It’s breathtaking, man! If you ask me, I’m just Albert from Austin, Texas enjoying his career and life. It really means the world to me to hear all the kind words from people.
Daniel Johnson: Will you be wrestling for Beyond Wrestling’s Tournament for Tomorrow II this year or CZW Best of the Best XII next year? How about CHIKARA’s Young Lions Cup XI? ACH: I talked to Drew about it already. And he said…no, lol! And for the other two, I couldn’t tell you, man! I would love to, but I don’t know right now.
Daniel Johnson: That’s too bad I’m sure your fans would have loved to see you in another Beyond Wrestling tournament! Going beyond just Beyond Wrestling though have any wrestlers in particular impressed you with their endurance in being able to have multiple quality matches in the same night for a tournament? ACH: Nah. Everyone I know or have seen in a tournament trained hard. Everyone was always at their best that night whether it was their second match of the night or third!
Daniel Johnson: How important is it to use the time for resting between matches in a one night tournament? Do you just lie down at those points or are you afraid of cramping up? ACH: Very important! But you don’t want to get too relaxed. I try to get a moment to myself to get my wind back, then I try to stay loose so I won’t cramp up.
Daniel Johnson: What advice would you give to anyone planning to wrestle multiple matches in a one night tournament? ACH: Make sure you are at your best! Drink water, but not too much. Also, make sure that you keep your mind clear of all outside problems and never hold anything back!
Daniel Johnson: Wrestling tournaments are often talked about for the prestige that they give the winner or even just the participants. What wrestling tournament do you think is the most prestigious one to compete in? ACH: The Super J Cup over in Japan. But overall all tournaments are special. You have a group of the best going for one goal.
Daniel Johnson: Looking to the future, I don’t believe you’ve gotten a chance to wrestle in Japan, a country known for having some great wrestling tournaments yet? Would you like to go there in the future? If so what company would you wrestle for even beyond just considering wrestling for tournaments? ACH: Oh yeah! That is my current goal right now. I would love to wrestle for Dragon Gate [DG] and one day take part in a Super J Cup!
Daniel Johnson: This is a broad question, but what is your favorite single wrestling tournament of all time both as an observer and participant? ACH: The Super J Cup 1994 of course! Wild Pegasus, Ricky Fuji, Dean Malenko and everyone on that show!
Daniel Johnson: Yes, it was a great show to watch and re-watch! I also had just a few more non-tournament related questions. I always like to hear about ribs and road stories. Do you have any that you would be able to share? ACH: Haha. Old Arik Cannon pulls ribs on me all the time. I’m just going to say that!
Daniel Johnson: Do you have any plans for the future? Where do you see yourself in the next five years? ACH: Somewhere doing what I love around people I love! I can’t see inside the future, brother. But bet your top dollar that I will be feeling the same way about wrestling the way I did growing up!
Daniel Johnson: As part of my last few questions I like to ask five non-wrestling related questions just to bring a little uniqueness to the interview. If you don’t have an answer or don’t want to answer one of them just feel free to say, “skip.” Outside of wrestling, what television shows do you enjoy watching these days? ACH: Dragon Ball Z (that was easy!), Martin, The Wayne Bros., Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil and every show on The ’90s Are All That.
Daniel Johnson: What was your favorite movie that came out this year? ACH: The Avengers.
Daniel Johnson: What is your favorite food that you tried for the first time this year? ACH: A California roll. Good looking out Davey Vega.
Daniel Johnson: What is your favorite song to come out this year? ACH: I have been using Lupe Fiasco “The Show Goes On” for some time now. I don’t plan on changing it!
Daniel Johnson: Did you vote in your last local election? If so would you be willing to say for who? ACH: Skip.
Daniel Johnson: No problem. This is a broad question, but one I try to ask everyone: What is the weirdest part of being a professional wrestler? ACH: Being half naked and rolling around with oiled up men! Lol.
Daniel Johnson: My last question is just is there anything you would like to add or talk about that we haven’t talked about already? ACH: Um. I don’t have anything, bro. Oh! I would like people to check out all the places I wrestle for via Smart Mark Video!
Witness ACH’s performance in the final match of Beyond Wrestling: Tournament for Tomorrow! Here he takes on Aaron Epic after already defeating AR Fox and Pinkie Sanchez in the same night:
Finally, I have gotten around to posting some stuff featuring CZW wrestlers. The nice part of this match comes from watching Danny Havoc, who is a pretty versatile wrestler, who can venture beyond just the hardcore stuff. DJ Hyde is also okay to watch here as well, but the camera doesn’t seem to focus much on him. However, as much as I’d like to enjoy Drake Younger it is tough to get past how sloppy he can be. I like his choice of ring attire as it reminds me slightly of CM Punk’s indie look (yes, it is just the basketball shorts). However, the similarities are purely superficial. Plus, it seems that about 75 percent of everything he does is much sloppier than it needs to be and here is no exception.
Still, Younger has his fans and this match can be enjoyable if it fits your tastes. It is called a death match, but the combatants use enough tact to keep it from being out and out garbage wrestling.
