by Daniel Johnson
Photo Courtesy of Dick Justice
Interviewer’s Note: “Supercop” Dick Justice is a New York based wrestler who has worked for Upstate Pro Wrestling (UPW), Top Rope Promotions (TRP) and 2CW among other companies. His character is that of a comedic law enforcement officer. Currently, he wrestles with partner Pete D. Order as the tag team Order and Justice. Previously, Justice held the NWA New York No Limits Championship. His YouTube channel can be found here, he can be followed on Twitter here, he has an Instagram here and he can be e-mailed here. This interview was completed on August 6, 2013. In this interview Justice and I focus on the topic of wrestling as a law enforcement character.
Daniel Johnson: For those unfamiliar with you how would you describe yourself as a performer?
Dick Justice: I’m a character to the fullest extent. I’m a cop, whose southern, who loves his momma, who is an extreme patriot, who can do lucha style arm drags.
Daniel Johnson: Before I get into the meat of the interview I also had some background questions, as a fan what wrestlers first inspired you?
Dick Justice: I always loved the characters, I loved Kane when I first started watching and Mankind. As I got older the guys who were working the hardest made me want to get into it. Then when I first started I was all about heavyweight hard hitting guys like Vader and Stan Hansen.
Daniel Johnson: Cool, when did you make the leap from being a fan to knowing you wanted to be a wrestler?
Dick Justice: When I saw my first ROH DVD and saw Low Ki vs. Christopher Daniels vs. Bryan Danielson I made my decision, I wanted to try and get into it. Then after attending my first UPW show in Rochester, New York I knew I could do so at their school and get trained right.
Daniel Johnson: Who was your trainer at UPW? Also what was a typical day of training like?
Dick Justice: I was originally trained by Jimmy Olsen, it would start off with some basic exercises, then bumps and rolls, then learning new things and trying them out, usually went from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Daniel Johnson: Did you work with anyone outside of Olsen. Also, was there anything that surprised you about training once you began it?
Dick Justice: A slew of names from that area who were really making big moves helped me out. From Dunn and Marcos to Cheech and Cloudy to Colin Delaney to Brodie Lee to Gabe Saint, they all gave me something and helped me out a lot whenever they could. Everything was sort of how I expected it to be, not easy and painful haha.
Daniel Johnson: Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe UPW was your first home promotion as well. Do you still consider it your home promotion. If not then what replaced it?
Dick Justice: Yes I do, that’s where I had my first match ever. 2CW is my home away from home.
Daniel Johnson: From the time you began wrestling how long did it take you to develop your law enforcement character. Were there any other characters you considered taking on prior to Dick Justice?
Dick Justice: I was known as “Superbad” Richard Venice beforehand, who would shuck and jive and dance, but I really wanted to be a bad ass and beat people up, but that’s not me as a person so I couldn’t do it very well haha. The cop character happened somewhat by accident, and just stuck. I had so much fun doing it I figured why not give it a try.
Daniel Johnson: One remark I’ve heard a lot is some variation of, “the best gimmicks are real life personalities with the volume turned way up.” Do you feel this is true and does it apply at all to your character?
Dick Justice: I think it does, you can be more comfortable doing something you’re used to. I like to goof and have fun, but when it’s time to get down to business it’s game on. The person is the same, but it’s just a character I like to have fun with.
Daniel Johnson: What, if anything, do you believe makes your character unlike any other?
Dick Justice: It’s got multiple layers to it. I’m able to adapt to any role I need to be in. I’m not just a guy in a cop uniform. I developed this character deep and thoroughly.
Daniel Johnson: Outside of Dick Justice what other wrestlers with law enforcement characters have you enjoyed. Are there any lesser known ones that you think readers should know about?
Dick Justice: Obviously, The Big Boss Man and the Mountie. The classic WCW tag team State Patrol were also quite enjoyable although never featured too often.
Daniel Johnson: Are there any Big Boss Man memories that stand out to you?
Dick Justice: My first one was The Corporation feuding with The Undertaker leading into Wrestlemania 15 when Undertaker faced Boss Man in the hell in the cell, as well as all of his Hardcore title victories in the 1990s and early 2000s haha, but it was recently I began to appreciate his work as a big man wrestler early on as The Big Boss Man from Cobb County, Georgia.
Daniel Johnson: Getting into your in-ring career who are your favorite opponents to work with? Also, what characters do you think best playoff of Dick Justice?
Dick Justice: I love working guys who love to wrestle and want to get better every match. I’ve always had fun with Loca Vida and the Killer Steves, and I’d love to test myself against some of the talent out there today.
Daniel Johnson: Is there one single match you have had yet as Dick Justice that you are most proud of? If so what is it and what made the match stand out for you?
Dick Justice: I had a match with Colin Delaney at TRP I was very happy with, other than that I’m just beginning to dabble into the realm of singles wrestling.
Daniel Johnson: As an in-ring performer how would you describe yourself? What do you feel your strengths are and where do you think you could improve?
Dick Justice: I’m pretty good as far as being vocal is concerned, I think that makes people pay attention more. I have to work on everything. I think I need to be more fluid and get better at storytelling, and I’m sure my mat wrestling can be tuned as well. But at least I’m funny, I’m pretty good at that.
Daniel Johnson: Cool, what is your favorite part about interacting with a crowd. Also, have you gotten any hecklers in particular that stand out to you? If so how did you deal with them?
Dick Justice: Hecklers are easy because they just want to be part of the show. There’s always one or two, but I usually just hit them with the verbal assault and get it over with. Sometimes dudes need to get smashed in the mouth too. When they get into what I’m doing and cheer it feels great.
Daniel Johnson: Arguably the most well known promotion you have worked for is 2CW. How did you first get involved in the promotion?
Dick Justice: I was actually just a fill in for another guy. My partner at the time Pete D. Order needed a partner so I threw on a blue singlet and a cop shirt and just went to have fun. Somehow they liked me and the rest is history.
Daniel Johnson: How do you feel you fit in with the roster and are there any wrestlers in 2CW you have yet to work with that you would like to?
Dick Justice: I’m similar yet different. I’m a completely different character than anyone else there, but we’re all fighting for the same prize. I’d like to see how I match up against everyone there to see who I would work well with.
Daniel Johnson: Outside of 2CW one of the championships you have held has been the NWA New York No Limits Championship. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe you held the title for 112 days. What was your most memorable experience from that reign?
Dick Justice: I’m actually not sure on the days haha, but I lost it on my first defense then started up The Young and the Wrestlers with Nick Ando. I guess the match I won it in was pretty cool because I got to wrestle Cloudy.
Daniel Johnson: Do you feel that was the most prestigious title you held? If not then what was?
Dick Justice: Yeah, I did because I felt like I had something to prove, I wanted to prove I could hang with anyone I was with
Daniel Johnson: Outside of your singles career, you have teamed with Peter D. Order. How did this pairing first come about?
Dick Justice: The fill in for 2CW sort of sparked that. We did other tag team spots, but nothing ever like that.
Daniel Johnson: What other wrestlers have you tagged with? Do you believe you have better chemistry with Order than any other wrestlers you have tagged with?
Dick Justice: I tagged with Nick Ando, Stargazer and Mark Krieger for long stints, and we all had our own unique rolls as a tag team as a whole, as a cop Order and myself had good chemistry, but Ando and I were friends since middle school so we clicked really well.
Daniel Johnson: What teams do you enjoy working against the most? Also, are there any teams you have yet to work with that you would like to?
Dick Justice: The Killer Steves and Loca Vida were our main adversaries as well as Team CK and Rochester Wrecking Crew. I would have liked to face Pun and Graham though.
Daniel Johnson: What are your short-term goals in wrestling? What would you like to accomplish by the end of the year, if anything in particular?
Dick Justice: I want my name to be in as many markets as humanly possible. Wrestling all the time. I want to get my name out there, hopefully my work catches on.
Daniel Johnson: On the flip side, do you have any long-term goals. Basically, where would you like to see yourself in five years?
Dick Justice: Hopefully doing big things. I want to wrestle overseas in the worst way. I want to be someone people want to see. Hopefully, all my hard work leads me there.
Daniel Johnson: Big Boss Man famously had a run as the most evil man alive during the Attitude Era. What do you consider to be the most heelish thing you’ve done in wrestling?
Dick Justice: Aside from spitting and yelling, I used to enjoy making kids cry or trying to fight their fathers.
Daniel Johnson: I also had five short non-wrestling related questions I like to ask everyone to make interviews a little more interesting: Outside of wrestling what television shows do you watch?
Dick Justice: Tosh.0, Family Guy, Regular Show, Everybody Loves Raymond and King of Queens.
Daniel Johnson: What was your favorite movie to come out this year?
Dick Justice: This is the End.
Daniel Johnson: What is your favorite food that you tried for the first time this year?
Dick Justice: I haven’t tried anything new really, incorporating more sushi into my diet, although its not ‘Merican.
Daniel Johnson: What is you favorite song released this year?
Dick Justice: “Do Me a Favor” by Stone Sour.
Daniel Johnson: What was the last book you read and would you recommend it?
Dick Justice: The last book I read was the Dusty Rhodes autobiography, and I do but I warn you, you’ll be reading the book in his voice.
Daniel Johnson: I then just had a few more brief wrestling questions. What is the weirdest part of being a wrestler?
Dick Justice: Traveling far distances, beating up people in front of people we don’t know, hoping they like us.
Daniel Johnson: Where would you rank 2013 among your years as a wrestler?
Dick Justice: Number one, always try to outdo the year before.
Daniel Johnson: Who is one wrestler 25 or younger that you think readers should know about?
Dick Justice: “Your Captain” Nick Ando, he’s pretty good and he’s a snazzy dresser.
Daniel Johnson: Do you have any advice for young people interested in becoming pro wrestlers?
Dick Justice: Dream big and work hard. Life’s too short to live with regrets.
Daniel Johnson: Is there anything you would like to promote and that you think readers should check out?
Dick Justice: Check out my videos on my YouTube channel: Dick Justice, follow me on Twitter and Instagram @supercopjustice and for anyone interested in contacting me for anything else supercopjustice@gmail.com is the e-mail.
Daniel Johnson: Is there anything you would like to add?
Dick Justice: ‘Merica.
Watch Dick Justice wrestle in his home away from home, 2CW! In this match Justice teams with Pete D. Order as Order and Justice take on Cheech and Muscle Marcos, Planet Fitness:
Categories: Wrestling Interviews
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