by Daniel Johnson
Photo Courtesy of Bolt Brady/Texasanarchy.com
Interviewer’s Note: Bolt Brady is a wrestler originally from Austin, Texas who recently relocated to St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up as a fan during the Attitude Era and names Chris Jericho as his favorite wrestler of all time and a major influence. Since beginning his career he has become a regular for Anarchy Championship Wrestling (ACW) and more recently become a regular for ACW’s sister promotion, St. Louis Anarchy (SLA). Brady is a former holder of the NWA Lone Star Junior Heavyweight Championship and the current holder of the ACW U-30 Young Guns Championship, a title that he has now held for over 230 days. Aside from championships, Brady won this year’s edition of the AIWF Krazy 8 Tournament. This interview was completed on September 5, 2013. In this interview Brady and I focus on the topic of winning the AIWF Krazy 8 Tournament.
Daniel Johnson: In a nutshell how would you describe yourself as a performer?
Bolt Brady: In a nutshell? Loud, bright, fast and fan friendly. I don’t think there’s anyone quite like me on the circuit right now and that’s intentional.
Daniel Johnson: For those unfamiliar with you where and when were you born and how long have you been wrestling?
Bolt Brady: I was born, raised and initially trained in Austin, Texas. November of this year will put me at eight years.
Daniel Johnson: Cool, What wrestlers did you enjoy growing up and who do you consider to be your biggest influences?
Bolt Brady: My first ever favorite was The Patriot. That lasted two weeks before I jumped on the “Stone Cold” Steve Austin bandwagon like everyone else. I then had a small X- Pac phase before settling on my favorite of all time in Chris Jericho, a big influence of mine. Smaller, athletic guys tended to inspire me such as Chris Sabin and Shelton Benjamin, but Jericho and HHH’s mic work always drew me in as well.
Daniel Johnson: When did you decide you wanted to work as a professional wrestler and who ended up training you?
Bolt Brady: I was a “late bloomer” so to speak and didn’t start watching until the age of 12. By the age of 13, I knew it was what I wanted to do for a living, so I went to the, now defunct, Champions of Texas Power Wrestling Academy.
Daniel Johnson: How did you first become involved with AIWF?
Bolt Brady: I worked with Total Championship Wrestling (TCW) before they joined AIWF Texas, but made my splash as an individual when I won the 2013 Krazy 8.
Daniel Johnson: How familiar are you with the history of the AIWF Krazy 8 Tournament? Have you watched any past shows or been able to work with any wrestlers from past shows?
Bolt Brady: Familar enough to know most of the winners of it took that momentum and reside and work on the east coast now! But I have yet to wrestle Aaron Epic or any other finalist yet, and Kyle Matthews and I continue to just miss each other even though we’ve been in two different tournaments together. He’s won one, and I’ve won one, so who’s to say who would win if our paths in a tournament crossed?
Daniel Johnson: At AIWF Krazy 8 2013 you wrestled Phil Stamper in the first round, Velvet Jones in the second round and Adan Reeys in the finals. Which made stood out for you as your best performance and why?
Bolt Brady: Definitely Adan. Besides being the finals and that high stakes of a match pulling the best out of you, he was also the most athletic.
Daniel Johnson: The tournament was held this year at the National Guard Armory in Mount Airy, North Carolina. Do you have any memories of the crowd and have you worked in North Carolina a lot before this event?
Bolt Brady: Not being from the general area myself, I can remember the crowd was more invested in their favrorites than the newcomer that I was, having only had competed in AIWF Texas. That pretty much put me as the underdog in their eyes. The Krazy 8 was my North Carolina debut and the last time I’ve worked there to this day, but I would gladly go back.
Daniel Johnson: Outside of your match with Adan and the crowd do you have any other fond memories of the Krazy 8 Tournament?
Bolt Brady: Finally meeting Matt Classic in person was cool; always wondered what he looked like!
Daniel Johnson: Do you have any plans to wrestle in the Krazy 8 2014 tournament?
Bolt Brady: AIWF hasn’t contacted me to and as cool as it would be to repeat, I’ve already climbed that mountain. I think it’s time I step aside and move on to new mountains in my recent relocation to the midwest and let someone else get that press.
Daniel Johnson: Cool, I actually had some questions about your relocation, but just had few other questions I wanted to ask first. Outside of the Krazy 8 tournament what other tournaments have you competed in and which stand out the most? Also, are there any you have yet to compete in that you would like to?
Bolt Brady: I’ve competed in Anarchy Championship Wrestling’s Lone Star Classic twice, PWE’s Great Southern 8 and Wildkat Sports’ Quest for the Best. The Lone Star Classic definitely stands out the most as it’s the longest running with the highest profile winners such as Jaykus Plisken, Matthew Palmer and ROH’s ACH. I hope to someday compete in ECWA’s world famous Super 8 and the Young Lion’s Cup.
Daniel Johnson: You talked about this a little earlier, but how do you feel winning the AIWF Krazy 8 tournament has helped your career overall?
Bolt Brady: It produced a lot of press for me.
Daniel Johnson: Do you consider winning the Krazy 8 tournament to be the greatest moment of your career so far? If not than what moment surpasses it?
Bolt Brady: As big as it was, no. Winning Anarchy Championship Wrestling’s Young Guns Under 30 Championship, debuting on Metro Pro Wrestling television, being involved in the first National Pro Wrestling Day or debuting at Extreme Rising were all milestones for me.
Daniel Johnson: I was also curious about your run with the ACW U-30 Young Guns Championship, you have held the title so far for over 200 days. What is it like to have a title reign this long?
Bolt Brady: It forces you to get better. You can see it in my physique alone throughout my title reign. You get everyone’s best game when you’re on top; you’re not the underdog anymore. You gym harder, lift heavier and train longer.
Daniel Johnson: What have been some matches that stand out to you from this title reign so far?
Bolt Brady: Beating Carson for the belt was huge in and of itself, but Ricky Starks and Barrett Brown made solid attempts to dethrone me that resulted in incredible matches.
Daniel Johnson: You also recently moved to St. Louis. How, if at all, has this affected your appearance schedule for Anarchy Championship Wrestling?
Bolt Brady: My move will allow me to work for St. Louis Anarchy, ACW’s sister company more conveniently, but I still don’t plan to miss a beat at ACW anymore than any other of the St. Louis based talent they employ.
Daniel Johnson: Since making the move to St. Louis what new promotions have you been able to work for that you were previously unable to wrestle in?
Bolt Brady: I don’t know if I was ever unable to work anywhere before as I’ve always been one to travel, but I most recently did a NWA Central-states Championship Wrestling (NWA CCW) show that was more conveniently placed.
Daniel Johnson: I also had five short non-wrestling related questions I like to ask everyone to make interviews just a little more interesting. What television shows do you watch these days?
Bolt Brady: The NFL.
Daniel Johnson: What was your favorite movie that came out this year?
Bolt Brady: I don’t see many movies, so Iron Man 3, which didn’t impress me.
Daniel Johnson: What is your favorite food that you tried for the first time this year?
Bolt Brady: I don’t recall trying anything completely new so far this year. I’ve tried a few new sushi rolls, but I’ve had sushi before.
Daniel Johnson: What is your favorite song to come out this year?
Bolt Brady: Uh? This year’s music hasn’t impressed me much.
Daniel Johnson: What is the last book you read and would you recommend it?
Bolt Brady: I’m currently reading Chris Jericho’s second book [Undisputed: How to Become the World Champion in 1,372 Easy Steps] and I absolutely would! Especially to guys working the circuit.
Daniel Johnson: I had just a few more brief questions. Do you have any goals you would like to accomplish in wrestling over the next year or so?
Bolt Brady: Working AAW in Chicago, AIW in Ohio, and at least one ROH or WWE dark match.
Daniel Johnson: In general where would you rank 2013 so far amongst your years as a wrestler?
Bolt Brady: Definitely my best yet. I’ve made a lot of progress physically, professionally and geographically.
Daniel Johnson: What is the weirdest part of being involved in the world of wrestling?
Bolt Brady: The boys, no doubt.
Daniel Johnson: Are there any workers you have yet to wrestle that you would like to sometime in the near future? If so then who are they and why?
Bolt Brady: AR Fox, Bu Ku Dao, and Luke Hawx are all on my “list” because of their skill.
Daniel Johnson: You mentioned wanting to work in a WWE dark match sometime down the line. Would you say working for WWE is your ultimate goal? Why or why not?
Bolt Brady: Yes. They’re the biggest sports entertainment company in the world; they’re the major leagues.
Daniel Johnson: Who is one wrestler 25 or younger that you think readers should know about?
Bolt Brady: Bu Ku Dao and Ricky Starks are both hungry up and comers.
Daniel Johnson: Is there anything you would like to add?
Bolt Brady: Nothing else to add, you were pretty thorough!
Check out Bolt Brady in action! In this match from ACW he teams with ACH to take on The Takeover consisting of Carson and Jaykus Plisken:
Categories: Wrestling Interviews
The Johnson Transcript 
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