Lionheart Interview
Published Thursday, 10th December 2009
PBW: Firstly thank you for taking the time to sit down and do this interview for pbwwrestling.com.
Lionheart: No problem at all.
PBW: Just this past Friday you beat Martin Stone in Airdrie to retain the PBW Heavyweight Title, you have now held the title for over a year. How does this make you feel?
Lionheart: It was really important for me. It was the last PBW show of the year, I left 2008 as the new PBW Champion last year and it was a personal goal of mine to leave 2009 the same way. This PBW title run has been an absoloute blast for me and on so many occassions I’ve called PBW the best promotion in Scotland and one of the best all-round promotions in the UK, so to be the top guy there and be recognised as the heavyweight champion is something special. Martin Stone is probably the biggest name in the UK right now and to work in the same ring as him is a pleasure. He’s so intense and he really makes you up your game. The matches with him have probably been up there with the toughest I’ve had.
PBW: The next night you sadly announced at British Championshiop Wrestling that you would be taking time away from the company. For fans who weren’t at the show would you care to explain again your reasons for this?
Lionheart: Just personal reasons I guess. I could go on forever about reasons why, but simply put I was unhappy there. The whole set up of what goes on in the company makes me unhappy and I decided that I no longer wanted to work for the people who run it. They’ve given me some fantastic opportunities and I can’t take anything away from them in that respect, but for now, it’s just not a place I want to be.
PBW: Noam Dar actually beat you on that very BCW show. It has been a great year for Dar with him making his debut in England as well as working for Dragon Gate on their Barcelona show. What advice would you have to Noam Dar and the other students from the Scottish Pro Wrestling Academy for the year coming?
Lionheart: Just keep doing what he is doing. If he keeps his feet on the ground, listens to his peers and continues to work hard, there will be no stopping him. Working with him has been a pleasure, I’ve watched him grow from strength to strength and it’s only going to get better for him. As far as the other trainees go, it’s a simple formula. Want it, set your sights on it, work hard for it. If you want it bad enough and chase it for long enough, you’l get it.
PBW: 2009 has been an awesome year for Lionheart—undefeated at PBW the whole year; debuts for the FWA, RDW and IPW:UK; as well as wrestling ROH star Davey Richards at Pro Wrestling 101 in Doncaster. How do you feel the year has went as a whole?
Lionheart: Man, 2009 has been such a fast moving 12 months for me. I’ve had some of the best matches of my career this year and it just keeps getting better. I’ve been given some amazing opportunities to work with some of the finest talent out there and each time I’ve simply tried to give it my best and learn what I can from each experience. I’ve had a good year and I hope it continues.
PBW: As we just mentioned you are fastly becoming one of the most in demand British wrestlers with companies all over the UK and even Europe wanting you to appear at their shows. What companies would you say are the best to work for at this moment in time?
Lionheart: PBW is my favourite to work for (no cheap plug, just honesty there). I just love the set up, the professionalism, the attention to detail. Debuting for the FWA was a big thing for me this year and to say it is the most professionaly run company I have ever seen would be an understatement. I always love my experiences down south—1PW, IPW-UK and PW101 are all fantastic companies to work for. I just try to make the most of every opportunity I’m given.
PBW: What does 2010 have in store for Lionheart?
Lionheart: I honestly don’t know. I have my sights set on a couple of things and that is going to be my focus, but whether it happens or not is a totally different thing. I’m trying my best to get the opportunities I want to but it’s a very difficult thing to do when you don’t really know the right people.
PBW: Will you be looking for a WWE or TNA tryout?
Lionheart: Like I said, 2010, I have goals and that’s my focus.
Questions from the fans
Calum (Airdrie): What was your toughest match in 2009?
Lionheart: No doubt Davey Richards at PW101.
Scott (Girvan): Who do you think are the best Scottish wrestlers?
Lionheart: Darkside is probably pound-for-pound the best in Scotland this year. Liam Thomson is always the guy who can’t really have a bad match. Kid Fite has stepped up and found his niche as a great singles star. B.T. Gunn also seems to have stepped up this year, and Red Lightning is probably one of my breakout guys this year as well, best physical shape of his career. Ones to watch in 2010: Noam Dar, Kid Fite, Red Lightning.
Natalie (Irvine): If you could wrestle one wrestler who would it be and why?
Lionheart: Chris Jericho—the best all-around performer in WWE today.
A.J. Styles—the best all-around performer in TNA Wrestling today.
PBW: Thank you, Lionheart, and all the best for 2010.
