Interview with Scotland's fastest rising star, Noam Dar
Published Wednesday, 21st July 2010
PBW Wrestling recently had the opportunity to sit down for a one-to-one chat with the hottest prospect in UK wrestling right now. 16-year-old Noam Dar has been making big waves in the European wrestling scene and below we talk to him about his training, PBW, 1PW, PW101, Europe, his future and much more.
PBW: Noam you started training with The Scottish Pro Wrestling Academy during December of 2007 under head trainers Ross Watson(Kid Fite) and Colin McKay (The Highlander). What made you decide to start wrestling training at such a young age of only 14?
Noam Dar: At the time, it didn't dawn on me that I would be considered "young" in the eyes of professional wrestling. I guess like every one else i watched it, got the urge to try it and sure enough SPWA provided the proper avenues for me to start comprehensive training under two well respected coaches.
PBW: Over the next few years and even now you still attend training every Sunday in East Kilbride at The SPWA training facility. How would you describe training to anyone thinking about starting and how do you find the methods put into practice on a weekly basis at training?
Noam: Yeah, I truly believe that professional wrestling, as a talent, is much like any other sport in the sense that even the most skilled players or competitors still diligently and consistantly train at an intense level on order to maximise their potential and ability. That being said, I have found that no matter what level a trainee/wrestler is at, a good and efficient school can not only identify flaws but also provide suitable assistance, SPWA does exactly that. Without a doubt the SPWA is the most prestigious and successful school in Scotland and is certainly a top contender within the UK, with guest seminars with varied stars of the business such as Matt Cross, Paul London and Bad Bones each week provides a different learning experience and addresses another aspect of professional wrestling. To anyone wishing to start Professional wrestling I highly recommend the Scottish Professional Wrestling Academy as their primary choice.
PBW: You made your PBW debut on Friday, 18 July 2008 at Girvan Community Centre when you faced of against B.T. Gunn in singles competition. What are your memories of that match?
Noam: Extremely nervous. At the time I was just turning 15 and had been worrying and stressing about the match weeks before. In fact I even remember trying to convince myself that I would be OK and this booking was in fact the instigator that got me in to the gym on a regular basis. In hindsight i still reckon the match went well as B.T. Gunn took into account my inexperience and ensured that i would be safe, comfortable and also deliver some what of a productive match. B.T. done just that and from that day I have always regarded B.T. Gunn as the excellent worker that he is.
PBW: From early 2009 you started to feature in PBW shows on a regular basis and even earned a spot in King of Cruisers 2009. Although not victorious, PBW owner Ross Watson has openly stated that that was the night that he saw "a star in the making". What was it like to be involved in such a high profile match with Britain's finest talent at such a young age of only 16?
Noam: The King of Cruisers match was my first high-profile match and months prior my diet and training regime focused towards a look necessary for that kind of match. I knew at that time and even now that the match would be a proving point and show that I could work with such talent as Bubblegum and Joey Hayes in a big match environment and hold my own. My participation in the match and also being part of PBW's biggest show Maximum Impact and also gained newspaper coverage due to my unique situation of being 16. I loved every minute of the match and still to this day regard it as one of my favourite matches as it gave me a whole new perspective on professional wrestling. And I will be forever grateful to PBW owner Ross Watson for providing me with the opportunity.
PBW: After that performance at King of Cruisers 2009, you have featured in every single PBW show since and in March 2010 along with Liam Thomson and Carmel, "The Final Cut" was formed. Less than dix weeks later, Liam Thomson and yourself beat High Energy at Breaking Limits 5 to capture the PBW Tag Team titles. Not only did this make you the youngest ever PBW titleholder at only 16, but the first ever student from the SPWA to win a major UK title. How to feel about this and what's next for Final Cut?
Noam: Tagging with Liam Thomson is a huge privilege and I know that by working alongside him I will learn invaluable experience. Winning the tag team titles was a great achievement and I felt that my hard work was being rewarded. Representing the most prestigious tag titles in Scotland is something The Final Cut are looking forward to as well as ensuring that the tag team in itself gains success. Not only is this the first championship I've held, but it was also an additional honour to be the first SPWA student to win a major title as the school is abundant with highly talented wrestlers, and there is a handful who are just as or even more deserving to receive gold and being the first is a huge accolade personally speaking.
PBW: As stated above you still attend training every Sunday. Who in your opinion are the ones to watch from the SPWA?
Noam: Andy Wild has had a great year and in my opinion is going to finish the year on a high note. Breakout-wise, Chris Rampage and Davey Blaze are going some great things and will have a cracking year in 2011, I believe. Yet many newer trainees are coming along in spades with a few making their debut at Gym Wars on 25 July, all of whom are doing well.
PBW: As well as success in PBW, you have had a fair bit of success wrestling for some very well known companies across Europe. Only two weeks after your breakout performance at King of Cruisers 2009, you made your debut in Spain when you wrestled for highly-acclaimed Japanese company Dragon Gate on their European Tour, when you took on one of your head trainers,The Highlander. What was this experience like for you, and would you like to work for Dragon Gate in Japan eventually?
Noam: The experience in itself was surreal and its importance only dawned on me on the morning of the show. I can remember going from the hotel to the venue alongside Cima, Shingo, Pac, Mike Quakenbush and other huge stars, worrying and contemplating how I could put on any sort of performance that would even be deemed acceptable alongside such talented people. The show in itself was unbelievable, with El Generico stating that it was the best crowd he'd wrestled in front of as the Spanish were truly off the charts. Knowing my place on the card, we managed to deliver a match that was entertaining, realistic and not beyond our means. Afterwards, Mike Quakenbush, El Generico and various other people all praised the match and my abilities in the same respect; it was complete euphoria. Dragon Gate was a completely different environment and that experience certainly left an impression and in the long run a Dragon Gate tour would be a personal goal of mine.
PBW: Back in the UK, you made your debut for English companies Shooting Star Wrestling, Dynamic Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling 101 and also One Pro Wrestling on their star-studded May 2010 event in The Liverpool Olympia, where you took part in what was another very well received six-man elimination match. Only months after making your debut for PW101 and 1PW, both companies announce that they will no longer be running shows with immediate effect. Do you see this as a setback after working so hard on your look and skills, trying to break into the English wrestling scene?
Noam: On one hand, yes. PW101 and 1PW were personal goals of mine and i was proud of myself to debut for both companies on two star-studded and controversial shows respectively. However, it now means that I have to work harder towards higher goals and focus on attaining greater opportunities within the UK and Europe, and I truly believe that over the next year or two several UK companies will rise up and become branded as top companies in Great Britain.
PBW: You also wrestled in Germany after been selected by PBW owner Ross Watson to represent PBW on the first ever UEWA show (www.uewa.eu), which took place in April of this year. You were involved in a six-man tag team contest that saw you tag with your trainer Kid Fite as well as British wrestling veteran, Robbie Dynamite. How did you enjoy this match and your time in Germany?
Noam: The show in itself was a great setup and the German fans are completely different from the UK fans. To be part of a show that had such a large spectrum of nationalities was unique in itself as within the six-man there was four different nationalities and at some points language became an issue. I really enjoyed the match and have not heard any negative response about mine or PBW's participation on the show and that is something I am proud of. The weekend in Germany was unforgettable with various events and many entertaining characters providing a fun and spontaneous time to say the least.
PBW: PBW represented Scotland in the UEWA tournament, which featured some of Europe's biggest pro wrestling companies. What do you think of PBW compared with other companies in Scotland and Europe?
Noam: I think that PBW as a promotion is more than capable of becoming a major company within Europe and is well on its way to doing so. As a product it delivers consistently good shows and a high level of professionalism that many companies lack within the Scottish and even English scene. Unlike many other companies, PBW can differentiate the purpose of its shows and knows when to exact that "big show" feeling in order to take its product and its talent to another level and that in essence is the key fundamentals of any successful wrestling company in my opinion; consistency, professionalism and purpose.
PBW: What are your plans for the rest of 2010?
Noam: For me I want to continue to focus on the gym, dieting and training. From a wrestling standpoint I want to participate in a few more European shows and continue to focus on expanding throughout the UK.
PBW: What has been your favourite match so far, and who do you enjoy working with on British shows?
Noam: My favourite match so far would have to be either the PBW King of Cruisers match 2009, or my match against Lionheart at BCW in December. More recently I also enjoyed the six-man elimination match at 1PW. I enjoying working most people on the UK scene and take any opportunity to gain new experience.
PBW: Who do you look up to on the current Scottish/UK scene?
Noam: From Scottish the scene I look up Kid Fite, Lionheart and Liam Thomson, who all have consistently improved and continue to receive notable success outside of Scotland. From England, I look up to Zack Sabre, Jr. for his success in the European circuit and how well travelled he is at such a young age. I also look up to Martin Stone and Johnny Moss who are not only extremely talented but are also way above other workers purely from an aesthetic aspect.
PBW: If you could wrestle anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
Noam: A.J. Styles as I am a huge fan!
PBW: WWE or TNA?
Noam: Usually I would say TNA but recently I have discovered the brilliance of WWE and exactly why they are the most successful company in the world.
PBW: Where do you see Noam Dar in five years?
Noam: In five years' time I optimistically hope I will be chasing some form of a contract, I would also love to have wrestled in 8-10 countries by then and making decent money from the independent scene.
PBW: Thank you for the interview, Noam, and all the best for the future.
Noam: Thank you, guys, and I hope to see all the great fans again at the upcomming PBW shows.
