Andy Wild Interview - 09.02.11
Published Wednesday, 9th February 2011
Pbwwrestling.com recently had the pleasure of a sit down interview with British prospect 'Unstoppable' Andy Wild. Wild had somewhat of a breakout year in 2010 and by the looks of things shows no signs of slowing down his progress anytime soon.
1 - What age were you when you first thought about training to become a pro wrestler
I can always remember watching wrestling from a young age. I was watching it at its popularity peak during the attitude era just like every other kid was but when everyone kinda went off it and started watching other things I just seemed to carry on watchin it, Just couldnt get enough of it to be honest. I first thought about wrestling training at age 15 but as I wasnt the most atheletic teenager to say the least and made all the excuses to myself not to go. My Dad passed away April 2005 when i was 16. I then realised to myself that life was short and if I really wanted something as much as I thought I did I should reach out and take it. I started working towards losing weight and by summer 2006 I had lost 3 stones and was actively trying to find training schools within the UK.
2 - Can you tell us about your training up until present day ?
I went on my first NWA-UK Hammerlock training camp in the Summer of 2006. The training was a huge shock to me as at this point as I was not 'Smart' to the wrestling scene and did not realise that Wrestling was a predetermined sport, Thats right kids Andy Wild thought it was all real to the point where on my first camp I litterally packed every single wrestling t-shirt I had and like 2 pairs of shorts and a pair of cargo trousers. I mean what else do you need for a Wrestling training camp right?? .... Wrong. Much to the disgust of some Irish wrestlers on the training camp who lent me clothes to wear so they didn't have to look at my Rey Mysterio t-shirt.
Throughout 2006-2007 I regularly trained on every NWA-UK camp going travelling all over the UK to take part in them. I mainly got trained by Zack Sabre Jr, Jon Ryan, Danny Garnel, Psycho Steve, Paul Tracey and Fergal Devitt. From 2008 onwards I trained at the SPWA(Scottish Pro Wrestling Academy) based in East Kilbride and was taught by Kid Fite and Colin Mckay..
3 - You still attend training sessions at the SPWA to this day. How do you rate the SPWA as a potential school for anyone wanting to break into the business
SPWA in my opinion is the best training school in Scotland. I understand that people may say that this is a very biast view to have as it is the training school that I trained at but if you look at who has come through the Scottish scene within the last 3 years then you will notice that 90% of these people graduated from SPWA and that speaks for itself.
Along with saying that in the space of time I have trained there SPWA has brought in wrestlers from all over the world to take seminars including - Paul London, Rene Dupree, Bad Bones, Johnny Moss, Kevin Thorn, Doug Williams, Jeff Jarrett to name a few along with talent from all over the UK.
4 - You made your PBW debut in Givan during January 2008. What are your memories of that match ?
I remember being really excited for this match. I had been working my arse off for it in the gym for ages and felt at the time that I was ready to take on the world. I was lucky enough to have worked regularly at training with the guys I was in the match with so we kept it very basic and stuck to things we knew we could do. Don't get me wrong i was a nervous wreck standing back stage waiting to go out for this match but my excitemant to be able to get in the ring and get a chance to perform like I always wanted to way out-weighed the nerves.
5 - 2010 was a year that many say was Andy Wilds breakout year with a string of excellent matches against the likes of Lionheart, Chaos, Darkside and many more. How do you feel 2010 went for Andy Wild in PBW ?
I am personally very happy with 2010 in PBW. Ross Watson (Owner of PBW) has been someone who has always believed in me, even when I was not as ready as I might have thought, and this year he was the first promotor to push me towards higher profile matches against guys like Lionheart working at a main event level and also fueding with Darkside leading up towards Maximum Impact which was a huge thing for me to take part in. I have been lucky enough to work along with Charles Boddington in most of my matches this year in PBW and this has helped alot with my character work, vocals, facials and confidence within the ring, Boddington may not be a wrestler but has actively worked as a manager now within wrestling for a long time and is someone you can learn a hell of alot from.
I feel without the opportunities this year to work with top guys in PBW I wouldnt have gained the experience and confidence I needed to progress the way I have throughout 2010.
6 - 2010 also saw the breakout of Chris Rampage and Davey Blaze onto the Scottish wrestling seen and with both now sceduled to wrestle abroad this year many are saying that the future is very bright for both young men. How would you describe Blaze and Rampage and is there anyone else on the Scottish scene that is worth looking out for ?
I am very high on both Chris Rampage and Davey blaze. They have both worked so hard in 2010 and you couldnt find 2 other guys in the UK at their level who are as much as a full package as these guys are. I don't mean this just in terms of ring work, I mean this in terms of the fact that these guys are the first 2 at every show and the last 2 to leave. They are helpful to everyone and both work hard on their look and in ring work on a weekly basis. Expect big things for Blaze and Rampage in 2011 in my opinion!
Other people to look out for on the Scottish scene?? Of course im gonna mention Noam Dar here. Noam gets better and better every single time he steps in the ring. This is not due only to the fact that he is a naturally talented athlete in every meaning of the saying but due to day in day out work that Noam puts in to progress in the fashion that he is. I personally feel that Noam is the guy who is gonna go the furthest this year out of the 'newer guys' on the Scottish scene in 2011. Noam gets alot of undeserved stick for the opportunities that he has been given in wrestling but the people that pass these comments need to take a step back and think to themselves when they are out on the weekend drinking and eating rubbish Noam is in the gym and working hard on his diet. This is not me having the opportunity to be bitchy on Noam's behalf because he is my friend. This is me merely sayin Noam puts in just as much as he gets in return.
7 - Speaking of wrestlers going abroad. 2010 saw you wrestle across Europe in places like Germany, Spain and Denmark. What was it like wrestling in each of these countries and are the shows different from the shows over here ?
I am very luck to be so well travelled at such an early stage in my career. Wrestling in Denmark is one of my favourite places to wrestle. They have a great setup there and they always put me in high profile matches every time I have been out there other than the most recent visit I have been in some kind of title match. I worked for WXW in 2010 which was a huge thing for me, I have always been a fan of there product and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the experince. The fans were very excepting of me and to top it all off I got to work Paul Tracey which was a great feeling being he was one of the first people to ever show me a bump and now 4 years later im wrestling him for one of the top promotions in Europe. Spain is always a great experience the fans are very receptive to everything you do in the ring and it is a beautiful city and one of my favourite places to visit in the whole of Europe.
8 - As we head into 2011 what are your goals for the following year ?
I have a number of goals I would like to achieve in 2011. I would really like to continue to gain experience working at a main event level within Scotland and really cement myself as one of the top guys in Scotland. Outside of Scotland I would like to get some work down south and start getting my name around the south of the UK. Outside of the UK I would love to continue to work with the companies I regularly work for. I also am working really hard on my look this year concentrating more on diet and gym work to get the look I want to achieve. All in all I really just want to progress throughout this year to gain experience and highten my profile.
9 - It is highly rumoured that PBW owner Kid Fite and yourself plan on doing some shows in America at some point this year. Care to add anything to these rumours ?
Thats right I can confirm that we will be in America during March this year. At this moment in time all I can go public with is that we have currently 3 bookings out there in the New York area. Two will be for National Wrestling Superstars in New Jersey and the other is yet to be announced.
10 - What has been your favourite match so far ?
I would probably have to say my favourite match so far would be against Lionheart at Dumbarton late last year. It was my first experience of working by myself at a main event level and really enjoyed it. Outside of PBW my favourite match would be against Liam Thomson at ICW we work well together and I just felt it flowed. Saying that working with Noam Dar, Wolfgang or Darkside are always enjoyable matches and are ones I always look forward to.
11 - Is there anyone you would like to wrestle in 2011
If I could pick anyone to wrestle in 2011 it would have to be Prince Devitt. He is someone I have followed closely since I started my training and someone who I idolise in terms of his in ring work, look and where he is in the business. Of course I would also love to get a chance to work people like Marty Scrull, Zack Sabre Jr, Joey Hayes, CJ Banks, Danny Hope, El Ligero and alot of the other guys around my age who are working regularly on shows around the UK and Europe.
12 - Who do your currently look up to on the Scottish/UK scene
Theres alot of people i look upto on the UK and Scottish scene. Lionheart is a guy I look upto due to the fact that he's not someone that wants to sit around and wait for a chance to be given to him, if he wants something he reaches out and takes it. Johnny Moss is another guy I really look upto, without a doubt the best physique in the British wrestling scene, not only that but a heavyweight guy who is not restricted to one thing he is very varied as a performer and for anyone of his size who can move the way he does is aplaudadle.
13 - Where do you see Andy Wild in 5 years
I really dont know where Andy Wild will be in 5 years time. All I do know is im gonna work as hard as I possibly can to achieve the things I want to achieve. If I dont get where I plan on going then its definately not gonna be down to the lack of trying!
14 - If you could choose your path would it be WWE, TNA or Japan ?
Of course like every person who ever starts training I want to get to the big leagues. Although on the way I want to do as much as possible, I really idolise Chris Jericho as he did a bit of everything on his way to the top. In the ideal world i would like to see myself in Japan within the next few years. But in all honesty I think I would take anything given to me as long as I get a chance to wrestle on a big stage and make a name for myself in this sport
Thanks Andy
Thankyou guys hope to see all the PBW fans at Greenock on the 19th of Febuary for Fully Charged 2011
