Axl Rotten

Axl Rotten was a mainstay in ECW for the majority of their existence. With Ian Rotten, Bad Breed had some of the most memorable matches in ECW History and helped define ECW's style. Bad Breed soon broke up (due to a match stipulation) and began feuding with each other. Once again, Axl was involved in more defining ECW moments (like the Tai Pei Death Match). Axl went on to team with Balls Mahoney to become one of ECW's most popular teams ever. Having worked nearly everywhere from Global to WCW to Japan, Axl Rotten has made quite a name for himself. Now, Axl has taken time to answer our 10 Questions.

1. What made you decide to become a professional wrestler?

Brett, first let me thank you for allowing me to speak out. It's been a while since I have done an interview, so this should be fun.

Now, as far as your question, I was a long time wrestling fan. From the first day I saw it on television, I knew it was what I wanted to do.

2. Where were you trained and how did you go about finding them to train you?

I was trained at boxing gym, in a not-so-great section of Baltimore, Maryland, by a guy named Jim Leon. He used to work as "Bad Boy" Ricky Lawless. Sadly, Jim was murdered shortly after I finished training.

At the time of my training, former WCW preliminary worker Joey Maggs was just finishing up with his training, so he was there to help me along a little, too.

I ran across this gym, and as I said, it was for boxing. But, Jim was there teaching people to wrestle in this boxing ring. People just don't realize how hard a boxing ring is. You might as well be bumping on concrete.

About a week or 2 passed by, with me just sitting and watching others get trained. I was just begging to get in there. Finally, my shot came, and boy did I get my ass kicked. I would come home with a busted mouth or a black eye (usually both), and my grandmother, who I lived with would always say, "I've told you about going in that bad part of town. Don't go down there anymore". Well, I had to explain my bumps and bruises, and although she wasn't 100% for it, she stuck by me up until she passed away.

3. You have worked nearly everywhere in the US and the world. Which promotions that you have worked for stand out as your favorite? Which were your least favorite?

Well, I don't think I could narrow it down to just one favorite. I have fun just about every place I have worked, whether it is Jersey All Pro, Ian Rotten's IWA Mid South, or in Japan for IWA or BJPW.

Also, Global, USWA, and WCW were great learning experiences, and I had a lot of fun there.

Plus, I enjoyed working and running my own promotions, back in the early to mid 90's.

The original group was called UIW (Universal Independent Wrestling). It was based in Maryland and we actually had a Saturday night time slot on the local ABC affiliate. I used a lot of local talent, but well-known workers as well, like Bam Bam Bigelow and Raven, who then worked as Scotty The Body.

Plus, of course, there was also ECW. Now, I had a great time working there, but had equally a bad time. You know the story..... the bounced checks or simply not getting paid at all.

4. How did you get started with ECW?

Well, Ian Rotten ran a show in Pikesville, Maryland, and he used Paul Heyman. Of course, I knew Paul from my WCW stint back in 1991, so that helped. He liked Ian and I as a team, and he brought us in sometime in the latter part of 1993.

5. How did you and Ian Rotten get together to become the Bad Breed? How long was that team together? Do you and Ian still keep in touch?

Well, I trained Ian. So, I've known him since the beginning. We wrestled against each other and teamed in the early 90's for the groups I ran in Maryland (UIW and MEWF). Not to brag, but that's when Maryland wrestling was good. It's not the boring, watered-down garbage you see now. groups in Maryland like MCW and today's MEWF are ran by a bunch of guys that I trained. None of the them know what they are doing when it comes to booking shows and none of them have any respect for the guy that brought them to the dance. It's a real shame.

As for whether or not I still speak to Ian, the answer is absolutely. We talk on the phone nearly everyday. Also, I worked for him in mid April.

6. Who came up with the ideas for the different matches you had with Ian in ECW, like the Taipei Death Match? Did you and Ian have any input? Was it mostly Paul E.?

All of the ideas for the gimmick matches that Ian and I did were strictly our ideas and no one elses.

7. Who were/are some of the wrestlers you enjoy watching in action?

Wow! There are so many of them. But, if I had to narrow it down, I'd pick Billy Graham, Roddy Piper, Bret Hart, New Jack, The Iron Sheik, Chris Benoit, Terry Funk, Kurt Angle, Mick Foley, Ric Flair, Sabu, and Dusty Rhodes. Hell, anyone that has watched even one of my matches knows how much I like Dusty Rhodes, just by the style I use.

8. When you are not wrestling, what do you like to do?

I'm a big music fan. I like a plethora of different music from Rock to Country to Rap. I do a lot of travelling seeing concerts. I go to a lot of concerts. I'm a big fan of everything from KISS to Garth Brooks to Kid Rock to Hank Williams Jr. to Marilyn Manson to David Allan Coe to Elvis Presley to Eminem.

I've been to a few David Allan Coe concerts recently, and I'm looking forward to going to another in August. Also, I'll be attending an upcoming Kenny Chesney concert. Plus, I'm looking forward to the upcoming KISS/Aerosmith tour, as well as Marilyn Manson's tour.

Other then going to concerts, I'm usually with my girlfriend Rachel, going to the movies, or just hanging out with my friends.

9. What do you think of the current state of professional wrestling? What do you think of the many promotions that try so hard to rip off ECW and all they were able to do? Do you think the WWE being the only "major" fed is actually hurting the business at all?

I can't deny that there is some good talent out there, but overall the business isn't that great. Anytime you only have one place to work, that's not a good thing. With WWE buying WCW, there isn't any competition. If a worker is offered $250,000 dollars a year by the WWE; there isn't a WCW to go to and see if you get more money. It's basically a take it or leave it type situation.

Now, there is an alternative and that's NWA TNA. Now it's not WCW, but they've got a good thing going there. I get the tapes of their shows and
I've got to say, I'm impressed. They have the perfect combination of talent. You've got the legends like Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff, and Jim Duggan dropping in, the established workers like Jerry Lynn, Jeff Jarrett, and Raven, and the stars of the future like A.J. Styles, Red, and Chris Harris. It's definitely a great blend of stars, and I believe they have some great staying power. I'd love to work there one day, if given the chance.

10. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Well, to be quite honest, everyone thought 5 years ago that I would be dead by now. Well, in another 5 years, I'd like to still be proving everyone wrong.

I mentioned people saying I'd be dead now for a reason. I want to mention the fact that yes, I had a lot of demons at 1 point, but that time is over. I am proud to say that for nearly 4 months now I have been absolutely, 100%, clean and sober. Plus, I got rid of other things that were bad in my life, like my wife. She was an anchor tied to me for far too long. But, she is now out of my life, and as I said earlier, I have found someone new.

In closing, I would like to thank you Brett for this time to share my past, express my feeling on certain things, as well as discussing how I am presently.

If anyone would like to book me, feel free to e-mail me at AxlRotten32@webtv.net or call me directly at (410) 903-0594, and be sure to give me your name, number, the date of your show, and any other information that you feel is pertanent.

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