Dan Maff

Sometimes 10 questions simply isn't enough. Sometimes, in order to cover the broad spectrum of some wrestler's careers, you need more than 10 questions. This is one of those situations. Dan Maff was crowned JAP Heavyweight Champion last night, December 13, 2003, after defeating Shane Douglas and Jerry The King Lawler in a Three Way match. This is Maff's second reign as JAP Heavyweight Champion. Prior to his newly found singles career, Maff was one half of one of the greatest tag team the wrestling world has ever seen, Da Hit Squad. It is a thrill for me, and a pleasure, to present the following interview with the newly crowned JAP Champion, Dan Maff

Your father was in the business in the late 70s- early 80s. Did you ever go to shows with him? What wrestlers did you get the chance to see or meet at that time?

I went on the road with him every weekend. I had the chance to meet Rocky Johnson, Jose Estrada, Johnny Rodz, Prof. Toro Tanager, jay Strongbow

What made you decide to move from being a fan to getting into the ring and wrestling?

A lot of the time I would see shows and matches and think "hey, I think I can do that too", and that quickly transformed itself in my head to "hey, I want to see if I can do that too".

You got your training with Jersey All Pro and the Doghouse. How did the two schools differ? How were they similar? Was either one more difficult than the other?

With Magic I had a big man training me at JAP, and the training was more ground oriented and at the dog house the training was a lot more physically demanding, and more soul searching, to see if you really wanted it and would come back the next day or not, knowing full well, the next day, you were gonna get it worse than you did today.

What do you think of the incredible amount of talent that has come out of the Doghouse?

You need to look at who taught those talents, and that speaks for itself. For whatever reasons, one of the biggest stars that didn't get the chance to come out of the doghouse (for whatever reasons they were), was Laithon. Its a shame that he never got out onto the scene because he would be the best big man around the indies today.

Why do you think so many people, including the NYS Athletic Commission, gave Bobby Lombardi such a hard time with his promoting and school? (personally, I do not know anyone with as big of a heart than Bobby)

To be honest , I really have no idea, Bobby was always good to me and treated me with a ton of respect.

What was it like being a part of one of, if not the best, tag team in wrestling? What was it like being such a dominant team, in so many promotions, for so long?

We were never the best tag team in wrestling, but the hardest part of being on top for so long, was staying on top, and staying on top for so long.

What was your weight loss/workout regimen that you went through to get into such great shape?

Japan was the big wake up call. I went to Japan and came back a different person. I started eating better and hitting the gym 4 days a week, and hitting it a lot harder when I was there.

Over the past few months, wrestling has lost many of it's stars. It seems almost commonplace in wrestling nowadays that the sport loses someone every few weeks. What is your take on all the deaths in the business?

Any death is unfortunate, cause you have to remember these are not wrestlers, they are real people with real families, they are someone's dad, someone's brother, or someone's son. No death in the business hit me harder than Russ Haas.

What was your initial reaction when you were first invited to wrestle in Japan?

I felt like crying.

What was your experience in Japan like?

I found myself and I found a new love for the business. And it was 1000 time better because I was there with my teacher.

You had a match against Slyk Wagner Brown in JAP earlier this year that many people feel was Match of the Year. What were your feelings about the match? How did you feel about the crowd's reaction (standing ovation) after the match?

I didn't think it was match of the year, I thought it was far from it. The crowd reaction was very emotional for me, I had never gotten that that kind of reaction from a crowd. It was overwhelming. And what people don't know about that night is that before the match I had wrestled the Backseat Boys in ROH, and I traveled straight after the match, still in my gear from Philly to make that match.

Who are some of the wrestlers you most enjoy stepping into the ring with? Why?

Of course Homicide, my teacher, after him BJ Whitmer, cause he brings the best out in me, Dixie and Izzy cause they always give me everything they have and then some, and Loc& DeVito cause they have such drive to sacrifice everything they have for the match

What frustrates you most about indy wrestling?

Too much politics, and the way people can turn on you at the drop of a dime

What do you enjoy most about it?

The fans, and I have met a lot of different people, seen a lot of different places and make some friends that will last a lifetime

In JAP, you pulled off a retirement angle that seemed to have fooled almost everybody in the business. Who came up with the idea and how did you pull it off without anyone finding out?

Fat Frank, Ray Sager and I came up with it, we just kept our mouths shut, and I think that the fact that I walked around saying good-bye to the fans at intermission, make it all the more real.

What was your reaction to the crowd's reaction that night when they found out you weren't really retiring?

it was a job well done, and I was thinking that we pulled it off and we fooled them, I was the last one to leave the building that night, the fans were really pissed

If you could change anything you have done in the business thus far, what would it be?

LOL - no comment

What advice would you give someone wanting to get into the business?

Don't let the business make you, don't let it turn you into something your not

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Hopefully still healthy and having fun.

Thanks to Dan for this interview. Be sure to check him out at JAP, ROH, and the numerous other feds he works for regularly.

When using any of this information give proper credit to Cactusb and the Wrestling Clothesline at http://www.wrestlingclothesline.com

Questions? Comments? Results? Wrestling Related items? Send them to us here. If we use them on the page you will be given full credit for supplying us with it!