Ken Scampi Interview.
By P. Staniforth 2004.

PETER) : -  Hello Ken, and thanks for the time for this interview. Let's begin by asking you what your childhood was like.

KEN) : - I had a pretty normal childhood. I was always active with soccer, martial arts and also collegiate style wrestling. Both my parents were very supportive with both my athletics and my schoolwork. The only oddity in my childhood is the fact that when I was 18, I fractured my c1-c7 vertabra in a wrestling match.

PETER) : - One word comes to mind ... OUCH. When did you first discover wrestling?

KEN) : - I watched wrestling through my early childhood. Once I started collegiate style wrestling I stopped watching because the coaches frowned on it. I would watch anyway sometimes, but not as faithfully as when I was a kid. Once I fractured my neck, most of my recovery time was spent in front of the TV so that's kind of what brought me back to wrestling.

PETER) : - Which I would imagine, drew a positive out of a negative. What actually made you want to become a wrestler?

KEN) : - When I was in high school I caught the acting bug. All through college and
high school I was acting. But because of my size and physical abilities, I was constantly being given physical roles. Then one day I was sitting with a few friends watching wrestling and It just clicked. I was practically wrestling already so why not just cut to the chase and do what I always wanted to? So I signed on with Mikey Whipwreck's wrestling school and the rest, as they say; is history.

PETER)  : - So it was Mikey who helped you get your break in the business?

KEN) : - Mikey gave me my start at one of his QWA shows and he gave me my first real
matches. I would also drive Mikey's ring truck and do ring crew work for anyone who rented the ring, Those promoters would usually throw me into a battle royal. My first real break came when NYWC started using me. They were great at giving me an opportunity to really work and grow as a wrestler.

PETER) : - How did your first matches go, were you pleased?

KEN) : - At the time i thought they were pretty good. Looking back I now know that I
did too many high impact moves. I was trying too hard to pop the crowd and wasn't spending enough time telling a story.

PETER) : - But at least you realised it, some never do! What would you consider your best moments in wrestling so far?

KEN) : - My happiest moment thus far was when I won the SSCW cruiserweight title. It
was like someone finally saw me for what I was and decided to take a chance on me. I felt that it validated all I'd been through. My best moment was when I worked Tyler Pain at CSWF. I had wanted to work Tyler for a while, he's a fantastic worker. Because of our conflicting styles I dont think either of us thought the match would work. Nevertheless we opened the show with a bang and I couldn't have been happier.

PETER) : - But it's proof that it can come together, with hard work and enthusiasm to make it work. Who are your favourite opponents, and also your friends in the business?

KEN) : - My favourite opponents are Dan Barry and Damian Dragon. Damian and I click
very well in the ring, we're similar in size strength and style so we almost always know whatthe other is about to do. Dan Barry on the other hand is a maniac. But when we work we always have so much fun. We have similar senses of humor so we can always find some very unique spots to do. As for my friends the entire NYWC locker room is like a second family to me, we all support one another in everything we do. Other than them, I count the SAT, the Amazing Red, Jai Kronic and Alicia amongst my friends.

PETER) : - Good stuff! What do you like to do in your spare time?

KEN) : - I work at my "regular " job some awful hours, 6:00pm to 2:30am; so I don't have
alot of free time. I work out four days a week so that only leaves a couple of hours to shop, shave, shower, cook and socialise. But when I can find a free hour, or heaven forbid day; I like to read.

PETER) : -  What are your thoughts on WWE and TNA?

KEN) : - I like both their products but I prefer TNA, I think it's a perfect mix of the WWE and the indy's. As for the indy's themselves, it's where I work and for now it's where I belong. I love indy wrestling, Every day I get introduced to new workers with different experiences and veteran workers who I can mark out for, and learn from. 

PETER) : - That sounds rather like me on here!

KEN) : - Sometimes I wish things were a little more organized, and certain promoters
run too long. Other than that indy wrestling is the best thing that ever happened to me.

PETER) : - I can share those sentiments myself. What advice would you have for people who want to get in to the business?

KEN) : - Get trained! Wrestling without being trained makes you a danger to yourself
and everyone in the ring with you. Be polite to people and always conduct yourself in a professional manner. If you don't do this you will get nowhere in the business.

PETER) : - The being polite and professional part has got me this far, I will echo the above wholeheartedly. To finish up, what are your plans for the future; and is there anything you'd like to add yourself?

KEN) : - I'm just going to keep wrestling, keep growing as a person and a wrestler and
be the best I can be. In addition find out more about me at www.kenscampi.cjb.net  or
www.nywcwrestling.com .

PETER) : - Thanks once again for your time.

KEN) : - Thank you, Peter.

Peter Staniforth.
Peter is an English based professional wrestling journalist, currently writing for the following websites : - www.prowrestlingdaily.com, www.wrestlingclothesline.com, www.pwbts.com, www.bgwwrestling.com,  and the exclusive wrestling writer for www.ukevents.net.

Peter has written press releases for http://www.wweeuroshop.com/?tid=ps101, the official WWE merchandise outlet for the UK & Europe; and has had work published in Total Wrestling magazine.

Peter is the exclusive booking agent for independent wrestling star Z-Barr, who can be found at www.zbarr.com. Any promoter wishing to book him for work, can email at this address for more details.

Also, in addition to that; Peter runs a independent wrestling bookings website for wrestlers - names such as Nick Berk (of CZW and NWA Wildside), Shark Boy, Colt Cabana and many more can be found available to book at  *WEBSITE ADDRESS CURRENTLY BEING MOVED, PLEASE ASK FOR MORE DETAILS . * . Peter was also mentioned on the credits of the cult PC wrestling simulation game EWR 4.0, by Adam Ryland.

Peter is associated with UCW (Ultimate Championship Wrestling), of www.ucw-wrestling.co.uk; in a Talent Relations capacity. Peter is also currently Senior Vice President of Public Relations for IWA-Worldwide, a wrestling promotion currently working out of Florida; who can be found online at www.iwaworldwide.com.

Peter reviews video tapes for the following wrestling tape traders, who come strongly recommended by him - www.simania.co.uk, www.violentjtapes.com, www.modtrom.com (the official video production team behind Jersey All Pro Wrestling), www.a1wrestlingvideos.com, www.ruffneckwrestlingvideos.co.uk, EITC Video (email eitcvideo@yahoo.co.uk) and www.bluethundervideo.com.

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!