Rocco Interview

By P.Staniforth 2005

Rocco has the dubious honour of being the only person I ever helped get into professional wrestling! He's my little 'kid brother', and he's currently wrestling for UCW here in the UK. Here's what he had to say when I finally got around to interviewing him!

PETER) : Hey, kiddo. I know you've waited ages for me to get round to doing this, so let's get on with it! Tell us about growing up.

ROCCO) : First off, thanks for having us Pete; it's been a long time waiting! My childhood was like any normal childhood, football, causing trouble; and testing boundaries. Academically, when I could be bothered, I was bright in school; but most of the time I just wanted to cause trouble and make school enjoyable. I walked out with good grades luckily! I used to play football for Southampton youth team in goal, when I was about thirteen years old; but got cut from the team when I was hit down with a bad knee injury which is still with me to this day.

PETER) : I know too well about having a dodgy knee from playing football! When did you first view wrestling, and did you know you wanted to become a wrestler from that moment?

ROCCO) : It wasn't long ago to be honest, I still hated wrestling up until around the year 2000. My mates in school would go on about the recent happenings in the then WWF, and I'd get bored quickly. I was flicking through the channels one night and came across WCW, so I thought I'd give it a chance and it just hooked me. Then when my house got Sky Sports it was WWF I would watch. When I first heard of wrestling, wrestling was the last thing I thought I'd end up doing, and it's funny how things like that turn out.

PETER) : How did you get your break in the business, and who trained you?

ROCCO) : I was trained by the American Allstar and Jake 'The Snake' Roberts. I learnt a lot from both men, and adapted it into my own style. I found out about UCW by searching the internet one time, and as it was the nearest gym to me I thought I'd make an attempt at becoming a wrestler.

PETER) : What was your first match like?

ROCCO) : My first match was against American Allstar, and man did I look weedy in it! It went as well as I imagined and I knew then this is where I wanted to be heading. I've heard some workers say their first match was awful, but luckily I can say that I was content with mine.

PETER) : How would you describe yourself as a wrestler for those who don't know you?

ROCCO) : I'm more of a Randy Orton/Rock sort of wrestler. I entertain people, I use my charisma a lot in my matches, I can work a solid match but I favour the entertainment side of the buisness; as after all it was that that got me hooked in the first place - the entertaining storylines and fan reactions to how wrestlers potrayed their emotions.

PETER) : How do you feel the business has changed since you first became part of it? Do you feel your attitude has changed also?

ROCCO) : The business is forever changing, the internet is changing the way in which promoters have to run things, and maybe its for the better- who knows? Time will tell. My attitude has changed a lot, there was a stage I went through where I got a bit too big for my boots, I can openly say that; and I got put in my place and it helped me a lot. I learn something new about the buisness everyday, it's interesting to say the least!

PETER) : Just imagine for a second, you're a promoter, with your own promotion. What kind of show would you run?

ROCCO) : I'd give fans a bit of everything. Wrestling is in big bold letters on the poster, so why not show them different styles, show them different ways of getting their attention? It's little things like that, that make this buisness so great; you can have your fans in awe of something or you can have them genuinely want to someone beat the hell out of someone.

PETER) : What do you like to do in your spare time?

ROCCO) : I work in a gym so I am in there whenever I can be, I go out to the clubs, I spend time with my girl, I have some time with my mates and just have a laugh - You only live once! I don't get much spare time as I'm either working or wrestling, but it's good to catch up now and again.

PETER) : Who have been your favourite opponents?

ROCCO) : I'd say American Allstar or Rad Riley. Rad Riley is a great friend of mine, like a brother, he quit wrestling for personal reasons and I try to keep in contact with him as often as I can. Me and Rad had a good match at UCW "When Worlds Collide", on the same show as Raven, CM Punk and AJ Styles, it was a good experience; just like my second match in my career, against the UK Pitbulls. That was fun, and they are nice guys.

PETER) : Who are your friends in the business, and who do you like to watch and learn from?

ROCCO) : I love to watch wrestlers like Kurt Angle and Triple H, I love their work and I've learnt a lot just from watching them. People who can also make me laugh in a promo get a say too, like The Rock, the missed Eddie Guerrero, Ric Flair e.t.c. As far as my friends go, I have a huge list including Chris Petherwick, Rad Riley, Gangster, Allstar, Dann Read and you Pete, the guy who kept me in the business! If it wasn't for you, then I probably wouldn't be where I am today. I thank you for that, you are a good friend.

PETER) : Ever seen me blush? You have now! The feelings mutual, you know I'm proud of you. What are your thoughts on WWE, TNA, and the indy's?

ROCCO) : I think TNA and the indy's are getting a lot more exciting these days, and hopefully we will see a few promotions just break away from the pack and give TNA a run for its money - which in turn makes TNA give WWE a run for their money.

PETER) : Which is what I'd call the domino effect. Where do you see the direction of wrestling going over the next couple of years or so?

ROCCO) : I see another boom period coming, not for a few more years but I see it coming; wrestling is a phase and you just gotta ride the wave. I see a lot more break out stars, because there is a lot of untapped talent I have seen working around this country that deserve some recognition.

PETER) : And to wrap up, what are your plans for the future?

ROCCO) : My plans? To keep doing what I'm doing, get bigger and better at the same time; and to hopefully go over to the USA next year and work a few shows out there.

'The Internet Icon'
Peter Staniforth
www.peterstaniforth.tk

Peter is a manager, currently taking indy bookings - please contact at this email address for more details.

Peter is a UK based sports and music journalist, currently writing for www.pwbts.com, www.wrestlingclothesline.com, www.prowrestlingdaily.com, www.jimmyvan.com, www.twnpnews.com, www.mikels.cjb.net, is the exclusive WWE writer for www.ukevents.net, and also writes for UK newsletter Piledriver, which can be ordered from www.piledriver.vze.com.

Peter is available for talent relations work and more, any enquiries are welcome via email.

Peter is a very proud member of The Wrestling Clothesline.com's Independent Wrestling Hall Of Fame Selection Committee, which can be found at www.wrestlingclothesline.com

Peter has written for Bill Apter's "Total Wrestling" magazine, the well respected US based newsletter "Wrestling Then And Now", and has also written press releases for the UK's WWE Euro Shop merchandise company. He was also mentioned on the credits of the cult wrestling simulation game by Adam Ryland - EWR 4.2

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