by Gerry Strauss
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This interview was originally posted on November 18, 2003. Today, November 20, 2003, it has been announced that Tank Toland has been signed by the WWE. Congratulations to Mr. Toland! - Brett
Hola, yo soy Geraldo... after a bit of a hibernation, I finally got me a brand new "Seven Deadly Questions" interview for ya...this time out, we head to Ohio Valley Wrestling to get inside the mind of one of the bright young superstars that competes for one of the most exclusive promotions in the country... a guy who turned enough heads on the East Coast to gain an OVW slot before most people had ever heard of him, "Tank" Toland. Before the interview, as always, any questions, comments, or random ga-ga can be sent to me at gerrystrauss@aol.com, and check me out at my Schwan-fueled website at GERRYSTRAUSS.COM... hope to hear from ya... and away we go...
1) You originally began your wrestling career at Larry Sharpe's "Monster Factory", eventually being used in his own promotion as heavyweight champ. Considering the alumni that have passed through the "Factory", such as Raven, Bam Bam Bigelow, D-Lo Brown, etc, how special and/or important did you regard this vote of confidence from your mentor?
First I would like to say that in a time where just about anybody can
open up a so called "pro wrestling school", I am very thankful
that I chose Larry Sharpe's Monster Factory. I learned the essential basics
and more that I needed to help get me to where I am today. There have
been some very successful alumni that have come through the Monster Factory,
and to answer the question; Larry believed in me and I felt honored to
be giving the opportunity to be their heavy weight champion. Larry Sharpe
and the Head Trainer, Ed Atlas come from the "old school" way
of wrestling. They want you to learn the very basics or the meat and potatoes
of wrestling if you will, then once you've have a general grasp of that;
you can add a little of your own style as you get more in depth. Overall,
what I learned at the factory as far as conducting myself both in and
out of the ring was invaluable.
2) You spent time working for Donnie B's Phoenix Championship Wrestling in NJ, as well as Afa's World Xtreme Wrestling in PA. Describe your time in these companies. How did they differ?
I absolutely loved working for both promotions! These were basically
the only two promotions out there besides Larry Sharpe's that gave me
a shot. I sent my tapes, pics and called all of the local promotions time
and time again and I always got the run around. Finally, I showed up at
a Donnie B show with my gear, introduced myself and said "If you
need an extra worker, I would appreciate the chance". That night
I was used in a tag match with Gilburg V.S. the Power Company; he used
me ever since. It was ran very professionally for an indy show, it usually
drew a good number of loyal fans and I met some good people during my
time there. Although different, Afa's WXW was great as well. We would
wrestle in a little VFW hall and in the winter you could literally see
your breath while your wrestling as that the heater was broken. The place
probably held no more than 150 fans but they were always in to the show
and the atmosphere was something special. If Afa liked you he wanted you
to refer to him as Pops, he is a great man who truly cares. I have nothing
but the greatest respect for both Afa and Donnie B for giving me the chance
to get more experience on the indy scene.
3) What led to your opportunity and decision to move to Kentucky and join Ohio Valley Wrestling? What factors went into that life-altering decision, and how easy/hard was it to go for it?
In February of 2003 I was accepted and went to a try out camp for OVW.
During my tryout camp I was basically trying to show my abilities along
with 50 other wrestlers. I was fortunate enough to learn some great things
while I was there as well as have a great tryout that lead to my invitation
to become a regular part of OVW. I couldn't have been more happy and there
was no question as to whether I was going or not. Although the decision
was easy, it was life altering. I was leaving my career as a teacher,
my position as a lieutenant lifeguard on the beach patrol and managing
a fitness store where I made excellent money. There was also the fact
that I was going to be moving away from all the people I cared about and
that was very tough to do. I lived very comfortably both financially and
emotionally and it is was a tough transition that I still deal with today.
The fact of the matter is that wrestling has always been my dream and
just like everyone else out here trying to live there dream, there is
a lot of sacrifices involved.
4) Describe the life of an OVW wrestler. How often do you train? Who
typically supervises, teaches and guides your development? How often do
you have shows? How financially lucrative is OVW life as opposed to other
indies? Do you, or many of your peers, have full time jobs or supplemental
income? How are the fans in OVW and the surrounding area compared to the
East coast? Are you allowed to work non-OVW shows, or do they ask you
to be exclusive?
Gerry, good questions but I don't feel I can answer some of these questions
fully or comfortably so I'll answer what I can (thanks for understanding)!
The life of an OVW wrestler is a tough but rewarding one. I would put
the physical, mental, and emotional demands of being an OVW wrestler against
any professional sport out there today. Being part of OVW has been the
most challenging thing I've ever been involved with, and at the same time
it is the most I've ever enjoyed or loved being apart of something. OVW
has not only made me a better wrestler but is has also made more disciplined,
tough, and determined to achieve my goals of being the best possible wrestler
I can be and making it to the WWE. I realize how lucky I am to be in OVW,
almost any indy worker would give there right arm to be here, and so when
I'm tired or beat up and don't know how much I have left in me, I remember
where I am and where I would be if not for this opportunity. OVW usually
runs 2 to 3 shows per week including the television show that is taped
on Wednesdays. We usually travel with in a 3 hour range and we have a
very supportive fan base. The fans out here are much different from the
ones on the East coast. East coast fans are so used to the brutality of
using tables, ladder, chairs, etc, and the disregard of the rules that
they don't know how to enjoy or react to a true wrestling match. It's
not there fault, it's more the fault of the promoters and wrestlers that
have decieded to go and stay in that direction. OVW follows strict rules
and the fans are enjoying actual wrestling instead of someone getting
crushed by a chair shot. They truly get behind their favorite wrestlers
and truly hate other wrestlers. I love wrestling in front of the OVW fans.
5) At this point in your young career, you have spent time learning from some of the greatest teachers the wrestling business has ever seen. Larry Sharpe, Afa, Donnie B, Jim Cornette, Danny Davis... a virtual who's who of great wrestling minds. With that said, do you feel that a lot of what you have learned is standard, or is there conflicting methodologies taught by different teachers? For example, Is an expertly applied maneuver under Sharpe's eye an incorrect one under Davis' ? Do you feel that the business would benefit from some universally agreed upon ways of doing things?
Yes, I have learned from some of the best in the business from the people
you listed in the question to Rip Rogers, WWE Agents and WWE talent who
come to visit OVW. I am very fortunate to have the type of expert instruction
that I have here at OVW. There are certain things that are standard with
methodologies but then there are differences as well depending on who
you are learning from. Different trainers and teachers have different
views, opinions and methods sometimes, but I think that this is a good
thing. I believe that if everything was universal then it would be harder
to stand out. It's not a matter of something being right or wrong jus
t a matter of it being different. I was once told it's like ice cream
and everyone has their own flavor they like and that just fine. I try
and learn all the differences then pick and choose what seem to work best
for me.
6) Ironically, your first big break in OVW was the decision to insert you into a storyline in which you became a replacement in the championship tag team known as "Adrenaline" for the injured NOVA, twin brother of aforementioned PCW promoter Donnie B. Was this coincidental?
I was lucky enough to be used on the shows from the first week I arrived
in OVW. I guess that I did well enough to put some confidence in the right
people to have Nova choose me as his replacement in adrenaline after his
unfortunate injury. My first match Chris Cage and myself beat Mark Jindrak
and Lance Garrison "Cade" to win the open OVW Tag Titles. Nova
being Donnies B's twin brother knew me and thought that I would be a good
replacement for him. So it wasn't coincidental in anyway he knew of my
abilities and gave me the shot.
7) As an OVW regular without a developmental contract, what do you feel are your chances of advancing to the WWE? Much like many say is the case in the WWE itself, do you find that guys are less hopeful about their chances for success due to slow business and employee cutbacks? Is there a noticeable pecking order in your wrestling environment based on who is under contract and who isn't?
I am currently without a contract as are some other talented wrestlers in OVW, but I do feel confident that if I keep putting in the 100% effort, heart, and desire that I have been putting in each and everyday that when the time is right I will get my opportunity. The business is on the down swing right now and it may be a tougher to break in and it does make some guys feel less hopeful, but the business will rise again and in the meantime it will weed out and separate those who know truly want it from those who just think they want it. There isn't any pecking order based on contract and non-contract wrestlers, you leave your ego at the door and understand that nobody is better than anyone else. Everyone is understanding that being humble is the best way to go.
