by Gerry Strauss
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Gerry Strauss here, back with another "Seven Deadly Questions"
for ya... after my last interview with the lovely Noel, I felt like doing
something totally different, and well, I think I've succeeded in finding
the exact opposite of an interview with a hot chick...an interview with
Dr. Hurtz, a tough-as- nails competitor who was a mainstay in the Tri-
State indy scene for years before his retirement in late 2001, and more
importantly, a guy who is not shy about sharing his many opinions on everything
from Tough Enough to some of the more well known promoters in the area...want
more? Read on, and drop me a line at gerrystrauss@aol.com...
1) JAPW is one promotion that you seemed to prosper in for awhile, booked as their NJ State Champion for many months. What were your experiences like in that organization, and why were you suddenly no longer a regular as 2001 drew to a close?
When i first got involved with JAPW, no one really knew me there so i wanted to set my goals high. My first match was against kevin knight and i was asked to be a heel. So, how many guys do you know get cheers when they announce themselves from "the trauma center in Columbine, Colorado?" I was an instant asshole and kevin knight went over big! When i went back to the locker room, Angel Martinez (booker) looked at me and said "we've got our new heel"!!! Things just fell into place after that. All was well till fat frank (promoter) changed his booker to Ray Sager. For the first few months, Ray did nothing but tell me "we're gonna take the n.j. strap from you and put it on Crazy Ivan". Frank didn't allow this till their first Philly "ecw arena" show months later. After that i never got another booking. I sensed for quite some time that ray wanted to rush me right out the door, and he got his wish i guess. I'll never know what he had against me but no sense worrying about it now, LOL!!
2)You also worked for a time with the Independent Wrestling Federation in Northern NJ, a training facility/promotion that uses mostly their own students mixed with random indy workers on their shows, most of which are run right in their own little training center. One only need to read various interviews conducted by myself or others on this very website to realize that there is a significant amount of bad blood between the IWF and no shortage of workers, some of whom were actually trained there. Recount your role, experiences, and opinion of the IWF and those who are involved in it.
So many people have their own opinions about the IWF and that's fine. That's life i guess. Honestly, I kinda miss being in the IWF, I had a load of fun there. What was so special about the IWF was i could just be me and do my thing without a constant "you can't do this" or "you can't say that". I always got along with Kevin, A.J., Biggs and the gang. So many rumors have come out of that place and i've probably heard them all. That makes no difference to me. All I know is i dug the place and always wished them well.....no matter what anyone has said!!!! there's three sides to every story so you can't believe all the shit that goes thru your ears.
3)From JAPW to the EWA, PCW to the IWF, and everywhere in between, you have worked with a lot of locker rooms, with a lot of guys, and with a lot of different levels of training. Some have trained for years under the tuelage of experienced pros, others are self- "taught", or have learned on the fly. How much of a differential have you seen, how noticeable is it, and what do you think about guys who may not be ready, but buy their way onto shows, sell tickets or somehow sneak in the proverbial back door of the business? What deems someone qualified to wrestle, in your eyes?
You're right, Gerry, i've been in many locker rooms over the years and i've seen it all. Unfortunately, locker rooms are not a place of "respect" anymore. What i mean is, so many locker rooms are now tainted with the "self-taught" or "back-yarders" or the dreaded "TICKET SELLERS". These individuals i've just mentioned are no more than a total disgrace to this business and don't know the first thing about paying one single due!!!! Did i pay my dues?.....shit yeah i did!!!! My first 9 months at Mike Sharpe's school was nothing short of a total beating every time i got in there. Nova, Rico Casanova, Malice, Biggie Biggs, Ace Darling, Devon Storm, and many others contributed to the "ass whippings" i received in the PAYING DUES process!!!! One particular night which i'll never forget, Skull Von Krush (WCW's Big Vito) paid a visit and kicked the shit out of me for not selling properly......do you think tix sellers or back yarders ever went thru something like that? This is why i get so frustrated over these nu-age shitheads who are getting work not because of their skill but because of how many tix they sell, and if anyone is taking this personally.....tough shit!!! That only means the truth hurts. Which also leads me to the promoters who use them.......they should be just as embarrassed for using them!!!!
4) You retired from active competition about a year ago, relatively young compared to a lot of other wrestlers. Was it a family decision? Distaste for the business? Financial? What instigated your desire to walk away, and how hard was it to make that call?
My walking away from active competition was 99% a family decision. I realized that what i had accomplished up to this point was all i would be able to do. I have a really good job outside of wrestling and my family is taken care of. That's all that matters to me. Distaste for the business, not really. I also realized that the way things are now is the way their gonna stay for a long time. With only one major company in north america now, it's harder than ever to make it big. Making the call to walk away was not as tough as i thought it would be. I know what's important in my life and that makes any decision I make a little easier.
5) Any internet wrestling geek (and if you're reading this, well, let's face it, you probably are one) knows that one of the most hotly debated issues of the past few months stemmed from an incident that occurred on an episode of MTV's Tough Enough, in which Matt, a student on the show (and eventual winner of a WWE contract) was roughed up by veteran Bob Holly during an "exhibition" match. Some say that Holly went too far, others argue that Matt needed to get used to getting hurt. As a guy who participated in many relatively violent matches, including some memorable brawls with Harley Lewis, one of the most legit tough guys around, I'm sure you have come home more than once looking pretty roughed up. What's your opinion based on your history, and how far IS too far?
I came to a conclusion recently about the Tough Enough situation and put my experience with WCW's Big Vito when I first started training to what happened with Matt and realized that Bob Holly did nothing more than "welcome" him to the business. No more than some tough love was given to the kid and rightfully so. He too, needs to learn that he's a lucky dude who was given a great opportunity but still needs to prove himself to all who surround him. Too far would have been Holly hospitalizing the poor kid for breaking his jaw or whatever.
6)After deciding not to perform in the ring anymore, you didn't walk away from the business, instead settling into a more non-physical role with Donnie B's promotion, which had morphed into its current incarnation, Phoenix Championship Wrestling. You were quickly booked as the "commissioner," and also played a role in the booking and backstage machinations of PCW shows. What exactly was your role in the company at that point, and what are your feelings regarding that experience?
My role with PCW looked much bigger to the outside than what it really was. My official title was "locker room agent". My job was to make sure each match was ready to go with no repeat finishes on the show. I also was in charge of recieveing vhs tapes for talent scouting purposes. It was something to experience. Much different than just lacing up boots and getting ready for combat. It made me respect the promoter's job much more. I didn't realize what a pain in the ass a show can be to get running properly.
7)As I write this in Feb. '03, you have seemingly distanced yourself from PCW endeavors, with only a brief note posted by PCW on their website that you have "retired" from your commissioner's role. What happened with you and PCW, and where do you stand now in the wrestling business, if at all?
Remember earlier I said there's 3 sides to every story? Well, this is my side. I took the locker room agent job for no other reason than to have fun. Unfortunately, it started to become not fun. I'm not bashing donnie b for any of this. After all, it was he and his brother Nova who got me in the biz to begin with and I will forever thank them for it. It just started to become a hassle more than anything and i just decided to walk away from it. The PCW web site reported i retired from the biz all together and I never said that. I just gave notice that I would no longer be working for PCW in the locker room. I actually was gonna continue to do the talent scout thing for Donnie but he never spoke to me or returned an e-mail to speak with me afterwards so i just figured he didn't want to be bothered anymore. If it means anything to Donnie....thanks for everything, bro!!!! Am I done with the biz forever? Well, ya never know. I could pop up somewhere in the future and make a house call, LOL!! Seriously, if i'm given another opportunity to do something wrestling related and it's gonna be something fun, maybe i will make another appearance.
Thanks for the opportunity to allow me to speak my mind during this interview, Gerry. This was fun and i hope everyone enjoys it.
Previous Columns:
Billy Reil
Matthew Hendrickson
Chris Hamrick
Kevin Matthews
Pete Van Orton
Rockin Rebel
Fluff Dupp
Carmine Sabia
Tommy Fierro
