by Gerry Strauss
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Shalom, and happy passover, worked pseudo- sport fans, it's Gerry Strauss, back again with a new edition of everyone's favorite game show, "Seven Deadly Questions". A fixture on the indy scene far and wide, Slyk Wagner Brown has slowly made a name for himself as one of the top prospects in the non- Mcmahon- owned sectors of the business, and his hair is cool to boot. However, this fiery competitor has experienced his share of drama and controversy in his relatively short career. See what he has to say about that, and drop me a line at gerrystrauss@aol.com (and check the bottom of this page to a link for all my archived interviews, while you have a minute)...on with the show...
1) As is well documented, you passed up an amateur wrestling scholarship to go to Killer Kowalski's wrestling school. While you have previously stated that you have no regrets about your decision to pursue a pro career, do you think that the added amateur experience might have helped your cause at becoming a great pro performer, given the recent trend towards making great amateurs into big sports- entertainment stars, a la Brock Lesnar, Shelton Benjamin, Kurt Angle, etc.?
It's funny that you mention this, because I was just talking with someone the other day about this very subject. I have 3 years amateur wrestling experience, and I wouldn't have been offered anything if I wasn't good at it. When I was in school, amateur wrestlers looked down on pro wrestling, but now it looks like that's all changed. I've never looked down on pro wrestling, even when I was an amateur wrestler, I've always wanted to be a pro wrestler since the first time I watched it on television as a young adult. Maybe that's the problem, but that fire is still burning inside, and someday I will accomplish my dream!
2) You and April disappeared from NWA TNA almost as soon as you arrived. What happened?
Good question, but that looks like it's going around. The first time we appeared, they used us both on the ppv. Then the second time, they gave me a dark match, and used her on the ppv. I went out there with John Walters, we busted our ass, and from the sound of the crowd that night, they appreciated it. We were promised a return, but we both know how much promises are worth in this business. I'm not sitting here waiting on the phone to ring, but if it does..then it's all good!
3) One of the most well known, well run independent promotions in the country is Jim Kettner's ECWA in Delaware. You competed there for a time. Describe your experience there, and why no more?
I loved working for Jim Kettner. And you're right, he runs the most professional wrestling organization out there, besides the WWE. He knows what's going down before the showtime, the lineup is posted on the wall very very early in the day, he has a mini titantron, and he has one of the best locker rooms in the business. Why am I not in the ECWA any more? Jim told us that from time to time he has to refresh his roster, and unfortunately we were chosen since the angle he had for us (Simon and Dawn Marie) fell through.
4) Obligatory National Enquirer-esque question: Are you and April Hunter together, or is it more of a business partnership/friendship type deal?
Don't hate, APPRECIATE!
5) You have mentioned this in prior interviews, but, for the record, completely explain what happened to you during your time in Chaotic Wrestling, including the definition of the contract you have mentioned to have been under, considering that such a thing is an extreme rarity on this level.
They approached me with a very simple offer, sign a contract with us, and we'll pay you x amount of money to remain exclusive to the New England area. The reason behind this was, they felt I was a draw in the area, so people would have to come to their shows only to see me. I took the offer with the understanding that this deal only concerned Chaotic's competition in New England. At the time, I wasn't traveling like I am now, but I intended to do so in the future. After 4 months, I did my first show on the road in Philly, which was an ECW memorial. This got my name out there big time! And being from New England, this was completely new to me, because there is no press at all in the New England area. It's just a place full of haters. And those very same people are gonna call me an asshole for saying that, but it's the truth!
I was scheduled to work another show in Philly the next month, when the owner of Chaotic called me and said that I couldn't work the show. Now this was the same guy who decided not to uphold his end of the deal, and I was just rotting in the backstage area. Now all of a sudden he didn't want me to work anywhere, and gave me the choice of working just for him or traveling. Seeing that he only ran 2-3 times per month with the same roster that I already trained with, so I decided to move on.
6) Reading some of the stuff on your website (http://www.slykwagnerbrown.com), it is obvious that you and April have great minds for the business, and logically pursuing the greatest amount of success and notoriety possible within it. Your self-merchandising, for example, is astounding, and includes a "Best of" video series. How did that idea come about? How popular an item are they?
Thank you. That idea was actually both of ours, and it's simple. More people are going to watch my video than those who see me at an indy show. It also helps to build my following, and offers them matches that they wouldn't normally get to see. The videos are pretty popular, especially when they first came out. I sold about 15 copies when I released Bigger, Blacker, and Blonder. That's not bad, seeing that I'm not on television every week.
7) Finally, who has been your favorite opponent ever? Who was your least favorite?
I don't think I've had a favorite opponent ever, but I've had a lot of
guys that I've enjoyed working with. Homicide, Dylan Kage, John Walters,
James Mason, and Chris Hamrick. As far as least favorable opponent is
concerned, I have two words for ya, Arch Brutal-Powers!
