by Gerry Strauss
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Howdy, y'all, I'm Gerry Strauss, and I am once again back with my version of "Girls Gone Wild", unfortunately minus the "Wild"... ok, in this case, there aren't even any girls... jeez, this isn't nearly as cool as I thought... ah well, it's time for a brand new edition of "Seven Deadly Questions". This time, I got a hold of a relatively unsung up-and-comer and the current Phoenix Championship Wrestling titleholder, "Too Hard To Handle" Matt Vandal. Matt doesn't hold back in talking about the WWE, NWA-TNA, OVW, and some of the guys he has shared the raods and locker rooms with far and wide. Check it out, plus my archived interviews at the bottom of the screen, and drop me a line at gerrystrauss@aol.com with comments and stuff. Workers, managers, promoters, if any of you want to do an interview, e-mail me and I'll hook you up. On with the show...
1) You arrived in Phoenix Championship Wrestling as part of an apparent inter-promotional deal with the ECWA based out of Pittsburgh (not to be confused with the more well known ECWA in Delaware, home of the Super 8). As a matter of fact, you were the reigning ECWA Champ, dropping that title to Christopher Daniels on a PCW show in early 2002. Afterwards, any mention of that championship mysteriously disappeared. What happened to the ECWA and it's cooperation with PCW?
Well, the ECWA is one of those indy companies that kind of vanished from the scene. Its a shame because they had a lot of good people they used. Hamrick, Julio, Jimmy Vegas, Scottie Gash, Johnny the Bull, New Jack, kid kash and Mike Preston to name a few. that had quite a bank roll to work with. and i cant forget the manager Icepick, what a character he was.
2) Word has it that you are going to be taking some time to study your craft in a Japanese dojo-like situation. Explain the who, what, when, where, and most importantly, the why of this undertaking.
Yea, a long time ago i sent a tape to the Inoki dojo in Los Angeles and
they called and invited me to come and workout. I have a bunch of friends
out there so i kind of made it a mini vacation and went to train and hang
out. It was really cool, we did a lot of MMA stuff that I'm not used too
but it was very cool to learn the style and I honestly like it alot. In
sept. all of the boys who go to New Japan will be booked out of that dojo
so you never know. If nothing happens I'm just stoked I got to work out
there and learn and train with great people.
3) As the wrestling business appears to be shifting to a more physically
demanding style every day, with many fans settling for nothing less than
"X- division" style flying, stiff brutality, and/or massive
bloodshed, do you feel discouraged about a potential lack of appeal in
these areas? Is there pressure for you to adapt to a less natural style
in order to get noticed?
Sure, you have to adapt. I read an article with Gene Simmons once and
he was commenting on playing "Rock n roll all night" about a
million times. He said something to the effect that we are musicians and
the fans are our employers so if thats what they want, thats what we give
'em. I think what you said kind of relates, ya know? If that is the directions
the fans are going, then if you don't adapt you'll get left behind.
4) Looking at just your title history at Mattvandal.com, it is clear that
you, like so many other indy workers for so many years, have traveled
far and wide to gain opportunities to work. PA, NJ, OH, the list goes
on and on. From a financial perspective, factoring in that driving time,
gasoline, mileage, and other travel expenses inherently would create a
sizable deficit in anyone's budget. With the business in the weak state
it is now, from a monetary standpoint, are guys like you making ANY money?
What suggestions would you have for guys who are looking to make their
wrestling careers is profitable as possible?
Well yeah, I make some money, I don't leave my apt. if i know I'm going to lose out. What's the point, right? But I have one thing in my favor and that is I'm totally cheap. I usually travel with Platinum Mike Preston so thats helps out and we usually don't stay at hotels or anything, we made some friends along the way who are good enough to let us crash when we need to so its not as bad as it could be. And any advice for someone who wants to make there careers profitable? Be cheap. As cheap as possible. Food club and finest products all the way. Good luck.
5)Like many others, you have had opportunity to work non-PPV dark matches for NWA:TNA. Tell us what that experience was like, and what it meant for you. Coming out of it, do you feel there is a future slot for you in TNA?
No, I don't. It was a chance we (Mike Preston and I) got through Bill Behrens, so who would pass that up? It was cool to see some of the boys who I haven't seen in a while when we went down there. Their production is off the hook, and when you're on PPV it has to be, but they know what they have and they know who the guys are they are interested in. I love their product though, it is very good. If i wasn't so tight I would buy it more often. Luckily I know people with illegal boxes.
6) As one of the most popular guys in PCW, it is obvious that you consistently draw a significantly sizable female fan base. Besides the usual requests for autographs and hugs, describe some of your more intense or outlandish encounters with female fans.
Well I wish there was something intense or outlandish to tell. I got a kick ass Harley-Davidson blanket from a fan once. I guess thats not outlandish, but i was happy....and warm too.
7) PCW alumni The Prophet and Tank Toland have left familiar surroundings to train without developmental contracts in OVW, the WWE's feeder system of sorts. They have no guarantees, no real incentive other than their personal desires to take a chance that they will be able to take advantage of the superior training offered by OVW to progress enough that they catch the eye of some higher- ups and get offered deals. Is this something that you would consider? Do you feel, in this time of the WWE breeding almost all of it's own stars in OVW, that it is better to join the "masses" chasing the dream in Ohio Valley, or to bide your time at home, attempt to develop at your own pace, and hope that a lucky break comes your way?
I don't know, I do think that is the place to be if that is where you want to go, The WWE, that is. I would like to go, but i couldn't just drop everything for a chance down there. I have a decent job and I got bills to pay, ya know? So financially I couldn't swing it. As Kid Kash said once, "I'm a mark for paying my bills" so i have to agree with him there. But Tank and the Prophet are doing good from what I hear and that is awesome. I'm hoping something happens for those guys. So to answer your question, I guess i have to bide my time at home and see if that lucky break ever comes. If so, thats great. If not, so be it, I've met a helluva lot of cool people and had a blast along the way.
