Interview: Leroy the Ring Crew Guy

[LucharesuFan619 0]

Interview: Leroy the Ring Crew Guy (formerly of XPW)

 

CONDUCTED: Early April 2004 by LucharesuFan619

 

Q: Did you grow up in California?

A: Yes, I’ve lived here in LA all my life.

 

Q: What was your childhood like? Were you a wrestling fan? If so, who/what were some of your favorite wrestlers/tag teams/promotions/matches, etc.?

A: My childhood was very simple. I was the oldest of three boys and led a normal childhood. I was a wrestling fan ever since I was six (I’m 21 now). My favorite wrestlers were: Jake “The Snake” Roberts, The Ultimate Warrior, Repo Man, etc. Around ’98, I really got into ECW and then became a huge Al Snow and Mick Foley fan. Mick’s match against Undertaker in Hell in the Cell (at WWF King of the Ring ’98) made me want to be a wrestler. I always wanted to top those falls, somehow.

 

Q: How/when did you get started into backyard wrestling? Why'd you do it?

A: I started backyard wrestling freshman year of high school. A friend and I loved wrestling and – after a failed attempt as tape traders – we got into backyard wrestling. The first year was really lame, as we were learning and what not, but eventually – after hooking up with many other backyard feds in So-Cal – we ended up putting on some amazing shows. I loved wrestling and wanted to do that. Having no knowledge of how to join a school, I did [backyard wrestling], and when I did find a school, it was either way too expensive or didn’t let people my age train. I ended up doing [backyard wrestling] for four years, and quit when I joined wrestling school. You can see my backyard stuff on MTV's “True life: I’m A Backyard Wrestler,” “Best of Backyard Wrestling, Volume 2,” and various news reports. [EDITOR’S NOTE: For other video clips of Leroy and his friends during their backyard wrestling career, visit www.NoMercyVideo.com].

 

Q: Are you trained? If so, by whom, when/where did you train, and what was the experience like?

A: I was part of the first class for XPW's Asylum wrestling school in December of 99, I believe it was. The first part of my training was by Damien Steele, who wasn’t very hands on and occasionally stole students’ moves, and pretended to not know us at shows. Then Dynamite D was brought in to train and it was immediately apparent how much of a better trainer he was. I still consider the man a friend today and he helped me out greatly. I can’t thank him enough.

 

Q: How/when did you get to be on XPW's ring crew?

A: Since I was part of the Asylum, I was part of the ring crew. In the beginning, it was hard because 1. there weren’t a lot of us, 2. that big f*cking metal “X,” [EDITOR’S NOTE: Leroy is referring to the “X”-shaped structure that XPW required be put up at all of it’s shows for it’s first year or so.] and 3. we were still learning. I loved it, though, and it was a lot of fun and also hard work.

 

Q: Did you have any hesitation at the idea of working for a wrestling company that was owned by a porno company?

A: Well, I have no problem with porn, so I had no problem working next to it. A lot of odd run ins with porn stars, though, and it’s hard for me to watch their porno films as I got to know a lot of the guys in them. It’s a lot easier when you don’t know the guy and you can tune them out.

 

Q: Where/how did the RCG gimmick come from/about? Were/are you an RVD fan?

A: I was a big RVD fan, but that had nothing to do with the decision to be RCG. They let me know I was in the tournament (at Damage Inc. on 8/25/01) by way of the TV show. I was invited to the XPWrestling.com webmaster’s house (that of Jonathan and Slava “OG” Siderman) to watch the XPW TV show, being as I didn’t get it at home. I was so shocked when they revealed I was the eighth participant of the Television Title tourney. After it aired, Kevin [Kleinrock] called to make sure I would do it. I said, “Hells yes!” I would.

 

Then, before the show, I was told to just dress as a normal jobber. However, I was told an hour before the show to add some RVD-style moves to the match and work the RCG gimmick. It made me feel a lot better and gave me a character to work on. I was told that [“White Trash” Johnny] Webb was responsible for the RCG gimmick, so I thank him greatly for that.

 

Q: What was it like to work with Vic Grimes at Damage Inc.?

A: It was awesome. There was such a major rush when I walked out in front of the crowd. Grimes was very helpful and was happy to wrestle me, due to the heat he would be receiving. Grimes was one of my favorite people to hang out with backstage, and I’m very happy my pro debut was against him. After the match, I received the only compliment I would hear in three years of service from Rob Black, and those words were "Nice match, Leroy," or something to that effect.

 

Q: You had two matches vs. "White Trash" Johnny Webb at XPW Halloween In Hell II (a.k.a. Blown To Hell) in late 2001.They were all like a minute long, but still...how'd you like working with Webb? Do you have any specific memories of that night?

A: I remember calling Kevin a week before the show, after hearing about the exploding ring deathmatch. I was gonna’ offer to try to run in on Vic Grimes and get tossed into an explosive. Kevin got on the phone [and sounded] kinda’ excited, and said he had a good idea for me. Then, he told me about the match idea [with Webb], and I was all for that. I thought it was awesome. First the TV Title shot, then the World one. I did ring crew that morning as usual, then I did all the fog effects and strobe lights for the entrances up until my match. Then, after [my match], I got food for people from the snack bar.

 

Q: What are some of the sickest bumps that you've taken during your backyard and pro wrestling career?

A: During my time doing backyard wrestling: multiple 450° Splashes off the roof, a dive off my neighbor’s two story roof through two tables, flaming table matches, a backdrop out of the ring (I landed on my head), a fisherman suplex through a door (causing me to hit a brick wall…I couldn’t walk for three days.), had light tubes broken on my arms and I was covered in blood, and various other stuff.

After getting professionally trained at the XPW Asylum, my most notable bumps include: a back bump off the top of the cage to the floor during the Messiah vs. Sabu match at Scene of the Crime; being thrown off of the entrance stage by Abdullah the Butcher in Ventura; having Abby try to slam me head-first through a table; Abdullah tried to slam me head-first through a table, only to have it not break and me get a huge bump on my head; when we were moving the ring, I fell off a support beam and twisted my ankle, then worked security the next night, and after all the people got done stepping on it, the next morning it was black and dark purple up to the ankle. Also, Sabu dislocated my jaw with a punch to the chin.

 

 

Q: When/why did you stop working for XPW? Your last match was in late 2001, but I imagine you worked the ring crew at least a few shows after that, though, right?

A: Yeah, I had decided to stay until the third deathmatch tourney because those are a b*tch to set up, and they would need all the help they could get, but Rob [black] told me to get the f*ck out before then, mainly because I was tired of Rob’s constant insults and what not. They kinda’ killed my desire to go to practice and keep trying…That and I was working a high maintenance job at the time and I couldn’t go to practice, sometimes.

 

So, Rob said if I wasn’t gonna’ help the company, I could get the f*ck out. Dynamite D offered to try to talk to him about it, but I said, “F*ck it,” because I was leaving after the next show, anyway. What pissed me off the most is Rob didn’t say it to my face. I wouldn’t have hit him or anything. It just would’ve been much more respectful. When asked why he wouldn’t tell me to my face, I was told, "He doesn’t work that way," so while it was sad because I was gonna miss a lot of people there and also the fun I had at the shows, Rob’s sh*t was really getting to me.

 

Q: After leaving XPW, you worked the pro wrestling circuit in So-Cal for a number of feds. What are some of your favorite memories of working the indy circuit after leaving XPW?

A: Having Desire kick my ass in the battle royal was fun. The problem is this – everyone saw my matches in XPW and figured that’s how I really am,. 80% of the mess-ups were planned because being the idiot ring crew guy I was, I had to suck. Bookers saw this as me really s*cking, and whenever I tried to get booked somewhere, it was either just in a battle royal. Or, I would hear, “Get some training,” or “Have you been trained yet?” After awhile of that, I just said, “Screw it.” So, I wasn’t around long enough for many great memories. However, getting to work on the same shows as some of my good friends like Scorpio Sky, Quicksilver, Suppa Bad, and a few others was really nice. I do miss it (XPW), though.

 

Q: Do you think that XPW got more heat by the Internet than it deserved? Or do you think it was warranted, based on the HeatWave incident, the New Years Revolution II surprise (or lack thereof), The Sandman's false retirement, etc.?

A: I believe the heat towards XPW was at an appropriate level. It got the name out there, but too much of it may have hurt them in the long run. It insulted the fans who were expecting something big, and sadly things would fall through and a backup plan would have to go into effect.

 

Q: What are your thoughts on Rob Black and Lizzy Borden's recent legal problems? What do you think should happen to them? Do you agree with the idea of prosecuting a company based on speculation that they may be too over the top in

what they film?

A: I rarely watch their pornos, and so I cannot comment. I know too little of the situation to truly have an opinion. I wouldn’t mind if Rob rotted in jail, but Lizzy was very caring and sweet, so I’m kind of conflicted there.

 

Q: What memorable stories do you have from XPW?

A: I have had many a story while working with XPW. First thing that comes to mind is how quickly I Leonard about some people in the business. What I learned for the most part was good, but there were a few instances where I wish I could be ignorant to the situation. I remember at one of the shows at the [Hollywood] Palace, after the show I saw Tammy Sytch and Chris Candido snorting something in the bathroom, and the show after that me and another ring crew member had to carry her to the ring because she was so messed up. It kinda’ hurt because she had been one of my favorite managers for a long time, and just seeing her in that shape was kinda’ hard on me.

 

Second off the top of my head was that backstage, Abdullah the Butcher was a very nice man. Him and Sabu had said to break them up before they hit each other. They would hit one or two of us (the ring crew members) and then they would separate. However, out in the ring, they beat the sh*t out of us. For awhile there, Abby just beat the sh*t out of me because I was the only one still going after him. He brought out [Homeless] Jimmy’s shopping cart and hit me with nearly everything in it for a while. It was awesome, even though I was hurting the next day.

 

I remember one time after a show, a lot of us went to the local Denny’s – ring crew at one table, some of the workers at another. After the food, was ordered, Sabu passed out onto the table. One of the refs there tried giving him a three count jokingly, but Sabu didn’t budge, so after everyone finished eating, the Russian dog picked him up and carried him back to the car. There is a lot more, but I gotta’ keep some things to myself.

 

Q: What is your opinion about the following people? How did they treat you?

How did you like them?

 

Rob Black: Treated me like sh*t. I wonder if he thought my name was “@$$hole,” “C*cksmoker,” “Fag,” etc. While I wish no harm on him, I wouldn’t piss on him to put a fire out.

 

*Lizzy Borden: Very sweet and nice woman. She was always nice to me and she was very fun to talk to. I miss hanging out with her.

 

*Kevin Kleinrock: Very smart man. He made things happen in XPW. If he was the one with the money, I believe XPW would be alive and better than ever. Kevin was a very nice guy, too. He treated me very respectful and like a friend.

 

 

 

 

Leroy the Ring Crew Guy is one of several former-XPW wrestlers and employees who have agreed to contribute to an upcoming retrospective I'm doing on XPW's history. The full preview can be read below.

 

 

 

From 1999 until 2003, Southern California's Xtreme Professional Wrestling produced possibly the most avid debate the world of United States indy wrestling has witnessed in recent years. It all started with a pornography mogul named Rob Black and his associate, Tom Byron. Along the way, names such as Sabu, The Sandman, Shane Douglas, Chris Candido, Jerry Lynn, and Abdullah the Butcher made their presences known in XPW rings. At one point, XPW possessed a nationwide TV deal (via satellite) with America One and its home videos were distributed across the country even before those of ECW were. Even with all of these advantages, however, XPW eventually shut down, but not even it's bankruptcy has curtailed the mutterings about it.

In the next half a year, learn about the formation, the rise, and the ultimate fall of a promotion that at one point had everything going for it. You've heard the utterings about Rob Black's association with ECW's Paul Heyman, but for all intensive purposes, it was all the way back in 1989 when the true roots of XPW began to take shape. Even before the XPW name was concepted, what could be considered precursors of the promotion existed, including: Verne Langdon's Slammers Wrestling Federation (Slammers/SWF); Dynamite D, Kevin Kleinrock, and Patrick Hernandez' Southern California Championship Wrestling (SCCW); and Doc Marlee's United Independent Wrestling Alliance (UIWA). Long before they were appearing across the United States on XPW home video, XPW's homegrown names were crafting their ability on the So-Cal independent circuit.

 

Exactly one-third of the competitor's who performed on XPW's debut live event back in July 1999 credit their initial training to a man named Verne Langdon. Trained by The Fabulous Moolah and Tor Johnson many years ago, Langdon enjoyed a number of occupations before entering the world of pro wrestling. At one point, he was a highly acclaimed sculptor of monster masks, and is still regarded as one of the most celebrated "monster-makers" - as the occupation is termed - to this day. Monster-making also led to some exploration into the field of the makeup artistry. Langdon was also a very talented magician and magician, but wrestling was certainly one of his hobbies. So, in 1989, he established the "SLAM U" Wrestling Gym in Southern California and, two years later, the Slammers Wrestling Federation.

 

Langdon is one of several names who've agreed to contribute both historical information and textual quotations to this retrospective. Other contributees will include XPW homegrown veterans such as GQ Money, Leroy The Ring Crew Guy, "White Trash" Johnny Webb, Carlito Montana, Steve Rizzono, and several others. Mainstream wrestlers who've competed for the company, such as Chris Hamrick and Mike Modest, will also speak about their time in XPW. As of now, there are a number of other former-XPW wrestlers and employees being contacted, and in the coming weeks and months, more names will be announced as playing a role in this retrospective.

From the beginnings of Rob Black to his friendship with ECW's Paul Heyman, from the formation of XPW to the signings of stars such as Sabu, Shane Douglas, and Chris Candido, from the interpromotional agreements with ECW and FMW to the TV deals with America One, KJLA, and WGTW, from the creations of indy stars like The Messiah, "The Rock Superstar" Kaos, and "The Hardcore Homo" Angel to the controversies of Supreme's injury, Vic Grimes' 40 foot fall, and the New Year's Revolution 2 scandal, from the invasion of Philadelphia to the eventual folding - it, and so much more, will all be presented in "Five Years Later - The Roots, The History, and The Controversy of Xtreme Pro Wrestling."

 

Featuring-insightful contributions from XPW alumni such as GQ Money, Leroy The Ring Crew Guy, Carlito Montana, and "White Trash" Johnny Webb, along with words from Verne Langdon, who helped break The Messiah, Johnny Webb, Homeless Jimmy, Angel, Damien Steele, Dynamite D, Carlito Montana, and others into the business. Plus - NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN, pre-XPW photos (straight from the Slammers Wrestling Federation's archives) of the XPW stars such as The Messiah, Johnny Webb, Kaos, Homeless Jimmy, Supreme, and Angel; and a great deal more.

 

In the next few weeks, you can expect part five of my extensive shoot interview with GQ Money.

[Guest bort]

Nice little interview, i got no clue who the wrestler was but it was interesting to hear some of the Tammy stuff

[Placebo Effect 0]

Few interesting tidbits in there.

 

Good job as always.

[LucharesuFan619 0]

Sorry to bump, but as I've said, I want to keep the updates on the retrospective strictly to one thread, so since is the most recent related one, I picked this. Here's a quick update on the retrospective: you can add Altar Boy Luke to the list of contributees, along with more names which will be released soon. Questions are still being accepted for Vic and Pogo. I talked to Pogo tonight and conducted part 1 of an interview, and will continue it tomorrow, so if you want to ask him something, post it here. To the guy who submitted questions for Pogo - I'll be sure to ask those to him tomorrow night.

 

Pogo is intent on settling the many complete misconceptions and stereotypes that people have or have made about him, and will do so through this article about XPW's history. A lot of the shit people say about him is entirely misguided, and Pogo has been very candid in explaining both how the criticism he's experienced has affected him and also why he thinks it's so prevalent in relation to him. Pogo addresses the Shaggy 2 Dope incident (including a very interesting story of something related to this that happened just a few weeks ago), working with Masato Tanaka in Japan, memories of working Spike Dudley, what went wrong with the financial side of XPW, his controversial gimmick, his reputation, his dealings with NWA-TNA, and more.

 

You can leave questions for Altar Boy Luke, too, although I probably won't get to call him for another month. Also, I scanned a few days ago a load of ultra rare, never before seen photos that come straight from the Slammers Wrestling vault in Sun Valley, CA. These have never been released to the public and include rare promo photos featuring The Messiah, Johnny Webb, Angel, Dynamite D, Carlito Montana, WCW booker Ed Ferrera, the legendary Terry Funk, all before they were stars (besides Funk and Ferrera).

 

You can also expect to see as a part of this retrospective photos provided by GQ Money of himself posing with legends such as Nick Bockwinkel, Stu Hart, and Greg Valentine.

[LucharesuFan619 0]

Latest update: Expect in the next week the official preview for the retrospective, featuring the release date of part one and much more. Also, drop any questions you have for JR Benson (famous indy manager in So-Cal; took the sickest chairshot in the history of wrestling PERIOD back in '94 from Sabu [you'll believe it when you see it]; he managed in XPW for awhole) and Joe LaChance (had a radio show back in '99 on which he interviewed some XPW wrestlers; he also dealt with Rob Black, Kevin Kleinrock, and others). More names will continue to be announced!

 

The full story on the most controversial wrestling promotion in the history of California, from those who lived it: IT'S COMING...