Interview with Rainman

[Guest Jay Z. Hollywood]

The PCN link to this is http://www.paradisecityninjas.bravehost.com/rainman2.html - but the site's daily bandwidth is as we speak being exceeded again (that problem will be rectified soon) and since the one of the rules I made as a mod (even though no one pays attention to it) says no shill topics, and I don't want to look like a hypocrite, here's the sucker in full. (EDIT: This is a continuation of an interview I did back when I was writing for TSM- if you want to read that first go through TSM's search engine.)

 

 

Interview with Rainman, Part 2- by Jay Doring

 

Rainman, the 2003 NWA Wildside Wrestler of the Year, has continued his success into 2004. The former NWA World Television Champion and Wildside Tag Team champion has broken out all over the country, earning a regular spot on the Ring of Honor roster, as well as receiving an invite to the 2004 IWA Mid South Ted Petty Invitational. In a follow-up to his original interview with the Paradise City Ninjas' Jay Doring, "The Soul Assassin" discusses his recent experiences for various promotions, ranging from his home base in Wildside to World Wrestling Entertainment.

 

 

Jay: We'll start off with something I forgot to ask in the last interview -you've transitioned, seemingly, to a more technical wrestling style after working as brawler for much of your career. Which style do you prefer?

 

 

Rainman: I like them both. Right now I like the technical wrestling because I have soooo much more to learn about it. But then again, there's nothing like hearing a crowd go nuts watching you brawl all around the building. The southern fans seem to like that a lot. Brawling and hardcore was all I did for like the first 3 years of my career. We would sneak in "wrestling" matches in every now and then. I think the reason i made the switch is because it was something different, and I ended up liking it wayyyy too much.

 

 

Jay: At the conclusion of the first interview, you were wrapping up a feud in Wildside with Caprice Coleman. Since then, you've finished up another program- the G-d Squad vs. The NWA Elite at Hardcore Hell 2004. Thoughts on that feud? Were you comfortable with the religious overtones of the angle?

 

Rainman: The religious overtones didn't bother me at all. I wasn't uncomfortable with anything about it. That feud was SERIOUSLY heated. As if they needed more of a reason to hate us, we were feuding with a team called THE G-D SQUAD in the SOUTH! Jeff G. Bailey took that ball and ran straight for the end zone with that one. I don't think Gabriel and I have ever had a bad match. Or at least a match we weren't happy with. The Hardcore Hell match ruled. It was a great learning experience tagging with Christopher Daniels. He has unbelievable knowledge for the business. That's the good thing about working with people you've never worked with before. You always learn something new that will help you out in the future. And of course it's always a pleasure working with AJ. Can't say enough goodness about him.

 

 

Jay: What was it like to work with Dusty Rhodes?

 

Rainman: Man, I grew up watching him on TV. It was a pleasure to even be in the same building with they guy, let alone in the same ring. He’s a true class act. When he gave The Elite a round of Bionic Elbows, I thought the crowd noise would blow the roof off the building.

 

 

Jay: Freedom Fight recently concluded, and again you were part of the War Games. How does this year's contest match up with the previous War Games you've been in?

 

Rainman: Well, each War Games was good because they were all different. Holy Wars to me was the shit because it pretty much started my singles career and led to my first solo angle in Wildside with Rick Michaels. The next years' was so good because there were so many different elements involved. Hotstuff Hernandez throwing people around, Onyx bein' all jacked up, working the crowd as good as anyone, Jeremy V flying all over the place, Jimmy Rave kneeing people in the face, and so on and so forth. The last War Games was great because of the brutality. It had everything the other War Games had, but with barbed wire, chairs, thumbtacks, and all that shit. It was truly an all out war. Insane.

 

 

Jay: You made your debut for Ring of Honor at "The Battle Lines Are Drawn" against fellow Wildside regulars Caprice Coleman, Todd Sexton and Jimmy Rave. How do you feel that match went?

 

Rainman: I thought it was a great match. I think it was a strong debut for Todd, Caprice, and myself. I was confident about it because we had all worked with each other so many times prior to that. But at the same time it was a totally different part of the country in which most of them probably didn't know who we were. They knew Jimmy, but not us. That was the only worry I had. But I still get like that every time I wrestle somewhere that I've never been before. Once I got past that I was cool. I thought we got a good initial response though.

 

 

Jay: Since then, you've worked several ROH shows in Dayton and a couple events in Elizabeth, New Jersey. How would you rate your matches so far in ROH? Which do you feel is your best/worst?

 

Rainman: I thought I had some pretty strong matches. Caprice and I did a one on one in Jersey that both of us felt could have been better. We were both just a little off. I don't know if it was noticeable or not but he and I knew- sometimes that's all it takes. It wasn't a bad match at all, but if I had to pick a worst match then that would probably be it. Shawn Daivari was very good and easy to work with as well. Besides my debut though, the best match would have to be the Six Way with Loc, Matt Sydal, Delirious, Jimmy Jacobs, and Caprice and I. Delirious is my favorite. Sydal is a freak of nature man. People aren't supposed to be able to do the stuff that guy can do man. It's scary.

 

 

Jay: Is there a reason why you've only worked the Midwest and New Jersey events for ROH, so far?

 

Rainman: If there is a reason, I have no idea what it is.

 

 

Jay: Do you feel the ROH roster is getting too large?

 

 

Rainman: There is a lot of great talent in ROH. I don't think the roster is too large though. Everyone seems to be placed in the right spots. When you can do that, it doesn't really matter how many people you got on your roster.

 

 

Jay: What storylines in ROH do you think are the strongest right now? Are there any you feel you'd be especially right for?

 

 

Rainman: The storyline involving The Rottweillers is very strong. That's one hell of a stable. The Briscoes are my favorite tag team and have been since I saw them actually against each other in their first match at Wildside back in the day. As far as a storyline that would fit me, that's hard to say. There are so many possibilities with a roster that size. I would try my best to work with anything they threw at me though, ya know?

 

 

Jay: A short time ago, your former tag partner Murder One became publicly upset about CZW using the "Blackout" name for one of its stables (Ruckus, Joker, Sabian, Eddie Kingston). Is there still bad blood between M1 and the CZW stable, especially now that their manager Robby Mireno has formed a "Blackout South" in Florida? What are your overall thoughts on that situation?

 

 

Rainman: I don't even think it matters to him anymore. I think what everyone saw was his initial reaction. I don't see anything wrong with it. If that's how he felt, then that's how he felt. I didn't feel as strongly about as he did, so we reacted differently about it. If that's the name they wanted to go by, then so be it. Who knows, there probably was another Blackout team before us. Shit happens. The whole Blackout name issue doesn't bother me at all. Hell, we don't use it anymore anyway.

 

 

Jay: Jeremy V, Jay Fury and Gabriel recently competed for CZW at the Trifecta Elimination 2. Do you know if you or any other Wildside regulars will be back at CZW in the future?

 

Rainman: Well, I know there are more than a few guys who would love to go, including me. However, I haven't heard anything about anyone going back. I wouldn't mind it though. I had a good time up there. There are some people up there I would like to work with too.

 

 

Jay: You made your debut for IWA Mid South on July 23rd against Hallowicked (who replaced Chris Sabin.) What are your thoughts on that match? Is it tougher to have a good match against a last-minute replacement rather than the guy you expected to wrestle? Thoughts on your first IWA experience in general?

 

 

Rainman: I don't think Hallowicked and I missed a beat. Me being a babyface was a different experience. I can count on one hand how many times I have done that. I think we clicked and hopefully I would get to work with him again. It really didn't matter that he was a replacement. I didn't even look at it like that. We just went out there and did what we had to do. It would've been great to work with Chris Sabin, but it was great to work with Hallowicked too. Plus, in this business, I always expect the unexpected, ya know?

 

 

Jay: Do you know if the IWA/Wildside challenge (which was originally scheduled for April 30th of this year) will eventually happen?

 

 

Rainman: I hope so. There are so many different match combinations that would get just ridiculous. Can you imagine a B-Boy vs. Slim J match? Holy shit!!!!

 

 

Jay: You've been invited to compete in the 2004 Ted Petty Invitational, arguably the top wrestling tournament in the country. What was your initial reaction to the news?

 

 

Rainman: I had the biggest grin on my face when it was told to me. I had to go and snap a White Owl open just to calm my nerves down. HAHA. In my eyes that is the best tournament in the country. Just look at the list of people who have been in it in the past and who will be in it this year. I pretty much can't wait for that weekend. Looking forward to it.

 

 

Jay: Are there any people in IWA you especially want to wrestle against?

 

Rainman: Too many to list. I am looking forward to a one on one with Chris Sabin in the first round. Everyone there would be great to work with, but the two that stand out are Matt Sydal and Delirious. Also guys like B-Boy and Alex Shelley. About 3 or so years ago(something like that) I worked with Roderick Strong down in Florida. It would be interesting to do stuff with him again considering the fact that both of us have changed so much and gained a little more experience.

 

 

Jay: You've wrestled a few matches for NWA:TNA XPlosion. What was that experience like? What are your thoughts on the recent Impact bookings of some Wildside guys? Do you plan on doing some Impact matches in that role?

 

Rainman: Well, The Xplosion stuff was okay. There were some things that went down that I didn't like. That's life though. You win some, you lose some. It wasn't all bad though. I did get to meet Harley Race, which was cool. I have no plans of doing Impact matches so far. I don't know if I speak for any of the Wildside guys, but for me it would be mostly about the payday. It's good exposure being on Impact. But the money definitely doesn't hurt at all.

 

 

Jay: You've had a "walk-on" role on WWE TV. What was that like?

 

Rainman: That was cool. I was supposed to have a match but it was scrapped a little while before the show started. But I was involved in a security spot for "The Rock Concert II". Goldberg was involved and let's just say things didn't go quite the way they were planned. Some people got roughed up and the segment basically fell apart as far as we knew and were concerned. But the spot was great though. I had fun with it. Even though I didn't have a match, it was still a rush being in front of a crowd that size.

 

Jay: I'll close with a question about wrestling in general. There's always a lot of argument on the Internet on the definition of a "good match." When you're in the ring, how can you tell whether a match is turning out well or not?

 

Rainman: Sometimes you just know. It's hard to describe. It's like a feeling you get when you just know that you're in there rippin' shit up. If the crowd is on their feet and responding to what you do, it's a good match. If you are getting booed because the crowd wants to see you get your ass kicked, not because you just totally suck, it's a good match.

 

For more information on Rainman and other NWA Wildside stars, visit NWA-Wildside.com. Videos are available at that site, as well as at wrestlingsuperstore.com, highspots.com , Melanie's Tapes, and Smart Mark Video.