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" The Gravel Pit "
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Wrestling
Interview with IWS star Beef Wellington
Posted by The Paradise City Ninjas on Aug 3, 2003, 00:53
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Beef Wellington, one of the top stars of the Internet Wrestling Syndicate and one-half of the longest-reigning tag team champions in IWS history, Hi-5, was brave and foolish enough to agree to an interview with Jay Doring of TheSmartMarks.com�s Paradise City Ninjas. Beef discusses his decision to pursue a wrestling career along with his tag partner Kid Kamikaze, his early training with Jacques Rougeau, joining the IWS, the origins of the ASS PUNCH~! and the Titanic poster, and gives his candid opinion on hardcore wrestling and the adult aspect of the IWS. Much hilarity ensued.
Jay: We'll start with the standard stuff- how did you become interested in pro wrestling, and why did you decide to go all the way and become a wrestler yourself?
Beef: I've been a wrestling fan since I was about 6. I had all the action figures and bought every edition of WWF Magazine. I'd go to this shitty little restaurant called Rosie's to watch the PPV�s and I had my grandfather take me to every house show we got. I always loved The Rockers because they we're the only guys I could remember who actually did athletic stuff in the ring. I also marked hard for The Ultimate Warrior; I can't explain why but it was probably the face paint and smack addict shakes and convulsions. Anyways, I kinda stopped watching regularly for a while until I was 16 and became friends with a guy on my football team who would later become my tag team partner Kid Kamikaze. He was a hardcore fan, and I started watching lots of wrestling with him, WWF, WCW, ECW as well as Japanese wrestling that I just couldn't believe was possible.
About 3 years ago, Kid K told me that Jacques Rougeau had a wrestling school here in Montreal so we signed up as soon as we could. We paid The Mountie a lot of money, received very little training and a pretty good reputation. Jesus, all that and I really only answered one of your questions�
Jay: Could you describe your training with Rougeau in depth? What was an average week of training like? Also, who trained you after you left his school?
Beef: For 4 months it went something like this: We had training Tuesday and Thursday nights for 2 hours and 2 hours on Saturday mornings. During the week, Jacques wouldn't even be there. We were basically trained by Jacques' first student Eric Mastrocolla, who is a really cool guy and one hell of an old school wrestler. Saturdays Jacques would review what we had learned and tell us everything we we're doing wrong. Jacques had his own way of doing everything, which means that when we left, we had to learn the proper techniques for just about everything on our own. After those first 4 months we knew how to do a picture perfect international (headlock, tackle, dropflat, leapfrog, hiptoss) and that's about it.
At the end of those 4 months, the school changed locations and from that point on...we never saw Jacques. We barely saw Eric for that matter. We more or less trained ourselves by watching tapes and practicing moves over and over. We wrestled a total of 2 matches for Jacques� company, Lutte International 2000 then we left. We've been learning from people we wrestle as well as from each other ever since.
Jay: Were there any other IWS wrestlers in that class, or just you and Kid Kamikaze?
Beef: Just the 2 of us...in the group that started after us was Kurt Lauderdale and Wailing Jimmy Handjob, who were for the most part trained by us.
Jay: How did you get involved with the IWS?
Beef: I had met PCP Crazy Fuckin� Manny and Sexxxy Eddy at a party. We were all rather drunk and got pretty animated. They were badmouthing Rougeau and I was calling them garbage wrestlers. A few months later, in November 2001, the IWS was holding a show at The Medley and they had booked Justice Pain from CZW. We went to that show essentially to see Pain, and we left big fans. We knew after watching that show that we belonged in the IWS. We weren't ready to leave LI2000 just yet because we had a show coming up at the Molson Center. After that show we said goodbye to Jacques and e-mailed Manny. We had a tryout before a show in March and in April we wrestled one on one at Know Your Enemies 2002, and it was an incredible experience.
Jay: Were there any bad feelings from Jacques about leaving?
Beef: Not at all...we went to see him on a Saturday morning and told him we wanted to wrestle elsewhere. He thanked us for telling him in advance unlike some others had done, then proceeded to put us over in front of all his students (to make himself look like a great guy no doubt).
Jay: Were you using the preppy "Hi-5" gimmick in LL, or was that developed in IWS? How did the gimmick come about in the first place?
Beef: Jacques wasn't a big fan of gimmicks that hadn't already been done in the 80s, so Kid K went by the moniker "The Tornado", a feisty young competitor who loved the fans and promoted staying in school. I was lucky enough to be dubbed Gorgeous Neil. I was to replace Gorgeous Mike, who wore a feather boa and carried a pink mirror. I wore my cow shorts, a Backstreet boys t-shirt, had bright red hair and tripped getting into the ring. I think I was still pretty gorgeous. Needless to say, we were not a tag team.
We started off in the IWS as Rougeau boys who condemned hardcore and vowed to show the IWS fans real wrestling. Our first match started with a 5-minute headlock sequence and we got booed out of the building, it was great. We didn't want to keep using Jacques name to get heat so I came up with Hi-5...it was the lamest, cheesiest name I could think of. We stated right off the bat that we were not a boy band, just boy band enthusiasts.
And for the record, we're not really preppy. We're just rich, extremely good looking and most importantly, pathetic losers.
Jay: How did you choose the Beef Wellington name, and did you already know there was a semi-famous Canadian wrestler named Beef Wellington?
Beef: A friend of mine who is now known as Wailing Jimmy Handjob had come up with the name Beef Wellington, and since he never used it and I already had the cow shorts...I was asked for my name before our first IWS show and I couldn't come up with anything so Beef Wellington it was...I was unaware of any other meat dishes in the industry at the time.
Jay: You trusted a guy who picked the name Wailing Jimmy Handjob?
Beef: Wailing Jimmy Handjob was just the name he was using to post on the IWS message board. When he got booked for a show, I figured a lot of fans knew the name already and I found it rather funny so I told him to keep it. He's wrestled in Ontario under different names. He also does the best Rick Martel imitation around.
Jay: Where did the other facets of the gimmick, like the 90210 music and the Titanic poster, come from?
Beef: Just stuff I thought would be funny...or so unfunny people would laugh. What I really wanted was for people to shake their heads thinking "what is wrong with these guys." I just don't want to be taken seriously at all...sometimes I have a hard time convincing Kid K to go along with my stupidity.
Jay: Where did the idea come from to kook up Kurt Lauderdale with Hi-5?
Beef: I went to a Rougeau show with Kid K, Manny, Phantom and a few others. During the intermission, KK and I went backstage to see old friends. Kurt pulled us aside and said "Get me out of here." We told the Cox�s and he said okay, you guys have a new bodyguard. I would have preferred Headbanger Thrasher, or Waylon Mercy, or The Demon from WCW but alas, they were all unavailable.
Jay: This is exact wording from the other boys in the PCN: "How did you devise the might and glory that is the ASS PUNCH~!" ?
Beef: Well the IWS is a seriously hardcore fed and I wanted to top everything that had been done with a seriously hardcore move. And what's more hardcore than punching someone in the ass? Punching them in the ass from the top rope. I actually thought of it after watching Deuce Bigelow for the 12th time...ya know "Claire, the hooker you ass-punched!" The first time I hit the move in the IWS, I slipped when jumping off the top rope and I was gonna miss, so I jabbed with my left hand and broke it on Latino Mysterio's tight little teenage ass. It was a truly hardcore injury...
Jay: Indeed, a transverse metacarpal fracture.
Beef: Oooh, impressive mastery of the terminology? Medical dictionary?
Jay: Nah, the announcer mentioned it a half-dozen times on the tape and it stuck in my head.
Beef: They mark out for the ass punch like everyone else.
Jay: Indeed-I've got more ass punch related questions, believe it or not- What part of the buttocks do you usually aim for, and do you think it could take out even the mighty Bob Sapp?
Beef: I generally aim for the left cheek; research has proven it to be the most vulnerable part of the ass region. As for your second question...I would never underestimate the power of the ass punch; although The Green Phantom just got really mad when I ass-punched him. He hurt me.
Jake: Notice how he ducked the question.
Tom: Maybe if he had the Hulk Hands�
Jay: What are you two doing here?
Jake: Shit! He noticed us!
Tom: Run!
Jay: Back to serious stuff for a second, speaking of the Phantom, Hi-5 and XES 69/Green Phantom had a brutal tag title match at the Hardcore Heat event where panes of glass were used and many people fell off of high things- how do you mentally prepare for a match like that?
Beef: First off I would like to make the following statement: I ain't �fraid of no ghosts! Second: I also have no fear of spiders, heights, midgets, the color "fuchsia" or birds. Now that we have that settled, preparing for the match is rather easy...you either accept that you'll probably get hurt or you don't do the match. During the match is another story, you can't help but be pre-occupied by the big and potentially dangerous spots. Also, the Green Phantom is scary...I mean he doesn't scare me or anything, but he is very intimidating in the ring. Ok now I'm scared. Can we move on?
Jay: What are some of your favorite IWS matches, opponents, and memories in general?
Beef: Favorite matches would include our first match (one on one with Kid kamikaze), our second match which was a 3 way with Onyx but only because that was our first ever table spot and it was dirty. I gave Kid K my E. Coli Tiger Driver (which I didn't copy from jay Briscoe at all-at all!) standing on a table. Also, our first IWS match against The Hardcore Ninjaz at Blood, Sweat & Beers 2002 because we essentially came to the IWS because we wanted to wrestle the Ninjaz. And our Scarred 4 Life 2003 match with Extreme Revolution, it was pretty brutal. I also enjoyed my one on one with Latino Mysterio...although maybe not as much as you guys enjoyed it. I've enjoyed pretty much every IWS match I've had.
Jay: You said you came to IWS to wrestle the Hardcore Ninjaz, who are known for working the hardcore style (hence the name), what are your thoughts on hardcore wrestling in general, and are you afraid of being pigeonholed as working for a "hardcore/garbage" fed?
Beef: I love hardcore wrestling. I don't like garbage wrestling. When I started wrestling, I didn't really know the difference. I prefer a straight up wrestling match to light tubes and barbed wire and for the most part that is what I do. When the situation calls for it though, I have no problem getting hardcore...the more we've done it, the more I want to do. I've also been pretty lucky as far as hardcore goes, my partner usually leaves worse for wear.
As far as the IWS goes, the fed has come a long way in the past 2 years. There is a much better balance between insane hardcore violence and quality wrestling. I like to think that we had something to do with that change...
Jay: Just to clarify, what's the difference between hardcore and garbage wrestling, by your definition?
Beef: Hardcore wrestling can be barbed wire and light tubes, but it can also be really stiff wrestling without weapons. Kawada, Kobashi, Misawa...those guys are fucking hardcore. Garbage wrestling is 2 guys hitting each other with light tube after light tube, no selling everything and basically just hurting each other. Our yearly Fans Bring The Weapons match for example...that's not wrestling. But it's only once a year and I mark out for it no matter what I may say.
Jay: Do you currently follow the US indy feds, and do you have any dream opponents you'd like to wrestle in the States?
Beef: I used to follow CZW but I've lost all interest in that product. I watch as much ROH as I can but I've been so busy lately I'm not up to date. I'd love to wrestle Reckless Youth, excuse me Tom Carter, although he would make me look soooooo foolish. I would love to wrestle any of those guys like AJ Styles, Low Ki, Paul London, Red...but I couldn't keep up with them wrestling wise. If there was one guy I would love to work with it would be Spanky...
Jay: THAT would be a comedy dream match�how about IWA Mid-South, are you familiar with their product?
Beef: Don't watch it...I've seen CM Punk, Chris Hero and Colt Cabana in other feds. I hear good things about Jimmy Jacobs but I've never seen him. Necro Butcher seems like quite the mat technician though. Perhaps Beef vs. Necro in a submission match?
Jay: The world would mark out for that- have you ever considered looking into US indy bookings?
Beef: I have but I'm not in a rush. I'm 22 years old, starting University in September and I also really believe in the IWS and I think we can make it big as a promotion. I would still be happy to go wrestle in the States if I was asked.
Jay: Going back to the IWS for a minute- it's probably the worst kept secret in Canada that you guys are owned by Wild Rose Productions, an adult film company, and that Elsa Bangz and President Seska are porn stars outside of IWS. Nothing personal against them, but do you think the adult aspect is a benefit to IWS, or impact its reputation negatively like it did for XPW?
Beef: Just to clarify, the IWS is owned by the Cox's (Danny and Carol). There will be comparisons to XPW but that's fine. Our product speaks for itself and we don't saturate our shows with the porn. There is also a big difference between Wild Rose's porn and what Rob Black produces (I do not, I repeat, do not have any Extreme Associates porn in my drawer. What is Extreme Associates anyways? I ain't afraid of no ghosts!) Oh and ummm...Elsa Bangz is my girlfriend, so please refrain from calling her a whore...that goes for you too MOM. Ahemmm...
Jay: Uh, yeah, about that, Tom and Jake had already filled up their tasteless insult quota and I had to pick up the slack. In fact, I urge you to check out the impressively designed http://www.elsabangz.com for your adult-oriented needs.
Jake: I NEVER fill up my tasteless insult quota.
Jay: I thought I told you to leave?
Jake: Oh yeah? Well, uh, you and your Mom! Ha! Never filled up!
Jay: Wow. Onto the next question (as quickly as possible), are there any specific wrestlers or styles Hi-5 draws from, inspired by so to speak?
Beef: Honestly, we try to be as original as we can. Aside from blatantly stealing moves, spots, finishes and promos from other wrestlers; we really tried to develop our own style. I know Kid K watches a lot of Steve Corino for character purposes and he's very influenced by Japanese wresters like Minoru Tanaka to name one and sound smart. I, myself, have modeled my career after that of Brock Lesnar. Both in shape and in wrestling style, I think I have him beat.
Jay: But have you F-5ed a shark?
Beef: So far I've F-5'd a goldfish, an Atlantic salmon and several sea monkeys. No sharks yet, I'm working towards it.
Jay: Just gotta lift more weights, or at least have more weightlifting skits�
Beef: Did you see how buff The Westmount Playboy looked in the clip? He's the stuff I tell you. He's been workin� on his tan and I've been workin� on my 6 pack.
Jay: Finally, the ultimate question that I�m required to ask, what does the future hold for Beef Wellington?
Beef: I can't really answer that question. That's what everyone else says then they answer anyways so why should I be any different? I'm gonna go as far as I can in wrestling. I don't have the physical abilities of some guys but I have a passion for performing and I think I have something different to offer. Hopefully there will be a lot more stupidity to come, and maybe a little actual wrestling as well.
Jay: I�ll close with some word association: Kid Kamikaze.
Beef: My best friend, awesome technical wrestler and understatedly funny.
Jay: Elsa Bangz.
Beef: Last person I ever expected to be going out with for over 4 months.
Jay: XES 69.
Beef: Unreal athlete, completely out of his mind, and a better technical wrestler than he has shown in the IWS so far.
Jay: Dru Onyx.
Beef: Has adapted to the IWS style incredibly. A great champion.
Jay: Wailing Jimmy Handjob.
Beef: Possibly the funniest guy I know, looks just like a fatter Arsenal.
Jay: Kurt Lauderdale.
Beef: Scary strength, most creative moves for a big man I've ever seen. I'm not scared of him either...ok maybe a little.
Jay: Thank you so much for wasting a swinging Friday night with me Beef, if you�ve got any final thoughts or plugs throw �em out.
Beef: Well for one, please tell people this interview was conducted on like a Wednesday afternoon. I party on Friday nights dammit! And please include links to my Speedo photos on the IWS website for the ladies and for your friends. Those, along with other non-Beef paraphernalia, can be checked out at www.syndicatewrestling.com as well as www.mwfonline.ca
For tapes and DVDs of Beef Wellington and other IWS stars, go to http://www.Emaxwrestlingtapes.com and http://xrv.com/iws/, or contact [email protected]
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