Wrestling
Interview with Jimmy Rave
By Jay Doring
Aug 20, 2003, 15:40

Without a doubt, the biggest breakout star on the independent wrestling scene in 2003 has been Jimmy Rave. The two-time NWA Wildside Junior Heavyweight Champion and two-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion has exploded on the East Coast, winning the CZW Trifecta Elimination Series and competing in the prestigous Best of the Best juniors tournament, as well as working a main event in only his second Ring of Honor appearance. Now a regular in CZW and primed to make an impact in ROH's Field of Honor, Rave recently took time out of his busy schedule for an interview with TSM's Jay Doring, discussing his early career as well as his adventures in NWA Wildside, Ring of Honor, CZW, and NWA-TNA.

Jay: Were you a fan of professional wrestling when you were growing up? What prompted you to actually become a wrestler?

Rave: I was a huge fan for pro wrestling growing up; everything about it just drew me in.�Finally, when I was�15 I started looking into what it took to become a pro wrestler and then things just started falling in place.� I don't know why I had that urge all of a sudden.� The majority�of my life I had been�playing baseball non stop, then�suddenly I realized my real passion was in wrestling.� �

Jay: How did you break into the business? What was your training experience like?

Rave: I met a ref named John Johnson over the internet.� He gave me the number to Murder One (He�also trained Rainman and Iceberg)�and I called him up.� Training was pretty brutal we called our school The Pit, because some days you would come out feeling like a pit fighter.

Jay: Who do you consider to be your biggest inspirations in wrestling, past or present?

Rave: Well growing up guys like Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels and Mr. Perfect (RIP) just amazed me.� These days Beniot, Misawa, Angle, Aj Styles and Chris Daniels are my inspirations.� I think guys like that especially Daniels, Styles and Low Ki on the indy level make everyone else work harder, which creates better wrestling.

Jay: How did you get hooked up with NWA Wildside?

Rave: I wrestled a little show in Adairsville, Georgia, tagging with Air Paris against David Young and Rick Michaels.� They liked how I worked and pushed me to Bill Behrens.�Behrens finally called and�I�started Dec. 2000.�

Jay: Arguably, the match that put you on the map was the four-way ladder match for the NWA Wildside Jr. Heavyweight title against JC Dazz, Jason Cross, and AJ Styles. How do you mentally prepare for� a match of that magnitude? And how did you feel going into and during the match?

Rave: Going into that match we didn't realize it would come out as good as it did.�We just basically went out and did it.�The thing was that the four of us trusted each other so much, we knew we could go out and tear the house down and be safe in the process.�Styles, Cross and Dazz are awesome workers though, its very hard to have a bad match with any of them.�That match really means a lot to me.�A lot of people think it set the bar for some of the other matches following it in Wildside.

Jay: Not to spoil anything, but you won the title in that match. How did it feel to win such a major accolade so early into your career?

Rave: Looking back on it, maybe I was pushed too soon.�But I was happy that Wildside felt like I could carry that title and try to make it mean something.�The Wildside Jr. Title is one of the focal points of the company.�Guys like Sal Rinauro, Kid Kool, Ray Gordy and Slim J do way more stuff than I ever did or even would have thought of.�So I�m glad to be a part of the progression of the style that it takes to hold that belt.

Jay:�Your feuds with Tony Mamaluke and Jeremy Lopez really showed a change in your ring work from fast-paced spots to more of a psychological mat style. Was it a rough transition?

Rave: No, the mat based style is so right for me.�It makes me feel like I'm doing something for a reason and purpose.�Mamaluke and Lopez worked with me teaching me the moves and the execution.�Mamaluke was the one who really helped me get the psychology of it down.�Tony is a very underrated and under used wrestler.�He has helped me so much in and out of the ring.�With a guy teaching who is not only your teacher but who is your friend, it was a very easy transition.

Jay: You made your debut for CZW as part of the NWA Wildside "Invasion" angle at! Ultraviolent Freedom of Expression as the reigning World Jr. champion. How did it feel to wrestle for the first time in Viking Hall? What were your thoughts on the Wildside invasion in general?

Rave: Wrestling in Viking Hall any time is a great experience.�The Philly crowd are the best to wrestle in front period!�As far as the angle went, I thought we could have done so much more.�We had only hit the tip of the iceberg as far as that went.�The talent trades could have been endless but hindsight is 20/20

Jay: When you held the World Jr. title, you probably had to go all around the country to defend it, since the NWA regards it as the premier junior title in the organization. Any interesting road stories from that experience?

Rave: Not really, the NWA for some reason didn't book me like I thought they would have.�Getting bookings out of the NWA is like pulling teeth. The best road story was going to Philly for the CZW show.�That was the worst road trip ever!�I learned I can't be on the road with Jeff G. Bailey.�Gabriel lost his wallet after the first stop we made and had to have money wired to him (that took forever).�Tony Stradlin is one of the hardest people to be around for any long period of time (but he's a hell of a friend).�And then to cap off the trip my car blew up costing me a crap load of money!


Jay: When NWA-TNA began, they chose to create the X Division title rather than use the Junior title. Does it bother you that your NWA credentials are glossed over when you appear in TNA? What are your thoughts on the X Division style?

Rave: It bothered me at first but I got over it.�I realized what TNA was shooting for and I totally understand why they did what they did.�I mean the X Division is exciting and fun to watch.�I believe they made the right decision.�

Jay: You made your TNA debut partnering with Derek Wylde against the Hotshots and Hatebreed (CM Punk and Ace Steel). What was that experience like, and is there a big difference mentally between a PPV and any other live crowd?

Rave: I thought the match was okay.�It was my first time meeting Steel and Punk and they turned out to be good friends.�Wrestling on PPV there is ZERO room for error.�In my head I know that, the guys running the show knows that and the crowd knows that.�So you really have to be on your game.

Jay: Why did you decide to pursue work in the Northeast, and how did you go about making contact with Ring of Honor and CZW? Is there a big difference between the Wildside fans and the Philly fans?

Rave: Mamaluke pushed me to work up north.�He told me he felt like I could get over in that environment.�Finally, I just started sending tape after tape after tape to every promoter I could find an address to.�CZW eventually gave me a shot.�Then I went to ROH with Jeremy Lopez and did a short match with AJ Styles and everything worked itself out.�The fans in the South vs. Philly are like night and day.�There are more "smart" fans in Philly than the South.�In the South they want to see Good vs. Evil and a ton of heat.�In Philly you pull off a good match and the fans are happy.�That's why I love working both places.�

Jay: Even though Wildside is highly regarded by many indy fans (hence the "number one alternative" slogan) there is a widespread perception on the Internet that an indy wrestler hasn't truly "made it" unless they work in Philly (particularly ROH). How do you feel about that?

Rave: I don't know about that.�There are plenty of guys in Wildside who are extremely talented.�Todd Sexton, Ray Gordy, Kid Kool, Sal, Onyx, Rainman, The Lost Boys and a ton more.�The truth of the matter is there are only so many slots to fill and you can't get everyone in the public eye.�The other thing is that Wildside has been on TV for over 200 episodes in a lot of different markets, including Philly!

Jay: You made your ROH debut in December against AJ Styles, as the main event of a High Impact TV taping. Why was the match so short?

Rave:The match was short because that was what ROH wanted.�I had just gone up there to introduce myself to them but they agreed to give me a short match to show them how I worked.�

Jay: You returned to CZW at Divide and Conquer, winning the Trifecta Elimination tournament and receiving a loud ovation afterwards. What was that experience like? How did it feel to return to CZW in general?

Rave: I really wanted to come back to CZW after the first time but they never got back with me or I didn't pursue it, something like that.�So I contacted them and they said they had a spot for me.�I was shocked at the crowds� reaction to me. CZW put me over really strong in the Tournament which was very cool of them.�The reaction that the crowd gave after I hit the last crossface and they started chanting, "TAP, TAP, TAP!" It gave me goose bumps.


Jay: Moving on to Best of the Best 3, Jay Briscoe was added as a surprise to your match with AJ and Jason Cross. AJ's elimination received LOUD "bullshit" and "who booked this shit" chants. What do you personally think of the booking of that match, and did you find the fans' reaction disrespectful?

Rave: I was a little disappointed that the fans crapped on me and Jay Briscoe winning the match.�I thought the booking of the match was fine in the sense that I was going to be CZW regular and Jay used to be a regular.�I honestly didn't think it was going to get a reaction like that but we can't please everyone.

Jay: Are there any guys you especially look forward to facing in CZW?

Rave: Trent Acid, Johnny Kashmere, Sonjay Dutt and I would really like to have another match with B-Boy.

Jay: How do you feel about being characterized as "the armbar king" in CZW?

Rave: It doesn�t bother me at all.�I�ve read stuff about me just working the arm or me going back to the arm because I get lost in a match, it's all crap!�I like to focus on a body part and pick it apart.�Just like boxing if someone gets a cut over their eye the other boxer keeps punching them in the eye.�He attacks their weakness.�Well, if I attack your arm early and you let me get it, I'm going back for more and more until I break it!��

Jay: CZW is still perceived as a "garbage/hardcore" promotion by many! casual fans, are you afraid of being stigmatized by that perception, even though you don't work the ultraviolent style? What are your thoughts on that style?

Rave: Anyone who judges me before they see my work isn't going to know what I really can do.�I don�t do chairs, tables and G-d knows I'm never doing a weed whacker! My thoughts on that style: If it works for you then do it.�I believe mat wrestling is what works for me, so I do it.


Jay: Your second booking in Ring of Honor thrust you into the main event at Do or Die, replacing Chance Beckett against Christopher Daniels, CM Punk and Frankie Kazarian, and you received the best reception in that match. How did it feel to have that much faith and pressure put on you for that show?

Rave: When I found out about that match I was very excited.�Chris Daniels is the best indy wrestler out there today; CM Punk is a machine; and Kazarian is awesome.�Going into the match I knew that if everything went right it could help me earn a good spot in ROH, so the pressure was on.�I feel like that match was one of my best ever.�My favorite thing about it was the crowd got behind this kid who�s taken a beating from all three guys and gave me a great response.�When the crowd is behind the match it makes everyone involved work so much harder.�

Jay: Who are your dream opponents in ROH?

Rave: Daniels, Punk, Homicide, Danny Maff, Red, Low Ki -really anyone on that crew is a dream opponent.

Jay: Who are your favorite wrestlers to work with overall?

Rave: Tony Mamaluke is one of my favorites because he teaches me something every time we get in the ring.�AJ Styles pushes me to work as hard as I can.�CM Punk is great to work with because we don't hold back.�Todd Sexton is so easy for me to work because he know each other so well.�There are a few others but it would take all day to list.�

Jay: Going back to NWA Wildside, you recently worked a War Games match, the main event of "Freedom Fight" in fact- what's it like to work such a unique and dangerous match?

Rave: The match didn't bother me at all, it was all about the backstory of the angle.�It was a real emotional night inside and out of the ring.�The guys in the match busted our asses because of Rick Michaels.�It was going to be the first time he got back into the ring since his back surgery and we didn't want anything to suck.�He wouldn�t have gone out there and did a half ass match so we really worked hard.�Rick is such a huge part of the success at Wildside and the match meant so much to him, it would have just been wrong not to go out there and bump our asses off!

Jay: With all of your East Coast booking, do you still plan to be a part of the regular Wildside roster?

Rave: Yes, I still plan on wrestling for Wildside when I'm in town.�Bill Behrens is a huge supporter of me going out and trying to make a name for myself.�He actually handles a lot of my bookings and tells me when and where to go.�No matter where I go Wildside will always be home though.�

Jay: You've once again been invited to participate in IWA Mid-South's Ted Petty Invitational (formerly the Sweet Science 16), where you've had some fantastic matches with Chris Hero and Tarek the Great. What was the experience like working that tourney, as well as working for IWA and Ian Rotten in general?

Rave: I thought that the TPI last year was great.�Both nights had some awesome matches, and with the guys in it you wouldn't expect much less.�My match with Hero is still one of my all time favorites because of the psychology in it.�Ian and the IWA have always treated me very well.�They have a good crew up there and a great product.�It would be great if they drew more people.�So far this year's TPI looks good though.��

Jay: You wrestled AJ Styles at CZW's Deja Vu 2 show. What were your thoughts on that match, and how come that match never happened in Wildside?

Rave: The match never happened in Wildside for many reasons.�I was never considered a "top guy" in Wildside until recently.�AJ was always on top of the card or gone to WCW.�I thought the match we had at CZW was good, especially for the first real match we've ever had against each other.��

Jay: What are your future goals in the wrestling business?

Rave: Really my goals right now are to keep trying to make a name for myself.�I would really love to go to Japan; I'm a huge fan of the style of wrestling over there.�I'm working on getting in better shape and working in the ring more on my off time.�I'm still learning a lot about wrestling and I guess my main goal is to gain as much knowledge as I can.��

Jay: Do you have any advice for someone looking to pursue an indy wrestling career?

Rave: Just keep in mind that no matter who you are, you're always replaceable.�Have a good attitude towards your peers and the sport. If you keep those things in mind you should do alright.�

Jay: Word/name association:

AJ Styles- Phenomenal!

Jason Cross- Doesn't know how good he is and needs to stay away from HOOTERS!

John Zandig- Gave me a chance and treats me very fair.

Ian Rotten- First promoter to call me back after the many tapes I sent.�He gave me a huge opportunity and helped me branch out. �

CZW- Great crew of guys and an amazing product.

NWA- Home.

Jeff G. Bailey- Promo King.

Rick Michaels- Rick Michaels is Pro Wrestling.

ROH- My favorite place to wrestle because of the great competition.�

Jay: Any final messages for your fans?

Rave:Please check out www.JimmyRave.tk.�To all the people who support me, I really appreciate it.�Hopefully, I keep producing the quality of wrestling that you would want to get behind.�Thank you to John Zandig, Ian Rotten, Gabe and Rob from ROH and most of all Bill Behrens for putting faith in me.



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