The Corey Edsel Interview

BS: First question, how'd you get started in the business?

CE: Hmmm how did I get started in the business, out of all the people to ask that question you had to ask that, well lets see, I have been a fan of professional wrestling for quite sometime, actually to be honest only since about '93 I wasn't blessed with cable television back in the day so the only shows I ever caught was WCW Worldwide and WCW Pro Wrestling but brother you know I was glued to the screen every time it was on, '93 was such a great year for WCW, that it was just a hook man. Then I got cable in '95...oh hell I don't need to go off on that tangent, anyway in 1998 I started attending some indy shows here and there but on a regular basis, whereas before I just saw an independent show maybe once a year. By the end of the year I was a full fledged card carrying member of the Hardcore Fan Club...Oh yeah baby. We met some of the wrestlers got cool with alot of great guys (very few remember me from then though hahaha), and started doing the websites which scored us major points with some of the guys hahaha. After a while it just became apparent that I wanted to be a wrestler but nooooo you had to be the negative bastard and be like yeah but you will suck blah blah blah Brad you are a true bitchboy as Pyro would say, anyway I wanted to train very badly but due to my age no trainer would touch me, and to be honest was probably a good idea. So enter 2000, I started attending SOME SHOWS ;) in Wentworth and met with a guy by the name of Brute Shooter, talked about training and got me to come up to Boogies and it started from there, Brute got me on the shows in Wentworth, even though they sucked it was work so I couldn't complain, Slim Jim Bolen is a bastard. Oops!

BS: You "cut your teeth" sorta speak working primarily in Wentworth alongside the likes of George South, Jimmy Boogie Woogie Man Valiant, etc., how helpful were guys like South and Boogie as far as lending a hand to the younger guys?

CE: Surprisingly South was one of the coolest guys in the locker room to me, everyone else remembered me from past indy shows and had heat with me for some reason I think, but oh well. George South and Scotty McKeever were infamous for coming up with some of the lamest gimmicks I had ever heard of and try to push them off on me, one for example was Mr. Wide Load, the concept was for me to wear orange gear, and have these people run out in front of me with a sign that said Wide Load like you see often on the roads and etc. South would often tell stories about the "old days" and I would just listen, oh yeah and it was hella cool when he bodyslammed Scott Whiner 35 times, that was the shiznit. As far as Boogie goes he was the same as George man, just told stories, complemented me when I did something right (which I never believed) and was just on the level, oh and I never bought a Boogie's Camp T-Shirt Hahahahaha

BS: What are your impressions of the time you spent at Boogie's Wrestling Camp? How influential was The Boogie Man in crafting Corey Edsel as a worker?

CE: I loved Boogies Camp but there are a few things I have to say about camp: number one the headaches sucked monster ass, no matter how much you did you left with a headache, and number two I am not being negative on it, I think its a good place but I don't think it fulfilled the my needs as far as training and etc. I did learn most of the basics there so for that reason I am grateful towards all the trainers but I don't feel I accomplished much by going there. As far as how Boogie has influenced me as a worker I have to say he prepares everyone who goes up to his camp mentally if you pay attention to what he was saying, but in the day I tried to act like a hotshot who didn't know a damn thing and kinda blew off most of the advice, but I now recognize that was a mistake and I am very humbled by Boogie now, I watch some of Boogie's work and I am in awe. Is my style anything like his? Absolutely not, but I do use some of the advice he gave now that I understand it.

BS: From there, you spent some time at L.A. Wild One's School of Pro Wrestling, compare the two, and also how influential was L.A. to your success?

CE: Both are very similar as far as workout routine, but LA's wasn't nearly as crowded and you had the opportunity to work on whatever you wanted to learn or perfect, I believe that going to LA's was a very smart decision because it introduced me to new people and promotions that LA would help with getting you on their shows. LA was very influential on the way I worked the crowd as a heel, despite our styles being drastically different the way he worked the crowd could be used with anything and anyone

BS: You've also trained with the likes of Joe and Damien Storm, what was that experience like?

CE: This was where I really started learning, Joe Storm is one of the best trainers out there and Damien is right with him in that aspect, both were quick to tell you what you are doing right and what you are doing wrong, and that helped a great deal. Joe was the one whether he knows it or not was the one who pushed the fear out of high flying for me, and it started with a simple sunset flip.

BS: Who is stiffer, Joe or Damien?

CE: That is a very tough question, Damien has broken my nose with a spinwheel kick, and Joe has just beat the crap out of me, tough to say, but I am gonna go with Joe on this one

BS: You do a lot of work with ACWA wrestling, in front of and behind the curtain, what are your thoughts on that promotion? What do they do well and what do they need to work on?

CE: I really like working with ACWA despite how much I bitch and gripe about everything it is a stepping stone for a lot of young talent to be showcased with a mix of veterans so they can learn from them. I do believe the shows could be promoted and planned better which alot of I have nothing to do with, I give my advice and opinion on many things but its not always listened to which can be annoying. The shows as of late have been fairly decent no where near the level of the other groups in NC but not bad at all. I do thinks some cuts will be necessary to jump to that next level and some changes as well, but I would watch out, we have lasted a year and have no intentions of going anywhere anytime soon.

BS: On the whole, have you been pleased with the opportunities ECPW presented you and the potential opportunities that lay before you now that the merger with CWF is complete?

CE: Definitely, its something new, and the possibility of working with some of the biggest names on the independents is thrilling, I think alot will come from this merger and will produce some of the best independent shows in the state.

BS: At less than 20 years old, you are rapidly becoming one of the fastest rising stars in the state, what are some of your long-term goals for this business?

CE: To be honest dude I don't think I am doing anything, I just go out there and try to put on a good show, I am not a rising star or anything like that although I do appreciate the complement. As far as some of my long term goals I would love to go to Memphis or Ohio, but you know better then anyone I would love to go to Japan whether it be for New Japan, All Japan, FMW, or anyone over there

BS: Rob the Bull McBride really seems to have taken you under his wing in recent months, and the two of you appear to have forged quite a bond, what are your thoughts on your relationship with Rob, and the success you have had thus far in RCW?

CE: Rob is one of the coolest guys out there, if it wasn't for him no one would have probably took a chance on me, you don't know how many times I have heard "Well Rob put Corey over on his shows so he must not be too bad". I still to this day have no idea why he even booked me on the first Rider's show let alone put the strap on me at the second one, and for you people who say well the only reason he puts him over is because he dates his daughter can bow down and open wide because I didn't even really know her then so :-P

BS: Do you find it difficult to work in environments that lean more towards a "sports entertainment" style, whereas you yourself prefer a more traditional style of wrestling?

CE: Yes! If you cant be a heel or baby without a big 20 minute promo at the beginning of the show and run ludicrous angles that doesn't make sense then that's your business, I just don't wanna be involved in those angles.

Word association: Rob McBride: The biggest Boogie mark I have ever met in my life, despite all the problems he has had over the 17 years he has been in the business he made it fun, and like most workers will tell you, when it stops being fun, its time to quit, I have a great deal of respect for Rob as a person and as a worker, there are few out there who have ever given what he has to the business and never expected anything in return except for the pure joy of performing, he is a truly one of the hardest workers out there.

Kurt Solo: Kurt is an unusual one, at first glance may seem like one of the biggest assholes out there but it reality he isn't and is a great guy and hard worker. He is very agile and there are very few as tall as he is that can perform alot of the highspots he does.

Bounty Hunter: There is a saying that most muscular men don't make good workers but that saying certainly doesn't apply to Bounty. He is a very talented individual with amazing agility that makes small guys jealous, and even some big guys like me hehehe. He is one that everyone needs to keep their eyes on with the intensity and workrate he brings to the ring I think Bounty might be a star some day.

The $outh$ide Playas: LA, J-Money, and the newest addition S. Diddy (Sweet Daddy) are awesome workers, these guys have came from the depths to become one of the greatest tag teams in the state today, and I sincerely hope that the deadly chickenheadpox isn't contagious

Bradley North: Needs to become the sumo kid and come out to Yokozuna's old theme song

Joe Storm: A great worker, a great guy but for some odd reason Joe has a fetish with hitting me with cheese graters and stiffing me with stomps to the skull LOL oh well

Jimmy Valiant: The man, Boogie needs to write a book for real dude, imagine all the road stories, ribs, and everything he has ever seen on the road, I really hope that is something he plans on doing before his time is up, I would be one of the first in line to pick that book up

L.A. Wild One: Cant say anything that hasn't already been said by someone somewhere

Matrix: A very underrated talent, has the potential and the look to be big on the indy scene, but sometimes the dedication doesn't seem to be there and injuries have held him back. At 100% the guy can go and is one person I am proud to call a friend.

Ravishing Ritchie: Needs a last name lol

Brian Hall: Fantastic vocalist, great guy, and I honestly think if he put on some size and trained more he could be a good worker. Kinda funny how the top draw isn't even a worker, hahaha, oh well

The Gigolo: MARK! Where has he been anyway?

Wicked Walt: I will wait and let you edit my answer in when he says something about me

Slim Jim Bolen: A cancer to the wrestling business him and his company, I cant believe I actually wrestled in that shithole, its truly independent hell

Brute Shooter: One guy who has some talent but knows it and isn't afraid to exploit that fact. He is an egomaniac who is not doing a damn thing right now, I just think someone needs to buy this guy some toilet paper for all the shit he talks. Oh by the way Brute if you ever read this you cant hurt Johnny Suicide by hitting him in the head hahahaha

the Weirdo world Order: An overran crap angle

New Empire Wrestling: I personally dig the group of guys used, given most are green, but we all are in some way or another but I really like the group except Knightshift if they don't get there heads out of their asses well nevermind they are not worth my time. I just wished the ring wouldn't break when I give a Japanese armdrag LMAO

ACWA Wrestling: Watch Out!

RCW Wrestling: A great group with great workers and the group puts on very quality shows.

Dope: One of the greatest guys I have ever....you know what I am gonna be honest he is a dick, I hate that prick, when I first started he said "Hey kid I am getting out of the business you want this gimmick" I said "Sure!" well come to find out the gimmick sucked monster goat sack and I ended up being Corey, thanks Dope you heartless prick

Corey Edsel: Tough to say anything about myself, I think as a person I am pretty good at that gig, as far as my work I have room for improvement but who doesn't. I just hope I can go out there and entertain those people as long as I can before it starts taking a serious toll

BS: Anything in closing you'd like to say to fans of Corey Edsel, or any of the people thus far that have been impressed by your work? What can we expect from you in the future?

CE: What fans? LOL Nah but I would like to thank everyone for their support, and I also wanna thank all those people who have this opinion of big men who think they cant work - you people are a true inspiration. Hopefully the future is wide open, I appreciate all the promoters who currently booked me on a regular basis and hope to see other promoters I haven't worked for yet in the near future