pictures courtesy of J-Rocc's official website, to visit CLICK HERE
When did you get started in
professional wrestling?
J-Rocc:I started training in July of 1998 under JT Lightning
of Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling. I had my debut match on August
15, 1998 in Cleveland,Oh against a guy named Sage (you know like
salt, pepper, cinnamon or paprika)
Who would you say were your biggest influences?
J-Rocc:Early on, Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton, Ricky
Morton, Curt Hennig, and later on in life Shawn Michaels and
Chris Benoit. Since I got into the business, I would say Chris
Hamrick, Tracey Smothers, Nova, and Julio Dinero have influenced
me and helped me the most.
What are your thoughts on ROH/HWA?
J-Rocc:I personally love the ROH style as far as the workrate
and athleticism are concerned, because it is japanese-style
wrestling which I watch alot. My only thing with it is that it
is almost as bad as the old ECW/hardcore style in that you can
only go so far before people expect you to kill yourself to get
over, and when it reaches that point the fans are in charge, and
the wrestlers are marking out for the fans. I think they can do
all they do, but less so each thing means more and still
blowaway everything else on the indies. That is no criticism,
just my constructive opinion. I don't get to see much HWA, but I
know Les always had a good thing going and is a great person to
learn from. I think he isnt even running the day to day of HWA
so I cant really say much about it anymore, as I know hardly
anything about it anymore.
Who would you say is your favorite opponent?
J-Rocc:My favorite opponent?That would be unfair to give one
answer, but at the top in no particular order would be Richard
Weede/Fabulous, Chris Hamrick, Julio Dinero, or Josh
Prohibition.
Do you have a favorite match?
J-Rocc:I have four matches which I consider my favorites,
even though I've had some that were better than these four,
again in no particular order: Last Man Standing vs. Richard
Weede, Oct. 2002 NEPW, w/Christopher Daniels vs. Chris
Hamrick/Julio Dinero, Feb. 2002 NEPW, vs. Adam Cage in a Loser
Wears A Chicken Suit Match, July 2003 MCW, and a Steel Cage
match vs. JT Lightning, May 2003 CAPW.
What's your biggest accomplishment so far?
J-Rocc: I have alot I want to accomplish in this business, so
I dont want to dwell on what I have done so far. I had a few
tryout matches with the old ECW before they went out of
business. I have thus far in my career wrestled in 13 states
across the US. When I began my career I burned alot of bridges
and did alot of things ass backwards, so I think probably one of
the biggest accomplishments so far has been earning the respect
of the boys as one of the more talented and more professional
workers around right now. I have been ranked in the PWI 500
rankings of all professional wrestlers the last four years
running. Last week I wrestled my first match for NWA-TNA (which
can be seen this week all over the country on NWA-TNA Xplosion),
so I am beginning to gain a more widely recognized name in the
business among the fans which hopefully leads me to more chances
to improve myself and be the best I can be.
What do you think of the current state of pro.
wrestling?
J-Rocc:I think that the business is in a critical state right
now, and this is a very volitile time for wrestling. If TNA or
ROH or MLW or someone doesnt step up and truly fill the void as
a second tourning promotion, competing with WWE, than things
wont improve. The only times this business has boomed have been
in competitive situations, and we need to return to that state
ASAP. It is better for the promotions, as they have to turn it
on to be #1, and it is better for the wrestlers, giving them
more options and alternatives and money making opportunities,
and of course all this makes it that much better for the fans,
as they get a better product.
