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INDY PRO CENTRAL presents, Random Words by: "Big D" Damian X CONTACT BIG D
Hello folks, welcome back to yet another Random Words, this time with a twist, a turn, and one hell of a great guy, Ryan O'Reiley. Instead of just doing a normal column, I have decided to do a interview with my good pal Ryan. I have also decided that since Anthony is doing 6 questions, that I will do seven, to yet again, one up my competition.
Quick Bio on Ryan "PAYNE" O'Reiley
Height: 6'6''
Weight: 230lbs
Hometown: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Years Pro: 2 years
Fan Status: Heel
When, where, with who and why get into professional wrestling?
About two and half years ago if you told me where I would be today I would think that your crazy. One night I went to a WWE show about two and a half years ago and this was the time when the Rock and Triple H were feuding. On that night I always rooted for the bad guy (Triple H ). Well, there was a lady sitting in front of me who was in love with the Rock. I figured I was going to mess with her a little with this feud about to come up, so the music hit. Triple H walked out down the ramp. As I listened to the fans reaction it sent chills up my body. Then the Rocks music hit and the place exploded, everyone got out of their seat to chant the great ones name. I listened to everyone the place was total chaos...ROCKY....ROCKY! I could not believe my eyes. So now I wanted to test the lady out in front of me. I told her that the ROCK sucked ass....she turned around and told me to basically kiss hers and that the ROCK was the greatest. Well, it was a cage match and it went on for some time and eventually the ROCK started to juice or bleed. The girl started crying in tears. I was like wow to get a response like this was unbelievable and I knowing that the guys were fine, but the reaction was incredible, so from that point on I said this is what I wanted to do.
I wanted to start as soon as possible, because I was so damn eager to get in a ring and be just like the Rock and Triple H. I was in for a surprise in the future. Well, anyways I heard about this show being held in Sunrise which is down here in Florida south to be exact. FOW was hosting a show, so I skipped out on work and went to the show to meet some people get some numbers you all know how that goes. I was at the show finally after looking for this place for an hour. Ran in their and talked to the first wrestler that I seen. I ran up to him and introduced myself and asked him," I want to be a pro wrestler and I want to know how to get started, so can you please help me.' Later I soon realized that that person was Billy Fives who I talked to, so he gave me a number to call and that's what I did.
Training started and for about a year it was bumps left and right trying to learn the basics as best as I could. No matter how tired I got my trainer (SoulMan Alex G) would not let me stop. He beat the hell out of me, drilled me, built up my endurance by making me run stuff that I never thought that I would be doing to become a pro wrestler. It felt like football camp. Damn near two a days is what it felt like to me (LOL). Well, I started to have problems with throwing a drop-kick and a man started telling me kid thats not how you do that. He then got in the ring and shown me the proper way to throw a dropkick. I was excited and trying not to mark out for this guy, but this guy later became a good friend to me literally, a saint, or a blessing from god as I would say. That man as big D would know is Norman Smiley. If not for him I dont know where I would be today in this business.
Norman Smiley Is he as funny of a guy as he seems on TV?
Norman is one of the greatest guys that I have ever meet. My girlfriend and I have a great bond with this man who has a lot to offer in the world of wrestlingentertainment to this day I feel. Norman is as funny out of the ring as he is in the ring. The one thing that I have to say about Norman that I notice the most and anyone who knows him would agree to this, is that he honestly tells you how it is. No B.S.ing, he will tell you straight up if it sucks, what you need to work on, if you got a shot in the business, because he knows what it takes to get their, hell he has been everywhere. Places that some wrestlers can only dream of.
How would you classify your "Style"?
If I had to classify myself as a wrestler or my style as you would put it D, I would say that I can honestly work all styles. My trainer Alex G was taught by professor Malenko and The Great Malenko taught you everything about technical that you could probably ever dream of. But I have worked Hardkore, Lucha thats right D even the tall guys can do lucha now bro., so they better not underestimate us. Because I work so much with Norman now I consider myself shoot as well.
What the peeps who are reading this dont know, is that I consider you a friend. Your a great guy and not even putting in your creative mind, great body, and overall talent. That should give you a great shoot into the world, but as we all know, its not always about how nice you are, its how the fans get to like you. What do you think is gonna get you over the top?....... I mean, Besides me plugging your ass every chance I can get at ROH shows.
There is a saying and that is," nice guys finish last," but if you keep your mouth shut and have respect for the veterans and take care of your opponent and dont worry so much on getting your stuff in, you would be amazed how far you can get in this business. I have seen a lot of people come and go because of their ego's and I believe that is what burys someone in this business. At least on the Indy circuit from what I have seen. If you ever see me in a locker room and when I am talking to a veteran its yes sir, no sir, because in this business you can learn something everytime if you just shut your mouth and listen, and when a veteran talks its like gold when they speak to ya. Another thing that you have to have in this business to advance to the next level without a doubt in my mind and that separates a lot of the wrestlers on the Indy scene is charisma. It is so damn critical to have charisma. If you have charisma, you shut your mouth and listen, dont get an ego in this business (remember its a job just like anything else), just because you have a title does not mean that your really the heavyweight champ it means that the promoter wants that title on you. He can take it off at any time, but if you have those three things you will do well in this business.
How many shows you work a month? How many days you train?
As of right now I am working maybe three shows a month, and I train three to four days at practice and four to five in the gym. Ya know the old saying," Practice makes perfect".
Got any advice for the younger generation of wrestlers?...... not that you dont need it yourself there Reiley O'boy.
If I had any advice to tell the upcoming wrestlers who are in the business and that includes me as well seeing how I am 23yrs old, and that's if this is your dream to become a pro wrestler treat it that way. Everytime you are at practice and you have those days where you just dont feel like being there turn up the intensity level, but be safe. Anytime a veteran sits down and talks to you cherish every minute of it, because they are telling you things that either they know or experienced, never get cocky and think to yourself ," What does this guy know", because once again he does not have to tell you jack sh!t! He or she is telling you this to either correct a mistake or just tell you this because they know that you might have a lot to offer in the business of the wrestling world today. Who know, but take it for what it's worth (I know I do ). Another thing that my trainer SoulMan Alex G, Rusty Brooks, and Norman Smiley always taught me is have patience. Patience is the key to this business as well as persistence as weird as that sounds.
Any shout outs or last things you would like to say?
First off I would like to thank Big D for this interview. without you brother this interview would not be possible so I thank you dearly for what its worth. I would also like to thank my trainer SoulMan Alex G for everything that you have helped me with over the years. Rusty Brooks for being there to help me laugh at times when I need it the most along with Flex Magnum another good friend of mine and Norman Smiley for being the wrestling mentor that he has been today. I hope that one day I can return these favors in the future. And to everyone for reading this interview be sure to check out FSCW.net and Wrestlingonline.com.
And for every young ambitious wrestler out there who want to make it to the top, be patient, listen to the veterans and no matter what never give up, because for every thousands of doors that are shut, remember one of them will open and its up to you to be ready for that one door and capitalize on that. Make sure your ready. Thank you again Big D.
No prob my main man, It was a pleasure. I would like to thank you for taking this interview as seriously as you did, and I hope to see your name on top of a marque very soon!
Nothing left to say but good-bye, wrestling lovers. And too you Anthony, I only have this left to say.
"Anything you can do, I can do better!"
The preceding column reflects opinions, facts and statements from Big D.... Minor editing is done by Anthony Gundacker... Any opinion expressed in this article does not necessarily reflect the beliefs of the Indy Pro Central...
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