[TWF]
Interview with Mr. BIG
[Originally conducted in October 2003]
xWa: Thank you Mr. BIG for letting us interview you and inviting us into your home.
Mr. BIG: That's quite alright. It is a magnificent house, wouldn't you agree?
xWa: Indeed it is. Down to business. You have been in the TWF since it's very first day. You also say "Some Things Never Change". How do you feel the TWF has changed since it's formation, and how much of an impact it has had on the business?
Mr. BIG: I think the TWF came along and turned into an ECW like promotion. Let's face it, everyone will remember ECW, not just because it was good, but because it was innovative. Without ECW, the WWE wouldn't be what it is, Period. The TWF really hasn't changed. I remember coming into work on the first day driving a Honda Accord rental car into the TJS Centre car park, with the foundations of the TWF Arena and TWF Towers just being laid and thinking to myself "This is gonna be one great adventure". It turned out to be so. Some Things Have Changed. There's a permanent chairman and we sell out arenas. 2 days before, we held a show at the TJS Centre and only 100 people turned up. Stark contrast to today, uh?
xWa: In September of 2001, you joined the Xtreme Wrestling Federation, based out of Chicago, Illinois. You spent almost 6 months over there establishing yourself to great heights. Did the XWF Change the way you looked at the business?
Mr. BIG: Prior to the XWF, I treated the business rather disrespectfully. I think it was only 1 year after I turned face at the time, and I was still relatively inexperienced. After watching the more experienced guys, such as Ottobomb and Nevermore do what they did, I looked at myself and realised that if I am to succeed I must do better than them. And I did. After seeing the way they did things, I became a better wrestler, person and businessman.
xWa: Speaking of business, you are not afraid to make appearances at TWF Board Meetings. What do the talent and the staff think of this?
Mr. BIG: I think they see it very beneficial. As a wrestler, I can give feedback on what the talent feel would be great for the promotion, and as CEO, I can also help on the financial side. I didn't realise until a few months ago when the RWF Re-Formation Plan began how big of an asset to the xWa I am.
xWa: You returned to the UK in March 2002, at the time when Marz was TWF Chairman. Since then, he left the TWF, formed TECW/NCW and then re-joined the TWF in April 2003. You have formed a bitter rivalry with Marz. Why?
Mr. BIG: When Marz became Chairman, I was okay with it, but now, it pisses me off. Marz to me back then was a bit of an arrogant pig. His ego developed and it eventually got to a stage where either he left or the TWF fell apart. He left, formed his own corrupt promotion, claimed it was Number 1, and the rest is history. We kicked his promotions' ass, and we became the best. And when he failed, he came crying back to us, and I was not the one who offered him a contract. He came back, and he's come back a better person from sitting on his ass for 9 months. But I still hate him for all the corruption he caused back then.
xWa: Have you ever considered facing a dream opponent?
Mr. BIG: I've always wanted to face Marz. Me vs. NJS would be the greatest match of all time. If that was my last match, I'd want it to be a classic. Had I not retired him, I would have liked to face High Voltage once more, in a match similar to the one at Summer Break '01.
xWa: Many fans will remember that Holly was the source of yours and High Voltage's feud a couple of months ago. She since left you and has joined Seek and Destroy. Your opinions?
Mr. BIG: Oh crap...you're in for it now. Holly was a good friend of mine from early TWF beginnings. I thought she would make a great manager, and so I hired her to do so. Our business relationship was thriving, but she wanted to take it personal as well. I was fine with it. I thought she was a great person, just as much as a businesswoman. But, our personal relationship tore our business relationship apart, and I felt like I had to terminate her contract. So I did, and she turned her back on me as a friend. She is a great person who can achieve what she wants to achieve, but doing what she is doing...it's not the right move. The sooner she corrects the mistake, the better long term she will end up being. As far as her and her 'boyfriends' go, I hope her and Acne Boy have a great relationship...they'll have kids and divorce after a year.
xWa: In the last few months, you have been appearing on countless radio and TV shows. Is this more of a personal or business thing?
Mr. BIG: When I've appeared on Real Sport's Phone-In, that's personal. I wanted to let the fans know my deepest feelings from my heart, and I felt using a well known Sports Phone-in Programme would enable me to do that, particularly in the Holly fiasco. Jonathan Ross's show was more business, but it turned quite personal, and it was very fun. I've been contacted by MTV to possibly do 'Cribs' and BBC1 have asked me to present some segments on CBBC.
xWa: Your charity work often goes without recognition. Particularly your work for Make-a-Wish and Cancer Research. Why do you think this is?
Mr. BIG: Many non-wrestling fan's opinion of me is that I am a rich git who couldn't give a damn. Totally un-true. I was first introduced to the Make-a-Wish foundation when myself and The Rock did a little charity session in Florida last Christmas. The Rock, who by the way, is a very good friend of mine, told me, and rightfully so, that these children are braver than I will ever be. If I was to suddenly be struck down with a near-fatal illness, I'd crumble and die. But what these kids do is special, and it should be recognized. I spend the precious quality time they left with them, getting to know them, giving them a chance to do things that nobody else gets to do...one kid managed to throw a pie at Hawke once...that made me laugh my ass off. Cancer Research is close to my heart as a few of my relatives have died of cancer, and it is an awful disease. I want to stop it, and the best I can do is lend a hand to the Cancer researchers and stop Cancer being a #1 Killer.
xWa: Your passion for fast cars, particularly fast Red Italian Ones is very well documented. Do you ever get an opportunity to drive them fast?
Mr. BIG: The Ferrari [360 Spider] is my favourite car, and I use it only on the road, such as long journeys. It's what you could say is my main car. The Porsche [911 Turbo] is my 'get from Show A to Show B car' and I use that a lot and my Aston Martin [DB7 Vantage] is my 'special occasions' car. I drove it to a friend's wedding, and my father's friend's son's christening. They are the only times I've used it...that I can remember anyway. I also own a Honda Accord, that I usually take down my local race track, Llandow, around 20 minutes away and I batter it half to death each time. Myself and Frekishi are regulars down there. NJS and his Corvette has challenged me and my Ferrari, Frekishi's Minicross Mini (which is a full blown rallycross car), Shott's Lamborghini Diablo, Marz's Dodge Viper, HV's Dodge Durango and The Bandit's Bentley to a race around Pembray or Brands Hatch for Charity. I hope it goes ahead. All of us are huge motorsport fans in general.
xWa: Over the past year or so, you have developed a real passion for Ice Hockey. How so sudden?
Mr. BIG: I wouldn't say it was quite so sudden. I grew up playing the video games on my Mega Drive and I just gradually fell in love with it. When the TWF next goes to America, I'm planning on seeing The Red Wings play at The Joe. I hope it's against The [Carolina] Hurricanes...then me and NJS get to go see!
xWa: Out of all your championship belts, which one takes pride of place on your mantelpiece?
Mr. BIG: As you can see, my first XWF Championship Belt hangs above my mantelpiece, with my last TWF World Championship belt hanging above the TV. My TWF IC Title is above my bed, and my VWF North American Championship belt is in my office. Some of the belts are in my garage around my wrestling ring there and one or two other ones are around the house. My bowling trophy and shield are on my drawer in my room. I won those when I was 10 years old.
xWa: Your music taste is perhaps one of the better ones in the TWF. Can you explain why?
Mr. BIG: That's one question I'd like to know the answer too. A few years ago, I liked all crappy bands like S Club 7, but I turned on the radio one day and I listened to Limp Bizkit...and I thought it was much better than the rubbish I was listening to. Bandit got tickets to the Ozzfest and a load of awesome concerts...lucky bastard. I'm hoping to go to Ozzfest with NJS and him though.
xWa: Finally, do you have anything left to do in your career?
Mr. BIG: I'd say so. Win another TWF World Championship...main event a few more Summer Breaks...stay away from injury, and most importantly, continue to entertain the fans.
Phrase Association...
Deadman - Idiot
Frekishi - Motorsport Fan
High Voltage - A little strange at times, but a real buddy
Holly - Beautiful, Silly girl
JT Money - Evolution
Lita - A good friend
Marz - Egomaniacal Twat
Mr. Edwards - Unique Business Methods
NJS - My Best Buddy. No one else like him, period.
The AshTaker - Weird
The Assassin - Revolution
The Bandit - Kick-ass guy
The Shott - A great person away from Marz.
Yourself - Critical of his accomplishments
Favourite...
Film - 'The Waterboy'
Film Genre - Comedy
Actor - Adam Sandler
Actress - Jennifer Aniston
TV Shows - Takeshi's Castle, Fastlane & Home Improvement
Band - Disturbed
Album - 'Believe' & 'The Sickness' - Disturbed
Food - Lasagne
Car - Ferrari 360 Spider
'Babe' - Rachel Stevens