[TWF]
Interview with Mr. BIG
Dateline: October 20th 2006.A cold, damp night in Bridgend, and there is an eerie silence through out the town. Almost one year ago, the town was alive with people, revelling in the success of it's biggest name and proudest (even if they kept their pride fairly quiet) export, the Total Wrestling Federation. With the TWF drawing to a close after the wrestling industry's downturn, the town has effectively died. The TWF Towers still stand, but half empty, with vacant desks on a daily basis. XCW has shut down, many of the wrestlers have left town, and those who are still left are soon to leave.
One man who has been largely blamed for this is the last Managing Director of the TWF before it's disappearance: Mr. BIG. In his first printed interview in almost two years, Biggie explains what has happened since his beloved company has gone down, his health and other problems he has faced, as well as his hopes for the future, which might well surprise you.
The interview has been summarised into this format to make it easier to read:
-- Started right off the bat with Biggie's feelings about being blamed for the TWF's demise. BIG said he expected that when he took helm of the TWF he would be the one who has to close it down. He saw a noted downturn in interest in the product within Bridgend and the South Wales area just as he became MD and said it was inevitable that it would happen within his ownership. He accepts the blame, and says that the overkill of the product within the South Wales area, and the lack of competition was the biggest cause. He even went as far to say that when NCW was around, there was still that uncertainty and rivalry that would mean there would be interest, where as he felt the TWF got simply too complacent and was it's own downfall.
-- Biggie was then asked what the TWF is doing now. Biggie said he isn't too sure. He said it's a question of whether wrestlers will want to come back. He said that they are still paying many wrestlers contracts, so they might as well come back should the promotion re-start. Biggie says he has been looking at booking arenas in January to re-start the company, but it's all touch and go at present.
-- He then said that when the TWF returns there will be a Pay-Per-View called When Worlds Collide that will see the UK take on the Rest of the World in a biannual contest for possession of a trophy. He said it would alternate between host countries and arenas and also swap years with the New Year Rumble.
-- Biggie also noted that the TWF seemed to do well in 2003 and 2005, but not quite so well in 2002, 2004 and 2006, and says that he is extremely hopeful that in 2007, it may make a reappearance.
-- He was kind of glad that Bridgend has turned into the way it is since the TWF's disappearance, because it proved his point for almost 5 years that the town needed the TWF and pro-wrestling in general more than pro-wrestling needed the town. The economic downturn also shows how wrong the press were to criticise the TWF.
-- On a possible return to the ring, he says inevitably it's going to happen, rather a case of when than if. He sees a return by mid-2007 at some point.
-- Biggie expects BCW to stay open for at least two more years before perhaps a new development area opens, as that's when it's contract with the TWF runs out, and both sides have made it clear that after a long and extremely successful association with each other, it would be time to move on.
-- On being asked which talent would return, Biggie said he was clueless. He said that he expects that about 70% of talent won't return, but those who want it most and love this business will come back. On being prompted for names of those who would not return, he said The Shott, The Terminator are among the big names that will not return. However, he expects that Marz, Frekishi, Mastermind to return, along with The Assassin. NJS is unlikely to return he says, because his heart is not in wrestling anymore.
-- Talk turned to the xWa and it's impact. Biggie said he felt it was a roaring success and more than forefilled it's purpose. Biggie said the only mistake was really the supershows because they really weren't planned quite as well as he would have liked, and most matches were thrown together at the last minute, but points out that when things do go right, like the last actual xWa supershow, Xtreme Overdose, they go fantastically well.
-- The RWF was the next topic brought up. Biggie said that the RWF will return when the TWF returns. He sees the RWF being perhaps the place for the one timers or the guys who can't wrestle on a regular basis, and sees the likes of The Shott returning there. He insists the monthly events will be it's only outlook, with maybe the occasional Meltdown special thrown in.
-- On the failed NWA vs. xWa Megaevent, Biggie says that it's undoing was the NWA and the withdrawal of TNA from the alliance. Whilst the NWA would have still fielded a team, they admitted they would have struggled to send good talent to the show without TNA. It was Jeff Jarrett and Dixie Carter's joint decision to not do the show, despite the promotion that had already been put into the show. Biggie says that the TWF healed their wounds with TNA eventually, leading to Jeff Jarrett's famous appearance at Summer Break VI.
-- The return of the XWF promised so much, but it just didn't deliver, Biggie said. He was "so disappointed" that the XWF really didn't get off the ground, but said that was fair enough and said he didn't think it would last as long as he would have liked, but Biggie said that what it did offer was fantastic, and the chances of a possible XWF reunion show next year to celebrate 5 years since his ownership is extremely high.
-- Discussion returned to the TWF, and Biggie was asked to name his favourite match. He said the best TWF match of all time was definitely NJS vs. Hawke, Buried Alive at Deadly MindGames 2004. His favourite match that he was involved in was when he defeated High Voltage in the Pyramid Cage, but his all-time favourite moment in TWF history was when he defeated The Rogerz with NJS to win the Tag-Team titles at Summer Break V.
-- Of all his managers, the one he had the most fun with was actually Holly. He said that the chemistry they had was great and he felt perfectly at ease with her on and off-screen. Louise was a good laugh, but when he realised she had only eyes for NJS, he said he felt quite betrayed that he was being used in that respect and he lost some faith in both of them after that. Biggie says that he spoke to Holly a few days earlier, and he took her out to dinner and apologised to her for all that he had said and done over the past few years, and she accepted his apology.
-- Biggie also said he had spoke to High Voltage a few days earlier, and he misses wrestling in a big way now and he would like to come back. Biggie says if he gets into good shape and signs a contract that irons out anything that may happen, he might let him re-join the TWF, but an RWF return is a definite.
-- Biggie then touched on his personal life. He hasn't had a girlfriend in some time, and he is happier this way. He said he did have to conquer his demons not so long ago when he gave up drinking, saying he had alcoholic-like tendencies. He said he saw in particular what drink was doing NJS and decided it would be best to say away from it. Biggie did note that The Fox was one of his favourite drinking buddies.
-- He recently worked behind a bar for a short period, and that was part of the reason he gave up drinking.
-- As far as his music is going, Biggie says he was floating around in a couple of bands but now says he's going to wait until he's improved his playing a bit better before he starts looking to commit to a band. He comments that since the TWF has gone, the local music scene has suddenly thrived, even if it is "full of emo/mallcore/nu-metal garbage".
-- Biggie maintains that Megadeth are his favourite band of all time, but Savatage are closely catching up, and NJS and himself have already bought tickets to see Savatage's frontman, Jon Oliva's side-project Jon Oliva's Pain play their first UK show next year.
-- Talk returns to his TV presenting duties and says that he went to Download for Channel 4 two years ago and found it to be the most over-hyped festival he's ever heard of. He felt it was second-rate compared to some of the festivals (he named Wacken and Bang Your Head!! specifically) and thinks "it shits all over heavy metal" and instead lets kids think that the Avenged Sevenfolds of this world are heavy metal. Whilst he respects Sevenfold, he says, they are not in the same league of talent or skill as Iron Maiden and shouldn't try to be. He feels that they are just a gimmick and would rather see them put out some music that took time and skill as opposed to the crap that the labels put out today.
-- Pyramid was the most fun he had in a long-time, saying that the contestants were a lot of fun and the show itself was formed around him. Biggie had to convince TV executives himself in person why the show should go ahead, and it did, scoring ITV their highest Thursday night viewing in many years. Biggie says the initial contract was for two seasons, but says negotiations will start soon on an extension.
-- He still feels betrayed by ITV over The Last Word however. The Last Word was scoring high ratings and was getting excellent reviews from those that mattered, but after almost 3 months of 45 minute shows at 11:00 following the news, getting massive ratings considering the days and time, he was extremely disappointed to have the show dropped on a whim. Sky picking it up was the best thing that could have happened however he says, as he was able to extend the show by 15 minutes and better advertising was secured. He says a third, slightly longer season, will begin just after Christmas, but an Xmas Special will air on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.