WK's Interview with Eddie Ryan
Apr 23, 2015 6:30:50 GMT -5
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Post by chaoskid on Apr 23, 2015 6:30:50 GMT -5
INTERVIEW
WITH
EDDIE RYAN
LIONHEARTS - EDDIE RYAN (STANDING) & JASON LARUSSO (KNEEING)
LIONHEARTS - EDDIE RYAN (STANDING) & JASON LARUSSO (KNEEING)
Tell the members of Wrestlekingdom all about Eddie Ryan
Of course, let’s start with the basics! My name is Eddie Ryan, 29years old and from Plymouth. Currently based out of Swindon, and started my training in October 2008 with 4 Front Wrestling Academy, and debuted with 4FW in January 2009 and been a main part of the roster since then.
Which wrestlers have made an influence on your wrestling career?
So many it will be hard to name them all! As a child I was mesmerised by the likes of Randy Savage, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Sting, Rick Rude, Mr Perfect, Ricky Steamboat. Their athleticism, their characters, the colour and flashiness was something to behold as a kid! As I have grown up, I now watch wrestling from a different perspective, and so the likes of Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton, Jake Roberts, William Regal are all fantastic people to watch and learn from. In terms of guys in the UK that have influenced me, the top one has to be Doug Williams, who has carved out an amazing career for himself, and one of the first British workers I saw on the wrestling channel. Joel Redman is someone that has helped me, and another person whose work really appealed to me. He pointed me in the direction of 4FW to start with, and managed to get to the ‘promised land’ of WWE NXT too.
What do you consider as your wrestling highlight?
I have 2, as it would be so hard to pick between them! First of all, winning the 4FW Heavyweight championship for the first time in 2012, as this was a goal I set myself when I first started training, and it felt like the reward and recognition after all my hard work. The other was being selected to perform for ZERO 1 at a Korakuen Hall TV taping. It was quite an honour, as they didn’t just allow anyone on their main shows. Again, it felt like a reward for recognised hard work during my 6 weeks there.
You worked for Zero1 in Japan in 2012, what was it like working for a Japanese company and how did you get booked for Zero1?
It was a great learning experience, and some of the toughest training of my life, really pushing me to my limits. I met so many wonderful people and some good friends, and such passionate fans. I was actually treated like a pro athlete, which was such a great feeling. I found out about it while in America, when my trainer made enquiries and was made an offer for 6 weeks training. Couldn’t believe it when I found out!
On the Zero1 card you were billed as Tony Bower, was there a reason you used this name instead of Eddie Ryan?
This wasn’t my choice, the Zero 1 office made the choice, and I still don’t really know why! Or what it meant!
Now as a 6 year pro you have worked in America, Japan as well as in Britain, what would you say are the main difference in working in these different countries?
Every country/promotion has its own unique style, and one of the highlights of wrestling is you are always learning, and it’s part of the fun to see the styles and try to adapt your style and accommodate these differences. America is more character and entertainment orientated, whereas Japan is more focused on the sport and athleticism aspect. The UK is a strange one, as it seems to be a hybrid of these different styles, but I think this adds to the British wrestling scene as there is something for everyone.
It’s been 3 years since you have wrestled in the states have you plans to return to the states to wrestle?
I am still in touch with a few promoters and workers I met while there, as well as RJ Brewer who accommodated me while I was there and made it all possible. I have no immediate plans to go back, though I would be open to it. My main plan is to keep training and working hard, and seeing if I can get the opportunity to gain a place in the WWE performance centre, and return on those terms.
As well as a singles wrestler you have made a successful tag team combination with Jason Larusso as the Lionhearts, how did you two meet and who decided that you two should become a tag team?
Jason started a couple of years after me, and we instantly hit it off as friends. We have the same sense of humour and his views on wrestling are similar to mine. We both made sacrifices to move to Swindon to train full time, so we had that in common too. The choice to team up was our trainers, as we did a tag match together after a last minute card change, and thought we had good chemistry. Jason was still quite new so we thought it would help with his learning and confidence to be paired with me, and he has really come on so far, a great talent in the ring.
This past Sunday you lost your PWA championship to Danny Walsh in probably the match of the evening, what were your thoughts of the match?
You win some, you lose some! I hate losing a championship as much as anyone would, especially in my hometown, but I have to give him credit, he arrived prepared. I am not a bitter person, and on the night, the better man won. You just have to re-evaluate and re-assess, and start again. Thank you for the kind words about the match, the goal is to try to steal the show and send the fans home happy, which I think we did.
Can you tell us any funny wrestling stories?
While in Japan I made friends with 2 guys, Ocean Neal who was Australian, and Jason New who was from Hong Kong. In order to prep for our TV match, Ocean and I decided we needed to top up our tan (it was the middle of a very cold winter). Sunbeds aren’t very popular in Japan, but we were told there was one in Shinjuku, and Jason said he might be able to help us find it as he could understand some Japanese. After a few enquiries with locals, Jason directed us to a shady little back alley building. We walked in, and promptly left again, as it turned out to be a weird fetish sex shop. It turns out, Jason’s Japanese wasn’t as good as he thought!
In 5 years where do you see your career?
It’s a make or break year for me, and so if I can’t attract the attentions of the big 2 I will start to maybe start to consider where my career lies. I would like to say in 5 years I would be plying my trade full time, but if not, then maybe dabbling in promoting or training.
If you could face anyone past or present in your dream match who would be involved?
It would have to be a toss-up between Shawn Michaels and Eddie Guerrero. Both in their prime were pretty much untouchable in terms of performance, and two of the best ever to grace the ring. It would be an honour just to be in there with them.
Are there any upcoming cards that we the fans can catch Eddie Ryan in the near future that you would love to promote?
I wrestle usually about 2 to 3 times a week currently, so I have a lot of shows you can catch me at! One big one that needs a mention is July 19thin Swindon, where 4FW have Rey Mysterio performing in his only UK appearance. Tickets are selling ridiculously fast; it will be one not to miss! To stay up to date with other shows, make sure you check out www.4fw-online.com/, add me on Facebook, or like our Facebook page - /reallionhearts.
Lastly I would like to say on behalf of Wrestlekingdom.board.net that we thank you for this interview and hope you have future great success.
Thank you, and thank you for having me!
The Lionhearts vs Ultimo Dragon & Zack Sabre Jr
Of course, let’s start with the basics! My name is Eddie Ryan, 29years old and from Plymouth. Currently based out of Swindon, and started my training in October 2008 with 4 Front Wrestling Academy, and debuted with 4FW in January 2009 and been a main part of the roster since then.
Which wrestlers have made an influence on your wrestling career?
So many it will be hard to name them all! As a child I was mesmerised by the likes of Randy Savage, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Sting, Rick Rude, Mr Perfect, Ricky Steamboat. Their athleticism, their characters, the colour and flashiness was something to behold as a kid! As I have grown up, I now watch wrestling from a different perspective, and so the likes of Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton, Jake Roberts, William Regal are all fantastic people to watch and learn from. In terms of guys in the UK that have influenced me, the top one has to be Doug Williams, who has carved out an amazing career for himself, and one of the first British workers I saw on the wrestling channel. Joel Redman is someone that has helped me, and another person whose work really appealed to me. He pointed me in the direction of 4FW to start with, and managed to get to the ‘promised land’ of WWE NXT too.
What do you consider as your wrestling highlight?
I have 2, as it would be so hard to pick between them! First of all, winning the 4FW Heavyweight championship for the first time in 2012, as this was a goal I set myself when I first started training, and it felt like the reward and recognition after all my hard work. The other was being selected to perform for ZERO 1 at a Korakuen Hall TV taping. It was quite an honour, as they didn’t just allow anyone on their main shows. Again, it felt like a reward for recognised hard work during my 6 weeks there.
You worked for Zero1 in Japan in 2012, what was it like working for a Japanese company and how did you get booked for Zero1?
It was a great learning experience, and some of the toughest training of my life, really pushing me to my limits. I met so many wonderful people and some good friends, and such passionate fans. I was actually treated like a pro athlete, which was such a great feeling. I found out about it while in America, when my trainer made enquiries and was made an offer for 6 weeks training. Couldn’t believe it when I found out!
On the Zero1 card you were billed as Tony Bower, was there a reason you used this name instead of Eddie Ryan?
This wasn’t my choice, the Zero 1 office made the choice, and I still don’t really know why! Or what it meant!
Now as a 6 year pro you have worked in America, Japan as well as in Britain, what would you say are the main difference in working in these different countries?
Every country/promotion has its own unique style, and one of the highlights of wrestling is you are always learning, and it’s part of the fun to see the styles and try to adapt your style and accommodate these differences. America is more character and entertainment orientated, whereas Japan is more focused on the sport and athleticism aspect. The UK is a strange one, as it seems to be a hybrid of these different styles, but I think this adds to the British wrestling scene as there is something for everyone.
It’s been 3 years since you have wrestled in the states have you plans to return to the states to wrestle?
I am still in touch with a few promoters and workers I met while there, as well as RJ Brewer who accommodated me while I was there and made it all possible. I have no immediate plans to go back, though I would be open to it. My main plan is to keep training and working hard, and seeing if I can get the opportunity to gain a place in the WWE performance centre, and return on those terms.
As well as a singles wrestler you have made a successful tag team combination with Jason Larusso as the Lionhearts, how did you two meet and who decided that you two should become a tag team?
Jason started a couple of years after me, and we instantly hit it off as friends. We have the same sense of humour and his views on wrestling are similar to mine. We both made sacrifices to move to Swindon to train full time, so we had that in common too. The choice to team up was our trainers, as we did a tag match together after a last minute card change, and thought we had good chemistry. Jason was still quite new so we thought it would help with his learning and confidence to be paired with me, and he has really come on so far, a great talent in the ring.
This past Sunday you lost your PWA championship to Danny Walsh in probably the match of the evening, what were your thoughts of the match?
You win some, you lose some! I hate losing a championship as much as anyone would, especially in my hometown, but I have to give him credit, he arrived prepared. I am not a bitter person, and on the night, the better man won. You just have to re-evaluate and re-assess, and start again. Thank you for the kind words about the match, the goal is to try to steal the show and send the fans home happy, which I think we did.
Can you tell us any funny wrestling stories?
While in Japan I made friends with 2 guys, Ocean Neal who was Australian, and Jason New who was from Hong Kong. In order to prep for our TV match, Ocean and I decided we needed to top up our tan (it was the middle of a very cold winter). Sunbeds aren’t very popular in Japan, but we were told there was one in Shinjuku, and Jason said he might be able to help us find it as he could understand some Japanese. After a few enquiries with locals, Jason directed us to a shady little back alley building. We walked in, and promptly left again, as it turned out to be a weird fetish sex shop. It turns out, Jason’s Japanese wasn’t as good as he thought!
In 5 years where do you see your career?
It’s a make or break year for me, and so if I can’t attract the attentions of the big 2 I will start to maybe start to consider where my career lies. I would like to say in 5 years I would be plying my trade full time, but if not, then maybe dabbling in promoting or training.
If you could face anyone past or present in your dream match who would be involved?
It would have to be a toss-up between Shawn Michaels and Eddie Guerrero. Both in their prime were pretty much untouchable in terms of performance, and two of the best ever to grace the ring. It would be an honour just to be in there with them.
Are there any upcoming cards that we the fans can catch Eddie Ryan in the near future that you would love to promote?
I wrestle usually about 2 to 3 times a week currently, so I have a lot of shows you can catch me at! One big one that needs a mention is July 19thin Swindon, where 4FW have Rey Mysterio performing in his only UK appearance. Tickets are selling ridiculously fast; it will be one not to miss! To stay up to date with other shows, make sure you check out www.4fw-online.com/, add me on Facebook, or like our Facebook page - /reallionhearts.
Lastly I would like to say on behalf of Wrestlekingdom.board.net that we thank you for this interview and hope you have future great success.
Thank you, and thank you for having me!
The Lionhearts vs Ultimo Dragon & Zack Sabre Jr
