Interview with ECW star Kid Kash
by Marcus Madison on 2001-07-05
*You gained popularity through wrestling in for ECW. How do think
the styles of these wrestlers different than those of the WWF and
now WCW? Why do you think this is so?
In my opinion, ECW was just wide open anything went. To me, WWF
and WCW, are more about producing storylines and that less is more.
Which appears to be working, if the fans like it and it works then
stick with it, but ECW was more into extreme wrestling.
*In the ring you combine superb revolutionary high-risk maneuvers
along with speed and finesse? In your honest opinion, do you think
wrestlers today are lacking in their actual "in ring" ability? Does
this effect the quality the their matches?
I don?t think that it affects the quality of a match. The promoters
are marketing this style of wrestling and the fans have grown accustom
to it. My style is that Kid Kash is a force to be reckoned with,
but you can?t have two cruiser weights going at it and stealing
the show when you still have a main event that consists of likes
of Stone Cold and Triple H. The crowd is spent before the main event
ever takes place. It is really all up to the promoters and what
they think the fans want to see.
*Has working independent shows, helped fans keep in touch with the
Kid Kash? Or has this helped to maintain the popularity of the character
more?
I am really not sure. (Laughs) There just aren?t as many fans at
the Indy show, as opposed to the TV tapings and such of the WWF.
But at an Indy show, the fans are much ?closer? to the wrestlers.
But 9 times out of 10, the average fan is going to go to the shows
that are in the coliseums, than an Indy show. The Indy fans are
hardcore fans, which just can?t get enough wrestling. (Laughs) At,
the Indy shows fans expect to see, the same, as the TV tapings from
the guys that are in WCW or WWF and most of the wrestlers, aren?t
going to give the same performance. It isn?t because of the smaller
amount of fans or the lack of caring about the fans. It is more
about, keeping your body healthy, for when you can do those crazy-risk
taking moves, for television. Most wrestlers try to save that craziness
for the PPVs, but no matter what they and I will always put on a
great show no matter what the circumstances.
*If you could ever re-create the Kid Kash character what would you
do differently?
I wouldn?t change it. (Laughs) I am content with the character.
The crowds seems to like it, and it works well for me and you know
what they say, ?If it isn?t broken, don?t fix it.?
*During your time with the ECW, you were involved in a several feuds.
Do you think the company did a good enough job to promote you? What
could they have done differently?
I think ECW did a fine job building my character. You don?t want
to build a character to fast. The fans get burned out on them too
fast. Paul E. built Kid Kash the old school way, and I preferred
it that way. I was a baby-face, that lost a lot, and that built
the sympatric fan base for me, and when I started winning, which
made the fans like the character even more.
*The rise and fall of ECW is something I am aware you are close
to. How would you describe your working relationship with Paul Heyman,
Tommy Dreamer and the rest of the roster of ECW?
I had a wonderful working relationship with everyone. It was the
best locker room, to be in night after night, and I can guarantee
that. It was like going home every night, or weekend, whatever the
case may have been. Paul E. in my opinion is a genius that if the
money and backing was there, could rebuild Rome.
*Both you and Rob Van Dam have worked together as a tag team and
competed against each other. How would you describe your working
relationship with him in and out of the ring?
In the ring, Rob and I work well together, because we seem to be
on the same wavelength when it comes to wrestling. We both tend
to have the philosophy that wrestling has a spiritual sense and
is an art form, not just entertainment.
Out of the ring, because of your beliefs in the ring, we have a
lot of respect for one another, and we are a lot alike. Rob is very
laid back and quiet and I am just like that. I mean, yeah I will
go to a bar and kick back and have beer, but I am not there to raise
some hell, but more to observe everyone else. Rob is very dedicated
to his friends and to wrestling, he is not selfish, as everyone
seems to think he is. He would do anything for a friend and I like
to think that I am the same way.
*Have you ever considered working in tag team competition more often
or simply remain as a singles wrestler? Why?
I haven?t really thought about, but I enjoy both. Both styles require
a creative mind, on two different levels. Like when I was Ricky
Morton, after Gibson left the Rock ? N ? Roll Express. I had to
learn to do more than in arm bar in the ring, to get the crowd into
it, the crowd was there to see Ricky, he was already established
and I had to show them what I had, and kick it up a notch er two.
I would love to get into a federation with Nova and perhaps do more
of a tag-team partnership with him. He is awesome in the ring, and
I think that if he and I had the opportunity, we could give the
crowds, a hell of a lot of great matches.
*Kid Kash, you have worked so hard to attain the popularity you
have. What is it about wrestling that has always appealed to you
to continue to compete?
Because I am a perfectionist. (Laughs) I am never satisfied with
my performances, and I am continually perfecting my art. I want
to be in that class of elite wrestlers, which are considered the
best that anyone has ever seen. I want to be able to not get myself
over so much, and give the crowd one of the greatest matches they
have ever seen. I want the fans to be in their seats and be dying
for some popcorn, or a beer, or the bathroom. And then them hear
that I am up next, and they KNOW it is gonna be a match that they
aren?t going to want to miss, so they can?t leave that seat just
yet.
*This question allows you to be more of a fan and not an actual
athlete for a second. If you could face anyone past or present in
a match or watch any match of any two wrestlers who would it be
and what type of match would it be?
Damn, that is a tough question. (Laughs) As far as a fan goes, I
guess, I would have to say that I would like to see Tiger Mask against
Dynamite Kid. Or Benoit vs. Eddie Guerrero in Japan or maybe Dean
Malenko vs. Eddie Guerrero in Japan.
If I cold wrestle someone, I would have to say Ric Flair, to see
if I could keep up with his old school style, since I was originally
trained to the style and atmosphere.
*I had the opportunity to see you compete against Rhyno here in
Mississauga, Ontario Canada. In the match you made took some tremendous
risks. Have you ever considered stepping back from some of the high
risk maneuvers to prolong your career?
I haven?t really thought about that either. I just know that you
have to smart and level headed about it all. It is something that
you can?t be going out there every night and doing. When ECW was
running 4 days a week, I was only doing the crazy high-risk high-stuff
for the TV tapings and PPVs. The only way you would see me doing
it every night is if a lot of money was involved. (Laughs) And over
the years, I have learned sometimes, less really is better.
Word Association:
-Vince McMahon
Vince is a wrestling industry genius. He really has his shit together
and doesn?t take any bullshit from anyone, and I think that is how
he got to where he is today.
-The Rock
Very entertaining. His gimmick is great, and he deserves to be where
he is at today.
-Lance Storm
One hell of a teacher and student. I have lots of respect for Lance.
I feel that I am still learning every time I get into the ring and
I think Lance is the same way. He is continually learning and perfecting
his art, and yet, he is a professor in the ring to everyone else.
-Steve Austin
I don?t know Steve personally. I think he has one hell of a character
and he is a legitimate technically wrestler, but his character has
propelled him to a status that he doesn?t have to show what he knows
all of the time.
-Tajiri
Really great guy, one of the best. He is a good friend and I have
tons of respect for him, and I know that if you don?t cover up,
he is gonna knock you senseless with that kick of his. (Laughs)
-Paul Heyman
What can I say about Paul, which I haven?t said before? He is a
genius. A great friend and a mentor. I have all the respect in the
world for Paul. He made me work for what I got. That in turn makes
you respect it all. If you are constantly just given something,
you will never respect it. I defiantly look up to Paul; he is a
hell of a talent.
-
Rhyno
Great guy and worker. Rhyno is very quiet and laid back, and yet
he could rip your head off, if he wanted to. (Laughs)
-Rob Van Dam
Rob is the most athletic guy I have ever known. He is dedicated
to his art and his friends. He will bust his ass for the business.
And he is a hell of a draw of a company. Both sides of the demographic
scale, male and female, like him. That is always a plus.
-Kid Kash
Don?t ask (Laughs) Kid Kash is someone that never got into the business,
but now I am glad that he did, and hopefully he will be around for
awhile if the politics of it all, doesn?t keep him out.
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Quotes
from the boys:
Notorious T.I.D. says "If you are a heel......stay the hell out of the crowd after your match. In fact, just give up all together. It's quite apparent that you are an idiot." |