Chris Hamrick
Inlewd.com recently conducted an in depth interview with former ECW Superstar, Chris Hamrick! http://www.hiflyingchrishamrick.com/.
Whether it be in front of the camera's or on a simple house show Chris Hamrick always delivered the good and sent ECW fans home happy.
Chris Hamrick has been working his ass off on the independent scene and we certainly wish him the best of luck in his quest to one day becoming one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. With out any further hype we proudly present this interview with HIGH FLYING CHRIS HANRRICK.
CJ: Of course working in ECW, you worked closely with Paul Heyman. Can you give us any of your personal thoughts on Paul Heyman?
CH: I have no problems with Paul. I hardly ever spoke to him. I dealt mainly with Tommy Dreamer. But, I do owe Paul a lot, because, if he wanted to, he could have fired me, and, he didn't, he let me do TV and PPVS. He gave me a chance when no one else would.
CJ: He sort of gave you your first national break in the business, who actually trained you to become a pro-wrestler?
CH: My dad bought me a ring, when I was 9 years old. I basically trained myself..
CJ: What about the REVOLUTION? Do you think Paul Heyman's "REVOLUTION" (which he marketed in the early 90's) led to pro-wrestling becoming 'out of control' in a sense? I know many are pointing to major injuries to wrestlers such as Hayabusa?
CH: With Hayabusa it is a different situation, he has built a name for himself, doing the things he does. He makes good money to do them. It just goes to show you, how dangerous this sport can be.
He has probably done the thing he did to get hurt, thousands of times. For the indy guys, they just want to do something for the crowd, which, is ok, but, if there is a small crowd, save it.....
I will not do anything dangerous, that can hurt me or anyone else, if I am wrestling someone I do not know, or have never heard of. I can actually have a match that gets over with the crowd, without doing the dangerous spots. Perfect example... Reckless Youth. He was trusting a guy to catch him, and the guy didn't, now, he is hurt and out of wrestling for who knows how long. I would like to send him my best wishes on a speedy recovery.
Note to workers.....If you are not comfortable or don't think you can catch a guy, please tell him in the dressing room, when he calls the spot....DO NOT wait until he jumps, to make that decision.....
CJ: I couldn't have said it better myself, and our staff and service would certainly like to echo your wishes sent out to Reckless Youth & also to Hayabusa. Getting a little deeper in to this discussion, do you think pro wrestling promoters should police their own product and hold back wrestlers from doing certain spots, or should they simply allow the individual performers to decide on their own what moves are too risky and what moves are not too risky?
CH: I think every wrestler has the right to refuse to do anything that hurt their career. If the promoter suggests something crazy, you can say no. If you talk to the promoter, and, tell him you disagree with him, if he doesn't want to change it........leave. They are under no contracts.
CJ: For the most part I would totally agree with your point of view on this subject. I think certain promoters are the problem in some cases however; but I would like to discuss WCW now. With the WCW company pretty much dissolving (as its own separate company) there is a struggle now for another brand to be established on the national scene. Do you think promoters should be attempting to go national over night?
CH: I think they should take their time. Make sure you can draw decent crowds, and, see how they respond to the talent you have. See how your show gets over with the crowd before you put it in TV.
CJ: Has the World Wrestling Federation made any efforts to contact you about working for their company?
CH: I haven't heard anything from them. But, it's cool, because, as of right now, they have so much talent, they don't know what to do with the guys that they have. Would I go? Man, I don't know, being in the biggest (only) wrestling company, in front of thousands of people, making great money......
I would have to think about it lol.... Yes, I would love the opportunity to go.
CJ: As I am positive any one reading this interview would have the same reaction if Vince McMahon offered them a contract. On to a more serious subject matter. One which can not fully be brushed over because it is still fresh on all of our minds. And I think it would be incorrect to simply ignore what happened, so instead I will throw out the question and leave the discussion open to you. With the terrorist actions of 9.11 still fresh on our minds, and in our hearts, do wish to share any words for Americans who may be living in fear right now?
CH: Honestly, my opinion means nothing to anyone about this, I'm just a wrestler. America will stand strong though.
CJ: What is up with Chris Hamrick? Give us some indication on where you will be at next?
CH: Well, on..
Nov. 13th - APW - Beckley, West Va,
15th - PWF - Pottstown, Pa
16th - Rocky Mount, NC - me and the Amazing
Red vs The SATS
17th - ECWA - Elizabeth, Pa - me and the
Backseat Boyz vs The SATS
21st - Warrinton, Pa for the PWF
24th - JCW
30th - Jersey City
CJ: WOW! Pretty busy schedule. Do you prefer working the ECW style with aerial high spots and tables and chairs, or a more basic classic mat style?
CH:I don't really like the hardcore matches, unless, I'm wrestling with New Jack. I loved the WRESTLING. I can do both though. It's all about the psychology of the match.
CJ: What about pro-wrestling as a whole? Do you think pro-wrestling can survive if it is not as mainstream as it was in 1998, or do you think pro wrestling is in grave danger because it has lost its appeal to mainstream audiences?
CH: As I have always learned, wrestling does complete cycles. If it goes down now, it will pick back up in the future.
CJ: Speaking of the business end of pro-wrestling. Lets say you were the MAN. Lets imagine CH is the guy who makes all the decisions on how the pro-wrestling business is governed. What would you do to change up the current decline in wrestling business?
CH: Tough question. But I feel it is a good one. Ok, not sure if this is what you are asking, but, if I was Vince, this is what I would do.
I would give all three companys their own deals, I would have the WCW guys doing their own show, same with the ECW and the WWF. I would let them do their own thing, then on special shows I would mix the talent.
Let the WCW and the ECW guys wrestle their own guys, and, see who puts on the best show.
CJ: Sounds like it would be a fairly interesting way of conducting business and in my opinion also a very sound decision to create the illusion the business is as large as it was before both WCW and ECW went under. Enough of the tough questions for now. How about Chris Hamrick. I have been told you got in to the pro-wrestling game at a considerably late time (I am not positive if this information is accurate or not). I will not ask your for your age, as that information is your own business and should be kept private if you wish for it to be kept private. But I will approach the question by asking you if it is true that you got in to the business "late" so to speak. And if so, what inspired you to become a pro wrestler?
CH: I have been in the wrestling biz since I was 16 years old. It took me a while to get to ECW. In 94 I was doing TV jobs for the WWF. I did some work for Smokey Mountain Wrestling. I have worked for Music City Wrestling. I have spent most of my career on the indies.
CJ: Well that puts that one to rest. I've got to ask this question for myself. Who came up with the gimmick you used in ECW?
CH: Since EZ Money and Julio Dinero was doing the money gimmick, Joey Styles came up with the Confederate Currency. He thought it would get good heat, up north.
CJ: And that it did! It was great! It was one of the unique angles done in pro-wrestling. To finish out this interview with a BANG! I have decided to give you the famed name game. I will name some names and you can respond with your thoughts to each individual name which I mention.
CJ: EZ Money
CH: No respect for anyone but EZ.
CJ: Paul Heyman
CH: Great guy
CJ: Todd Gordon
CH: only met him once, very good first impression
CJ: Jim Cornette
CH: wrestling genius
CJ: Vince McMahon
CH: owns it all
CJ: Mikey Whipwreck
CH: my friend, the wrestling world is going to miss him greatly
CJ: Chris Hamrick
CH: just doing what i know how to do
CJ: And that concludes the interview with Chris Hamrick. We would like to plug Chris Hamrick's appearances again and suggest if you are in the area. Go check him out! He is one of the great independent wrestlers on the independent scene today.
CHRIS WILL BE APPEARING:
Nov. 13th - APW - Beckley, West Va,
15th - PWF - Pottstown, Pa
16th - Rocky Mount, NC - me and the Amazing
Red vs The SATS
17th - ECWA - Elizabeth, Pa - me and the
Backseat Boyz vs The SATS
21st - Warrinton, Pa for the PWF
24th - JCW
30th - Jersey City
