Michael Thomas Gervais

When at first glance, "More Trouble" Michael Thomas looks like a heel from the north, stuck in a state of Southern trouble, however, his recent turn to face has showed him a different side of wrestling. Check out this late interview where Michael talks about how he got into wrestling, where the nickname "More Trouble" came from, and the struggle of getting accepted as a face.

If there are any questions that you would like to ask Michael, e-mail me at belleofthebrawl@yahoo.com and I will forward them to him.

I would personally like to thank Michael beforehand for this interview, even though we both had one huge case of insomnia, especially after this interview. Thanks, Mike.

Lekisha Oliver: You ready? No pressure now.

Michael Gervais aka Michael Thomas: Yeah. I'm good under pressure.

LO: Good to know. Ok, let's start out with you real name and your stage name.

MT: Michael Thomas Gervais (real). More Trouble Michael Thomas (stage). More Trouble was a nick name given to me at birth.

LO: Cool. Tell me about your federation. Where are you located, the name of the federation, and what kind of wrestling do you do?

MT: I'm a product of the Tennessee Wrestling Association. We are located in northern Alabama and southern Tennessee. I'm a technical wrestler cause I have five years amateur experience and I do some high flying.

LO: You're character, where do you base it from?

MT: Myself, just extend it some. i don't use gimmicks, what you see is what I am?

LO: So, you're a heel or face or an in-between?

MT: I'm trying to face right now, but I was a big heel and the fans have not accepted me in TWA as a face yet. When I was heeling facing another heel, the other heel became the biggest face for that night. When I face heels now they cheer for them still. I was a great heel, I'm not getting over as a face. But I ain't giving up yet, some kids go ask to have their pic taken with me.

LO: Haven't found a little niche to bring you completely over yet?

MT: Well you take the biggest heel and try to turn him face is one of the hardest things to do.

LO: That's true, but you are starting to turn with the kids, that's important.

MT: Well I never tried facing, so this is a way for me to learn more about the biz. There is a difference between fighting as a face and a heel.

LO: More of a switch to show a different side of you.

MT: Funny things is I'm the same person, just chose different words.

LO: That's the way it usually goes.

MT: But still I face one of TWA biggest heels and the fans cheered when ever he hit me with a chair or any thing he had. I was the best heel for a year in TWA, at some time I want to be the best face.

LO: Give it time to change. If not, the heel option is always available. You mentioned amateur wrestling. What other sports did you participate in?

MT: Before high school, I played football, and I played a lot of street basketball.

LO: What about arts?

MT: What about arts.

LO: Um..plays, stories, writing, etc.

MT: About the biz?

LO: More of a prep for the business.

MT: The most acting I have done was playing a joke one some one. I do write some of my matches.

LO: So you also work behind the scenes.

MT: I been told I had a great talent to tell a story. Behind the scenes I come up with an idea the boss tells me how to use it, if the boss doesn't know how for me to use it, it tell me to think of something. And I haven't failed him yet.

LO: Interesting. How long have you been a fan?

MT: I remember watching Hulk Hogan and Jesse Ventura in the AWA from 81-83. I was the one cheering for Ventura.

LO: That was your first memory?

MT: Hulk Hogan doing an interview, and I ask my dad what he was so angry about. I was hoping some one would beat him up.

LO: You were more heelish even then.

MT: Yeah, my parents couldn't figure me out. And they still can't.

LO: What about education? College?

MT: I did give a Jr. college a try, dropped out after 2 months cause I could not afford it. That's how I end up in the navy I was broke as can be.

LO: What's your rank?

MT: I started as an E-1 discharged as an E-4.

LO: You may want to explain that one. I'm even going, huh?

MT: Every one starts as an E-1 for the most part. Then you clime up the ladder to E-2, 3, 4 so forth.

LO: So, kinda like a lieutenant or sergeant?

MT: I started as a fireman recruit left as an 3rd class pettery officer.

LO: Okey dokey.

MT: That's kinda hard to explain.

LO: Let's go back to wrestling. Whom were your "idols" growing up in and out of the ring.

MT: At first Jesse Ventura and Rowdy Piper. Teen years it was Shawn Michaels.

LO: How did you get into the business, and why?

MT: I got into the biz at first in Chicago. The trainer close the doors after a week. Then I joined the navy, after watching Monday night Raw, I saw Shawn Michaels wearing one of his training school T-shirts. I tried to get in touch of that school, but i couldn't make the payment. So I then moved to Alabama after getting out of the navy, shortly afterwards I saw Marty and Spider in a match. A steel cable broke and they count on. They had every one interested in that match. I wanted to wrestle more then every then. I ran into Hillbilly Buck.

LO: And he is the one that brought you in?

MT: Hillbilly Buck is the promoter of TWA.

LO: How did you meet him?

MT: I was asking around for the promoter he wasn't the promoter that night but he told me about the TWA.

LO: What are your views on the state of wrestling today?

MT: It was better biz then I thought it ever was, I do charity shows and fundraiser. I am very proud of myself for doing that.

LO: What about the big federation. Do you see yourself there in the future?

MT: I have fun what I'm doing now, if I make it big that's good if I don't I had fun trying.

LO: Good attitude. Ok. Let's go ahead with the word association thing. Cool?

MT: huh?

LO: I say a person and you say the first thing that comes to mind.

MT: ok.

LO: Vince McMahon.

MT: Smart man that can read then fans and what they want.

LO: Eric Bischoff.

MT: Don't know what to think of him, he had a chance to take over pro wrestling but kept on repeating the same idea's. If he did things a little different who knows.

LO: Hulk Hogan.

MT: The biggest thing to happen to wrestling when he and McMahon took it nationwide.

LO: Mick Foley.

MT: Dear devil that I can't understand.

LO: Shawn Micheals.

MT: My favorite. The best performer, he can sell anything. I study his style over and over. My dream is to wrestle him.

LO: Brian Pillman.

MT: I didn't know if his drug use was prescribed or for his own fun. If it was prescribed it really suck that he died at a young age. If it was for his own fun, I feel sorry for his family.

LO: Ric Flair.

MT: One of the best heels on the mic. Ones I run into that know him say he is the hardest working person in the biz.

LO: Steve Austin.

MT: Good thing he turn heel, it had to be a tuff challenge for him.

LO: The Rock.

MT: Always good for a laugh. Read his book in just 2 days. I really like it when he can't hold in his own laugh.

LO: This would of course be you.

MT: Michael Thomas?

LO: You personally.

MT: I'm gonna be wrestling till I'm not having fun wrestling any more. And as it is right now it looks like I'm gonna be around for a while. I always enjoy a challenge. And I go though them a lot and like it.

LO: Any comments or anything that you would like to touch on that we didn't get to?

MT: I like the traveling part for wrestling. Always like road trips. I enjoy helping others in need.

LO: Any kind of plugs or anything that you would like to pass along?

MT: After my 2nd match I was told to stay in this biz as long as I can, cause I had what it takes. I thought he was full of crap, but I earn the respect of many that been in it for years. If some one wants to get into pro wrestling they have to go full force, or not go at all. It's a lot pain and risk. I have been wrestling for the past month with a fractured wrist.

LO: Thank you for doing this interview on such short notice.

MT: Hey you be amazed what beer can do for ya.