FIVE QUESTIONS WITH...
FIVE QUESTIONS WITH...
NAPW World Champion KRENSHOV
1. What are your thoughts and feelings about becoming NAPW World Champion?
KRENSHOV: That's a tough sensation to describe. Everybody knows I don't wear my heart on my sleeve, but honestly, winning the NAPW World Championship was not just the greatest night in my wrestling career, but in my entire life. And everybody knows I didn't walk into that match 100%. Hell, I was barely 25% at the time. I've never ever, not even once, walked into a match where I was heavily unfavored to win. The odds were against me, and it was undoubtedly the toughest fight of my life, but in the end it made winning the championship that much more meaningful. People referring to me as the NAPW World Champion just blows my mind.
2. It's been a long road for you to win NAPW gold, and you certainly did it in dramatic fashion. Now that you have it, do you worry that your knee injury will keep you from having a memorable reign?
KRENSHOV: At the moment, no. I've been told by doctors that my knee is better than they originally thought, but it's still pretty bad. It's bad to the point where everyone on the NAPW and REBEL rosters are going to use it against me as a target, but not bad enough that I won't be able to work through the pain. It's going to be a battle to keep the title, bad leg or not, but I've wanted this title too much for too long. The NAPW World Championship isn't leaving me for as long as I have a say in the matter. The real tragedy at the end of the day is I get to be champion today, but if I push through with this knee, my career will be cut short by years maybe. That's something I don't think I've completely come to grips with yet.
3. Speaking of battling to keep the title, your first defense comes at NAPW's biggest event of the year, Sole Survivor III on March 25th in NAPW's hometown of Edmonton. The challenger? The 2008 Canada Cup winner, "The Ego Buster" Dan Ryan. What are your thoughts on facing Dan Ryan again, this time with the World Title on the line?
KRENSHOV: My thoughts? I love it. I couldn't dream up a tougher and more physically demanding opponent than Dan Ryan. Now I hate that prick probably more than most people, but defeating my rival and the Canada Cup winner at Sole Survivor with the title on the line is only going to make my reign as NAPW World Champion that much more credible. Sure, I won the title with every odd against me, but I believe there are title holders, and champions. Title holders clinch onto belts for fame, champions defend them.
4. One man you won't have to face anytime soon is the man you beat, the man who made the NAPW Championship into a WORLD Championship last summer, Donovan Astros. Astros has been punished severely for his actions following your match and has had his rematch revoked. What do you think about the former two-time World Champion?
KRENSHOV: I can relate to Donovan in the way where we both have our mean streaks. Aside from being two guys who have tempers, that's where it ends. What I'm trying to figure out is who his saving grace backstage is. I clock a guy giving me a hard time at a show, and I get fired. Astros almost kills an intern and somehow gets to keep his job? I may have reacted badly to people who angered me in the past, but what he did is inexcusable, and I hope Bruce "The Beast" Richards tears him apart in the "I Quit" Cage match.
5. Now that you are truly "back," what NAPW wrestlers do you want to tangle with over the coming months and why? What other goals in wrestling do you want to accomplish?
KRENSHOV: Currently on the roster, I would have to say Bruce Richards. I think there's going to be this sort of expectation that we will meet because I tried to take the title from some time ago and failed. Well, I have the title now and would give him a shot any given Tuesday. The guy who I've always wanted to wrestle is Ravager, and man, it sucks that he's gone. He was, in my eyes, the greatest champion NAPW has ever seen. There's only a couple people that can say they've bested Bob Ravager, and it's a shame I'll never get the chance to see if I could get it done. And my goals, well to keep and defend the NAPW World Championship for as long as possible.
NAPW World Champion KRENSHOV defends his title at the annual SOLE SURVIVOR III event against the 2008 Canada Cup winner "The Ego Buster" Dan Ryan. This will be a true battle of the titans!
FIVE QUESTIONS WITH...
"The Falcon" Jacob Venar
1. You're relatively new to professional wrestling. How did you break into the sport?
JACOB VENAR: Good question... Personally I don't really understand how it happened myself. After my psychologist suggested I'd channel my fears through controlled violence and aggression I just kinda... winged it. I mean I chased a few indie feds around after I graduated from trade school in '06, one thing snowballed into another and eventually I discovered New Alberta Pro. Unfortunately I never got into any other feds before Alberta Pro, so that left me at a disadvantage in the case of experience. I guess you could say I was a little more than determined to get onto the fed's roster, what with their awesome reputation, but at the time their doors were closed to new talent. At that point I abandoned my search for promotions having found a place to call home and began training with my trainer, Ricky Henderson. After a few short weeks, NAPW finally opened its doors to new talent. I like to consider myself an opportunist, so as you could imagine I was first in line. That first match at Hostile Hangover? That was the actual debut to my pro wrestling career. The rest is history.
2. Your first win in wrestling came in what many considered a tremendous upset, against the veteran "LDK" Lloyd Rees. What did that mean to you, and what has it been like to have continued success as a result of your association with Rees?
JACOB VENAR: Fighting Lloyd was an honor all by itself, but beating him? DAMN, that was awesome. I don't need to remind you that Rees is a veteran, so you can understand how thrilled I must have been to come down from that top rope and seal the deal by Spreading My Wings. What did that mean to me? It was an incredible experience. After losing to Kevin Kodiak the previous night, that win kind of cancelled out my loss and boosted my confidence something fierce. A lot of good it did me, though. I was beat twice before meeting up with Rees again, this time in a four-corner survival. I won that match, but that victory is nothing more than a memory to me now. Our respect became perfectly mutual after that four-corner match, and I pulled a couple wins out after that. I beat Jason Cruise, then Lloyd and I went on to beat Matt Kurtis and Andrew Rossi. To have these victories as a result of my partnership with Rees has been a phenomenal experience, and the victories were followed up at Ultimate Attrition when I led the Dark Horses to victory against the Bluegrass Mafia. I was psyched. It figures that I had to be cheated out of very possible Black Thursday Gauntlet victory after all the shit I went through.
3. Well, despite what happened at the Gauntlet, you find yourself with your first shot at wrestling gold, ever. Your thoughts on the tag title match with Rees against the reunited - and deadlier than ever - Sexy Adorable Drunks?
JACOB VENAR: Yikes. That has a few meanings. One being that it's my first shot at gold ever, another being that it's with Lloyd Freakin' Rees, and third that it's against two of the most decorated superstars this company has ever seen. I'd be a fool to say that I wasn't a little bit worried. I have a very good feeling that I can trust Rees' partnership, and I hope he can trust mine. Deathrow and Krusty Kid Paul are a pair of dangerous dudes. Basically, all I can say is that I am going into this match with the same mindset I always do. But hey! There's a slight difference this time, isn't there? Superstar rules. Only Deathrow would think of something like this, and if he wouldn't then he'd definitely take credit for it. I dunno, I mean I'm walking dangerous ground as it is. What am I to do if I get injured? Falcons can't fly with broken wings, can they? Maybe a more mat-based approach would be neccessary in this situation. I mean, I am definitely prepared to alter my game a little bit if it means staying in the proper shape to wrestle. I'm still working out my game plan, but you never know what could happen, right? A man in my position, our position, rather, needs to be prepared for anything.
4. And what about Prince W. Darko?
JACOB VENAR: What about him? He's an all-talk spaz. Dude takes one looks at himself in the mirror in the morning and goes "Can't Whoop me!" then he realizes it's just a reflection. He's a walking ego. You know what happened at Black Thursday? The dude realized he was getting whooped and couldn't accept it. How could he? His reputation, his dignity, and above all else, his ego were on the line. What'd he do? He made sure that he would be the one basking in fifteen minutes of fame. You wanna know why? Because Darko needs to have some kind of prestige, whether he earned it or not. He's like... just some kid begging for attention, and he's not afraid to break a few rules to get that attention. He's almost not worth my time. The only thing keeping Darko on my hit list right now is a vow I made myself prior to Black Thursday. I'd get back at the man who eliminated me from the Gauntlet. Not to mention I'd like to redeem a little moral dignity to compensate for when he assaulted my manhood. In short? Darko's a prick.
5. I don't think you'd be alone in that assessment. Looking ahead, what does 2008 hold for "The Falcon?"
JACOB VENAR: Heh, another good question. I honestly couldn't give much more than two shits about whatever the future holds in store for me. I like to focus on the here and now. I mean, there's no point in jumping to conclusions. If you need an answer, take a poll maybe, I don't know. You could actually just go to the press section at NAPW-online.comÊand check out the predictions someone made in there. Personally, I skipped it. Reason being, I don't care. The future doesn't interest me any more than the past does, and do you see me bitching about my losses to Rossi or Phoenix? No, you don't. So maybe the world won't find out what happens to Jacob Venar in 2008 until something happens to Jacob Venar in 2008. I can tell you this much, though; Blood will be shed. Lots of it.
Will Venar and Rees capture tag team gold? And will Venar get revenge on Prince W. Darko? We will find out when NAPW hits Calgary and Edmonton on 1/22 and 1/29! Whatever the case, the future looks bright the high-flying Falcon.
FIVE QUESTIONS WITH...
FIVE QUESTIONS WITH..."The Ego Buster" Dan Ryan
1. Why has Dan Ryan come to NAPW?
DAN RYAN: I have a lot of things going on as a general rule, but basically NAPW caught my eye in the various cross-promotional tournaments and shows I've competed on for TEAM in the last year or so. Then of course you have the names popping up on end of year lists the last few years. So I guess the short answer is curiosity and challenge. I've been fortunate to do just about everything I ever set out to do in this business, but when I see the possibility for challenge I seek it out. Simple as that.
2. Sounds fair, but as of late you seem to be acting like you're "too good" for NAPW. Do you really feel you're "above" the great talent in New Alberta Pro?
DAN RYAN: It's called confidence, bro. You wanna be the best that ever lived? Well, you damn sure better believe it. Bottom line, my confidence is overwhelming. Call it arrogance if you wish. I don't really care. If I'm arrogant, then I have reason to be. I never claimed to be a nice guy either, so if there's someone who has a problem with my attitude then it's just that - their problem. Of course, confidence always runs head on into reality and in reality whether or not I'm actually "above" the talent in New Alberta is still to be decided.
3. At Black Thursday III, Andrew Rossi suffered an injury in his match against you. Why did you treat him so ruthlessly and what on earth were you trying to prove when you continued to attack him after the match?
DAN RYAN: I don't know. It seems to me that it's his job to stop me from breaking his neck. Does that sound harsh to you people? I'm sorry, but I don't have any sympathy for weakness. He's fine enough to be preparing to wrestle in other companies in the next couple weeks, so let's not paint the little Hitler moustache on my poster just yet. Besides, he works for me. I'll make it up to him. And yes, I'd do it again.
4. In just a couple weeks you are set to square off with that rarity - a man bigger than you. In this case, that man is the colossal KRENSHOV, who has a bone to pick with you for first costing the BMF team the victory at Ultimate Attrition after you walked out on him, as well as for the aforementioned injury to Rossi. What are your thoughts as you look this first-ever meeting between KRENSHOV and yourself?
DAN RYAN: What do I think of the world's biggest boy scout? I think I've been in the ring against seven foot monsters before and I think a slice of American cheese could outsmart the guy. As for the Ultimate Attrition match, whatever alright? I got bored with his hulking roid-head routine really quickly and seeing him flail wildly around the ring got old as soon as he accidentally hit me in the head. What I really wanna know is why he cares so damn much about freakin' Andrew Rossi anyway. Shouldn't he be on the run cross country looking for a cure to his Gamma radiation poisoning while trying to dodge the pursuit of General Thunderbolt Ross?? And how much does he have to pay Marvel for the right to imitate The Incredible Hulk so thoroughly? And why is he playing him dumber?
5. I would tell you it's not a wise idea to make KRENSHOV angry, but somehow I don't think the message would get across. Bringing this interview to a close, what are your goals here in New Alberta Pro over the course of 2008? And any last words to your peers?
DAN RYAN: Ha, well thanks for the bonus Hulk reference - whether it was intentional or not. Although, I would suggest that KRENSHOV SMASH not make ME angry, or furthermore not push me to the point of inspiring me to roll out Rossi 2.0 on his neck. I'm not concerned about his little Kenny-smash powerups. He better be concerned about me though.
As for my goals? The cliche holds true, my friend. To be the best in the world, same as my goals always are. With me, you're gonna get a freight train moving straight ahead, no matter who you are. I'm not here to find some buddies. I'm here to lay the shit down. It's on your people to stop me, or else you'll have an entire company of Andrew Rossis on your hands.
Dan Ryan vs KRENSHOV in a Battle Of The Titans main event headlines NAPW's Year of the ATTRITIONING in Calgary at the Ogden, January 22nd. Tickets are nearly sold out, gets your soon to be part of the first NAPW show of 2008!
FIVE QUESTIONS WITH...
Prince W. Darko
1. 1. You probably had one of the most eventful and hectic years out of any NAPW/REBEL wrestler. Started the year in NAPW, went to REBEL, joined the Crimes, and finally came back to NAPW as a singlers wrestler. What do you think when you look back on 2007?
PRINCE W. DARKO: Yeah, it was a mother (BLEEP) crazy year. It starts off with my ass getting beat up and shit, then that minor title victory, then I drop the belt to mother (BLEEP) Nightmare. That's when I knew something was wrong, I freakin' lost to NIGHTMARE! But I couldn't fix nothing, I kept losing. I leave, come back. Now no one can whoop me. Mother (BLEEP), I'm a success story. I'ma get a biographical movie staring Chris Tucker (I love that guy). I'm talking to Paramount about the idea, they're liking what they hear. It's gonna be called "Prince Williams Darko: The Epic." It's going to sell out all over, especially back home in Zamunda. Production is set for late 08. And my stocks, my mother (BLEEP) stocks, they've had an even better year. PDS has reached an all time high. It's amazing I tell you, amazing.
2. Probably your biggest success this year was defeating the undefeated Stone Zellor for the Heritage title. You had what many call the best match of your career with the ladder match at "Aces High" against Stone; that match made the NAPW top 5 of 2007. Tell us about that entire situation.
PRINCE W. DARKO: That match, that match was somethin'. And I do agree with all those mother (BLEEP), it was a great match, only because my ass was in it. But that shit should've been number one. Mother (BLEEP) Ravager vs Stone Zellor. If it was a triple threat with my ass in it, that match would've still been horrid. Both of those dudes are trash. All that garbage would've been too much for me to try do anything about. See when it was just me and Stone in the ring, I could've done something to make the crowd forget how sorry Stone was. Which was what I did in that ladder match. The match could've just been me and that damn ladder and it would've still had all the acclaim it had, if not more. Now, people out there have a hankering for garbage which was why they voted Stone and Ravager number one. That was a double dose of trash. Those two idiots were too garbage to even finish the match. I'm so glad that punk ass Ravager isn't apart of this roster no more. I can tell people I wrestle for NAPW and not feel ashamed.
3. Those are some pretty harsh words for the man who many feel SAVED NAPW in 2007 with his epic title reign. 10 title defenses, six months, main eventing show after show. How can you not respect a man like Ravager for all he's done inside the ring?
PRINCE W. DARKO: Easy. He's never whooped me.
4. You keep talking about how nobody can "whoop" you. But there are lots of guys who've whooped you, at the start of the year, in REBEL, even here in the fall. And there are two men in January looking to WHOOP you by the names of Jacob Venar and Teddy Davis after your actions in the Black Thursday Gauntlet. Somebody's going to whoop you, Darko.
PRINCE W. DARKO: They better put my ass in a handicap match against them and five hand picked goons. I'm talking goons, mean ass mother (BLEEP) with no education that only know how to fight dirty. Dudes that are willing to tie my limbs to four horses and have 'em run off. Dudes that are willing to take a potato peeler and take my skin off slowly. I'm talking about "Saw 2" mother (BLEEP). Dudes that would put my testicles in a bear trap and yank off the bear trap slowly, then empty a big can of 'Moron' salt on my wounds. Ruthless mother fuckers. If Jacob and Anus can't do that, if they can't make it happen. They won't be able to whoop me. It's guaran-damn-tee.
Look--don't get me wrong here. I've been whooped before, but that was before people couldn't whoop me. When I say 'can't whoop me,' I'm talking about my fall return to NAPW. Who whooped me besides Bruce? No one. Bruce Richards was the only man to pin me, I respect him cause he pinned me. Now, I wouldn't go as far to say he whooped me, cause I got up after that weak ass Chart Attack. See whoopin, whoopin is that shit I do on a daily basis. You saw how I left Deez Nuts Carter the first night I came back? You saw how I left Stone when I won my title? I left those mother (BLEEP) a mess, in a (BLEEP) heap. Now those two dumbasses Jacob Venar and Teddy Anus want to face me because I whooped them, that's mother (BLEEP) preposterous. I left both of those dudes a mess in the same ring, the same damn night, now they want to face me? I'm serious, when I face those sons of bitches, it's going too look like deja vu. I'ma whoop them again.
5. Sure Darko. Final question: Do you think you could whoop Rex Caliber in his prime?
PRINCE W. DARKO: Look, ease up on the tough questions, okay? Rex Caliber, he's my duke, I would never want to put that man through such pain as a Zamunda Driver, past or present. I love that man. I ain't soft or nothing, I just got love and respect for him like that. That man was my leader back in the days, the days where Crimes ran REBEL. I don't think I could ever put his ass through a Zamunda Driver, I couldn't bring myself to do something like that...I just can't. It's like putting five shots in your beloved father's chest on his birthday. It's not something anyone would want to do. And Rex, he's like my daddy, and a Zamunda Driver that shit is like five shots in his chest. I don't wanna kill my daddy, it's wrong.
The former Heritage champion takes on Teddy Davis at "Year of the ATTRITIONING" and then Jacob Venar at "ONE NIGHT ONLY." Can they whoop him? Don't miss these shows for the answer to that question and many more!
LINK: 2007 Five Questions Archive
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