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Jermaine Johnson?s Interview

Posted: Dec 30th 2015 By: WorldWrestlingInterviews.WordPress.com

The former IZW world champion Jermaine Johnson talks with us about the indies, the wrestling business and more.

1.For those who do not know, can you introduce yourself?

Born in Wichita, KS in 1984 I caught the wrestling bug from his grandma. As a four year old, he watched Sting and Ric Flair have a classic at the first Clash of Champions and I never looked back, I grow up during pro wrestling?s Golden Age, when larger-than-life characters like Macho Man and Ultimate Warrior were lifting the sport to new heights. The loud combination of cartoon like characters and athleticism always left me wanting more.

2.Can you describe your career for us, how did you become a wrestler?

I never wanted to go to the NFL or NBA. I never had any thought of another career, all I wanted to do was wrestle. I wanted to get in the business at 16 like Sean Waltman (X-Pac, 1 2 3 Kid, Syxx) did, but I didn?t know how. There were no wrestling schools in Kansas at the time. One day I picked up a special edition of Pro Wrestling Illustrated and it had profiles of every fed in the world, including there phone number and training school information. I made a list of all the feds in the surrounding states and knew it was how I was going to get started.


3.Can you talk about your first steps into this business, do you remember your first match?

I made lots of phone calls, but one day I called Brandon Bishop in Colorado. I told him I was willing to drive the eight hour trip every other week to train, and pretty much called me a dumbass, but he didn?t completely douche me out he give me Johnny Z?s number in Oklahoma City and told me that?s closer, they?re just started up but they a great place to get started. He was right. My training to Impact Zone Wrestling was top notch. I learned everything to be truly prepared for my first match and beyond. I started training July 28th 2007. On March 15th 2008 I had my first match with ? Mr. Saturday Night ? Michael Barry. I will say that I?ve watched that match not to long ago and it still holds up if I say so myself and that?s thanks to Barry and my training from Aaron Neil, Gary Tool, Brad Michaels, Bernie D., and Johnny Z

4.Who inspired you for your wrestling style and your character?

My in ring style changing from time to time as I try to keep evolving my craft to become the best performer possible. when I started in 2008 I studied what I thought were the best whitemeat babyfaces, for me that was Shawn Michaels, Ricky Steamboat, X-Pac, Booker T. and Brian Pillman just to name a few. As my career moved along I started watching more Arn Anderson, Pretty Wonderful, and a lot of the Chris Jericho run of 2008 to 2010.

5.Who had the greatest influence/impact on your career?

Overall while studying all those great and countless others, no one has had a better Impact or been more influential then John Wolfenbarger A.K.A. Johnny Z. He was my first feud and I learned so much. We traveled the roads together, and I learned so much. He?s been in a lot of my favorite matches, from T.L.C, Cage, Last Man Standing, and No Holds Barred, and it learned so much. You see the pattern here.

6.What has been the hardest sacrifice being part of the wrestling world?

I learned quickly in this business that sacrifice and wrestling go hand in hand. The biggest one I?ve made without a doubt is the time I away from my children, they still live in Kansas while I?m living in Lawton, OK.

7.If you could change anything about the wrestling industry, what would it be?

If I could change anything about the industry, I would made it harder to get in. It?s like anything in life if it?s just given to you, handed to you without you having to earn it in any way you don?t appreciate it the same. You can tell pretty quickly who had to sacrifice to make it and who it was given to.

8.Wrestlers are very often on the road, so do you have any story for our readers?

I recently listened to the Steve Austin Podcast when his guest was Tommy Dreamer and that show introduced me to the wrestling game. I was on a road trip with The K.C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) and John E. Rock and we played that game for a grand total of 54 hours non stop!

9.Who gave you the most valuable advice? What was this advice?

The best advice I?ve gotten would have to have come from Matt Striker and The Brooklyn Brawler and it was talk like a real person. I?ve done a few tryout for WWE and ROH, and my promo skills always get over and that started when I realized what they were talking about.

10.What are your favorites moments in your career?

I?ve wrestled on some awesome show but I would have to say my favorite moment in wrestling was working as a extra for Raw and Smackdown. I learned so much and it?s just an experience of a lifetime.

11.Where would you like to wrestle? Why?

WWE is were I?m trying to go, but in the mean time I would like to be wrestling on shows like PWG in California or AIW in Ohio. a place to get notice and get my name out there.

12.What do you think of the indies?

Everyone?s who?s anyone keeps talking about the Indies are doing wonderful, but those guys weren?t in the fire like I am. there are a lot of great performers on the indies but, there?s a lot of trash on the indies too. I think the experts are including ROH ,TNA, GFW, LUCHA UNDERGROUND indies and they?re not. Those guys might work indy shows but they?re on National T.V. every week. Go to a real indy show and watch the dude who works at Whataburger vs the nightclub bouncer and you?ll see The Young Bucks aren?t indy.

13.How did you feel when you won the IZW heavyweight championship?

Were you as proud of winning the IZW heavyweight title as winning the IZW Impact Division Title or the IZW Tag Team titles? Did you feel the same?

IZW is my home base and I?ve won every championship there. Each championship has a different feeling. Winning any championship in any promotion is a sign that the company trust you and is to be respected as such.

14.Can you explain the name of your team with Jordan Jacobs ? What Wrestling Should Be ??
Who had the idea of this name?

? Lights Out ? Jordan Jacobs and I have discussed this a lot. When we originally had been tagging and needed a name, our ideas focused on the fact that we were different. We felt that to many people are afraid to rock the boat. That?s not us. We have the balls to be ourselves and seize any audience?s attention?by doing what we do, and going all out, we leave an impression that lasts even after the show ends. When we are on a show, whether together or separate, we are not two more men wrestling. No, no, no? We are something different and we will be remembered. That?s What Wrestling Should Be!!!!!

Oh and by the way, I came up with the name all by myself and Jordan gets no credit at all lol

15.Who are your dream partners/opponents?

My dream opponents reads like a who?s who from Chris Jericho to Kane to, Big Show. Speaking of Dream opponents there?s a certain someone out there who said he could wrestle for a hour with no problem and I would love to help/be apart of him proving that, so exclusively for you I make the challenge to one of the greatest big man this sport has ever seen. That?s right, you guessed it, I challenge THE GREAT KHALI to a 60 min IRON MAN MATCH!

16.What are your goal for 2016

My goal for 2016 is to continue moving forward, Get notice and make an Impact. I want to be a name that people remember when they think about wrestling, and prove to people that I?m Larger than Life.