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Interview with Former NWA Champion, Pro Wrestling NOAH Alumni Bull Schmit

Posted: Dec 18th 2013 By: CMBurnham

I 1st met Bull Schmitt in 1999, He was coming down with Gary Tool, Dexter Hardaway from Oklahoma, Bull was huge, Literally one of the biggest guys I ever met, His work was awesome, His respect & attitude matched his workrate, He was trained by 1 of the greatest of all time, Harley Race. Bull not only won championship gold in Texas, Bull would go on to have a 3 year Run with Pro Wrestling NOAH, In the early 2000's Misawa & a group of Longtime All Japan Pro Wrestling Stars broke away, shortly after the passing of AJPW Promoter the Great Giant Baba, Misawa started a new company, Bull had the opportunity of a lifetime, and not only went to Japan for a cup of coffee, He had a 3 year run. Bull will return to Texas in 2014, Bull used to stay with me & my family when they would come down & work NWA Southwest, He was 1 of the coolest guys I ever met, and he treats me no different today then he did when we 1st met. Bull is one of the good guys, Who has worked his ass off, and has shown the world, he can hang with anyone. Here is a short interview we did, this past weekend:

You trained with legendary WWE Hall of Famer Harley Race. Tell us about that experience?

Training and wrestling for Harley was eye opening and extremely humbling but the most awesome opportunity that ever happened in my career. Some of my strongest bonds I have were formed with WLW and Harley. Trevor, Natural, Steve, Matt, BJ (rip) and many others I still consider family to this day. Harley was a legit badass brother and he rode me like a circus pony because he expected and demanded respect in and out of the ring. I am forever proud of being a part of what many have said was the heyday of WLW. I love Harley and I always will, without him I would not be who Bull Schmitt evolved into. One hell of a worker if I must say so myself.

You got some exposure in TX in 1999. Working mainly for NWA Southwest. You went on to win the Tag team titles with Gary Tool. How important was it to be in TX? Also winning the prestigious Texas Tag Team title, how important was that to you?

For me working in Texas was huge due to my addiction to WCCW back in the 80s, Mid South and World Class were the end all be all in wrestling Working with Gary was memorable to say the least but I could have had a better partner, road warrior and just all around good buddy than Gary. I cherish his wrestling mind because he was very smart about the biz and pissed me off because I could just listen to him talk wrestling psych 101 for hours and not sleep, btw Gary never shut up either but I learned volumes from the man. Moody`s Mob was one of my favorite angles of all time, man that was fun.

After Tx, you then embarked on a huge journey, to Japan wrestling in Misawa`s Pro Wrestling NOAH. You had a 3 year run with Vader Scorpio Bison Smith, you wrestled some of the greatest like Misawa, Kobashi, Akiyama. The Japanese fans are huge on honor and skill. You not only went, you were a big part of the company for 3 years. How was that experience?

It was life changing David, Japan was hands down the toughest and most enjoyable experience of my life. Bison and I should have been pushed like the Warriors over there, I still have bruises from our matches with No Fear. I really wish I kept in better touch with Bison when I took a break he was one of the nicest and genuine people I ever met and I cherish our memories. Vader and Scorp were old school guys with old school bonds so they were a little wishy washy when it came to certain things like politics and backstage drama but I learned immeasurable lessons from them. Overall I would not trade anything for wrestling Kobashi and Misawa that was mind blowing completely mind blowing lol. Misawa was great and he was the one according to Harley wanted to push me over there and he did. How many gaijin you hear of going undefeated their first tour in singles competition without any major US publication? Not many and Harley was proud of it too and he let me know it, Harley and I had our ups and downs but that was the best feeling ever when he was talking to me about that very thing.

In the past few years you've been working all over the country. Next year after years of being away, your returning to TX. This time to IHWE. You have a long bond with the promotion as it began during your TX run and the IHW at the time family spent time with each other in Fort Worth. You were booked to wrestle at the old IHW and things came up. So next year you return. How do you feel about it? It's a big deal that such a talent like yourself would pick IHWE to return to TX with. Your thoughts on this homecoming

Can't wait brother, Texas is one of the places I always wish I kept better contact with in my career. IHWE was a no brainer for me to do one more show down in Texas for, they appreciate and honor wrestling the way it should be done.... with class period. The roster is a who's who of old friends and legends that honestly I am honored to even be in the same building as some of the gentlemen there and that also includes Team Extreme who were class acts and I would kill for some of our matches on DVD, I'm sure you know people wink wink.

Bull will be a part of the Monumental IHWE Fort Worth Events in 2014. It will be a huge homecoming for one of the biggest men to come through Texas in the last 15 years!