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Tyler Bateman interviewed by SK Fulton

Posted: Apr 21st 2003 By: oklastaff

S. Fulton-First of all, where are you from?

T. Bateman-Plains Field, Wis.

S.F.-Oh, well we?re practically neighbors. Where did you get your start at?

T.B.-I got my start here in the city, after my dad switched jobs, we moved out here and I ventured my way to what was New-Mid South at the time, and was partially, and I use the term partially very strong, and trained very loosely by Tom Jones, and another student at the academy, Brad Michaels actually did most of my training. Michael Faith had a hand in it, The Dark Angel had a hand in it, who else was there, The New Dr. X and Gary Tool, they?ve all helped, and I try to learn from everyone.

S.F.-Your also a former light-heavyweight champ in Texas, what organization was that with?

T.B.-It was TCW, and then the company switched over to XCW, so I guess maybe one in the same, I?m not sure if that makes two different titles, or just the one.

S.F.-You?ve gone on the OCW message board a few times asking the fans who they would like to see you wrestle, how much stock, how serious do you think the promoters of wrestling organizations take these suggestions from fans?

T.B.-Not as serious as I would like them too, or I would be working regularly with Outcast, X-Cal, maybe even Romero, or that one guy who use to work for OCW, Manservant, maybe even a clash with Sonny C. once or twice. Quite frankly I?d like to see, maybe not the fans having complete..., I like to see the promoters take a lot more suggestions, because the people know what they want to see, and if they give it to them once and it turns out to be a mistake, that will be if nothing else a lesson learned.

S.F.-You?re participating tonight in what?s being billed as a lucha libre event, how much of the style has influenced you?

T.B.-Actually, I don?t get to see a lot of the actual legit lucha libre from Mexico. Where I get most of my, if it?s not a little easier to see, where I get a lot of my influence is actually Japan. I?m a big fan of the Japanese style.

S.F.-Puroresu

T.B.-Yes the more strong style which probably show a little bit, but I do enjoy the lucha libre, big fan of Michinoku Pro, that?s where I get most of my, if any, that and old Nitro are where I?ve seen most of my actual lucha libre.

S.F.-How long have you been a wrestling fan?

T.B.-Oh, for as long as I can remember.

S.F.-Who were the wrestlers that you watched that made you say, "This is what I want to do"?

T.B.-When I was young you could have tattooed an "M" on my forehead I was like (in high child-like falsetto) Hulk Hogan rules! I love the Ultimate Warrior, it?s the greatest thing, I wanna shack the ropes Dad! (falsetto ends) Of course my parents hating wrestling was always um, nice, but as my tastes started to evolve, and I became a little more intellengent as it were, Chris Benoit was one of the first people I started to watch just for his talent, Vader before he left WCW. My favorite old school wrestler is Arn Anderson, he rocks, Double A is one of the best.

S.F.-And out of the new school?

T.B.-I?m a big fan of a wrestler from the old school and the new school, I love me some Steve Corino.

S.F.- Sure, the King of Old School.

T.B.-Oh yeah. I like a lot of the more indy type guys, "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels, Wreckless Youth, Lo-Ki, um..., Brian Kendrick, Spanky, I?m not sure if he?s on developmental or if he?s got a contract by now.

S.F.-He?s been on Smackdown the past few weeks trying to get a job, he finally got one.

T.B.-Execellent.

S.F.-Wrestlemania is about a week or so away, as a wrestler what does that event mean to you?

T.B.-Well, it always has been, oh, what does Vince call it? The Showcase of the Immortals. It?s the biggest show, probably the highest buy rate, always has been, and most likely always will be. Everything comes to a head. I?m looking forward to seeing particularly Kurt Angle, who I think is already maybe a legend in the business, against Brock Lesnar. I think that will be a very interesting match if nothing else, maybe a little different then what American culture is use to seeing.

S.F.-It?s almost heralding in a new era of pro wrestling, it?s definitely more of a mat- based style, a technical style.

T.B.-Yeah, like back in the NWA type 80?s it was a lot more wrestling, grabbing, of course at a slower pace, and it seems like now a days, Angle, Benoit, the Guerreros, a lot of those type guys have been able to put their hands together, and you got your entertainment, and your high flying, your high impact equation, and your good solid quality mat wrestling and your promos in the middle, and you put that all together and you?ve got a great product, that?s the way it?s leaning more and more.

S.F.- Well, thank you very much, I enjoy watching you work, and wish you all the luck in your career.

T.B.-Thanks, I appreciate it, and by the way, nice shirt.

S.F.-Oh, thank you.