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Interview With IZW Superstar O'Malley

Posted: Sep 21st 2012 By: CMBurnham

?In IZW, I am always a contender.?

You would have to be a moron to disagree with the above statement after knowing the quote was from the 5?11?, 350 lb brick house known as O'Malley. O?Malley has recently returned to IZW, after a brief absence from the Oklahoman pro wrestling stronghold, to continue his path of destruction. As evidence of his continued domination in the ring, he?s left a trail of broken bodies throughout the Impact Arena.

?Recently I have been teaching a young upstart what it means to mess with O?Malley. I just knocked out Kyle ?Machine Gun? Kelley at the last pay-per-view [Redemption], I think for the sixth time. He just doesn?t learn. I will give him credit, he keeps coming but I have no problem knuckling up and knocking him out again,? O?Malley said.

?The only thing keeping me in check is me. It is not about wins and losses, those are for rookies. It is about respect, if they don?t want to respect me, then I will teach them a lesson,? O?Malley continued.

Knocking people out has been a specialty of O?Malley?s ever since he started in the business. Under the tutelage and guidance of Tom Jones, O?Malley has been a pro since July 2001. Through that time, he?s been in so many matches in the Oklahoma territory and surrounding areas and delivered a fair amount of pain and suffering to his opponents. But even for a man of O?Malley?s stature, he is not immune to the bumps and bruises of one of the most physically demanding professions in the world.

?Wrestling is not for the weak of body or mind. Everyone knows about the injuries that happen. I myself have had my nose broken 9 times, 5 knee surgeries between both my knees, a broken ankle and collar bone. You go hurt or not, that is the game. The thing people do not realize is all the time away from home. You leave on Thursday and come home in time to see the sun come up on Monday morning. That is a lot of time in a car and sometimes you have company in that car and sometimes you do not. That time alone is nice but it begins to wear on you,? O?Malley added.

Even with the long drives, injuries and distance away from friends and family, professional wrestling?s been on O?Malley?s radar since childhood while growing up in Dallas and Louisiana. ?As a kid my grandmother and I would go to TV tapings and watch WCCW every time it was on TV. I was hooked from a small child. Every year a show would travel to our town in Louisiana around my birthday and I would get tickets.?
O?Malley excelled at sports as a youth, particularly football and baseball, and even wanted to be a ninja as a kid. Although he might have outgrown the famous all-black garb of a ninja, he?s found his calling when it comes to dishing out punishment and making his foes pay.

?My biggest accomplishment in wrestling so far is being the only person to have ever held every IZW title.? [Editor?s note: along with being a 3-time IZW World Heavyweight Champion, O?Malley has won Tag Team, Hardcore and Cruiserweight Championship gold in IZW].

As for a favorite match, that involves a legend of the sport who is a former WCW World Champion, All-Japan Triple Crown Champion, New Japan Champion and WWF(E) veteran, the man they call Vader. ?My favorite moment was getting to wrestle Vader, a man I looked up to and watched growing up. It took me right back to my childhood,? remembered O?Malley.

Having the feud with Vader was right up O?Malley?s alley as the ?Hate Machine? has always preferred a hard-hitting style where you give as good as you get and the fans in the last row of the arena can still hear the thuds of punches connecting on your opponent?s head and body.

?When I broke into wrestling, I never really wanted to work for WWE. My goal from day one was to go to Japan. I have always wanted to wrestle there as long as I can remember. I enjoy wrestling and especially at IZW. I believe with all that is going on there now that I will see my dream come to fruition. IZW is by far the best federation going in this state or any other. For an independent company to be able to put on the caliber of shows they do and film them in high- definition for the world to see. That is unheard of. A lot of feds get local TV deals and they die quickly. IZW is the only fed I have ever heard going national since the days of the territories in this area,? O?Malley remarked.

Although still very active in the squared circle, O?Malley believes he has more to offer the business even when the time comes to hang up his wrestling boots. ?I eventually, like all wrestlers, will retire and moving backstage as an agent or a booker would be nice. Still being around to help the next generation with knowledge and experience and be around the people you have come to call family.?

Now along with a weekly show on GFL.tv, IZW will also debut a new show on October 6 to over 20 million Comcast viewers from coast to coast. That type of coverage and access for fans is something that makes IZW distinct and gives its wrestlers a huge stage to perform. ?I believe it will take IZW and its wrestlers to the next level. It is putting our faces in front of audiences most of those guy would never have a chance to be in front of. It is the stepping stone that will put some of the guys that come through IZW on to the next level,? said O?Malley.

O?Malley has made his mark in IZW and continues to be a force to be reckoned with. Not many wrestlers on the planet can match him strength for strength. You add to that a gruff personality and it makes for a combustible formula that can be a handful for anyone. Through all of the ups and downs the business has to offer, O?Malley has been a constant. Whether as the ?Hate Machine? or now simply O?Malley, one thing that will never change is when fans see him step into a ring, they know they are going to see a fight. A hard hitting, no-nonsense honest to goodness fight.

?Love me or hate me, the fans know where they stand with me. If I say it, they can bank on it and remember, if they cross me, I will KNUCKLE UP AND KNOCK?EM OUT!?