What's going on guys, welcome back to the chewing
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subscribe share this episode is gonna be a good
one. We're deep diving into something different
Gentlemen that we have in podcast today, you
know he Well, you know what? Let's not even bring
that story up. Let's let him tell his story before
we say the answer Let's just start to show you
ready. That's good. Let's go We're sitting down
with wrestler graders and underground talent
making noise their way. This is the Chew and
Who podcast. Let's get into it. What's going
on, guys? Welcome back to the Chew and Who podcast.
I am here with my buddy, Chew. Once again, Balde
and myself, Mark. We are here for episode, I
think it's 282. 282, man. Slowly climbing the
ladder against that 300, man. What are we going
to do when we hit 300? I don't know. Someone's
going to get Sparta kicked into a pit. This is
chewing you. We'll think of something. That'll
be chewing the pit. But anyways, guys. On today's
episode, we have a great guest with us. He's
been on the podcast. I think he's going to be
number five. There's a lot of fives this season,
man. We have a lot of fives that are coming in
this season. He just keeps taking the invites.
I know, right? He just keeps entering the phone.
But ladies and gentlemen, tonight on the podcast,
let us welcome, a .k .a. James Blackcard, Mr.
Steve J. Babio! Hey, welcome. Welcome to the
podcast. Yeah, thanks for having me, brother.
It's been, it's been a man. Last time we had
you, I think you weren't, the last time we chatted
was with the trio. The trio was here and we had
a chit chat, man. There was, after the whole
interview, I didn't realize. who the person on
the video was uh from uh cross where he was over
in station somewhere else oh yeah jay uh david
david james yeah yeah i didn't know who dj are
like holy shit that's dj i shouldn't remember
the damn voice for the first time i interviewed
him back in the old street yeah so the whole
the whole time i thought you knew yeah yeah i
was like oh come on yeah yeah i did until later
on i wrote back to listen i like listening to
the podcast From now on, everyone's going to
have to say where they're from. Right. And when
I heard his voice, I'm like, wait a minute, I've
heard his voice before. So I go to like episode,
I think it was episode seven or eight. We spoke
to him three times. And I go, holy crap, this
is him. I go, I should have that photo, too.
There's about five of us. Yeah, down by over
there. other hallway yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
you gotta bring that back we'll hang that sucker
up i think that's what we're gonna start doing
trying to get all our guests previous pictures
and start put them on the wall one by one all
the previous guests oh kalash yeah yeah kalash
get on it but anyways But we have you on the
pod bro. I know it's been a minute since we had
you the last time that was here A lot has changed.
Oh, yeah I mean, let's start first of all, let's
reintroduce you to the podcast on our fans here
So start from the game tell me where you are
where you from and where you grew up. Let's go
So my name is Steven James by the you I'm originally
from Alamo, Texas Somehow Throughout my life.
I managed to go one end of the world to the other
and then find wrestling in the process Or get
back in touch with wrestling and become a wrestler
in the process, right? And that's led me to being
on the two new podcast well it's a great always
a great time of pleasure to be here so yeah so
the time time has passed for a while man uh i
know the last time i told you were wrestling
for a different uh different promotion and you
were jumping from promotion to junior thing then
all of a sudden you know take us take us to that
story man what's going on what i mean how How
do we get here? Well, I mean, everybody's been
asking, hey, have you heard about James? Have
you heard about what's going on on his neck of
the woods? Where is he? He's missing. He's dropped
off the face of the earth. What's going on, man?
Talk to the reason for getting off the socials
was not the same as leaving wrestling. OK, but
I left wrestling. I mean, there's a number of
reasons, but ultimately. Just felt to disconnect.
Okay, you know just there's a disconnect happening
and At least locally okay, and then With what
I was more focused on you know trying to keep
climbing that mountain and go to bigger bigger
places bigger venues bigger promotions right
right that requires a lot more resources mm -hmm,
and that's something that you kind of learn along
the way along the process and a That to make
the decision to gather those resources, right?
And I decided well, I'll just work the local
and then so I was gonna work the local And I
just wasn't feeling it not vibing Okay, and I
said it to the last time guys that I was here
on the on the podcast, right? If you're showing
up on Sunday or Friday Saturday, whatever it
is, you know to your local venue and you're doing
the show and That's if that's all you want if
that's all you're gonna do might as well just
go home because you're already there So I went
home. What am I doing? Do you feel like maybe
it was more like a like a reset or something?
Something you just have to step back and say,
hey, let me calculate what I'm doing in my life
or what? It was that and I'll tell you what I
because it's a very impulsive decision. Well,
not that it was impulsive, but it was a string
of things, and then it was like that little straw
that broke the camel's back. Type of deal. And
so I decided, you know what? I'm out. And I initially
thought, I'm out for good. And after a couple
days, I chilled out. I was like, OK, well, you
know what? Maybe just a couple months, maybe
six months, seven months. But now I mean there's
things I'm working on now have ideas I have plans
and So each kind of day that passes now The return
to wrestling just kind of becomes less and less
and less a priority. Okay So I don't really know
where I'm at with that And the weird thing is
what you say while you're saying that it I mean
not to compare because I mean I could never compare
myself to being a wrestler or being anything
anything else and I'm and like always the first
person that kicks in Martin Gorman saying well,
well I'm glad I'm glad to hear from Martin cuz
I one of the last matches I had Probably the
last time that I worked for for do not text was
wrestling. Mm -hmm. I got to work Martin in the
match and Hey, he passed with me flying colors.
He did a great job. There you go Let me a little
bumps and bruises. You know what? I mean and
and a great guy man. Good job Martin Not for
him. Not for him. I got a couple receipts that
if I ever come back, I would like to dish out.
But he's good. He's good. You're in the clear,
Martin. You can turn off the show now. But yeah,
I like us going back to that. What I'm trying
to say is like, I can't compare myself to a wrestler.
But as far as like something like a career that,
you know, you you love it, you thrive for it.
And when you thrive for so much. When you first
start it's fun. It's fun. You have fun with it
You know what I mean, and then all of a sudden
it feels like a job Afterwards you're having
the fun, but now it's like well you have it you
have to do it now it is a job and it is a career
right and I Mean, I don't know about up north,
but I think for a lot like the majority of wrestlers
How I was talking about those resources mm -hmm
that That's like part of the business of wrestling
and those things you often don't get taught and
you have to learn it as it's happening. So learning
and the brand new like feeling of wrestling and
being a wrestler and going out and doing your
thing. It feels like a sport like you're going
out Friday night football doing your best, you
know for the crowd whoever and it feels like
a sport. But at the end of the day, it's a business,
and it's all about that cash money. Right. I
got you. I got you. I don't understand. So you're
not really burned out on it. You just kind of
sort of need to step away from it to do business.
I did feel burned out. And I don't mean that
it was too much of a business for me. But what
I'm saying is like those resources and everything
that I was talking about. You gotta take the
time to learn the business, to have the adequate
resources to do what you gotta do to keep climbing
that mountain. To keep being relevant, to keep
going to more relevant places. And that's very
challenging, I feel, is the most challenging
part. And Martin already commented, finally,
some respect. Okay, Martin, don't push the button,
Martin, please. Maybe one receipt, maybe. Here
we go But yeah, so you're doing it. I guess you
can say it's like a revamp for yourself something
that you know, hey, let's let me look back on
everything that I've done and Is there a certain
change you want it? I mean, we don't expect you
to come back next week We don't expect you two
months out. Is it something like you know what?
I just need time off to Gather What i've done
and how to just like exactly like like marty
says right here He needs a reset. It's a reset
pretty much right exactly. Uh, I would I would
like to have that frame of mind and I do I do
have it I just can't confidently say like hey,
well after this amount of time You know, i'll
feel like I want to get back or I can't say like
after this amount of time I plan to wrestle again
um It's just i've develop like plans for myself
and things I want to do right and it's like I
just can't say when or if I'm sure one day I
would like to at least have a retirement match
or to say this is my last match for whoever cares
But at the moment, I just can't say, like, I
need this much time or anything like that. No,
I hear you. I do hear what you're trying to say,
man. And yeah, sometimes it's stuff that you
love to do. You just need to step back and just,
you know, you need a reset. Yeah. And sometimes,
you know, I've told a lot of young musicians
that come in and go, hey, it's great. You want
to be a musician? That's awesome, man. That's
your career. That's you wanted. That's number
one. But then you hear my parents in the background
have a backup plan. You know, you need to have
a backup plan. And I think for right now, for
what I've been hearing so far from what Stephen
has been saying is like. he needs that backup
plan because I'm not going to say you can't because
you probably still can but you're running your
50s already you're running in your 55 your 60
hey uh you need that backup plan oh yeah I mean
he's right you need to pay taxes you need to
file taxes you need to deliver newspaper something
uh no I mean it's and and as far as that because
that's a not a different venture because I do
have a plan like because I need to work towards
a retirement right But like the, and that's kind
of like on this road. But I'm working on other
things still for entertainment and still for
outside of what I would call real people work.
Yeah, that's what I was trying to identify. Yeah,
yeah. Cause I have like that route of like legitimate,
like clock in and clock out. But I do have more,
you know, side ventures to pursue. outside of
wrestling, that hopefully if everything goes
well, you know, I can just combine wrestling
with all that. And then that would be the scenario
where I feel like, ah, that would be the time
to go back. It's just hard to put a timeline
on it. Exactly. I mean, I think that's everybody's
dream to have everything all in one shot. All
in one plate, you know, one big serving. You
know what I mean? Yeah, if I could go back to...
Man even just two or three years ago and just
tell my cuz I refuse to take like time off at
points cuz I Like you don't stop wrestling you
want to stop wrestling. You're not important.
You're not relevant. You're out of the game like
blah blah blah blah and That's thinking of the
mindset of always climbing the mountain climbing
the mountain climbing the mountain But Looking
at it from the business standpoint now that I
that I now look at it It's okay to take those
breaks and people told me it's okay to take the
time off It's okay to do what you got to do,
right? But you know in your brain you're like,
no. No, I gotta keep going So if anyone out there
is listening take that break, it's okay. Do what
you gotta do man. Come back better Yeah, it's
it's like it's like it's like Marty says it's
literally a hard reset Yeah, that's the way you
look at it. Yeah, because nothing's worse than
burning out on the thing that you love Exactly.
Exactly. And people are probably looking I I
know people that know me right now. Well, yeah,
look at you man. Take the recent Walk away So
as far as now that you have more time in your
hands than you're doing right now, do you see
a different perspective of it now as far as like
looking from the outside in now? Certain things
I know. Some of it good, some of it bad. Like
now that I'm looking at it from the business
standpoint, I can see where... former disagreements
that not disagreements But I just didn't agree
with the way things would be done and now it's
like okay I understand because you got to do
that thing and then In other aspects The direction
that I that professional wrestling is taking
as a whole as an entire Entertainment business
kind of not digging it And this is where like
The old school part of me kicks in is because
I'm under the impression or at least I get the
impression That the popular mainstream wrestling
is not about the storytelling anymore It's just
athleticism and go do some flips and jump around
and get some air cut a shitty promo and go to
the back and That's what people want to see now
Oh, I get what you're saying. You know what I
mean? It's more of a spectacle now than anything.
Yeah, we're not getting that Brian Pillman and
Steve Austin storytelling where he brings out
the pistol and then, oh, what just happened?
You know what I mean? There's no more of that.
I'm not telling people to bust out firearms on
the show, but the storytelling, the drama, everything,
this is not there anymore. The direction that
the business as a whole has taken is much more.
I think athleticism based than anything else
and Not that I mean some of these guys are really
good the younger cats Because I'm I've trained
my body to be The way I am presently a lot of
that stuff is hard for me Not to say that I wouldn't
like to do that It's just harder for me and like
I'll admit that you're more of a brawler. Yeah.
Yeah, I see you in the ring and you're more of
like, you know, all had this go bar brawl. Yeah.
So, so yeah, not not to like peel back, you know,
the curtain and tell everyone the way the matches
work, but it's like, man, I hate going to the
back and to, you know, you're trying to put put
your match together and you're trying to remember
like 20 different, you know, maneuvers like we're
not just but you we know the maneuvers, but it's
like the orders like the planning the smallest
details of the match right and Then putting like
these whole spot the whole spot together And
so you're memorizing the entire match rather
than going out there and feeling it listening
to the crowd A little bit more old -school. I
got you where you know figure out how to get
to the next thing, right? because I hate remembering
all that shit. To me, it doesn't make it believable
because you're not worried about the crowd's
reaction. You're worried about not forgetting.
Yeah. And so for me, it's just like that. I got
you. You know, I always play with the thought,
you know, that a lot of the promotions that are
down here, they're great, man. I love going out
there and watching it. Now you got some promotions
showing it. YouTube live or live on Facebook
where you can go and watch the the shows and
they're fun to watch but the trend to me And
this is just an idea. I mean there's During the
week or before you're all done doing the the
the ring everything out there cut promos Before
each match. Yeah toss them out there in that
because like like for and I'm just throwing out
there like a new breed they had this big screen
in the back before a match start they should
have like a pre -interview before they I barked
up that tree man They'll tell you that I had
them but I've definitely brought that up. Yeah,
and and it's kind of like okay. Well Like I would
cut my promos and one time I was able to get
my promo up there because it was an unadvertised
match. We had to change the script, the card
last minute. So prior to the show I cut the promo
and hats off to the landmark crew because they
were like scrambling, connecting this wire to
that monitor and doing this and doing that just
to get that promo right on the screen right uh
at the beginning of the show right right right
you know um i got you and maybe that's why they
don't do it right yeah and i got beefy boy beefy
boy bro saying old school nwa style yeah yeah
yeah that's basically it i mean something like
that even you know has to be like at the moment
before the match i mean it could be pre -recorded
where it could just be uploaded up there and
then they walk in yeah but i mean that's something
But it would be a story set up for the entire
season. Exactly. I can tell you right now that
the promoters do harp on the talent to cut those
promos, get them turned in. Not so that they're
going to put them on show day on the screen,
but at least so they can get out there into the
algorithms of the social media. I would like
to see them at the show on the screen. You have
your three minute. promo prior to the match still
the fans know like oh it's gonna be the the latter
match next it's gonna be this match right right
But for a first -time fan, we'll see the promos
and everything and be like, oh, this is why they're
fighting. This is why these guys don't like each
other. Exactly. No, I hear you. I hear you. You
know what I mean? Yeah. Danny's finally channeled
in right now. James indeed has. It's just hard
for timing. It's all live -streaming delays.
Yeah. And I totally agree with you, Danny. It
is kind of tough, especially that guy. I just
agree with you, Danny. Did you hear that shit
again? Stuff could happen if you really wanted
to, Danny. Danny, I'll give you his address and
you can knock the shit out of him again. Well,
my question is like, I mean, is this more, is
this because of what management wants? Is this
what the audience wants? What's funny? What's
making the shift towards this more spectacle
based? I can understand what Danny's saying as
far as the timing, the lag and all that. Yeah,
I totally understand that. Just agree? No, I
agree with Danny. He probably explained that
to me before. Yeah. Okay. Like, honestly, he
probably did and I just may not remember. Yeah,
you know, and I understand that, but the way
James explains it, I told him, I hear what you're
saying, Daddy, even if you had someone of a movie
video editor, pointing here, send those and take
off the live stream, reboot it. Put those little
intros before every match that way the fan who's
watching knows what what's going on? Why these
fights bad and why it was the big beef between
these guys that little history in between But
I could understand the live because even a lot
of it even if you watch a lot of it WWE or even
WCW even be way back in the day. They've got
the grace to cut to commercial if anything happens
Exactly. That's true. You would look at that.
Everything's pre -recorded. You know when you're
there live you don't even see that in the teleprompter
they just go they just go but if you're watching
at home you're gonna see Why there's a big beef
going on between the these two characters in
the ring? Yeah, you know what what's going on?
So I told I totally understand that. I enjoyed
those those. Oh, remember what happened last
week? You know? Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Last week
on Raw. Exactly. And I totally understand. And
he goes, he goes, Daddy, I'd say it again. He
goes, it's just the delay. The setup isn't directly
on the screen, but taking from the different
laptop is, yeah, dude, I understand total technology.
Yeah, I understand. what you're saying, and especially
the guests don't know what the hell are going
on. You're like sweating bullets. We cannot lose
the focus of the guests. The fans that are there,
I totally understand. I totally understand. I
don't really disagree with you, Danny. I'm just
being contrary. Now he's playing that you don't
go to his house and beat the shit out of him,
Danny. You don't really care about me, Danny.
And we got questions coming out left to right.
Since NWA has their promos just right next to
the ring. So after the match, they could do a
cut of promo. Well, yeah, I mean, that's true.
I mean, don't get it wrong, there's some of the
matches that I've gone and watched and they do
cut promos afterwards or they walk to the top
of the stage and they say something. You know,
I've seen that live and it's awesome. So there's
some promotions and they post it on whatever
streaming service they'll use, whether it's like
Twitch or... Man, I can't even... There's another
popular one and I'm really not... Remember those
internet things. Yeah, but uh What they'll do
is they'll do the match and as the talent makes
their way to the backstage area When they when
they go through the through the walkway to the
back they'll get to a like a a promo station
There's a guy with a camera and they will not
let you pass until you cut your post -match promo
No, no questions. No nothing you just had your
match tell us what's in your head right and you
cut that promo and if it's you know most of the
time they'll just do the one take if it's good
they'll post it if not good luck better luck
next time exactly you know what i mean exactly
uh but they do have that you know routine your
match go to the back and cut your promo Yeah,
I hear you. I mean, there's so there's so many
ideas you can play with, bro. You know, and so
many it's really up to, you know, how it's going
to get done, who's going to do it and can we
do it on time to where it's going to fit in the
show and go, come on, you cannot compete with
these huge promotions that have all this monitors
rated at 100 miles per hour. You're never going
to compete with a big company. You know, you
work with your own little niche, but. You could
do your own thing, but again like honestly for
something like that to happen with the Pre or
post -match promos, right as far as being on
screen During the show. Mm -hmm. I think you
would have to come that could be more likely
more Feasible if it happened at CNET or at citrus,
right? Just because the production setup is probably
a little bit more like easier to work with. Yeah
the acoustics in there just amazing they're amazing
especially those those chops man jesus christ
those suckers echo yeah no kidding man so now
it's been a while since you've been in the ring
uh how long how long are we talking already more
or less uh actually it feels a lot longer than
it's been i think my last match ended up being
uh the contract for the devil ladder match for
combat cult wrestling And that match was January,
like the second week of January, I want to say,
first or second week. So whenever that was. All
right. No, January 3rd. Oh, January 3rd. Because
I wrestled Carlito for Citrus on the 2nd, or
maybe it was the 4th. I think the 2nd was on
a Friday, the 4th was on a Sunday, whatever day
that was, but that was when it was. That's badass,
dude. I got Jose Martinez saying, yo, black heart.
But uh, yeah, man, that's it's crazy bro, cuz
I mean now that you're Right now. It's not messy
completely gone. I mean, but have you? Gone to
any not just just to go watch or have you watched
any online to say? Oh, man, I watched my last
match Mm -hmm, but I haven't watched anything
else. I've watched a little bit of whatever is
on TV But I'm really not enjoying it So I'm not
in the loop. I gotcha, I gotcha. Yeah, I know.
Well, you've also disconnected your social media.
Yeah. Well, I disconnected Instagram because
the reset from wrestling, because that's all
I see is wrestling, right? Yeah. Facebook was
different. I'm not going to get too into it because
it's like sensitive. But there's just so much
negativity in the world. Yeah. And anytime I
get on, that's all I see. I think that's been
happening a lot, bro. And ultimately, I feel
like everyone is just mad at the wrong people.
And like I said, I don't want to get into it,
but us as a human race, that should be, I feel
the only race that really matters, us as humans.
And there's evil out there. It is what it is.
And I feel like we're just putting the frustration
and all the negativity that we feel towards,
you know, pointing fingers to the wrong people
instead of to, you know, the people who are actually
pulling the strings. Right, right, right. So
I just got off of that. It's been... I know a
couple of people that it has really, really...
Yeah, it takes effect. It's an emotional effect
and I don't want to dive into it because it can
go really quick. I think all of us are affected
by something one way or another, right? You know
what I mean? Right, right. And you know, it's
tearing friendships apart, families apart, relationships,
everything and it's just with a I just felt I
didn't need that right you know right yeah I
understand yeah I got Fernando our last week
guest popping in saying saludos hey man I hope
you like those trailers with the wrestlers driving
that bus amazing by the way great story great
story but uh we're gonna get I gotta have to
give you a call later down the line because we
need to talk We still have so many quick questions.
A lot of questions. The mask and the cape. I
want to know what the hell that happened. Why
not a cape? Why not a cape? But I got Bibi Bro
saying, good artist borrow, great artist steal.
Pablo Picasso steal. All the great ideas from
the major promotions. I got Chris Austin jumping
on. Here's it, brother. He goes, you shit on
the URTBJ all season and all the negativity is
there. It's black card. Okay, sure. why not um
real quick thoughts on the what mon talk mon
talk project mon talk project i don't i don't
know i don't know about that that's an inside
thing i don't know details what's i don't want
to know what's that say case back up there for
you mon talk project mon talk project Interesting.
Well, fuck, you can't DM me. But if you ever
see me, man, bring it up and I'm sure I might
know something more about it. Shit's going on
in New York. I don't know. I don't want to get
involved with that stuff, man. I'm just trying
to keep a healthy little podcast running so people
can know people. All right? No, no, no. Let's
shoot ourselves on the foot. This is the opportunity.
You already have only one foot left, so why are
we going to shoot the other? It's going really
well, dude. Look at the success I've achieved.
You're such an idiot. OK. On that note, let's,
uh... Thank our sponsors. Hold on right there.
We'll be back with you in a few minutes. Big
shout out to our sponsors, man. Jesus Christ.
What a transition. How to transition to that.
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You're awesome. Not only that he does hold a
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podcast talking about No, maybe no actually talking
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that so you might want to tune in for that Conversation
look them up and let them know chewing essential
you head out there So we are back here with Steven
man. I keep Steven James when everyone works
A lot of stuff has been happening. I know you
say that you're not really watching, you're watching
regular wrestling on TV right now or anything
like that at the moment with the whole AJ Styles
thing that's happening now. I have no idea what's
happening with AJ Styles. Well, supposedly now
he is actually gonna be one of the first, I think
he's one of the first inductees to the Wrestling
Hall of Fame. Undertaker came into this ring
and actually said, hey, we're putting you in.
So he's got to go. He got to get into the Hall
of Fame of wrestling now. So for like for this
year, for this year, this year's batch. So yeah,
the way my buddy says the seventy sevens, I guess
you could say that. But who's your who's your
favorite wrestler, man? I mean, I mean, we never
really touched base on. I know you say most of
the time it's the Steve Austin era that the attitude
era. But which is one that you really say you're
kind of. walking the walk in that direction.
What would you say, bro, when you first started
wrestling? I think as a performer, I think one
of the favorite wrestlers who has the most impact
on the way I do things is Triple H. Really? Yeah.
Simple offense, you know what I mean? But what
I take the most from him is He sells like crazy
for everybody man, and I think a lot of people
don't actually like catch that but Going back
and watching a lot of his stuff He does sell
for his like opponents like Like he gets him
over to the point so that when he does his heel
shit at the end Because you really felt like,
oh, he's getting his fucking ass beat. Yeah,
that's true. I look forward to someone who opened
his ass. So then he's like, damn, he's getting
his ass beat. And it's visible. You see it. You
believe it. And then, of course, at the end,
DX or whoever, Evolution, whatever the scenario
was, he gets the cheap win. And so I think just
overall look. Physique, wrestling style, selling.
Probably I take most of my influence from him.
There you go. And I got the questions coming
in tonight, man. They're hot tonight. I got one
from Danny saying, who's his favorite opponent?
Oh, shit. Wink, wink, Danny. Wink, wink. Or we
can go, who's your least favorite? You always
do that, dude. Don't get him off the hook, bro.
What? Trying to make it easy here. Oh, man. My
favorite opponent? The people that I find the
most fun to work with. And he's asking me because
he knows he's one of them. No. No. You stay.
Well, Danny's been in the game for a long time.
So he's one of those guys that I'm like the last
time that him and I worked, which was for real
promotions about a year and a half ago. It's
been a while. We kind of we went in there and
didn't like plan anything. You know, we didn't
know who was a good guy, who was a bad guy to
squat there and do it. Beat the crap out of each
other. And it was really fun and it worked and
people loved it. Right. So. Anyone I can do that
with is a is a really Someone I'd like to work
with so Danny chance I've only got to work with
him a couple times and that I'll go to your house.
Okay, all right, right But in like like a match
I really feel like damn that was just so much
fun the Australian dude that Danny brought down
the Australian hero I can't remember his name.
I'm sorry. I can't remember his name. Danny,
you're out there throwing that name for us. Chris
Morrow. Chris Morrow, I think so. Okay. Yeah.
Him and I, I had wrestled for Fortuna the same
night. As soon as I finished that match, I drove
to the landmark. Holy crap. And then him and
I were going to wrestle in the main. And I had
just gotten there and I was like, well, I do
this move and I do that move. And he's like,
well, I do this and I do that. He's like, in
the beginning, what if we did something like
this? I said, perfect. That's all we talked about.
That's what he's saying. He goes, we didn't plan
shit. It's more than what we did with Will. Those
are the best matches, though, man. Those are
the best. That's the best shit to do. Yeah. He's
asking another one, too. Who's your least? Man
My least favorite I worked him a long time ago
I can't remember his name either but He would
hurt you on this shit that wasn't even like like
Like you give me a shoulder tackle Oops. But
it wasn't the impact that would hurt me. It's
because he would hit you and he would slap this
shit out your back. And he had these big old
hands and that's done. And then he had long dreads.
So he would move and do shit and his dreads would
just smack you somewhere and it's like a whip.
So just working him was just very frustrating.
So that, if I could think back, And I wrestled
him in a pre -show in Addison, Texas. I probably
don't remember his name because that was in the
pre -show. And later on in that night, I got
to work Big Khan, formerly Conor from NXT, the
attack team, the Ascension, WWE. So, and then
in TNA, now he's big con. So, in the Independence,
he was big con. So, later on that night, I got
to get in a singles match with him. He kicked
my ass. It was an opportunity and a learning
experience, because I was only like two years
in at that time. So, that was really cool. Think
those are the best ones I mean when you go in
when you go into this the field of wrestling
and you're you're still a little green going
in You get these big -time guys that been out
there for a while and you know you learn From
yeah learn the role our match was about three
minutes But we spent almost an hour in the ring
just working together and learning he was teaching
me things and just you know just getting to work
and have fun and right right and just So it was
a good time. And we're actually, like, we're
cool. We're friends. He, you know, nice enough.
And I guess I made an impression enough that
he actually gave me his information and I could
reach out to him if I ever had questions or needed
help with anything. That's awesome. That's awesome,
man. That's pretty cool. So every now and then
I get to, you know, keeping tabs with him, any
advice or any, can you watch this clip for me
and tell me what you think type of a thing? Yeah.
That's pretty cool. Making those surprise connections
though. Those are oh, yeah, those are always
the best. Yeah Yeah, that's awesome, bro. So
I mean consider the fact now You've had a cut
yet cut a good amount of years under your belt
now, you know in five years. Yeah And have you
uh, I mean who if down the line we're talking
further down laughter this I like to call the
the the limbo area that we're at right now. The
limbo area. When you're finally out of the gutting
situation, who would be your hurrah match or
your final match with if possible given that
chance? Oh, man. So I'm not going to answer that
one. I didn't think you would ask that, but that's
the one. Because if that does happen... Because
I do have someone in mind and if that does happen
well, they keep that keep that in reps. Yeah,
that's uh The chances of it happening I think
are Slimmer than than anything else but uh Because
it's a very personal thing I would like to hold
off until I know more about that. All right,
cool Yeah, very cool. I got a danny saying Black
heart versus raymonds Did Wonders and Black Heart.
Oh Ramones, yeah. Was it Castanedos? Is that
what you say? Castanedos. Castanedos was crazy
over a five by five brewery. Max and Danny Ramones.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. The juicy one. The juicy one.
How are you? And going back to, you know, like
I was able to work with Danny Chan so well. He's
my trainer. He probably knows me better than
anyone else in the business, right? So we got
to just not call shit, go out and have a great
match. And working with Ramones was the same
way because he was a hand -in -hand teacher of
mine also. So the same thing. I can, you know,
we put this whole idea together and then he'll
be like, it'd be like just seconds before we
go, he's like, you know what, brother? I don't
think it's going to work. I think we should just
go out there and feel it. When you say feel it,
what do you mean? You know. You know how it is.
And then from there, I'll just listen and remember
that thing, let's do it like this. So we just
figure it all out in the ring. And I think those
have always been my best matches. Yeah. I've
watched some of the matches. I like the fact
because, I mean, if you're really critiqued to
the matches, if you really follow them to the,
if you're there to watch the show and enjoy yourself,
I'm one of those person that sits in the front
row and I'm watching how everything's working,
how they, okay, this is what we're going here.
Okay, we're going to do this. I would go here.
And you're like, damn, dude, that's like behind
the scenes there. Your scene is happening. It's
two artists, you know, working together. Yeah.
And it's crazy to see, like, wow, man, at the
drop of a dime, they're going back and forth
and they know what they want to do on the next
move. That's freaking awesome, though. When it
comes to calling, like calling spots, it is necessary
sometimes, though, especially if you do, like,
crazier moves, because that's not something you
just want to spring on someone, you know, at
the last second. Unless you have to. And then
it's, hey, fuck it, just do it. But if it's like
a crazier bump, something that you could potentially
get, the chances of getting hurt are higher for
that one. Definitely something you didn't talk
about before. Yeah. Yeah. I got DJ, now I know
you are, DJ. This is Miss You Brother. Can't
wait to share the ring with you again. Yeah.
So I want to take the time to apologize, bro.
who you were until I had to run it back and into
that deep voice of yours when you talk like that.
Sound like Barry White when you talk, bro. But
I apologize for that, bro. So for y 'all who
don't know, the last time I was on the podcast,
me and DJ were teaming up. And JC was running
with us on the local team. But man, me and DJ
were killing it up in NWA, Texas. Mr. Rodney
Mack told us the plan for the following months.
Things were going great. And just a little bit
of bad luck. DJ got hurt on a very simple, like,
in -ring thing. Sometimes it happens, bro. Sometimes
it happens. And it's just fate, I guess. You
know, things happen for a reason. But man, things
were going super badass. And I think that was
the beginning of the questions for me. Yeah.
Yeah, there you go. And I got Danny put it on
there. The 63 Madden up there. You want to see
that there in the corner? Black Heart right there.
The name of your trio right there. Yeah. Yeah,
but I mean, the stories you've brought us for
the times when you're in the ring and now go
shifting gears to a different journey for the
meanwhile before you shift back. It's something
that it's an adventure. It's an adventure that
eventually you're going to be, you know, it goes,
man, you know what? I think it's time to, you
know, head back and let's let's give it all she's
got in this one. Like the was it like the George
Strait ride off to the sunset tour? I don't know.
Well, that shit never ended. He's still riding
off to the sunset, man. What are you riding?
That's not George's fault. I keep throwing money
at him. That happened like 15 years ago or something.
I'm almost there! I'm almost done. I'm almost
out. But yeah, going back to that, you know,
if you could, go back and talk to yourself, bro.
when all this is happening all you you're fresh
green behind the ears you're by your you're stepping
in for the ring first time okay you can go back
in time and tell you something what is it you
would whisper yourself into your own ear to take
the heart um mind you black heart uh slow down
man be patient um i think just being more present
and mindful and What you're doing Will take you
a long way And I think especially the wrestling
business when you're just getting started. It's
so easy to get caught up in thinking about You
know I need to get my gear ready got to be ready
For the you know when I have my first match I
wanted to go this way and you know you start
thinking about all those pre -match like anxieties
When the best thing to do is just to slow down
and enjoy the process and really appreciate and
learn what you're doing. Because everything else
will come. It's going to happen. But making the
most out of that moment, when it does, comes
with preparation and being patient with yourself.
There you go. Very well said. Very well said,
man. Yeah, isn't that what any of us would do
if we could talk to our younger selves? Don't
be in such a rush to do that thing that you think
you want to do. Really step back and look at
what you got around you, what's going on. Yeah,
I totally understand. If anything, you're going
back and telling yourself, hey, bro, pump the
brakes a little bit, slow down. Enjoy life a
little bit. Don't run in the fast lane, bro.
just enjoy life you know and and you know enjoy
everything around you yes i know for now for
you unfortunately for you ferdinando your your
enjoyed life was that bus trip bro and the karaoke
the whole was it George saying you know what
I'm done who's driving you send the poor guy
in the back who's tired the whole night and you
make him drive the bus which by the way had no
right to be driving the bus it had no license
you are so damn lucky you didn't get pulled over
Jesus if you're in the audience you want to know
what the hell he's talking about just watch the
previous episode very interesting episode Black
heart man. I first of all, I know we're about
51 minutes into the podcast man. This it's been
it's been Coast sailing with you and we talked
about this before we even started up You know,
I got Hacito saying here also Rivera say what's
up guys? Saludos to black heart. Where have you
been? Where have you been? Those inches are plates
Fucking amazing, bro Fucking amazing just amazing.
But uh, yeah, I was saying beforehand. I mean
Have watching you through the process from the
first time we had you in the podcast now You
know and I've said this before with a lot of
the other resources that I had him for like Danny
You know and so for all the other guys that have
come in see them grow through the process You're
like you you're like wow man. It's it's crazy
six years have flown by dude. Yeah fast. Yeah,
you know and Seeing you guys perform. I mean,
man, I remember when these guys came in, man,
they were just fresh into the school. And now
they're just doing amazing things right now,
man. That's that's freaking amazing. Danny did
a Danny. You did a good thing, buddy. You did
a good thing. But I mean, anything you would
like to say to your fans, bro, you got you got.
Seven minutes to say something is something for
them because I'm pretty sure they're waiting.
What's what's going on? Well, I mentioned earlier
The future is very uncertain for me And if my
last match Happens to be contract with the devil
ladder match Thank you for going. Thank you for
supporting me. Thank you for following me on
the journey If maybe I didn't climb as high as
some expectations were, trust me, I had higher
expectations. But no, thank you. I've had a lot
of fun. And if I come back, I hope everyone is
there. And if not, I hope everyone's enjoyed
the work that I've done. But we just got to see
what happens. We don't know. We don't know anything,
so... For now, that's about all I've got for
the fans. Just a lot of appreciation. Um... Because,
uh... Friends and family. I mean, shout out to
everybody. Yeah, everyone, man. I... It's hard
for me to think of everything and everyone on
the... Like, right now on the spot. But I know...
Before every match, before... I mean, everything.
It's a constant flow in my head, you know what
I mean? Always thinking about this match and
thinking about, like, I need to do such and such
trainings so on this match I can do this type
of, you know, perform this way and look this
way and, like, just putting everything together
for the 10, 15 minutes that we're out there,
you know, it's all for the people. And by proxy,
when they're happy, It all comes back to me.
And I hope everyone is happy, like I said, with
the work that I've done. I will say, I think
when I found from now, like I left wrestling
better than I found it, I would like to think,
you know, given where we were and where we are.
And if I was able to contribute and help with
anyone along the way. I hope you take what I
taught you and you teach someone else. Even the
shit that people didn't want to listen to me
about, I hope one day you figure that shit out
and then teach it to someone else. But that's
it. I'm happy. I've accomplished a lot more than
I even thought I could. I didn't even think I
would be able to be a wrestler, to be honest.
I didn't think I had the talent or ability. So
to say that I at least performed for Ring of
Honor a couple times, and I've got to meet some
of the people I've met and make the connections
that I've made. I've done more than what I thought
I could. There you go. Yeah. And so for me, that's
all right. I can deal with that. I can do that.
There's more I'd like to do. Don't get me wrong.
But there's too many uncertainties at the time.
But I hope one day. When it's the right time.
the right place I'll come back and I hope everyone
who's watching and everyone who's not watching
tell your friends tell your family I hope everyone
goes whatever that is there you go man we'll
see and and to finish off the last comment tonight
guys leave it to the rebel Sean says you'll be
back Oh, man. And actually, I want to holler
at Sean Jones. Because I've been thinking about,
I mean, I'm always thinking about everything,
right? But when I left the business, aside from
the promoters and the talent up north, no one
locally reached out to me. I ran to Kike and
he talked to me, but Shawn Jones is like maybe
one of two guys that actually sent me a message.
There you go. So big shout out to Shawn Jones
for being a real one, man. Yeah, and tune in
next month. I believe the second week of next
month we'll be having the Gun Gang will be here.
So you might want to tune in for that. Oh, is
it the Gun Gang? Is it? No, not yet. Not yet.
That'll be until April. That'll be until April.
Which group is that exactly? That's going to
be through... I believe that's through Combat
Cult. That's through that promotion. No, but
that's Austin? It's Austin. It's Shawn Jones.
Oh, Shawn is in there. yeah there's uh the gentleman
i keep forgetting the other person and sean please
shoot it to you man i'm trying to get my ass
kicked right now and martin it's martin no i'm
just joking man i'm just joking don't bust the
door like you did last time right or is it toxic
oh i'm just playing with you bro i'm just playing
with you he'll bust through that door like kool
-aid right now oh yeah but uh yeah man uh First
of all, I want to take that up here and say thank
you, bro, for coming out once again. Have a little
fun with us, bro. It's such a treat to be here,
man. Like I said, seeing you grow through the
years, from the first time you came in, then
all the way through, even through our old, basically
almost every single studio we've had. You've
been there, bro, and it's been awesome, bro.
But, oh yeah, Downtown Fix. Thank you, Chris.
I should have known. It was Felix. I'm sorry,
bro. I'm sorry. Felix, when you come, we have
worse to discuss, homie. We have worse to discuss.
We have a lot to talk about. Just always remember,
dude, he's stupid. I gotta remind him of his
name every goddamn day. This is true. But like
always, uh... Blackheart, it's a treat having
you on, bro. Every time you come in, it's always
a, we kill Frank. Okay, all right, Christmas!
Wow, anyways. Yeah, it's gotten real wicked now.
Jesus Christ. I mean I mean she still gets flashbacks
from the the dirty shot. He got to the face with
the campaign But James I mean first of all Steven
I want to say thank you man for bringing us so
much stuff that you've had, you know through
the years to share with us man uh it's never
it's never a dull moment with you here because
i mean if there's anybody like an open book to
read you bring it all to the table and say hey
this is what's going on yeah man yeah bro and
i appreciate i appreciate that man i appreciate
that you bring yes sean i know next time i'm
breaking down your door yeah i know that's what
we have to reinforce it already but uh we're
gonna lose our deposit Anyways, but once again
Thank you so much do for what you do and and
if it does come to the point where later on the
future if there is that one last hurrah, I want
you on this podcast before and after Just to
get get the the emotional feeling of that because
I know if it's anything when you're finally saying
That's it. They're hung up. Yeah, you know that
I know for a fact moment I'll tell you this,
man. Whether I'm going to come back and announce
my return to the ring or I come back just to
say, hey, it's not happening. I'll come back
and let you guys know. There you go, man. We
heard it first here, bro. We heard it. Thank
you so much, man. Thank you so much, guys. Like
I said, once again, thank you for coming, man.
We are an hour in, and we are cutting the show
already, man, because we got... This guy got
some nap time, I don't know, for some reason.
Yeah, man. It's like two hours past my bedtime.
I am dying. I'm almost there brother. Don't worry
about it. Ladies and gentlemen, that is our podcast
for the night. Chu, what did you think brother?
It was another great show, man. And let me just
say like from two fans, dude, like thank you
for everything that you've done for all the great
shows that you've given us. Yeah, for sure. You
know, I agree. Like if you got one more show
on you, if you got more shows on you. By all
means, bring it. We'll show up. But if not, thank
you so much, man. It was a great run. Thanks
for the memories, bro. Big time memory. Thank
you guys, and thank wrestling. Thank you, Danny.
Because I just, I don't know. I never thought
I would find a wrestling school. And then, I
don't know. Here we are. You had a great career
either way, man. Yeah, you did. You had a great
run. Guys that is our show for tonight, man.
What a great episode man. It is this is like
a more More what's the what's the word look for
more? It was a much closer we were More intimate
more intimate feeling podcast today because I
know No, I mean seriously, I mean it's rare when
we have podcasts like that we actually get to
the needy greedy and you know Somebody needs
to get something off their chest They want to
explain what's going on and you get that little
that little little emotional and they're like
damn, bro, you know, it's You hear it, you can
hear when you have to let it out, you gotta let
it out, you know what I mean? Yeah, because I
mean, we've had Black Heart on the show before,
but, you know, we have James today. Yeah, I know.
And it's a different, it was a different feel,
and I really enjoyed it. Thank you again for
coming. Yeah, man. Of course, man, of course.
Guys, that's our episode for tonight. Tune in
next week, 7 .30 p .m. when we have a special
guest coming in from New Breed that started up
all over again. Get ready. I will dish out that
commercial soon enough. Just keep talking. No,
oh by the way those shirts are selling like hotcakes
guys if you get a chance, that's the new name
hashtag Armando el foquito Rivera. Make sure
you hashtag the crack. What is gone? Gakawande
has finally been raked up and tossed in the trash.
He's been. He's been. It's it's no longer a thing.
It's el foquito. Exactly. It's el foquito. And
one more last comment here from our triple boy
brothers here. He goes, you get in a bar fight.
What three wrestlers are you taking the bar to
settle the bill? Look at the time. I'll let James
answer that. Are we talking local? Anybody. Anybody.
Anybody, anywhere, dude. I'll bring up local
guys, because that's what we're doing, right?
So local guys, I'm getting into a bar fight.
I'm taking... Shit. No, I'll take Avro. Shadows
and Austin. Wow. Wow. Okay. Wow. That's a good
one. That's a good one. That's because I know
they have, they do MMA stuff, you know, here
and there. So, you know, I'd rather have someone
who knows a little bit of some. There you go.
You heard them guys tape up. You're scrapping
the neck. And last one, here he goes. Yeah, Fernando,
he's been baptized with Foquito. Yes, he has.
He's been back up from the podcast. Ladies and
gentlemen, thank you for tuning in tonight. Tune
in next week, 7 30 p .m. on Saint. the same YouTube
channel, the same Facebook, my page, and the
TuneIn Pocket, and Twitch. Thank you so much.
We will see you next week. Sign us up, buddy.
And I am Lilou. We will see you next week. Like
always, guys, laters and gators. Peace out. Good
night, everybody.