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| Photo Credit: Texas Anarchy |
This week, Anarchy Championship Wrestling's Jack Jameson tells us who inspires him, the effect National Pro Wrestling Day had on him, and why it's worth going to Texas for a gas station. All that and more after the jump.
You had the chance to participate in National Pro Wrestling Day. How did you feel about getting that opportunity?
It was surreal! To not only participate with a locker room that caliber, but to be able to say I was a part of the first ever National Pro Wrestling Day event is amazing. It was also one of the most incredible crowds to ever work in front of. I was humbled that day.
Since a lot of the wrestlers participating tend to wrestle outside of Texas, is there anyone you hadn't seen in person you were most looking forward to?
I was definitely looking forward to checking out Kaiju Big Battle. JoJo Bravo had been so excited to see them that it was hard to not be excited. I was also really excited to watch JoJo, Bolt Brady and ACH make Texas proud. Another thing I was pumped about...FINALLY EATING AN AUTHENTIC PHILLY CHEESESTEAK!
And how was it? Was it everything you hoped it would be?
And more! I have since vowed to never eat a cheesesteak that isn't from Philly. My beard became ten times manlier that day!
Now, one thing you definitely can't do in Philadelphia is go to a Buc-ee's. For those of us who aren't familiar with the chain, tell us a little bit about what we're missing, and why you love it enough to try to get a Buc-ee's chant going during a wrestling match.
Tried and succeeded a few times! Buc-ee’s is my favorite place when on a road trip. A) cleanest bathrooms known to mankind, B) incredible food, C) really affordable gas prices and even better merchandise, and D) THEIR MASCOT IS A BEAVER! Who doesn’t love them some beaver?!
Haha, oh dear. Speaking of beavers, and not in the way you think, you got to spend some time in Canada training with Lance Storm. What was that like?
Amazing. I loved my time in Calgary. Training with Lance was amazing and definitely pushed me to a whole new level. Monday through Friday for 3 months was intense but I loved every minute of it. Plus getting to know my roommate at the Storm House, Steve Bird, was fun. You always hear about your grandpa walking in the freezing cold to get to class back in the day. WE ACTUALLY DID THAT! Another thing Lance did for me was introduce me to Tim Hortons. I had to have gone four times a week.
That's not bad. I know people who average four trips a day!
And I am envious of them!
One thing we can pretty much all agree on is that 2012 was the year of ACH. Now that he's off to ROH, Jerry Lynn has retired, and Rachel Summerlyn is (lucky for me) branching out to different promotions outside of Texas, how do you feel about ACW in 2013? Is there anyone who you think will step up and become the next big thing?
From the looks of things, JoJo Bravo and Bolt Brady are well on their way to ACH's path. Carson and Barbi Hayden are making a bigger name for themselves as well. All four of them are strong candidates for 2013 being their year.
What are you looking forward to the most in the coming year?
Just getting out there. National Pro Wrestling Day showed me what's out there. I got a taste of it. It's time to spread some #MANarchy.
Is there a specific promotion you'd like to work for in the upcoming year, or anyone you'd like the opportunity to wrestle against?
I would love to work for Chikara, Dragongate and NJPW. Those are the next stones on this trail I call wrestling to jump to! I'd love to wrestle Rachel Summerlyn one on one. She's one of the strongest women around. A fan once posted on Facebook Jack Jameson vs. Rachel Summerlyn would be #MANarchy vs #WOMANarchy. I would love for this to happen sooner than later.
Any final words before we move on to the Same Ten Questions?
You can follow me on Twitter here, and Facebook here. It’s crazy that as we do this interview, I'm watching Great American Bash ‘05 on DVD. I remember watching this pay-per-view live hoping one day I could be a wrestler. Flash-forward 7 years and here I am being interviewed as a wrestler. Really makes you appreciate what I've been blessed with. Crazy part is - it's just beginning!
The Same Ten Questions
What is your earliest wrestling-related memory?
The earliest memory I have of wrestling was when I lived a year of my life in Washington State back when I was 3 or 4. I don't remember much of living in the state, but I remember always being allowed to stay up to watch Raw. My dad would work late so most nights I would be allowed to stay up ‘til he got home, and we would have a wrestling match before he tucked me into bed. But wrestling has always been around my family. Momma Jameson loves to tell a story of how she was 8-months pregnant with me at a wrestling show watching the Von Erichs. People told her to calm down but guess what, Momma Jameson didn't give a f--k! She rooted them on. She makes me proud.
What was the first wrestling show you attended?
The first show I remember going to was when a friend took me to a WWF house show. One match involved Mankind, who was trying to be tag team partners with Stone Cold, taking on Bret and Owen Hart. The main event was Undertaker and Vader in a casket match.
When was the moment you realized you wanted to step up from wrestling fan to actual wrestler?
The day that Eddie Guerrero passed away. I always admired him because he was about my height and my size but was handling his own against Undertaker, The Rock, Batista, HHH, etc. This was in the time when the Daniel Bryans, CM Punks and Rey Mysterios weren't in the heavyweight division so this was a huge motivational time for me. When he passed away and I watched WWE devote the Raw and Smackdown to his memory, something inside me decided that this was something I wanted to do.
Is there one wrestler in particular that you’ve always looked up to? Why?
It's hard to say I looked up to ONE wrestler because that isn't the case at all. Definitely Eddie Guerrero. Owen Hart and Chris Benoit were also two who I watched religiously. When I started watching indie wrestling, Bryan Danielson and Colt Cabana were huge inspirations to me. I loved watching people who weren't too far from my size and had their own unique flavor. Bastian Booger was also a HUGE favorite of mine because he was so out there and so different.
What is your favourite match you’ve wrestled thus far?
I've had a lot of really fun matches but two really do stand out. Getting to wrestle Lance Storm was a huge treat for me. When I went up to train at the Storm Wrestling Academy, everyone was told they'd get a match with him and I ended up getting to be the last match of the class. By this point, Lance wanted to see where I was at so he really pushed me to my limit. Another match that I hold dear in my heart was my 1-1 match with JoJo Bravo in San Antonio, TX. It was just fun and the crowd was really behind it. Hell, he beat me with a Dragon DDT off of the ceiling.
Now that you’re involved in wrestling, who within the industry inspires you?
Lance obviously holds a majority, if not all of my inspiration. I learned so much from him and can never thank him enough. Other people who keep me inspired are JoJo, Bolt, Ricky, ACH, Biss, Carson, Barbi, Vexx, Jeff and Steve. My friends have constantly been there for me through thick and thin and always keep me on the path to "making it". I also definitely have to throw a ton of gratitude to Darin Childs and Rachel Summerlyn for giving me my opportunity in Anarchy Championship Wrestling. I truly feel all of these great opportunities wouldn't be happening without them. The Submission Squad have constantly been giving me feedback on my matches and teaching me how to better myself both professionally and personally. I owe them a ton. Rich Swann has also become a huge motivation for me because he took me under his wing and showed me that I can handle the next level that awaits me in wrestling.
If you could wrestle for any promotion in the world, which would you choose, and why?
I have always wanted to work for New Japan Pro Wrestling. If I could pick one promotion, they are definitely on the top of my list. I love everything about it. I have always loved everything about the Japanese culture, and the production NJPW puts on is top notch.
Besides yourself, is there an independent wrestler out there you think should get more love?
God, there isn't just one. People are going to start hearing about JoJo Bravo and Bolt Brady who are well on their way to being household names. Ricky Romida, Matt Palmer, The Submission Squad, Carson, Barbi Hayden and Ricky Starks are all names people need to start YouTube-ing!
Was there a moment, either in your training or your first match, that made you reconsider being a wrestler?
There has never been a moment that I have ever reconsidered not being a wrestler. Were there days that I thought it would be easy to just quit? Sure. Were there days that I realized others jobs would make paying rent easier? Absolutely. But at the end of the day, I am a professional wrestler...I will accept nothing less for a career.
What is the most fulfilling part of pursuing a career in wrestling?
Being able to look back on 8-year-old Jack Jameson who (while wearing a Macho Man t-shirt) told his class on career day that he was going to be a pro wrestler, and knowing I'm on the path to making that kid's statement true!