After winning Total Nonstop Action Wrestling‘s British Boot Camp in 2012, the undersized Rockstar Spud has evolved from wrestling underdog to being a major part of Impact Wrestling each week as the Chief of Staff for TNA President Dixie Carter. Honing his skills in Ohio Valley Wrestling (where he is a former OVW Television Champion) last year, Spud was added to the main TNA roster late last year and remains a fixture on TV and pay-per-view. As part of the One Night Only pay-per-view X Division Xtravaganza debuting Aug. 1, as well as the upcoming British Boot Camp 2, Spud has plenty to talk about, as always. In a recent media conference call, here’s what Wrestling with Pop Culture and others had to ask the unlikely wrestling star.
You were the winner of the first British Boot Camp. What have the past two years been like for you since winning that competition?
It’s been an absolute whirlwind, to be honest, since I’ve been brought up to television. I’ve had two weeks off and I honestly don’t know what to do with myself. It’s been nonstop for me. I’m living the dream. British Boot Camp was absolutely everything that it promised to be. It was an amazing time for myself, Marty Scurll and The Blossom Twins and it’s one I’ll never forget. I recently saw the finale from the first season for some advertising they’re doing and it just brought back all the same emotions I had that day when they told me I was the winner. It’s amazing. It’s everything I dreamed it would be.
I was at OVW for a year just learning so many elements of professional wrestling, which was amazing. Then to be brought up to the roster and to be in the position I am, it’s just been amazing. I’m main eventing live events with Ethan Carter III, I’m main eventing television and I’m in main story lines on pay-per-views. I honestly couldn’t be happier with life right now.
British Boot Camp 2 is about to start and there’s a lot more competitors in this edition. What would your advice be to the wrestlers taking part in the new British Boot Camp?
I don’t envy any one of them because of the amount of talent there is in the country, and the talent that’s already been announced so far and how good they are. The person that wins this series is really going to be an absolute superstar to stand out above everybody in the country. I was against three other people on the show. These people have got an unlimited amount of people they can potentially be against. Just capture the camera and entertain and if you’re a character that people are interested in, a character that people find entertaining and a character people want to watch, your journey’s going to continue. I’m looking forward to watching the process and seeing who’s going to step up because they don’t realize what an amazing opportunity this is. It’s such a small window in the pro wrestling business for a company to even look at someone. It’s an amazing opportunity, especially in our country because we rarely have TNA come over and look at our talent. I’m really looking forward to it and I’m sure everyone in the U.K. is as well.
You wrestled for so many years before entering British Boot Camp. What did you get out of that experience and how did that help ease your transition into TNA in the United States?
With regards to British Boot Camp, I had been wrestling for nine or ten years on the independent scene across the world. You pick things up as you go along, but it’s obviously a slow process because you’re not wrestling every day of the week; you have to go back to your normal job to pay the bills, then wrestle on weekends. But at the same time, you’re also wrestling people that are on the same experience level as you. So you’re not going to be picking up those intricacies as often as you would if you were wrestling more experienced talent, or being trained by more experienced talent. When I went to OVW, I was wrestling every day of the week, performing three or four times a week and it was constant wrestling. So it was able to sink into my mind as it was my job now and I was able to devote 24/7 to it. That was the real difference. Everything I learned at OVW after British Boot Camp, I really attribute to my success going into TNA.
Since making your debut on camera, you’re a natural on camera. Was there any initial intimidation with working with Dixie Carter, your boss, in front of the camera and off camera?
Absolutely not. The only times I’ve been nervous about being on camera with Dixie is when I’m going to save her from a near-death experience. At points like that I have to be here because I’m literally saving the woman’s life. I was born a hero and this is what I was born to do. There’s never any intimidation because I taught myself to be comfortable in front of a camera. That’s what pro wrestling’s about. It’s not about how great a technical wrestler you are or how great an athlete you are, if you can engage an audience to feel a certain way about you through the television screen where millions of viewers are. There was never any concerns with that. Like I said, any time Dixie’s in peril, that’s when I fear for my life because if I can’t save her I’m going to be in dire trouble and probably will lose my job.
You’ve worked in many promotions around the world now and have had an amazing time in TNA. What does the future hold for Rockstar Spud? Are in the position you imagined, both creatively and as a talent in the company, or do you picture yourself taking a different route in the future?
I’m a professional wrestler, so my job is to turn up and do exactly as I’m told. When they tell me to do certain things, it will be done the way Rockstar Spud would do it. We did our shows in Florida, we did our shows in New York, we did our shows in Pennsylvania and every day I just want to work. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings and what they’ve got for me tomorrow. It’s a challenge every day and I just want to knock it out of the park. I want to be a guy the company can rely on and someone they can put absolutely anywhere and know I’ll be able to do a good job for them. I just want to be an asset, and I feel I’m going to be an asset, to this company going forward. With their constant faith in me, which is always greatly appreciated, I’ll continue doing this to the best of my ability.
What are your thoughts on working with Team 3D, Tommy Dreamer and Rhino as we saw last week on Impact?
Well, I didn’t come out of the match how I walked in. There was a lot of limping, a lot of pain. But I wouldn’t have changed a damn thing because that was one of the best moments of my career so far. Watching the people you grew up watching, seeing them walk down the aisle with you or against you, I’m very obliged to be in TNA and to be able to do these little things that my close friends at home who aren’t in the wrestling business will understand. While they were going out drinking and socializing, playing football and different kinds of sports, I was at home watching professional wrestling, emulating these people and admiring these people. So to be in the ring with them is a real honor. It’s even more of an honor to know I beat these people on national television.
How were you brought into your current role on TV as Dixie Carter’s right hand man instead of competing full time?
I was in OVW and they said, “We’re bringing you up to television. You ready to go?” I put the suit on, put the bow tie on and away we went. It’s been a whirlwind ever since. If you can see anybody else being Chief of Staff that’s not me, I would be very surprised because I feel that I’ve owned the job and it’s mine. No one will be taking the Chief of Staff away from me.
Physically you don’t fit the mold of the typical professional wrestler, so you were a bit of an underdog in the first British Boot Camp. You’ve clearly found success in OVW and on Impact Wrestling. Given that you’re not the biggest guy on the roster, what would you attribute your success to and what attracted you to pursue a career in professional wrestling?
I’m not going to give you the sympathetic bullshit story that everybody will give you. When I was growing up I identified with pro wrestling because I enjoyed the larger-than-life characters, the lights, glitz and glamor as everybody does. But I was also told at school that I was too short to do absolutely every spot that I loved. I was too small for football, cricket, rugby – you name it, I tried it and was too small. When I first started wrestling and was told, “You’re too small for this,” I actually was like, “No, I’m not.” I actually believed I could make a difference in pro wrestling being small. I’ve never shied away from my appearance. Obviously I have to look after myself athletically and cosmetically, but I never shied away from the fact that I am 5-foot-4, I am 150 pounds. There’s one thing you can never take away from me and that is that my personality is the personality of someone that should be 7 feet tall, 500 pounds. That was the one thing that I was like, “I just need someone to notice this.” And that’s what British Boot Camp was. The right time, the right people, the right opportunity and the right situation – it really was that case with British Boot Camp. You do judge a book by its cover with me. I’ve had many, many pro wrestlers that have been around the business for years that have said to me, “When I first saw you I didn’t see anything in you.” The more that they experienced watching me or being in the ring with me, they understood more and more, which is a complete blessing. It’s so nice to here that. So I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing and as long as people are watching and paying their money to see us, that’s all that matters to me. I just want people to come see TNA, come see Impact Wrestling, whether they want to cheer Rockstar Spud or they want to boo him, as long as they are paying money to see him that’s all that matters to me.
What will your role be in One Night Only: X Division Xtravaganza and British Boot Camp 2?
In the One Night Only pay-per-view I will be in the qualifiers for the Ultimate X match. I believe I will be facing Sonjay Dutt, who is a gentleman I’ve crossed paths with for many years in the U.K. and coming in and out of TNA. But I’ve never stepped in the ring with him, so we shall see. As it’s going to be Sonjay Dutt and Rockstar Spud, you’re guaranteed to be entertained.
In regards to the British Boot Camp process, I can’t actually say what my involvement will be or if there will be involvement from me. But I don’t think you can have British Boot Camp without having the original winner, Rockstar Spud.
The United Kingdom has produced a number of wrestling greats over the years. Did you watch footage of any of these people? Who did you grow up watching and possibly emulating later on as you became the pro wrestler you are today?
Believe it or not, British wrestling had passed me by by the time I became a fan. I became a fan instantly when I first saw a picture of Hulk Hogan with the Hulkamania bandana and the American flag draped over him. That was when I became a fan of pro wrestling. I’ve watched World of Sport many a times. … They really, really made you believe it’s competition, with the rounds and everything like that. It’s something that was really ahead of its time. Because of the lack of channels back then, that’s why they drew millions and millions of viewers every time. As a student of pro wrestling, I watch World of Sport regularly just to look for little intricacies that I can pick up, maybe adapt my character, especially being diminutive like I am – there’s a lot of crawling through the legs, there’s a lot of haha. So there’s little things that you’ve probably never seen in the U.S. that I’ve incorporated into my character that you think’s revolutionary. As a student of wrestling and a student of entertainment, I just try and put little intricacies here and there.
The six-sided ring was recently brought back to TNA at the New York tapings. What has that been like for you?
Great! There’s more room. When I was watching TNA as a fan, I always thought the six-sided ring gave TNA an identity where as soon as you watch it you’re like, “Oh! That’s different. What’s over there? Let’s have a look.” That’s what always drove us to TNA because as fans you like what’s different. If something’s different you’re going to want to take a look at it and go, “We’re used to four sides.” Then you see the X Division jumping around like Mexican jumping beans and you’re like, “Wow!” It was just so impressive to watch. I think the six-sided ring brings an identity to our company and our company needs that identity. I think it’s a wonderful thing. I’ve got no problem with it. In fact, I enjoy it and embrace it.
You mentioned your suits and bow ties earlier. Where did the idea for these suits come from? Is that your normal attire outside the ring or did you adopt that as part of your persona on TV? Where do you get them? Are the custom made?
I actually do dress like this 24/7 outside the ring, believe it or not. People know who I am whenever I walk through an airport. So there you go. The suits were not an idea put into my head. I’ve personally been given free reign, which I love about TNA, over the direction of my character in regards to the look, the way I present myself and the way I perform. This is me. I am a jerk in and out of the ring. I throw my weight around like I’m 7 feet tall whether I’m in or out of the ring. I have a place called OppoSuits that sends me them specifically because the know how the Chief of Staff likes to dress. And a place called Loudmouth Golf who’ve made clothing for numerous celebrities all over the world. They’ve sent me some little numbers as well to wear on Impact. It’s been great so far. I’ve got some special ones coming up for the New York tapings in August, so watch out for those. Every week on Impact you know it’s going to be something different for Rockstar Spud. You never know what I’m going to turn up wearing next.