Hello, my name's Lenny Zefring. Some of you may know me as one of the announcers with the Philadelphia-based fed CFF where I call the action of the likes of Marcus Nuit, Snob Hill, Keith Stebbins, Cho' Karim Lutanica, Izzy Violence, and the Northern Lights Bomber. However, today and from now on here on Just the Facts! 3001, I'll be doing interviews with the stars of this industry. My first edition is with none other than former EMWC World, North American, and Tag Team Champion and frequent JTF! 3001 contributor, Mark Langseth!
LZ: Thanks for being here, Mark, for this interview.
ML: No problem - I was in Atlantic City for the weekend, so getting here wasn't all that hard.
LZ: How did you make out?
ML: Gambling? Heh, rather not discuss that... Let's just say I lost a good bit at the Hold 'em table.
LZ: Ha! Alright, I'll just move along to the questions, if that's ok?
ML: Sure, shoot.
LZ: I guess the first question on my mind is how are you doing? How have you recovered from your injuries that you suffered from last year?
ML: Well, I feel fine. A couple days after my match at Redemption, I literally couldn't walk - any time I tried to move my legs, I'd be in pain. I had to go through some physical therapy after my neck surgery in June, but I made good progress and have had a fairly quick recovery...
LZ: Good enough to wrestle again?
ML: Hmm... [sighs] I, well, I'd like to. It's hard having to watch it on TV and not being there, you know?
LZ: So what's holding you back? There's tons of places that would take you in a heartbeat.
ML: Oh, I know - I've had the offers, but... Well, what I did at Redemption really wasn't all that smart. I mean, Chris Courtade's one hell of a talent and all, but the guy wrestles stiff. I already knew I needed surgery on my neck, so... After all those suplexes and hard drops I took, it just made the situation worse.
LZ: So you mean you're not at the level health to compete every day?
ML: Hrm... No, I wouldn't say that. I almost there, really. And some of the places have offered me stuff like managing or some other role that wouldn't require actual wrestling, but... Well, I just keep thinking to that match and the pain and surgery and heartache I put my family through and asked myself if it really was worth it.
LZ: But you say that you find it hard to watch it on TV. You don't long to be there?
ML: No, I do. I guess... I guess I'm just kind of in a flux, you know? I'd give me leg to be there in the ring, but at the same time I'd like to still be able to walk by the time my 50th birthday rolls around. I've seen some of those old-hands, all hunched over, having to walk with canes, or worse... I don't want to turn out like that.
LZ: But you didn't let that affect your decision to wrestle at Showtime X against Steve Spector?
ML: Well... Well, that was different. It was going to be a one match type of deal against I guy I've always respected and knew would be great in the ring considering that Spector's got a deft touch for moves. Plus it would've been a "technical" type of match, so nothing too crazy. One match that was pretty light against a guy like him was something I could handle at that point. Or, well, thought I could if the show had happened.
LZ: Ah, I see. But do you don't rule out a return?
ML: Heh, just digging for a "Yeah, I'm coming back next week", aren't you?
LZ: Ha, yeah, I am!
ML: Well, no, I wouldn't rule it out. Wrestling's been a huge part of my life - gave me everything I have today.
LZ: Switching topics -
ML: Thank God!
LZ: Heh, you mentioned that you watch wrestling - what do you watch? Which feds?
ML: Well, I've always liked what RCW has done and they've got a lot guys I've competed against, so I naturally have to watch. I used to watch some GIW tapes, but I think I've seen them all. I've just started ordering LWC stuff, so I'll get around to that someday. I'll turn on UWF sometimes when I can.
LZ: That's interesting, considering the harsh words you've had for them in the past.
ML: Well, yeah, for a couple years they were EMWC's main rival. They had no problem slinging mud at us, so I figured I'd the same. It wasn't to the degree of the others in the E or all that open, but it was there.
LZ: But now?
ML: Well, I've wisened up a bit. I mean, when I saying those things, I was still in my mid-twenties and had only a couple years in the "big leagues". And the UWF started to fade, anyway. So that rivalry wasn't really there.
LZ: Would you ever wrestle there?
ML: Heh, that's a good one. Um, well, I don't think I'd be well received as I was in LA, that's for sure. Um... I guess I would. I mean, they're on a roll right now and everything, so I wouldn't rule them out based on a petty past. And it would be pretty much against people I've never wrestled against - I think the only guys there that I have are the Keenings and Quinn Brown.
LZ: Anyone you're a fan of now? Anyone you're following?
ML: Fan? Na, I don't think I'd ever be a fan of anyone in particular... I can appreciate the work of Luke Kinsey, though. His ring styles probably the best in business today - he could carry anyone to a classic match. Shane Destiny, too, falls right in there. I guess I can appreciate them more than guys like [Devon] Case or [Alex] Martinez cause they're more mat based.
LZ: How about Alex Martinez? Or Courtade? Or Brown?
ML: Heh, trying to hit on my sore spots, aren't you? Well... They're all good in the ring and everything, but... I don't think I'd ever be able to call any of them a friend or anything like that. With me, if I've got any bad blood towards you, it'll run deep for a long time.
LZ: But you'll let Courtade go over yourself in your last match ever?
ML: Well, first off I didn't just "let" him. After a couple of stiff moves, I started really letting into him there... But, well, I knew at that point he was going to be the future of the company and not me, so I did the better thing. Or well, at least if the EMWC stayed open... But my beef with him was his attitude. From the moment he stepped foor in the E, he acted like he was the greatest thing ever to step through there. I mean, he took that "Legend Killer" gimmick to heart, it seemed. A complete asshole and he never let up on it. Talented, yeah, but I can never respect the man. Never.
LZ: I see. And with Martinez?
ML: Well, that's different... Or, well, a little the same. When he entered the EMWC, he acted big and I kind of resented how fast he moved up the ladder. For me, I took nearly a year just to get off the ground. Him? I think he main evented within weeks of being there. And then when we were pegged to do that feud of ours, I still felt... I guess angry - I know others said I was just jealous and I know Martinez said the same... But when we started that program, the stuff we were saying was more or less scripted and all, but as time went by, it was more just us talking. It kind of escalated from there and still remains.
LZ: Brown?
ML: [Sighs]... Yeah, Quinn Brown... Well, that was more of me just being green to how the big feds worked. I was angry that I was humiliated by a guy that NO ONE in the locker room liked, so I held that grudge for a long time. But not now anymore. That's all the past and I'm glad he's doing well in UWF.
LZ: Ah... Well, anyone else you've got problems with?
ML: Heh, yeah, plenty... But I'd rather not air that dirty laundry here.
LZ: Got it... But anyone that don't have any bad blood with?
ML: Oh yeah. I mean, Gabe [Whitecross] for one. The guy really did teach me a whole lot about business, in and out of the ring. Without him, I'd would've still been wrestling off camera. Uh... Well, Spector - for all the smack we've said on camera and the long running feud we've had, again on camera, there's not a guy more classy than him. I was happy when he won the EMWC World Title cause he deserved that more than anyone. And, of course, Tommy [Stephens]. Uh... No ill will towards the Gremlin, Jeff [Matthews], Adam Rogers, Jake Shaw, a whole lot others. I mean, I'm not just a spiteful prick.
LZ: Hehe... But I guess that went with being perceived as the "favorite son" of Chris Blue, right?
ML: [Sighs] Yeah... I'm tired of hearing about that. I mean, I worked my ass off to get where I was and I deserved each and every title shot I got, each and every Pay-Per-View main event, and my status in the E. I never quit on the fed cause I got a better offer or cause I had a beef with Blue...
LZ: Did you ever?
ML: Yeah, of course! Every wrestler has fights with their promoter. There were times that he'd suggest something and I'd be against it totally, but I wouldn't let that get in the way of the overall picture.
LZ: But what about your perception of holding others down in EMWC?
ML: Another bunch of bull - I think I put over more people there than anyone else. I mean, Martinez, Courtade, Shaw - I had Rogers go over me in his first match in the E, WHILE I was World Champion. So, no, I didn't do that. I did what was good for the company.
LZ: You said that you follow RCW - what are your thoughts on Clint Fletcher?
ML: He's great. I mean, he gave me my first real job in wrestling, taking a chance on a guy that barely had any experience and helped mold me to be comfortable in front of the camera. Almost everytime he'd opened a place up, I've gotten there... And just look at the guys out there that he's had a hand at improving - Vasquez, Kinsey, Alex Extreme, Destiny, Case, Tommy [Stephens], and a lot others. He's great at that aspect of the game.
LZ: Anyone that you haven't faced that you'd like to, say... If you came back?
ML: [Laughs] Heh, and yet you keep coming back to that, don't you? Well, Casey James, definitely. I was offered a feud with him in... '99, I think, but like an idiot I declined. Uh... Claw, too, though the way he wrestled, I don't think I could stand it, physically, until I get a little better.
LZ: Still remembering the night he knocked you out?
ML: Heh, oh yeah, as much as I'd like to forget that... But he was one hell of a wrestler - the both of them. Definitely the best. Aside from James and Claw? Tommy James, too, since he was one of the best wrestlers I've seen and he stayed loyal to the company that gave him everything, right down to the end. I respect him for that.
LZ: Anyone that's currently wrestling?
ML: Well, Shane Destiny for sure. He's got a great work ethic and does some amazing stuff - always something new. Edmond Winston, too, just cause he cheats ALMOST as well as I do... er, did. Um... Scott Daniels would be interesting - had the opportunity to work with for a little bit, but never against him in a match. Asama Inoue, too, from the little I've seen of him is impressive.
LZ: TWo UWF'ers there... Sign of things to come?
ML: Heh, hardly, hardly... It's just that I've pretty much wrestled against most of the people I want to wrestle against... Most of the people in UWF stayed true to the company and didn't test the waters of the E. The guys that were in GLCW and RCW, well, many were in EMWC, so I had the chance to face them. And some of the other guys out there, like Hannibal Carver, ["Bad Eye"] McBaine, I wouldn't mind facing, but... Well, not my first choice.
LZ: Well, I think that's about all I have for you today.
ML: What, you've run out of different ways to ask me when I'm coming back?
LZ: Heh, yeah, I guess.
ML: Well, it's been great. Hope I don't get in trouble for anything I've said.
LZ: Heh, I'll edit out anything incriminating, ok?
ML: Sure!
LZ: Thanks again.
ML: No problem - my pleasure.
- Lenny Zefring is the lead announcer for Championship Fighting Federation and head interviewer for Just The Facts! 3001. If you wish to setup an interview with Mr. Zefring, please e-mail us at [email protected] with the details