This past week, I was fortunate enough to have the chance to interview the one and only "Shogun of Asswhuppery", the GLCW legend, The Gremlin. From his time as being a top draw in KCW, GLCW, and EMWC to his current break from the business, The Gremlin certainly had much to say in this interesting and... Well, one of my more animated interviews in a while. Enjoy!
LZ: Thank you for taking some time out of your schedule for this interview.
Gremlin: No problem. Got nothing else to do, apparently.
LZ: It's been a while since anyone's heard anything from you since the fall of GLCW. Why have you elected to take this premature retirement? Health issues or just a matter of timing?
Gremlin: Um, I guess you could call it a matter of timing. The thing is, I wouldn't necessarily call this a "retirement"... it's just a bit of a break. Fact of the matter is, if GLCW had been able to let my last contract carry over to this new run, I'd have been back within a heartbeat. Hell, I'd practically work for free in Michigan... they just want to get some actual new blood flowing around up there these days, so I'll gladly step aside and let them go nuts and do what they have to do. Breaks are fun.
LZ: Any news or happenings since then?
Gremlin: Nothing too important. Been hanging out with the wife and kid a lot, haven't gotten any stitches lately... I guess that's pretty big. [laughs]
LZ: Any truth to the rumor that you're becoming an actor?
Gremlin: Man... you know, I dunno who started that "Falcon" rumor, but come on. I'm honestly not Sam Wilson material.
LZ: Um...
Gremlin: If I was gonna be an actor, I don't think I'd go after a role as The Falcon. It's a little too safe. Disturbed would be on the soundtrack, and that's scary. Give me a sawed off shotgun, or a wheelbarrel full of bricks. And naked chicks.
LZ: Heh, Gotta have the naked chicks.
Gremlin: Yeah. Kids today are missing out on celluoid nudity. [chuckles]
LZ: Like I asked a former colleague of yours, Mark Langseth, in my last interview, are there any thoughts of coming back to the ring? Or is this a permanant break?
Gremlin: Yeah, I'm definitely coming back. I'm not saying when or where, but it's definitely going to happen. I'm just waiting for the right time... it could be months or even years from now, but I will be back.
LZ: Since you have been out, the wrestling landscape has changes quite a bit. Most of the "wrestling class" that you came in under has either faded away or are overstaying their welcome. If and when you come back, do you think you would be any different?
Gremlin: I'd like to think that I could just pick up right where I left off- same attitude, same intensity, same in-ring antics... but who knows. Everyone's seen an untold number of wrestlers spout off profanity and smack people with chairs or whatever else they can pick up. Can I do it unlike anyone else? Yeah, I think so- I think that I've shown that I can do a lot of juggling when it comes to in-ring work with what I did in Knoxville and Michigan. The thing is, in today's industry, do people want that? For every guy that wants a match that'll make them fill their workrate mug up to the brim with white, hot joy, there's folks that want nothing but violence. Finding that happy medium is key. I think that's where I'd like to go in the future... but I'd still like to dish out the asswhuppery. I don't think I could ever stop doing that.
LZ: Anything in today's wrestling world that's of interest to you? Anyone that particularly stands out?
Gremlin: I like the "new" GLCW- it's a very different environment from when I was there. Their product has changed a hell of a lot, yet it still has that familiar shine to it. Plus the use of the MechaGremlin design throws a dollar in my pocket... maybe sixty cents, I dunno. RCW coming back surprised me, especially with Courtade saddling up again. Fucking crazy stuff there, man- the Homeric Cowboy era is not dead! I kid, actually... it's good to see him back in some fashion- people need something to bitch about, after all. Um, BSCW's fun to watch- Asama Inoue's onto something there with his in-ring presence and whatnot. NEO-Pro's doing fun stuff up in Canada- never thought Johnny Pleasence would head back up north, but they must be paying him beer money. Plus Carver's killing folks every two and a half cards... and Irvin's back and they've got broads throwing down... some chick stole Simon Ezra's gimmick _and_ his calf implants... craziness all around, I tell you. It's a good time to be a wrestling fan. No one running an organization is a loser right now, lemme tell you- there's too much talent out there. Everybody wins.
LZ: If you'll allow, let me delve a bit into your past. Late 2002, you abruptly left EMWC and turned exclusively to GLCW. What was the thought process behind that move?
Gremlin: We were headed towards different places, I think. It wasn't exactly the easiest decision I've had to make- but in the end, it felt like things weren't going to ever reach the type of high I was at when I won the EMWC World Title. I'd kinda fallen into a rut- guy shows up, I get angry, let's keep it going until the PPV. It kinda felt like I'd peaked early, and the only thing I could do there was stay at a plateau or eventually bottom out completely, so I opted to leave before things got bad.
LZ: A heel turn wasn't an option?
Gremlin: I already turned heel facing Steve Spector. [laughs] Seriously- no, I don't think that would have done anything major. It would've just been a band-aid on a bloody hatchet wound- a nice thought, but a bit too late to change anything.
LZ: Are you happy you made that move - you were still the top draw in EMWC and, with the move to the less stable GLCW, it kind of hurt your status in wrestling.
Gremlin: First off, I don't think I was the top draw in EMWC. Ever. Temple pretty much had that spot no matter what. I was just the guy who got passed the ball when Justice left. I did my thing for as long as I could do it, and then Spector got the rock. Working in GLCW full time, things felt kinda... I dunno, "right" I guess. I knew the production staff, I knew a good chunk of the workers there... shit, upon me coming back, Rob James' exact words were "About fucking time." It felt like home. I have no regrets. The move didn't hurt me at all, in my opinion. In the end, I was still me.
LZ: Any bad blood remaining from anyone in EMWC? Anyone that you still keep up with?
Gremlin: No bad blood. I don't believe in that. I talk to Mike Justice, Simon Ezra, Michelle Bailey, Rob Donovan... um, I tried getting in touch with Langseth a few times, but no response. Jake Shaw's wife and my wife are good friends. I have a small circle of friends in the business, but I try to be friendly to all, pretty much.
LZ: One the other side, though, you and Tommy James were probably the two most outstanding members of GLCW. As such, you two were the closest and most loyal to the fed. What were your overall impressions with it?
Gremlin: It was a fun place- that's all I can really say. I just had so much fun there- 1998 to 2002 was chock full of good times no matter what happened behind the scenes or any of that bullshit that you might have heard about. Like I said, it was just home.
LZ: And how did you get along with Andrew Wilczak, away from the ring?
Gremlin: He's a good guy- he had a good business sense. Never really had any problems with him- he did order too many shots of whiskey at a bar that I ended up paying for once, but that's an easy thing to let slide.
LZ: Some, uh, quick questions here for you...
Gremlin: Go right ahead.
LZ: Toughest opponent?
Gremlin: Tommy James. Gotta work hard to look good against him... and I mean that in a good way.
LZ: Persons that you carried a feud over off camera? Or people that you just couldn't stand at all?
Gremlin: Billy Higgins. I don't think he knew what the fuck he was doing in or out the ring.
LZ: Anyone that you wish you could have another go at? Anyone that you wish you had been in a program with, but never got the chance?
Gremlin: I'd like another go at Steve Spector. As for someone that I would have liked a program with, Eddie Van Gibson. He's one of the greats that you don't hear about much today.
LZ: Time that you most enjoyed being a wrestler?
Gremlin: Winning the GLCW World Title and then demanding a Hummer. Whether it was the vehicle or the sexual act from random females, I still don't know. Maybe I was high. Maybe I was drunk. Maybe I was high and drunk. Weed and alcohol's affects double if you take them together, you know!
LZ: I'll keep that in mind. Closest friends from the business?
Gremlin: Tommy & Rob James, Courtade, Bailey, Justice... my wife, since I met her in the business... Paul Von Braun, Alex Wallace... I'll stop there because it's a long list.
LZ: Being one of the biggest names out there that's still available - retired, on a break, or not, you're still able... Any big offers? Anyone continually knocking at the door with a contract in hand?
Gremlin: There's been mutterings about me hitting up a deathmatch tournament in a few months, but I dunno if that's gonna go down or not. Other than that, wait and see. Whatever happens will be fun, I promise.
LZ: Anything else you'd like to add?
Gremlin: Rob James knows eight languages and he refers to himself as a "metrosexual man" even when staring down a double-barreled weapon toted by a 38FF stripper.
LZ: Uh... Interesting. Wish I could delve into that a bit more, but we're out of time here. Thank you again for for this interview - it's been a pleasure.
Gremlin: No problem. Take it easy.
- 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