Reckless Youth has been heralded as "King of the Independents" and is highly regarded as one of the most talented people in wrestling today. Reckless recently talked with Nate Stein about his experiences, his injured back, and the CHIKARA wrestling school and upcoming promotion.
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STEIN: For those who may not have seen you work yet, how would you describe yourself?
R. YOUTH: It depends on where I'm at, who I work with, & the condition of the ring I'm wrestling in. With all that aside, I'd like to think of myself as a scientific flyer. I like to mix in elements of American, Mexican, & Japanese styles.
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STEIN: What interested you in getting involved with pro wrestling? I know you've mentioned before Sean Waltman (aka 1-2-3 Kid/X-Pac) was an influence on you, how so?
R. YOUTH: I always loved wrestling. It was just that seeing Sean Waltman make it to the "big man's" company and get a push was inspiring to me. Overnight every lightweight gained an enormous amount of credibility and opened many doors for new lightweight prospects that didn't even get a chance before because they were considered "too small."
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STEIN: What made you decide that wrestling really was for you? What drew you into it?
R. YOUTH: In the beginning, while I was doing shows for Larry Sharpe, I felt so comfortable in the ring. I was never nervous to wrestle. It felt more right than anything I had done to that point in my life. Before I knew it, I was wrestling all over the place and people were talking about me. I never planned on making it a career, I just continued doing what I loved and rode with where ever it took me.
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STEIN: How would you describe your experience at the Monster Factory? Was there any other places you went to train? What would you say to someone thinking about starting in pro wrestling and becoming trained?
R. YOUTH: My experience at the Monster Factory was like most things, in the beginning you love it and by the end you hate it. Don't get me wrong, they provided a solid foundation in the basic fundamentals in wrestling. I just strived for knowledge that the Monster Factory couldn't give me as far as teaching other styles and expanding my repertoire which lead me to AL Snow's school on Ohio. From there I later had the benefits through the WWF to be trained in their dojos in Connecticut under Tom Prichard and in Memphis under Steve Regal.
I tell people all the time that think about becoming a wrestler to do it because you love it not because they want to go to the WWF, have an action figure of themselves, or be in a video game. The chances of that happening are slim.
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STEIN: From the interview done by Outlaw Ken Reed on 8/24/98 (listed on your site), you mention D-Lo Brown came up with the name Reckless Youth. Why that name?
R. YOUTH: I just liked the sound of it.
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STEIN: How long were you involved with the WWF?
R. YOUTH: If you just count the time under a developmental deal, it was a one year contract. If you include the dark matches and time in the WWF Dojo in Stamford, it was about two years total.
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STEIN: What was your experience with the WWF like?
R. YOUTH: My WWF experience was full of good and bad moments that I won't soon forget.
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STEIN: Have you ever wrestled out of the country? If so, what differences are there from wrestling in the U.S. compared to another country?
R. YOUTH: I've wrestled in Puerto Rico and in Canada. Wrestling is wrestling where ever you go. There are different styles in every region of the country that resemble other areas in the world. Wrestling is wrestling.
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STEIN: Next to yourself, who do you think are some of the best wrestlers on the indepedents today?
R. YOUTH: There is a distinct difference in being a "wrestler" and being a "worker." I'd like to consider myself on of the best "workers" in the country. Just about anyone can be a "wrestler" these days and not even own a pair of boots. "Workers" are a dying breed in wrestling these days due directly to the fact that there are so many poor training schools. These guys may know how to do a shooting star press but not how to "work" with another guy. I would consider these guys as some of the best independent "workers" in the country in no particular order: Chris Daniels, Ace Darling, Don Montoya, Michael Modest, Donovan Morgan, Chris Candido, [and] Little Guido.
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STEIN: What is something in wrestling that you would still like to accomplish? What is next for you?
R. YOUTH: I would've liked to compete in Japan. Due to condition of my back, I don't know what's next. I hope to continue being activite in wrestling through training and running shows in the near future with CHIKARA.
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STEIN: How did you actually end up injuring your back? What is/was the prognosis?
R. YOUTH: I was wrestling in a tournament for NWA-Florida in Tampa. I went to do a trademark dive to the floor and my opponent moved. I landed on my lower back & hip on the cement floor. From that fall, I received a tear in a disc in my lower back. The tear has caused a great deal of general discomfort but an incredible amount of pain when I try to bump. Therefore, I haven't been able to wrestle for about 6 months.
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STEIN: What do you like most about pro wrestling? What is something you would change?
R. YOUTH: I liked to entertain the crowd. I would change the fact that the WWF has too much talking and not enough wrestling.
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STEIN: What are some of your comments on the independent scene in the PA/NJ area?
R. YOUTH: I used to think it was the "hot bed" of independent wrestling but now, with the over saturation of poor schools leading to even worse wrestling products, I think that the area needs an overhaul.
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STEIN: Outside of the addition of CHIKARA to the area to produce talented workers, what else would you recommend as part of an overhaul to the NJ/PA area wrestling scene?
YOUTH: I'd like to see the commission reinstated in NJ to oversee the wrestling events and see the PA commission take a more forceful role such as the role the NY commission plays in overseeing wrestling events. I'm not saying that a lot of these underground shows and non-credible schools wouldn't still exist but it would greatly reduce their numbers. I can't understand any state that would deregulate or ignore such a dangerous display as pro wrestling.
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STEIN: What are some of your expectations with running the Chikara Wrestling Factory? What made you decide to open the school?
R. YOUTH: My expectations are to put out students that I'm proud of. Students that others will know who they were trained by. Credible students that will be able to run with the best wrestlers out there.I decided to open a school with Quack because there are so many bad schools out there putting out bad wrestlers that reflect poorly on wrestling. There are way too many schools that are the blind leading to blind putting out a mass of students that are disgraceful.
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STEIN: How do you think your own training experience and professional experience will build into the program you and Mikle Quackenbush run at the Chikara Wrestle Factory?
R. YOUTH: Most schools are one dimensional in their aspects of training. Since I've been trained on several different levels in several diferent styles, I feel our program is better than all others around. Not to mention the fact that Quack & I will be the hands-on trainers at the school rather than pushing it off on someone that has less experience or knowledge.
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STEIN: Any dates you would like to plug for upcoming clinics or other events at Chikara?
R. YOUTH: Feb.24th - Technical wrestling clinic, Mar.24th - Submission holds & Shoot Style Techniques, May 25th - CHIKARA show in Exeter PA.
Contact either myself or Mike Quackenbush for more details through the school website at: www.chikarawrestlefactory.com
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STEIN: Anything else you'd like to add?
R. YOUTH: I'd like to plug the hell out of my school that offers training to potential wrestlers, a workout facility to existing wrestlers, and monthly seminars(clinics) for current wrestlers: http://www.chikarawrestlefactory.com