(Interview with Steve Strout)
Damian LaVaye: No problem.
PWITK:How long have you been in the wrestling business?
D.L.: 8 yrs , Since I was 14
PWITK: Did you start training when you were 14, or was that when you made you debut?
D.L.: Both.
PWITK: Ok...who do you credit for training you for the ring?
D.L: Mountain Man and Mercury McCloud
PWITK: How did you get hooked up with those guys? Were they running a school, and if so where at?
D.L: Yea, they had a school in Mobile, Alabama .
PWITK: Was their training regiment tough? Did you have any doubts about wrestling after your training started at such a young age?
D.L: It was tough, but I enjoyed every second.
PWITK: What influenced you to want to be a professional wrestler?
D.L: Well I had always been a big wrestling "mark" and loved to watch it live and on the tv, but it was Ric Flair and Chris Candido that influenced me to wanna get in this biz and entertain.
PWITK: So its safe to say you were a fan all your life then?
D.L: Yea
PWITK: What are some of the promotions you have been working for?
D.L: NWA Wildside , NWA Battlezone , GAWF , RWA, XW-2000 , Dory Funk jr, CCW ... There have been so many over the years.
PWITK: Yeah...Who have been some of your tougher opponents?
D.L: Crazy Joe Fargo , Joey "the body " Barret , Kevin Northcutt ,and John Saxon
PWITK: So you have worked for Dory Funk, and been in the ring with some really talented guys like Saxon and Northcutt. How has being around guys like this, help your career,? They must be learning experiences, right?
D.L.: Of corse anytime im even in a lockeroom with "over boys " its a learning experience , I love to listen to them.
PWITK: I know that you held the AWA-GAWF cruiserweight/light heavyweight title for a while. Have you held any other titles?
D.L: Yea ..NWA Battlezone hardcore 2 times , SCCW tag-team 2 times ...AWF cruiserweight 10 times , and im the current Mississippi jr champ .
PWITK: Awesome...How would you describe your wrestling "style"?
D.L.: Well my gimmick is the "The New Age of Old School " Damian LaVaye so I consider my style old school, but I can high fly with the best as well .
PWITK: What would you say has been your favorite moment so far in your career?
D.L.: Dory Funk jr laying down for me at one of his shows. It was the greatest thing that this legend would put me over like he did with me only in the biz 3 years at that time
PWITK: Speaking of legends, if you could have a match with any legend (past or present) throughout hsitory, who would it be with? what kind of strategy would you use to try and win the match?
D.L: It would have to be Chris Candido (he is a legend to me ).I would have to say that since I have been a heel my entire career, I would do whatever it took to get the victory.
PWITK: It really sounds like you have accomplished a lot in the business, at a young age as well. What kind of goals have you set for yourself , and have you reached any so far?
D.L: Well my main goal is to have my own school and teach young people the thing I love the most.
PWITK: Since you have been around the biz for a while, and have seen and done a lot, do you have any advice you could give aspiring wrestling students?
D.L: I have had ups and many downs in the biz , but if you love it you will stick with it.
PWITK: Do you have any big matches coming up soon where the fans reading this interview, can see you in action?
D.L: Well im working for AWA-GAWF and myself Billy and Scotty Rayz are calles Intavation X and we have some surprises for the wrestling world on the gulf coast .
PWITK: We will be on the lookout for that... Thanks for your time, but as I usually do , before we end the interview, is there anything you would like to say to the fans or future opponents, or anything else you want to add?
D.L.: As I always say when in the ring ,"Its Hard to Humble when your this damn good " ..I Thank you for allowing me this time.