Picture Credit: ECWA, http://www.ecwaprowrestling.com
Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: You have been around on the indy circuit for a while, but recently took some time off. What have you been up to recently?
Billy Bax: Yeah, I took some time off to focus
all my attention on school. For a while all I thought
about was wrestling, I was skipping class to go to
shows and workout sessions and things started going
downhill with my education. I continued doing ECWA
because the shows run nearly 10 minutes away from my
house. Recently I've still been working for the ECWA
and have just started doing things with Chaotic in
Massachusetts, as well as other sparatic shows in the
Northeast/Mid Atlantic area. I've gotten to do some
things with the WWE as well. I'm working on picking
up my schedule but it's difficult after the time off
because there are so many guys on the scene now. I
definitely regret leaving for awhile.
Billy Bax: It's great there. I like it there alot. The shows
are run really well. It's a really good learning
environment and a fun atmosphere. It's a very
talented locker room also, with guys like Ace Darling
who don't mind going out of their way to offer advice
and share their knowledge of the business. I feel
very fortunate to be working for Kettner. He's one of
those guys who takes the time out and is eager to work
with the younger guys to make them better and also
values your opinion on your character development.
Billy Bax: I love teaming with Eckos. We've become good
friends in the time we've been tagging together. We
gel really well togehter when we're in the ring. I
think we have a bright future together as a team and
things are only going to get better for the
Valedictorians. We've been the ECWA tag champs for
awhile now. I'm really proud to say that, considering
the past holders of the titles(Ace Darling, Billy
Kidmand, Joey Matthews, and Simon Diamond) to name a
few.
Billy Bax: ECWA
and Chaotic are pretty much the only places i've been
at recently. I like to work for companies that have a
good locker room environment that make you feel
welcome while your there. I worked regularly for
Steve Corino's PWF and IWA in Reading for about 2
years and that had a great atmosphere.
Billy Bax: I can honestly say I don't have
a problems with anyone in wrestling. I'm a pretty
loveable guy. I try not to get caught up in all the
gossip and name calling and just have good time. I
try to control wrestling and not let wrestling control
me.
Billy Bax: I think some of it is real good and I like
it. But there is a time and a place for it. If
you're in front of a crowd of 300 average wrestling
fans who react the same to a tiger driver as they
would a nice looking dropkick, why not do the dropkick
and save yourself the punishment. On the other hand
if you're in a crowd of all smart marks you may have
to do some of the stronger style to get the reaction
you want. It's good to be able to adapt your
wrestling style to the crowd you're working in front
of. I have a 12 year amateur background and like to
do alot of technical work and strong style when
needed. I am a firm believer in keeping things simple
and sometimes less is more. It saves wear and tear on
your body and can save years on your career.
Billy Bax: It's hard to say, I like matches for different
reasons. Whether it's crowd reaction, the style of
wrestling i'm doing, or who I'm in the ring with. I
really liked the match me and Eckos had against Ace
Darling and Matt Striker at this years Super 8
tournament, the crowd was really into it and it had
some solid work in it. Some of my earlier matches I
had with the Amazing Red and Jay Briscoe i really
enjoyed also.
Billy Bax: I don't
like to work with guys who are just concerned about
"getting their stuff in". Or guys that just don't get
it and are insistant on putting too many spots
togehter that just don't make sense.
Billy Bax: I'm
a really big fan of Kurt Angle, Eddie Guererro, and
Shawn Michaels. I watch alot of tapes and am a big
fan of guys like Dean Malenko, Flair, and Dynamite Kid
also.
Billy Bax: I'd really
like to get a chance to get to do some work for TNA or
possibly Ring of Honor. It would give me a chance to
show a different side of Billy Bax most people
normally don't see.
Billy Bax: I think it's a problem with the over
saturation of promotions out there. Crowds are low
now because, although very fortunate, the fans have
alot to pick and choose from and they get the choice
to go to one of three shows in a 50 mile radius and
the crowds end up getting spread out. I think also if
the WWE were booming again people would be excited to
see wrestling in their area. Every business goes
through cycles and I have a positive attitude it will
improve in the future.
Billy Bax: Definitely cut down
on the amount of promotions out there, get rid of the
untrained backyard workers on some of these shows, and
limit tape distribution to a few matches from one show
and not the entire show itself...and also Billy Bax
should be booked on some of these shows to improve the
state indy wrestling.
Billy Bax: I really don't like it. They take work
away from a quality wrestler that could be used in
that spot. Depending on how much training they have
they could pose a threat to themselves and the person
they're in the ring with.
Billy Bax:
Forget the past, always think of your next match as
being your best.
Billy Bax: To make it as far in
wrestling as physically and mentally possible, to
someday hopefully support myself wrestling, and to
earn my Bachelors Degree in Finance.
Billy Bax:
You can see
one of the best tag teams on the East Coast, The
Valedictorians (Billy Bax and Rob Eckos), at Chaotic
Wrestling October 8th and ECWA in Delaware October
16th...Anyone looking to contact Billy Bax I can be
reached at rookbillyb@yahoo.com
Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey
BULLSMC@aol.com