Billy Maverick

Declaration of Independents: Thank you for taking the time to conduct this interview with us. Tell us about how and why you got started in the world of professional wrestling.

Billy Maverick: Honestly, I had never even thought about wrestling as something that I would have a chance to get into. I thought it was nearly impossible to get into the profession. When I started, I never knew there was such a thing as Independent wrestling. I knew of Memphis, Smokey Mountain, and, of course, ECW, WCW, and WWF. I think there are a lot of people out there like this. Anyway, my brother started running shows in Madison, IN and I went to watch. I didn’t know what to expect but when I got there, I realized this was something that I could do. Why? Well, sometimes I ask myself that... no, just kidding. You know, it is like an addiction. Sometimes you just can't get enough of it, and sometimes you wish you could just quit... but you can't.

Declaration of Independents: Who were your role models growing up? Inside wrestling and outside of wrestling.

Billy Maverick: As far as wrestling goes, I grew up watching what I called “Saturday Morning Wrestling”, Memphis stuff with Jerry “The King” Lawler, The Fabulous Ones, Jeff Jarrett, etc. Those were my role models. The Fabulous Ones especially, the rock star persona… man, I wanted to be them. They would roll in and wrap the match up in about 30 seconds and then it was party time! And Lawler, man, you didn’t want to be on his bad side when that strap came down!

Billy Maverick: Outside of wrestling, one of my heroes was Pete Rose. It is a shame about what he will be remembered for now, but I remember him for his extreme work ethic and for the fact that he gave 110% every time he stepped on the field. Rose himself always said that he was not the most talented individual in the world, but look at what he accomplished through hard work. The all-time Hit King is a self-made man.

Declaration of Independents: If you were not a professional wrestler, what do you see yourself doing as a profession?

Billy Maverick: I always wanted to be a pro baseball player. Whether I would have made it or not, I dunno. Maybe if I had tried a little harder in school, I could have been a lawyer or something. I could see myself doing that.

Declaration of Independents: Tell us about who trained you and where you trained. Was your training anything like what you saw on Tough Enough or do you think that Tough Enough was a watered down example of what real wrestlers go through in their trainings?

Billy Maverick: I was trained by my brother (Eric Draven). He trained a lot of the guys who work in the Indiana area. Since he was my brother, I had the advantage of extra one-on-one training which helped me a lot. We trained in a building with no windows, no heat in the winter, no air in the summer. I drove two hours each way for each training session. A lot of guys would come in wanting to be big-time pro wrestlers, and would give up after one or two training sessions because it was too tough for them. It was nothing like Tough Enough. We didn’t get to go to the beach when we had a tough day. We didn’t get to all stay in a luxurious house and go out and party every night. As far as the training itself, they didn’t show enough of that on TV for me to judge the similarities.

Declaration of Independents: Do you agree or disagree with this statement: “You can learn something new each and every time you step foot in the wrestling ring”

Billy Maverick: Definitely. You can only learn so much in training. You can learn the moves and the bumps, holds and reversals, but you don’t learn what really works for you until you get out there. There is always something more to learn and every match should be taken as an opportunity to do just that… whether it be what to do or what NOT to do.

Declaration of Independents: Who have been your toughest opponents to date?

Billy Maverick: Simon Sezz. You can look at this guy and he doesn’t look so tough, but the guy moves 100 mph all the time and is nearly impossible to keep up with. He rarely makes a mistake. Any match I have with my brother is tough too, because we always seem to be trying to one-up each other. Mike Samples is a tough one. He is so big, and so smart. The guy knows more about the sport than anyone I have ever met. Todd Morton. Oh! Those chops! Oh, and Clint Marko ~ stiff. Just kidding, but every time I have worked him I felt like I was just in a fight. And well, one of the toughest guys I have ever met is Mason The Mangler... one of the craziest too!

Declaration of Independents: What has been your best match so far and why do you think so?

Billy Maverick: I have had a few that I am pretty proud of. Me vs. Mason the Mangler in Harrodsburg, KY on May 7th, 2004 was nearly flawless and the crowd was on its feet the whole time. My match with my brother on March 28th, 2003 in Georgetown was nearly perfect as well. Anytime I have faced JT Money, Chance Prophet, or Brandon Hunter we just seem to click. Also, guys I trained with like Nick Noble and Joey Moore, we always know what each other can do.

Declaration of Independents: The DOI focuses on the Northeast but we do reach out all across the nation. Tell the readers about some of the wrestlers from your region of Kentucky and Indiana that you think have a great chance at making it in Professional Wrestling.

Billy Maverick: Well, it depends on your definition of “making it”. Vic The Bruiser is as good a worker or better than anyone I have seen on TV. My brother definitely has the skills to make it, maybe not the size. I could see him Main-Eventing in TNA if he were given half the chance. John Noble is widely accepted as the best all-around worker in Kentucky. Others in this area that deserve a chance are Chance Prophet, Simon Sezz, JT Money, Chris Blayze, Brad Lamen, Eric Darkstorm… I don’t want to leave anyone out, but I am sure I will.

Declaration of Independents: What are your long term and short-term goals in Professional Wrestling?

Billy Maverick: I haven’t really decided how much longer I am going to do this. I realize now that I am never going to be a “WWE Superstar” since they are releasing very talented individuals right and left as it is. I just hope to be the best independent wrestler I can be, to make the fans feel like they got their money’s worth each time, to not get injured, and to not injure anyone. Oh yeah, it would be nice to be remembered when I do finally give it up. Yea, that would be nice.

Declaration of Independents: What promotions would you like to work for that you currently have not worked?

Billy Maverick: Hmm… I am pretty happy working around here, close to home. I mean, it would be nice to pop-up on WWE or TNA one day for the exposure or to show up on ROH for the recognition and the credibility that comes with that, but I enjoy the local scene where I can stay close to my home.

Declaration of Independents: What wrestlers would you like to work with that you currently have not had the chance to work?

Billy Maverick: I’d like to work with some of the guys who I can really learn something from, guys like CM Punk or Colt Cabana who are considered to be the best workers in the sport. Also, sure, I’d like to stand across the ring from Ric Flair or Harley Race one day... true ring generals. Maybe even Steve Austin or the Rock, simply for the fact that you know there would be a LOT of people watching.

Declaration of Independents: Now for some fun questions: If you could slap one person in their face within the wrestling business who would that 1 person be and why?

Billy Maverick: Depends, do they get a slap back at me? Vince McMahon is a pretty big guy! I respect the fact that he has done a lot for the biz, but also I think he is the one who is most responsible for killing kayfabe. Also, I wouldn’t mind getting a shot in on whoever is the head writer for WWE RAW. That show was so much better before it became a 2-hour infomercial for the next PPV. I don’t even watch any more, the last time I watched there were two matches on the whole 2-hour plus show. Plus for the whole Katie Vick angle, come on.

Declaration of Independents: If Drew Barrymore, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz were having a fatal 4 way match with the winner getting a 1 night stand with Billy Maverick, who would you interfere for and why and how would you go about your run in?

Billy Maverick: Hmmm… how bout taking a large bucket of baby-oil and throwing it on the canvas? They can all slip and slide on that for a bit, getting all oiled up and shiny and slippery. Finally, all four can no longer keep themselves in the ring and slide out to the floor. Handcuff Barrymore and Lopez to each other back-to-back with Diaz in between them. Slide Jolie back into the ring, winner by count-out. Why her? Come on, let's just say when I was younger, DSL didn't stand for "Digital Subscriber Line".

Declaration of Independents: If you could change 1 thing about the Professional Wrestling business what would that be?

Billy Maverick: Well, someone once said, “if the boys went back to being the boys and promoters went back to just running show instead of screwing the boys we would have a better business”. I agree with that. Plus, at least around here, you got too many guys fresh out of the backyard getting into the business who have never been trained and never paid one lick of dues, and well… sometimes you just have to bite your tongue.

Declaration of Independents: How do you feel about the role of the Internet in Professional Wrestling?

Billy Maverick: Pretty much the same as everyone, it is a double-edged sword. It is a good way for indy guys to get their names out, and it sure has helped me get bookings and made me more accessible to my fans (both of them). Then again, before the internet, most fans had no knowledge of things like politics, glass ceilings, doghouses, or any idea of how the business worked… they loved their wrestling and that was all that mattered.

Declaration of Independents: You had the chance to work against some legends in the wrestling business. Tell us about those experiences and what did you learn from them?

Billy Maverick: Oh man, no one tops Tracy Smothers. That guy is awesome. I was so nervous, and he made me feel like I was right on his level. Here was this relative nobody (me) wrestling this guy who has been on WWF, WCW, ECW, etc, etc... and the crowd ate it up. He really knew how to get me over with the fans, even though he was obviously a much, much bigger star. My match with LOD was another highlight of my career. Man, speaking of being nervous… whew! But it was great. Road Warrior Animal was having a neck problem, so Road Warrior Hawk did most of the work in that one... but I did get a taste of the "Doomsday Device". Hawk was the greatest guy and I feel very fortunate to have had the honor to work with him only a couple of months before he passed away. After the match, I asked him how he thought it went. I will never forget, he said, “Brother, I’ve been doing this for over 20 years and I’m telling you, that was a smooth match!” Working with the legendary “Boy From New York City” Jimmy “Boogie Woogie Man” Valiant taught me how to really loosen up and have a good time in the ring. No one gets the crowd more involved than Boogie. Working with Ricky Morton taught me to not get so down on myself for making a mistake every now-and-then. We kinda had a spot go awry, nothing major, but after the match I said, “Hey Ricky, sorry about that back there.” Ricky was like, “hey, that’s over man, don’t worry about it.” I don’t want to leave anyone out, but I don’t want to sit here and drop names or bore everyone to death. I will say that working with Buff Bagwell and Koko B Ware taught me a lot, too, about professionalism and such and I will end it with that.

Declaration of Independents: Who is the best Indy wrestler in the world today in your honest opinion?

Billy Maverick: Well, I haven’t seen every indy wrestler in the world, so I can’t really say. I think it's me... NOT! It sure ain’t me, but I ain’t the worst either... LOL. I think the consensus these days is CM Punk, although I haven’t seen much of his work. I hear good things about Colt Cabana and Chad Collyer, too. I’ve seen Chris Hero here and there, he’s definitely up there. I’d have to work with them to know for sure. Those guys sure seem to get a lot of press, I’m sure for good reason. PWI and publications like that seem to mark out for them, but then again there are some workers around here that I think could definitely hang with them~ Vic The Bruiser, John Noble, Eric Draven, Chance Prophet, Simon Sezz, etc. Who knows, really? Its hard to say who the best in the world is. I am sure there are guys out in Nevada or Texas somewhere who everyone thinks are the best, too. That’s the problem with the indies, not enough national exposure. The greatest talent in the world might be some guy happy doing his weekly show in BFE and not more than 100 people will ever see him. Ya just never know.

Declaration of Independents: Did you vote? If you did, would you discuss who you voted for and why?

Billy Maverick: Yea, I am not real political. I’ll just say that John Kerry said a few things that rubbed me the wrong way. I am not the biggest fan of Bush either, but it’s more of a pick your poison type deal. Kerry to me seems to be too controlled by outside influences, but what do I know?

Declaration of Independents: If you could have sex with 1 woman in the wrestling business who would it be?

Billy Maverick: Ooh, I hope my wife doesn’t read this interview! I tell you, I have seen pictures of Angel Williams. @*#$! Never met her, but I don’t understand why WWE would have a Diva Search and she would not get an opportunity. Seriously though, that is only if I were not already married!

Declaration of Independents: Where were you on September 11th 2001 and how did that day effect you?

Billy Maverick: I was just glued to the TV for weeks. It’s hard to describe what goes through your mind when something like that happens, but then again I don’t really have too because the same thing was going through millions of Americans’ minds at the same time and still does to this day. I know most people here didn't lose as much as the people in New York, but I think we all lost a lot that day.

Declaration of Independents: Do you play any organized sports in school?

Billy Maverick: Yea, I played baseball. I played some basketball when I was younger, like before High School. I became more of a football fan after I graduated; I wish I had played that.

Declaration of Independents: How do you feel about the different styles in professional wrestling including Strong Style, Lucha, High spots, technical and sports entertainment?

Billy Maverick: I think there is a place for all styles. I think the fans get tired of seeing the same type of match over and over, and the same moves/spots again and again. It is good to mix it up. Me, I try to work a little of each style. I am not great at any style, but I am pretty good at a lot of things.

Declaration of Independents: What would you like to say to all the Indy wrestling fans that are reading this right now?

Billy Maverick: Get out and support your local indy wrestling. Don’t give up because you see one bad show, shop around. I get so sick of people saying. “Oh, wrestling is in a down-cycle right now.” That’s baloney. Maybe GOOD wrestling is in a down-cycle. I read that on a message board somewhere, but I agree with it. Go to the shows, find one you like. Let the people running the show know what you liked or didn’t like. Indy wrestlers work harder, put on a better show, and do it for the love of the sport not for the money. Don’t give up on wrestling just because you don’t like what WWE is doing. Oh yeah, and visit my website at http://maverickwrestler.tripod.com

Declaration of Independents: Again thank you for your time.

Billy Maverick: Thank you for the opportunity to speak. I hope I didn’t bore everyone.

Billy Maverick:
http://maverickwrestler.tripod.com