Neeno Capone (left) with his former tag team partner Aaron Payne (right)
Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: First off Neeno, thank you for doing an interview with the DOI. People may not know your full role in AWA. Can you tell everyone what your role is in the AWA?
Neeno Capone: Currently I am the "Vice President" and "Public Relations Manager" for the AWA.
Neeno Capone: I got my start in pro wrestling via Mike Morgan. At age 16, Mike began to training me with the basics and we used Gino Caruso's ECPW facility once to twice a week, for in ring experience. Most people don't know it, but that was over 8 years ago.
Neeno Capone: I consider Mike to be my brother. I've known him for over ten years, inside and outside of wrestling. We've worked together on a number of projects outside of this business and have been successful. Why not try to do it with something that we both know and love.
Neeno Capone: From what I understand, Frankie Starz is no longer affiliated with the UWA and I think releasing him was a positive move for them. What occured earlier this year is simply bad for wrestling as a whole. Personally there is no animosity between Neeno Capone and the UWA. In fact, when I first broke into this business, I had numerous feuds with Bandido in the ring and it was always good entertainment for the fans. They just have a different way of doing things over there than the AWA and who are we to judge how they conduct business?
Neeno Capone: Again my personal opinion is that this is bad for wrestling as a whole. As a wrestler, I just want to work. And it's a shame that because of ownership quarrels, some wrestlers were put on the spot and had to make decisions on who they did and did not work for. AWA encourages workers to go out there and gain the experience, take advantage of the exposure, that's what gets workers to the "big time" along with their desire to master their craft and never get comfortable with how good they are.
Neeno Capone: I congratulate the Mambo King for running a successful show in Jersey City. From what I've been told it was pretty entertaining. Again, why try to shut down the next guy? If he were smart he would get all of his workers to take advantage of the AWA facility to better his product. Point blank, anyone in the world can pay for an All Star card. The AWA is focused on developing talent for the future of this business. The man has said it publicly that he is trying to have the AWA shut down. He has tried on numerous occasions and has been unsuccessful.
To his homegrown talent: I'm really not impressed at all, but there is always room for improvement.
Neeno Capone: I'm not going to sit here and name names. The potential walks into the building every night and are getting better as I answer these questions. My job is to try to encourage these guys that the sky is the limit. They know that it all depends on their work ethic and dedication to getting better. Some are ahead of others and that's evident, but the AWA gives it to them straight behind closed doors.
Neeno Capone: The only ones who have no chance of succeeding are those that are here for the wrong reasons. The ones that don't focus on the goals that they set for themselves. I mean, I believe that a man can do what he wants to if he wants it bad enough. The question is how bad do they want it. Only they can answer that.
Neeno Capone: Mike and myself work closely together everyday to put together a show that is entertaining for the fans and beneficial to the guys in the lockerroom every other week. Alot of the talent that has appeared in the AWA have given experience to the younger guys. Not just about performances, but about this business as a whole. That's a definite plus and my hat goes off to all of them for doing what they do, not only every other week on the events, but also on a daily basis during training sessions.
Neeno Capone: Some guys may not understand the benefits of being on the same card with these guys who have been around or even having the opportunity to share a lockerroom with them. For the most part, there haven't been many occurences of that here. In fact, I see alot of interaction between these guys on a nightly basis during workouts and they all know that the door is open for them to speak with Mike or myself about anything that they may have on there mind. That goes for the rookies and the veterans alike.
Neeno Capone: We just want to make wrestling entertaining again and we believe that we can achieve that by molding these young guys who will be wrestling for years to come. Not only inside the ring but outside also. Attitude goes a long way. I would be gratified if someday a wrestler is sitting in a WWE lockerroom and when he is asked where he/she got their start, their response is AWA. We try to deliver fans an entertaining show every two weeks and provide these guys who work so hard to perform, a quality atmosphere to showcase their talent. There is no half way in the AWA and I think that we make that clear to the public with the product that we deliver.
Neeno Capone: When I first came aboard the AWA I wrestled on shows to help the younger guys out. I never wanted the AWA to be known for pushing its promoters. I think you lose respect of your roster by doing that, so once the roster was strong enough that my presense was no longer needed in the ring, I decided to step back and focus on pushing them. I wouldn't say that I am the best {yet}, (laughs) but I know for a fact that with my talent, I can compete with the top names on the indies. I do wrestle for other feds when the opportunity arises and hopefully more of those chances will come. Fans ask for it all the time so once in a while you will see me in the ring at the AWA. I work out consistently to continue progressing. I do still have alot of years left in me, as a matter of fact I still consider this to be the beginning of my wrestling carreer.
Neeno Capone: Aaron is taking some time off to study. I support that decision 100% because it gives you something to fall back on. The reality of this business is that only a few can make this their career. We speak all the time and hang out occasionally. If he ever wants to come back, that remains to be seen, but I think that he is more than capable.
Neeno Capone: I'm not sure what he was feeling towards the end of his time here but he made it public that he didn't agree on certain pushes. That's fine, we can't please all of the people all of the time. It really wasn't for him to like or dislike unless it had something to do with him and it didn't. I guess frustration got the best of him. He did some things while he was here and I thank him for it, but sometimes people go their seperate ways. I wish him the best.
Word Association
Mike Morgan
Passionate about what he does and dedicated to it....
Johnny Thunder
Great worker and example of a professional....
Joe Hardway
Still very young with extreme potential if angled the right way....
Jay Lethal
Phenomenal guy all around, definitely has alot to give this business....
Azraiel
Technically.....one of the best I've seen....
Dover
With more experience... he's got it.....
Johnny Bravado
Funny at times...sometimes not!
Hot N Sexy
Professional guys....great sense of the business...
AMIL
Very good and with time can become great......
DRS
Driven...even with all they have accomplished....
Max Metal
Getting the whole picture now...slowly but getting it...
Damian Dragon
Someone to learn alot from.....
Foxxy Dreams
Actually managed me and Aaron when we came into the business...another fact that not to many people know.....will always consider her "Foxxy Flames"
Mayhem
He'll get his time.....if he stays focused.
Alicia
Very respectable in this business for years to come.....
Pinkie Sanchez
Will be missed... wish him the best off in college....great move!!!
Kevin Matthews
Can do big things if he chooses to....
Danny Demanto
Silly....but good and rapidly improving....
Layla Herrera
Great heart and desire for wrestling......
XRA
Probably the most underrated referee in wrestling......
Slingblade Carl
Started reffing by mistake...who knew......
Chris Idol
Great gimmick... crowd worker!
Peter Van Orton
Good guy....Great promos!
Neeno Capone
Just getting started.......watch me!!!
DOI
Appreciated....very informative.....
Neeno Capone: We appreciate all of the support we get from the fans and you guys as well as the support from other promotions who can appreciate what we are trying to do. we will do our best to continue to raise the bar that we set for ourselves! No question about it.
Neeno Capone: I'll let the fans decide who their favorite promotion is. We really don't pay too much attention to other feds and I think that has allowed the success that we have had over the past year. We only compare ourselves to the last time we were out and try to produce something better for the fans to experience. As long as we keep that formula I only see brighter things in our future. False ads... we don't dwell on crowd size. Cancellations ussually occur when there is a problem getting a venue, fortunately we have a secure location. Bimonthly shows....tough hours but again drive and determination are the two elemnents of success.
Neeno Capone: I am happy to announce that Dan Payne recently took his first steps while recovering from a neck injury. That kid has a huge heart and we expect him to be back in the ring at some point. We love him at the AWA and he knows that... Get Well Danny!!
Neeno Capone: It's tough to say.... alot of guys have what it takes in my opinion and that's not just because they are our guys. Any promoter can come down to any given show and see someone that they are interested in and poof there they go. I guess it's just a matter of who brings everything they got to the dance every time out. You never know who's watching.
Neeno Capone: We've tried to focus our attention to all the divisions to the same extent at different times but the two that have stood out to me this year arguably are the tag and lightweight divisions at one time or another.
Neeno Capone: People who follow the AWA aren't neccessarily fans as we all know. To those who follow us for the wrong reasons you can keep watching while we take off. And to those diehard AWA faithful that I've learned to love: you are just as much a part of our success as the guys who compete in front of you!
Neeno Capone: For wrestling fans who haven't experienced AWA you don't know what you are missing....
For those who are interested in doing what their favorite indy star is doing whether it be wrestling, reffing, managing, or ring announcing call us or come down to the gym:
American Wrestling Alliance
725 Sip Street Union City, NJ
(201)936-2865 or (201)920-1654
www.awanj1.com
And for those workers that are collecting ring rust from not having a place to work out, you are more than welcome to check out the training facility also.
Thanks DOI for the interview and we will see you guys at ringside.
Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey
BULLSMC@aol.com