What up DOImaniacs, and welcome to another McInterview. This time Everyone’s Favorite Wrestler, and one of mine, Dan Barry dropped by to answer some questions. For those not familiar with Dan Barry, he’s probably one of the best singles wrestlers you never heard of. He has wrestled 5 star matches with Johnny Ova over in NYWC, and a 5 star match with Reefer over in NYWC. Barry is now branching out of his home fed, NYWC, and has made a big impression over in USA Pro and JCW. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: How did you get your start in pro wrestling? What made you want to get involved and become a wrestler?

Dan Barry: When I was younger, My cousin got me into watching it, he was older than me, and we used to make a wrestling ring by bringing our mattresses into the living room and going nuts. As I got older I found out that someone my mom worked with was a wrestling manager. So my family and me would go to his shows and watch "The Sure Thing” John Shane go nuts. When I was younger, he made me want to wrestle; I wanted to do what he was doing. Then I found out that a girl (ex gf) I went to school with, her brother, went to Critical Mass in Hicksville... The rest is history.

“The MiC”: Who were your favorite wrestlers growing up? Least favorite?

Dan Barry: My Favorites include Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Rey Mysterio Jr., Ric Flair I loved to hate, Mr. Perfect, Owen Hart, Hayabusa. And When I first started going to the LIWF shows, Low Ki and Reefer stood out to me. (I was such a reefer mark, when he was refereeing a match one time I Yelled It looks like SOMEONE smoked their wheaties this morning.) Least Favorite, the smoking gunns.... I hated those guys. And the Big Bossman.

“The MiC”: You wrestle a very risky style to impress the fans every time you go out there. Do you ever fear that you might get injured?

Dan Barry: Every time I think of what I wanna do for a match I think I'll get injured. But once I walk to the ring, that part of me leaves. I don’t fear what might happen.... You can’t live life that way... But then again that’s probably why I've Been injured so much.

“The MiC”: Your feud with Johnny Ova has produced many a 5 star match. How do you keep having great and better matches than the last, with Johnny Ova? Do you feel that Ova is one of your better opponents?

Dan Barry: Well In wrestling, you always learn new things... No matter what. Ask Anyone. When I wrestle with Ova, we generally learn from each other. One show He'll hit me with a move, the next when he goes for it ill see it coming and move... It’s all about psychology. A guy can only fall for something so many times... Ova and me click... Plain and simple. He is one of my best friends in this business so we will always abuse each other with nothing but love and appreciate it when it’s all said and done... I have so much trust for him, that anything he comes up with I will do and vice versa... no questions asked. He is definitely one of my better opponents if not my best.... He’s really talented, and sometimes over looked... but he has an Ego the size of Guatemala. Just kidding.

“The MiC”: Being a college student, who attends the lovely NCC like myself, how hard is it to balance schoolwork and wrestling?

Dan Barry: School comes first.... plain and simple... I'm 5'9" and 165lbs. The WWE isn’t exactly looking for me.... I understand that and I understand that as much as I love wrestling... It doesn’t pay the bills... On the same token, I am a firm believer in "its never to late to procrastinate." But I do well in school... I’m not as dumb as I look. I just have to try and focus more on school, which is extremely hard.

“The MiC”: You have had many great matches already in your young career. What do you think has been your best match?

Dan Barry: Dan Barry vs. Johnny Ova 2 in Deer Park. With me vs. Grim Reefer coming in second. Me vs Ova 2 Just felt so great... The fans went nuts; the crowd was so mixed, on who to root for. And we pulled out all the stops. Me and Reefer was in second, but it’s not far away from me and ova... The psychology in the match was great, and there were high spots when there needed to be high spots... I loved every second of it.

“The MiC”: What’s a funny wrestling story that you can share with the DOI and Dan Barry fans?

Dan Barry: hmmmm... Well One time I was wrestling Maxmilyin of team corona fame.... At the end of the match, it looked like Max was going to pick up the win, I pulled down his pants out of nowhere, hit him with the diamond cutter, and pinned him.... no one saw it coming and it got a huge pop.... Number 2 would be me knocking myself out by jumping into the pipe at the Franklin Square firehouse at USAPRO... never doing that again.

“The MiC”: You have recently debuted a fall away slam moonsault from the top rope. It's been quoted as being called "The Irish Car Bomb." Can you make it official what your new finisher is called and where you got the idea for it?

Dan Barry: Well it is officially called "The Irish Carbomb” After my favorite Drink... It helps that I'm 100% Irish. One day I was sitting around and thinking, I need a move that could be considered insane... All of my finishers I kept generally simple... and I need a new one... So I went up to Ova and said lemme try something... The rest is history. And Pain

“The MiC”: Who are your favorite wrestlers to wrestle? Least Favorite?

Dan Barry: Ova, Reefer, Azrael and Dixie are my favorites so far... I also like working out with the SAT, and them making me their "Crash test Danny” And trying out crazy shit on me. I don’t have any least favorite wrestlers because every match is a learning experience, no matter what.

“The MiC”: What has been your favorite fed to work for? Least favorite?

Dan Barry: NYWC is number 1 for me... I have a lot of fun there. There are no crowds like a USAPRO crowd though.... Those guys let you have it if you suck and really make u feel great if you’re good, JCW is great too because Ricky O would take a bullet for you if your one of his guys.

Word Association:

Frank Goodman My Hero! Great businessman is giving me a huge opportunity and I thank him for it.... Also very funny. Not the champ
Jac Sabboth met him twice, thought he was nice, I hear rumors, but he’s good by me. Not the champ
Ricky O Great Guy, Very nice, Fun to work for... Great ideas. Not the champ
John Curse Wise ass, but a great guy. Great instructor... Very smart not the champ
Mike Mayhem His move list is neverending.... Also a great instructor, and his chops hurt like hell. Not the champ
Livewyre Great Talent, Future superstar, not the champ
Wayne Funny guy, very underrated. I beat him with a moonsault.... Not the champ
Trekkie Funny Gimmick, nice guy, i chipped his tooth, Not the champ
Dickie Rodz Gay, Very underrated, Deserves his title, thinks i need work on my chain, not the champ
J Silva My big buddy. Big Gay Leg Drop... Owes me a gatorade, Not the champ.
Johnny Ova Ego maniac hahaha Extremely talented, Stiff Ghetto Blaster Not the champ
Grim Reefer Innovative, Amazing, "High" spots needed, Not the champ
John Shane The reason I’m here, best manager in the indies. still Not The champ
Tony Burma Rock On, Hot Hand! great story teller Not The champ
Azraiel Underused, great wrestler, crazy kicks... Not the champ
Amazing Red Im seriously convinced this guy has wings. Not the champ
Jose and Joel Maximo Funny guys, very innovative, one of the reasons i watch tag wrestling. Not the champs
Vince McMahon Made wrestling what it is today... Needs new bookers, needs to remember that he's not the champ
Vince Russo Should never have worn the strap.... not the champ
Stone Cold Started some of the shittiest gimmicks in the indies... Not the champ
HBK The guy i loved to watch as a kid. not the champ
Angle Best wrestler I have ever seen live.. not the champ
Rock Funny as hell... Stop the shitty movies. not the champ
Undertaker Used to be good, bores me now not the champ
Hogan nostalgic not the champ
Bastion Booger Funniest thing to ever stink up a wrestling ring. not the champ
Giant Gonzales His tights haunt my nightmares. not the champ
Declaration of Independents Great name, stick to the indies. Drink a lot. not the champs
Everyone's Favorite Wrestler, Dan Barry The champ..Plain and simple... no seriously, Still learning, will never stop learning. needs to gain weight... in it for the love of the game

“The MiC”: What are your short term career goals? Long term?

Dan Barry: Short term is to be recognized on the indies. Get people to really take notice. Long term, To never stop having fun.

“The MiC”: What's a typical day in the life of Dan Barry?

Dan Barry: Work... work and work.... then Ihang out with my friends, and do a light workout... im not into working out so that’s my day.

“The MiC”: You wrestled a hell of a match with Grim Reefer and narrowly defeated him to retain your NYWC Lightheavy championship. What can we expect when you guys go at it again, on June 7th?

Dan Barry: Just watch... I won’t even give hints...

“The MiC”: You are the NYWC Lightheavy champion, as mentioned. How does it feel when a promotion says you're the man we want to represent our championship?

Dan Barry: It feels great. and I feel respected enough to be considered a champ

“The MiC”: What do you have to say to anyone reading this?

Dan Barry: Critical mass pro wrestling is a great school with a lot of talent.. look for a Dan Barry website soon..

“The MiC” : Thanks for doing this interview, and clarifying who the champ is.