Dan Maff
Dan Maff, in ROH against Colt Cabana
Credit Joe Ferrera at Rohwrestling.com
What up everyone and welcome to another McInterview. Today I had the privilege of interviewing Dan Maff aka Mafia from Da Hit Squad. Dan Maff is a former JAPW Heavyweight Champion and has held more tag titles, along with Monsta Mack, as part of Da Hit Squad, than any other tag team in recent memory. Da Hit Squad recently took separate paths in 2003, and Dan Maff talks about that, his career and a lot more. I’d also like to thank Dan Maff for doing this interview while having the flu and not loving typing lol. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did.
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: Why did you want to get into professional wrestling?
Dan Maff: Because it has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. My dad was in the business; he was an independent ref and a promoter in the late 70s and early 80s.
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: Who were your favorite wrestlers growing up? Least favorite?
Dan Maff: All time fave was Don Muraco, and I liked watching Arn Anderson, Jake The Snake, Tully Blanchard, Ric Flair, Terry Funk and Dick Slater and Shawn Michaels. My least favs were Nikolai Volkoff, Repoman, Outback Jack, and Hillbilly Jim
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: Everyone knows you got your start in wrestling through JAP and the Doghouse. For those who don't know, can you explain how you got into pro wrestling?
Dan Maff: I was a proud, sign holding fan going to JAP shows, and after a while I wanted to get in the ring, and when fat frank made an announcement at one of his JAP shows that the JAP school was opening, I stalked him all over to get in his school and train. I ran into him one day at shop-rite and he told me the school was open, and I went. I was the first one there, and the last one to leave, every day. After a while I noticed by homicide and he took over my training, and the rest is history.
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What did the Doghouse mean to you?
Dan Maff: Alot of people give Bobby Lombardi a bad rap, but you have to give credit where credit is due, he gave alot of kids a place to be everyday, and stay out of trouble, and gave them the tools to do something with there time and try to make something of themselves
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: Where did "Da Hit Squad" come from, and how did you and Monsta Mack become a tag team?
Dan Maff: I was working out in the ring at JAP, Mack walked in one day, and fat frank said holy shit u 2 look alike and you should become a team. Afterwards, Homicide gave us the name Da Hit Squad
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: You have been talented enough to work in Japan. What are the differences between American indies and Japan?
Dan Maff: It’s more of a sport in Japan, and here it is more of sports entertainment
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What are your feelings on Da Hit Squad and all they accomplished in tag team wrestling, including holding 6 promotions titles at one time?
Dan Maff: Well, I believe 6 titles in different feds at one time has never been done before, and its kind of funny when Da Hit Squad was a tag team there really wasn't that many teams around, or they just really didn't want to be around when we were around. Now that we aren't around any more, they are all coming out of the woodwork.
Da Hit Squad as JAPW Tag Champs. Photo credit www.japw.net
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: Recently this year, Da Hit Squad took a break from teaming up full time. Why did the team split up, and who approached who about it? Subsequently, you also wrestled your partner, Monsta Mack, at the 3/8 USA PW show. How weird was that for you?
Dan Maff: With time comes change, and I needed a change, the hit squad was going nowhere. Who approached who? Just about every promoter that we were working for at the time suggested it because there was nothing else Da Hit Squad could do. We had won every title, and had every kind of match we could. DHS simply ran its course. As far as wrestling Mack, I was totally against it, didn't want to do it, I saw no purpose in it.
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: Adding on to that, Da Hit Squad still teams from time to time in 3PW and fulltime in MLW. Do you think there will be a chance that northeast wrestling fans will be able to experience Da Hit Squad again?
Dan Maff: As far as every fed is concerned, I am a full time singles wrestler, I’m not doing tag team wrestling any more, if I need to do it in an angle with someone that's different, I’m just not doing Da Hit Squad thing any more.
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: Now that you're a singles wrestler, you've accomplished alot, notably winning the JAPW Heavyweight Championship. How did it feel to win that belt?
Dan Maff: That was a personal thing for me because of the way I started, getting autographs, not only from wrestlers, but autographs from wrestlers that have held that belt and been the JAPW champion. Winning that title myself meant alot because in a way it proved to myself that I’m there now, and I got to be someplace I never thought I would be. Winning it from my trainer meant alot, in a way he was passing the torch in JAPW to me, and I think that says alot about him.
La Familia in JAP
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What are the differences for you personally, between singles and tag team wrestling?
Dan Maff: Singles wrestling is different because there is no place to hide, you are either on or your not. Tag wrestling is 50-50 and you have to work as a unit and there is alot of psychology going on.
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: You also have started wrestling under the name Danny Maff? Why did you think it was necessary to change your name?
Dan Maff: Again with time comes change, I felt if I wanted a fair shake as a singles wrestler, I totally had to get away from the hit squad persona, changing everything from my name to my look, and by the way, its DAN Maff, not Danny.
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What does it feel like to be big player in ROH?
Dan Maff: Thanks for the compliment, I didn't know I was a big player,
Photo credit USAprowrestling.com
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: While on ROH, what is your side of the story, concerning the 8/16 incident with Low Ki. Do you think the Internet and fans in general blew the story out of proportion? Also, how are you feeling since the incident?
Dan Maff: First off, I have no problem with Low Ki at all. I read Ki's interview on DOI, and he said that I fell like a boxer when he is KO'd, and I got hurt not from his kick, but from my head hitting the mat. Well, a boxer falls that way cause he is KO'd. Knocked Out, and yes I hit my head on the mat, because like a boxer falling I was knocked out BEFORE I hit the mat. While my head indeed hit the mat, I was already out cold long before that even happened. The internet and the fans tend to blow every story out of proportion, and they did it with this , just like they do with everything else. Right now I feel ok, but even though Ihave returned to the ring, I regularly go for therapy on my neck.
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: Who would you rather spend a night on the town with, Christina Aguilera or Britney Spears?
Dan Maff: BOTH!
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What is your favorite beer?
Dan Maff: Coors Light and Sapporro.
Word Association
Indy Promoters
- an interesting bunch
Rob Feinstein
- always shooting for improvement
Gabe Soplosky
- mastermind in the making, there is always a method to his madness
Frank Goodman
- only asks what you can do, nothing more
Jac Sabboth
- good guy
Fat Frank
- I owe him alot
Ray Sager
- pushed Da Hit Squad to the moon
Ricky O
- would give you the shirt off his back
Carmine Sabia
- never met the guy
Steve Corino
- will be a legend
Afa
- is a legend
Low Ki
- one of the best
Homicide
- with him, there wouldn't be me
Monsta Mack
- frog splash
DRS
- they need to get serious and find themselves and when they do, O BOY
Solution
- when they're on only few can say they're better
Los Lunatics
- good guys
Briscoes
- the best team out there
Deranged
- young and stupid with so much talent
Reefer
- great guy
Slyk Wagner Brown
- a pleasure to work
April Hunter
- best female on the indies
Allison Danger
– Sensational Sherri
Jerry Lawler
– King of Memphis and still going
Samoa Joe
- THE CHAMP, what a real champ should be
CM Punk
- without a doubt, the best mic man in the business
Chris Daniels
- if god had a favorite wrestler, it would be him
Terry Funk
- there's only one
Raven
- just when u think you have all the answers, he changes the questions
Al Snow
- a true teacher
Roadtrips
- molly pitcher
Japan
- can't wait to get back
Da Trek Squad (pump pump)
- who?
Dixie
- doesn't get enough credit
Xavier
- what is the WWE waiting for
AJ Styles
- AWESOME
S.A.T.
- everytime with them becomes the new "funniest time with them"
Ref Hanson
- best ref in the indies
BJ Whitmer
- toughest white boy i ever met
ROH
- best thing since ECW
Bastion Booger
- LOL
Giant Gonzales
- worst worker ever
Declaration of Independents
- great guys, hope your product grows
Mafia
- mafia went home, its time for Dan Maff
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What do you think about the current state of indy wrestling?
Dan Maff: The fans need to keep supporting it
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: You've wrestled alot of great matches in your young career. What do you think have been your best matches, singles or tag team?
Dan Maff: The 4 way singles match at death before dishonor. As far as tag, nothing will be even close to the upcoming tag I have with Chris Daniels against Muta and Araashi (ROH 12/27 in Philly)
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What are your short term and long term career goals? TNA? WWE? Japan fulltime?
Dan Maff: If your in the business and don't aspire to one of those 3, you don't belong in the biz. A personal goal is to wrestle in Puerto Rico at least once.
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: Do you have any pre-match superstitions?
Dan Maff: Pouring water down my back, squatting behind the curtain, and talking to my dad alot.
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What do you want to say to anyone reading this?
Dan Maff: I really love indy fans, and whether they boo me or sheer me, I love the fact that they take the time to come out and support the shows and scream at me or for me, as long as they do something and don't fall asleep when I come out. Keep supporting indy wrestling.
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: Thanks for doing this interview.