Dan Selsky: Baltimore is a great wrestling town going back to the NWA/WCW days. I know from growing up around the area and going to shows. I saw great events over at the Baltimore arena when I was a kid like Flair/Steamboat. There’s a huge fan base here that not getting their wrestling they want and deserve. Maryland Championship Wrestling did a great job but they left the business a couple years ago so there’s a huge void for wrestling, especially with just WWE coming every so often, I feel confident I can fill that void.

Declaration of Independents: Tell us about Indy wrestling in the Baltimore area in the past and what happened to chase Indy wrestling away from your area?

Dan Selsky: Well Maryland Championship Wrestling ran out of Baltimore for 6 or 7 years and had incredible success. That’s how I got some experience in the business. I was a Marketing intern at College for MCW. They, the owner’s Dan and Mark are great guys, had a great successful run with MCW, and are both enjoying lots of success outside the wrestling world.

Declaration of Independents: Tell us about some of the wrestlers that will be on the upcoming show.

Dan Selsky: Well we got the 3 guys from the WWF that wrestling fans, those that have been a fan for a while are big time names. Nikolai Volkoff who of course was tag champs with the Iron Sheik, in a cartoon, and the evilest from the evil empire the Soviet Union. We’ve got Headshrinker Samu, the 3 time tag champions in the 90’s as the Headshrinkers. Then we have got the Patriot Tom Brandi. Another familiar name, especially to international fans is John Rambo who has wrestled everyone and everywhere! Indy guys we’ve signed are the best from the area, guys like: Jason Static, CJ North, Kage, Rukkus, Morgus the Maniac, and Bobby Starr to name a few. The whole list is now just listed for fans on our website for the complete roster.

Declaration of Independents: The average show goes for about 3 hours but lately there has been a number of feds that runs into the 5-6 hour range. How long do you expect your show to run?

Dan Selsky: That’s ridiculous for the fans. That’s two shows. It goes beyond bang for your buck, promoters are gouging fans or they wouldn’t do it.. People have stuff to do and only an average time span. My show will go between 2.5 to 3 hours like ECW, WCW, and WWF were and sports events are. They’re that for a reason!

Declaration of Independents: What can fans expect to see from this show that would be different or unique in comparison to current shows.

Dan Selsky: First off there’s a free pre-show. There’s nothing worse then coming to shows early as people like I always do and be bored off your ass staring into space. So I figure I’m going to throw a party early with a special free pre-concert by Rocket Brain. They’ll be playing heavy metal hits, pure wrestling music for the fans out there, get out there early for it! That’s pretty different. The band would be in the middle of the ring but because of weight that was nixed.

Declaration of Independents: Who were your inspirations growing up?

Dan Selsky: I’ll assume this is wrestler or wrestling related and not just in general so going on that wrestlers the first one I gotta say or I’d be lying was Hulk Hogan like all other young fans at the time he was the ultimate. In WWF a little later I liked Ultimate Warrior a lot, Savage, Rude, Henning, Koko, Jake, Kerry Von Erich. From Nwa and into WCW Sting was the guy for me, Luger, Rock N’ Roll Express, Nikita Koloff, Road Warriors, Pillman, Z-man, and of course Steamboat. Getting older I realized the greatness of Flair and he’s my all time favorite wrestler and I’d say the best of all time. Whoooo!!!!!!!!!! Later on Benoit. Big Horseman fan in the 90s. Goldberg was last great one to come out of there I thought. I remember seeing Steiners vs.Doom (Butch Reed, Ron Simmons) in a cage at the Baltimore Arena (I can see arena now as I live up the street).

Declaration of Independents: Have you ever wrestled before?

Dan Selsky: Nope.

Declaration of Independents: What was your family and friends thoughts when you told them you were getting into promoting wrestling?

Dan Selsky: Good question. Not all know yet. Supportive on the whole. My friends that dig wrestling are excited about it for sure.

Declaration of Independents: Do you plan to have an active role on your shows, meaning will you be behind the scenes or will we see you in the ring during the show?

Dan Selsky: I’ll be behind the scenes. The show is about the wrestlers and the fans (Bischoff in WCW anyone!)

Declaration of Independents: What style of wrestling can we expect to see from MWA?

Dan Selsky: It’s going to be more traditional in the NWA/WCW sense. What Baltimore wrestling tradition is based on.

Declaration of Independents: There is an Athletic Commission in Maryland that regulates wrestling. Do you have any concerns regarding your show and the commission?

Dan Selsky: Yeah there’s a boxing/wrestling commission in every state that regulates. No, I have no concerns. You just have to make sure everything is legal like anything else basically, so there are no worries.

Declaration of Independents: With the commission obviously we can expect to see no hardcore wrestling. Am I right about that?

Dan Selsky: You’re correct

Declaration of Independents: If you could slap 1 person in the face that is in the wrestling business today, who would that person be and why?

Dan Selsky: Eric Bischoff. The Monday Night Wars in the late 90s was wrestling’s peak and I had a hell of a time watching the two like millions of fans every Monday, it was the only time they were really both were on top of their game. Competition sparks innovation and a good product and both were very exciting. The day WCW got sold I knew WWF would not be nearly as good because of that and would become stagnant.

Declaration of Independents: Who is the hottest woman in pro wrestling today?

Dan Selsky: Probably odd answer, and I’m not great with the women but I’m going w/Stephanie McMahon

Declaration of Independents: What are your impressions of the current Indy feds on the Northeast including Ring of Honor, Jersey All Pro and USA Pro Wrestling?

Dan Selsky: I’ve heard good things about Ring of Honor’s shows. Don’t know about Jersey all Pro and I don’t know what to say on USA Pro Wrestling.

Declaration of Independents: We have had the chance to talk and from what I know about you, you are a stand up type of guy. You seem like a very good person and someone with a good personality. In wrestling there are a lot of slime balls and people who will try to use you. How do you plan to deal with these types of people?

Dan Selsky: Thanks for the kind comments first off. Being a stand up type of guy is the most important thing in business but really in life for me, can’t stand a weasel and have no time for ulterior motives. There are a lot of slime balls in wrestling like you said yup. I plan to deal with them as little or not at all as has been my method for MWA. They’re not worth working with at all.

Declaration of Independents: We have seen a growing trend on the Indy circuit where a show will run their start up show and then go out of business due to poor ticket sales. What can you tell us that will make the average fan come out to your show knowing they can look forward to follow up shows in the future?

Dan Selsky: I hope not! The show is the biggest show to hit this area and I’m pretty sure the state for a real long time now, probably since MCW closed down a couple years ago. So it’s a big deal and the fan’s are going to get a hell of a wrestling show, the way it should be run. The show is at the same venue, which is the best you could get Michael’s 8th avenue, MCW ran out predominantly. The wrestling line-up is top notch and I made sure of that number 1 priority. You’re going to get a free pre-concert by the biggest ass kicking band Rocket Brain before just to get you pumped for opening bell. As long as the fan’s come out the way I believe in Baltimore area wrestling fans enthusiastically will you won’t have to worry, there will be a show booked the next day they can look forward to.

Declaration of Independents: Do you have any funny stories to tell us regarding the time you've spent in the wrestling business? For example, have you run into any bad situation and have you met anyone that you found to be nice in the wrestling business.

Dan Selsky: I do. I’ll just stick positive because there has been a few pieces of trash I’ve run into I could bring up but they’re not worth discussing or publicity. Talking to the wrestler Kamala was really cool for me. I was negotiating with him to come on the show at the beginning but the date just didn’t work out. We just had fun talking about how I loved the old vignettes of him in the jungle with Slick and of course Summerslam 92 being put in the coffin with Undertaker.

Dan Selsky: Thanks Mike and all at DOI. Remember all the info is at MWA’s website Marylandwrestlingalliance.com and their “Inaugural Bash” blasts into Glen Burnie at Michael’s 8th Avenue on March 2, 2005 at 7:30 with doors opening at 6:00 with the free pre-concert to follow shortly.