What up boys and girls and children of all ages; and welcome to another McInterview with none other than JAPW promoter, Fat Frank. Jersey All Pro Wrestling right now, is what many people, myself included, are calling the best independent wrestling promotion out of many, in New Jersey. The talent roster who works there feature some of the best indy workers in the northeast area such as Mafia, Slyk Wagner Brown and Homicide. They also bring in legendary guys such as Terry Funk, Kamala and Jerry The King Lawler. Fat Frank was kind enough to do this interview, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: How did you get into the business? Did you start off always wanting to be a promoter, or did you become a wrestler turned promoter?

Fat Frank: I fell in love with pro wrestling back in 1982 when I was 10, I started watching it every weekend. My childhood dream was to wrestle for the WWE one day. After bouncing from pro wrestling schools from Johnny Rodz in Brooklyn, NY to Black Jack Mulligan's in Orlando, FL I finally made my way to the indy scene in the very late 80's and early 90's. I never wanted to become a promoter it just happen by mistake. So I am a wrestler turned promoter.

The MiC: Can you tell the steps that were made and completed into building a successful promotion such as JAPW?

Frank: I have been running events for over 7 years now and I will say Jersey All Pro Wrestling has done so many things. I feel JAPW is the backbone of Indy wrestling in the area today. If you look at our past results, JAPW used a lot of talent that is considered the best talent today 3 to 4 years ago. Even at our events at the ECW Arena a few years ago, many fans never even heard of Da Hit Squad, Xavier, Lo-Ki, Homicide and many others. JAP used them back then and now they are the top wrestlers in that market. I think JAP has opened doors for a lot of indy workers.

The MiC: What are your fondest memories about being in the business? The worst memories?

Frank: As awful as this might sound my greatest moment was when Paul Heyman was in my locker room when ECW was in its prime during my 1st year anniversary show. That night I had some ECW Workers on my show and we were in Newark, NJ and the WWE was at MSG that night which was only minutes away. We had over 1000 fans turnout for that convention and over 500 fans stayed to watch our show that night rather then going to the WWE so that was my claim to fame if you can call it that.

The worst memories would be losing friends over this business. I really lost many friends over the years. My x booker Ray Sager was the best man at my wedding and we have not spoken to each other since February. Some guys fight over a girl or something stupid like that, well me had an argument after a show and that was the end of that.

I entered this business with my childhood friend and partner at the time Angel Surita as NC-17. We were around before Public Enemy working the Indy scene in NJ, NY & PA. We were starting to get our name out there but I lost interest in wrestling when I started Jersey All Pro. Are friendship also went downhill after Ray replaced Angel as my booker. The good thing about Angel and I is that we still talk and meet up once in a blue-moon like nothing happen.

I another thing that is bad is when you see someone you gave breaks to when none knew who he was, but he has now time for you unless you pay him huge $$$$$$, that kills me but in the end its all business. I am glad to see they are making great money but why try to rob the guy that started you out?

The MiC: How much work goes into putting on a show and how do you handle it?

Frank: I love Jersey All Pro Wrestling and there is no rest and I am always on the go. I am not a big wrestling fan anymore. I really don't like attending other indy shows or watching it on TV but I do it to see what new talent is in the area. I find myself watching mostly old Wrestling TV from Memphis to Florida to old ECW. JAP is 24 hrs a day for me, I hope one day I could live off JAP but lets take it one step at a time. I live JAP every other minute of my life, there is never rest.

The MiC: Back in the day, Fat Frank battled the indy hardcore legend, in Low Life Louie Ramos? What was it like working with Louie, and what is your current relationship with Low Life Louie Ramos?

Frank: I loved working with Ramos because I trusted him with my life when we were in the ring and he would do anything that we came up with and would never say no. If I event did start up wrestling again Ramos would be the 1st person I would get into the ring with.

The MiC: JAPW recently has "abandoned" it's hardcore roots, and has turned more into a wrestling only based promotion, to fan approval. What triggered this decision?

Frank: Well, it was a blessing to chance our style before someone got really hurt. With all the other indys trying to outdo one another with sick-spots someone might have gotten killed by now. I am sure if I was still active I would try to outdo the new kid to stay on top of the hard-core stuff. The NJ Law Makers banned our Suicidal Style and I would be lying if I said I didn't miss it from time to time, but that era is over and I fully support that hard-hitting style of JAP and we have a larger fan following now then we did in the old blood days.

The MiC: What is your favorite JAPW match?

Frank: Now that is a tough question but I will go with the match when Dixie became triple crown champion at the Russ Haas Memorial show, the crowd popped for the finish and Dixie was the crash-test dummy for the Haas Brothers so I know it meant a lot to him since he weighs about 150lbs and won the Heavyweight Championship on the biggest night in JAP history.

The MiC: Where do you get your storylines from?

Frank: 24 Hours a day, driving in the car, daydreaming at work or sitting on my stool eater I am always thinking about stuff. I also give the guys a chance to come up with some ideas, but when you don't like there ideas they are insulted so you can't win with everyone but my word is final.

The MiC: How do you tell a wrestler this is how you want something done? Have you ever had any problems with a wrestler, like other promoters have had? (EX Vince and Bret, Russo and Hogan)

Frank: What I say goes and that is it. None walks over me in the locker room. There have been a few times in which wrestlers have walked out of the locker room but very few. Now there is no booker that the guys can try to walk over, its my and thats that.

The MiC: What do you think about the current state of indy wrestling, especially New Jersey?

Frank: When I was an indy worker 10 years ago there might have been 2 shows a month in NJ. Now there are 2 shows almost every weekend so if you are a good worker the there is NO REASON you shouldn't work ever weekend. The bad part is everyone and there mother can run a show. Doesn''t matter if its good or bad, a show every weekend is awful. Not all fans will travel every weekend to another area say 10 miles away when they have wrestling in there own town. Say its Friday and you can see Mafia & Homicide in Bayonne. Then Sat you can see Mafia & Homicide in Jersey City. Then Sunday you can see Mafia & Homicide in Hoboken Then the next weekend its the same thing over and over again, what's the point? It gets very stale and ruins the excitement. No indy can have anything special without the next indy booking the same match a month later, its overkill.

Word Association:

Ricky O Survivor
Frank Goodman Next NY Governor
Carmine Sabia Turning Heads
Pete Ferriero Nice Guy
Gino Moore The Boogie Man
Joe Panzarino The Godfather
Vince McMahon The Boss
Vince Russo Cancer
Charlie Haas Owes Me $20 for my Team Angle Shirt
Low Life Louie Ramos Suicidal
Deranged Amazing
DRS The Best Tag Team in the last 5 years
SWC The New Hardest Hitters
Tony Lazaro Left to soon
Dixie Gay Porn Star
JAP Message Board Posters Nothing Better
Internet Critics Who?
Jac Sabboth gypsy
Mr. America Ugh
Bastion Booger Made me diet
Giant Gonzales Tall
Jerry Lawler The King
Kamala Kicks Azz
Tommy Dreamer Leader
Al Snow Tough Enough
Declaration of Independents Getting bigger and bigger
Fat Frank Iadevia The man your mother warned you about.

The MiC: If money wasn't an object, what would be your dream indy card?

Frank: An ant vs a fly in a snapple bottle.

The MiC: What are your career goals, with JAP?

Frank: To expand all over New Jersey.

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

Frank: Don't spit in the wind, visit the site www.japw.net

The MiC: Thanks for doing this interview with me.