Firehawk with his lovely daughter, Aiyana
Billy "Big Poppa" Firehawk
What up DOIites and welcome to another McInterview. This time I interviewed Billy "Big Poppa" Firehawk, who is best known as the promoter of CSWF. CSWF has seen alot of ups and downs, but seems to be moving in the right direction now, after drawing their largest crowd ever at their last show. CSWF returns on April 24th and is looking to duplicate that success. Firehawk talks about his career, CSWF, the NJ area and alot more. I hope you enjoyed this interview as much as I did.
Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: How did you get into the wrestling business?
Firehawk: When I was younger I lived overseas in Japan. Believe it or not I was I was training to become a sumo and I got involved with some of the underground street fights out in Tailand. I wasn't too bad if I say so myself. When me street fighting was discovered by my shidoshi I was expelled from class. When I moved back to the states I went to school and started watching the WWF on TV. I became a fan of one particular wrestler---the Rock Don Muroco. He was a big man that could move. I wanted to do what he was doing but I didn't know how to get started. Then one day about fifteen years ago(yes I've been around for that long and I am a lot older than most people know) I was at an indy show at Sheepsheadbay High School and the main event was Michael Hayes vs. the Iron Shiek. After the show I was hanging around getting a few pics with some of the workers and when I got one with the Freebird he took a look at me and said that he wouldn’t want to face a guy my size in the ring the way his back was feeling. He then said that maybe I should go out and get some training. It was like a dream come true when he told me about Johnny Rodz and his school. I went but it didn’t quite work out. Then I found out about Bobby Boldeagle. He trained me to fight and brawl. He also introduced me to Mike Sharpe and the rest is history.
Firehawk: I am NOT the owner. My wife, Daisy is. I just run it. I enjoy the challenge of it and I find it to be a lot harder than I thought it would be. I know I’ve got a lot to learn when it comes to running shows and I know I’ve made some tremendous mistakes in the past(and probably will in the future). No one is perfect and I am learning as I go along. I hope to be able to do a better job each and every day.
Firehawk: Dave is a godsend. He put us on track in a lot of ways. I may know a lot of people and have a lot of contacts but he makes it work in ways I can’t. Since I live in Vegas and he’s out on the east coast of course people will go to him. He always lets me know what’s going on. Hell----I must call him everyday to ask whats going on.(I hope he can forgive me for being a pain in the you know what.lol). He is vital to the growth and continues success of the CSWF. I’m not sure how other promoters do it but I can say I’d be lost without him and Gina(not to mention a lot of others but that would take forever to explain and I’m sure they know who they are and how I feel about them).
Firehawk: I credit it to Dave sitting me down and letting me know how he felt and what we needed to do. Like I said I wasn’t sure of what I was doing at first and we suffered for it. Dave put us on track. he made me see that this was about doing a show that people wanted to see .
Firehawk: I think that Jersey may have a lot of others running but that’s just the way it is. Some are doing excellent work, others have a long way to go to be good. I put the CSWF somewhere in the middle trying to be better with each show. Other can run and that may not change but let’s put all the B.S. aside and stop trying to blow each other out of the water. Let’s work together to make something that will be worthwhile.
Firehawk: All I can say is that once the legal stuff is out of the way watch out!
Firehawk: First of all what makes you think we have an agreement with NWA/TNA? Does JAPw have an agreement with New Japan because they has Vader on their next card? The CSWF books the talent just like anybody else does. Yes I have a very good friendship with Mike Tenay and he put me in touch with the TNA talent but never was there any kind of agreement with TNA per sae. Only when it comes to asking for certain talent do we have to go through the TNA office. And even then it’s still for the CSWF---not the NWA. Firehawk: That is the choice that TNA made---not the CSWF. I don’t agree with it but it’s not my dealings. And I admit that I could understand if theere are loyal fans to ROH that may not want to come to our shows, but again I say we are the CSWF. Nowhere in our name do you see the NWA.
Firehawk: At 350lbs. what else should I call myself? hahaha. My daughter came up with the nickname and it just kinda stuck when friends heard her call me that. As for me in the ring----I just like to have fun. I know a lot of people think it’s ego and that I suck in the ring. That’s one of the reasons why I don’t work every show. I’m not trying to put myself over. I just like having fun. I wonder does anybody out there remember what that is any more?
Firehawk: Those are hard questions. I really don’t want to say anybody is that much better or worse than anybody but I will admit that my favorite three wrestlers that have worked for us are the Solution(PapaDon & Havoc) and Ron Killings. I’ve always loved the Solution’s style. It’s like combining the original Midnight Express(Bobby Eaton & Dennis Coundry) with the Road Warriors. And Ron is just too damn entertaining in the ring. The stuff he did at our last show was just too damn funny. As for the worst I’ll say myself because I know that my knee doesn’t let me do as well as I used to.
Firehawk: There was this guy in the crowd that said(and I quote this verbatum)where is Vanity?and That I was nothing without her. Vanity couldn’t make it to the show for health reason but it did piss me off when he said that so I took it out on the crowd. If I offended anyone I apologize.
Firehawk: People say that’s what I’m doing too. I’m not and I’m glad that at least you see that. As for others that do I say it could either be one of two things. Ego problems or they just want to have their own fun. Who am I to judge?
Firehawk: The best match I ever had was back in 1999 when I fought H.C.Loc in the USWF. It was my first night back as Billy Firehawk(In case nobody remembers that I was the Black Sultan).We did everything in that match you could think of hardcore style. But my favorite moment was when he busted a plastic folding chair over my head and I hardwayed but just stood there and didn’t move. The look on his face and the ref’s were priceless. And then later on a fan brought me a piece of that chair to autograph. That made me feel great. Firehawk: Kid USA. He hit on my wife and I really didn’t appriciate that.
Word Association
Dave Levy
Now to answer the other half of the question---I honestly fell that good wrestling is good wrestling whether it’s in the north, south east or west. The CSWF is just bringing wrestlers into the area that you don’t see anywhere else. At our last card we had some damn good matches and I think that the fans enjoyed it because of that and that reason alone. After all when ECW was around did anybody look at it as Phillie wrestling or good wrestling?
The Best CSWF match had to be AMW vs the Solution. I’ll never forget the crowd’s reaction to everything that went on that night and especially during that match.
My worst match was back in 1997 when I was at a USWF card and I was working against Chris Michaels and during the match my tights ripped off and i wasn’t exactly wearing that much underneath. To my credit I continued the match but boy was that embarrassing.
The CSWF’s worst had to be in my opinion my match against Brian Austin. It was supposed to be a street fight but I had just gotten off a plane and was so tired that I could do a damn thing. My fault for that.
Godsend. I and the CSWF owe him so much that words couldn’t begin to discribe. And I feel he wouldn’t be half the man he is without his wife Gina(lol).
Mike Tenay
The Professor.Has done it all and seen it all. He too is a godsend and I value his imput and council like no other.
Carmine Sabia
Don’t know the man. Heard some weird stuff about him but since I’ve never even seen the man who can say what is or isn’t....know what I mean?
Fat Frank
Love his work. JAPW is one of if not the best. I also miss NC-17.(Hey Frank----remember when Jason Knight and I beat you back at Pete Mckay’s?lol)
Frank Goodman
Take off the mask----on second thought keep it on.
Jac Sabboth
Don’t know him.Heard good things and bad things. Who am I to judge?
Tommy Fierro
Love the FanSlam! Hate the suit.
Ricky O
Another man I don’t know.
Jeff Jarrett
World Champion. Miss the hair.
Vince Russo
Mixed feelings about him. Did he hurt us or save us? No one knows for sure.
Rob Feinstein
Talk about mixed feelings.
Gabe Sapolsky
Who????
Ron Killings
One of the best in and out of the ring. Make it on time from now on!!!
Road Dogg
Oh you didn’t know------
Scott Hall
The Original Outsider---Would love to see who drinks more beer----Steve Austin, him or myself.
Kevin Nash
Hope he comes back soon.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrelz
I almost miss them.
Solution
One of the best teams I’ve ever seen. I wouldn’t want PapaDon to kick me.
Grim Reefer
Great on the stick and in the ring. Just watching him can make you exhausted.
Tyler Payne
Barely know him but looks good. Somehow I’ve got to book a match between him and Chris Candido.
Shawn Sheridan
X-Box or NES? Good worker and good talker. If he could just figure out which system.
Crazy Ivan
Interview retake after interview retake.You figure that out(lol). Good in the ring and I really can see him going somewhere. Just not sure where.
Justin Powers
Proof that slim fast works. Gain some size(lol).He has potential but I think he isn’t sure of himself. Only time will tell.
The Smoke
A better Rock than the Rock. Can work well if he’s given a chance. People look at him and all they see is a Rock wanna be. He’s a lot better than most will ever know if he’s given a chance.
Brian Austin
Needs a lot of work! I think he looks more like Gilberg. Gave him a shot that’s all I can say.
Vanity
Hubba Hubba! If I weren’t married------(I hope Daisy doesn’t read this.lol). Seriously---she’s a good girl and wants to do so much more but has to get healthier before she can come back. Can’t wait for that day.
Destiny
Not sure what I can say about her. She’s a smart woman that’s trying to find both herself and place for herself. Maybe Mistress Asia can help her with that.
Miss Asia
The Mistress is something special. Those that know who she really is are shocked when they find out.Others have no clue and she loves it that way.
Slyk Wagner Brown
I don’t hate---I appriciate! And I mean that. The man has been there for the CSWF and I’ll always love him for that. A great worker and I say he should be in the WWE. Their loss is the independant wrestling feds gain.
April Hunter
Beautiful both skin and soul. I think one of my proudest moments was when she came up to me and said that she was glad to see that we were serious about the CSWF and that she was glad to be a part of it. I swear I almost cried.
Trinity
I wouldn’t want to get in the ring with her. Great wrestler and a great dancer(I’ll never forget her on the dancefloor).
Dan Barry
Untapped potential. I really want to see him go places.
Danny Demanto
Who?
John Shane
Another godsend. If you put Jim Cornette and Bobby the Brain together you’d get John Shane. And that’s a sure thing.
Tara Charisma
A sweetheart. I think that she really brings a lot to the shows. I personally can’t wait to see her in the ring against John Shane at our next show(cheap plug).
AMW
They are the World’s Greatest Tag Team(Sorry SB & CH) I am so happy to have them on our shows. They are both great guys in and out of the ring. I’m looking forward to the next time they come to us.
Larry Zybscko
The Living Legend--nuff said.
Mana
Scary and impressive at the same time. I’m glad I book the shows so that I’ll never have to get in the ring with him.hehehe.
Dave Greco
Needs a shave.
Vince McMahon
God Almighty! And he knows it too.
Roadtrips
Had some fun. In Dave’s interview he talked about the time nine of slept at a fan’s house. Another funny story was the time Dave, Nick Maddox and I shared a motel room. Dave had to sleep on the floor. During the middle of the night I woke up and forgot where I was. I was going to the bathroom and I accidentally stepped on Dave’s head. I though I killed him at first but he just rolled over like nothing happened. I was so apologetic the next morning but he never even felt a thing. Some say that that is the reason why he’s so brain damaged.lol.
Internets role on wrestling
It can help and hurt at the same time. It’s good to know what’s going on but when you reveal too much what is the point of even watching wrestling on TV let alone going to see it live. Also some use it to bash others and/or put themselves over. Not a good thing at times.
message boards
Interesting to see what the fans think but sometimes they are just too immature to be taken seriously.
Ring rats
Never on my watch!!!!!
Bastion Booger
I miss Trucker Norm.
Giant Gonzales
Too Tall. I stood next to him once back when he was El Gigante and it was frightening.
Declaration of Independents
Open, Honest and willing to give people a chance and I for one am greatful.
Firehawk
Needs to lose weight and also needs to get his act together. I think I’ll spend some time as William Hawkins for a change and find out who he is and what he’ll be.
Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: For all the fans reading this, what does CSWF present? What wrestlers really represent the CSWF promotion?
Firehawk: The CSWF presents wrestling as it was when wrestling was fun to watch and true family entertainment. It’s not about the ego or the flash. It’s about the wrestling. I know a lot of people don’t believe that or some may not even know what that means anymore but I do. I feel that the state of wrestling these days has become more about hype than hiptoss. I really hate to use this example but wasn’t it more fun when Hogan fought Andre because it was “good vs evil”? When owners and promoters start taking over----when wrestlers marry the boss’s daughter to get over-----when there are 30 minutes of nothing but promo spots is it still wrestling? The CSWF does have the interviews and such(mainly on the DVDs) but first and foremost we have the wrestling. Some may see it as going a step back. I look at it as bringing it full circle to where it should be.When it comes down to it we have it all. We have the High-flying Cruiser"X" style. We have the big brawling monsters of the mat. We have the women that can work. We have something that can cater to every wrestling fan out there. We invite all wrestling fans to come down and watch. Hell----If there's someone that they want to see we invite them to let us know. We want to make wrestling wrestling again!
What wrestlers really represent us? Any that have worked for/and with us. I say that those that have been with us have done their best to bring the focus back to where it should be and that’s wrestling.
Firehawk: Believe it or not even as we speak the site is being revamped. Look for a brand new website soon and it will have steaming video of matches and interviews on it.
Firehawk: It ain’t easy. Like I said earlier it’s a challenge and I enjoy it but if you’ve ever been to one our show early I’m sure you would have heard me screaming that I quit each and every time. And I probably will everytime.
Firehawk: When we booked our show we didn’t know about the JAPW show until it was too late. I know we had a great crowd at our last event and I am hoping they return for this show. But I do find it kind of interesting that JCW didn’t put their show together until after we announced ours.
Firehawk: There are a lot of indies in Jersey. Jersey is a hotbed of wrestling for a lot of reasons. The main one is because it’s dereged. As such you got a lot of activity out here. But I truly think that the only major players in NJ are JAPW, JCW & SSCW. The CSWF is starting to make it’s mark and is on the way to becoming a player. All others have a long way to go before they can be said to be a true working federation.
Firehawk: I see us growing into something that people will remember. I see the workers becoming main eventers all over. I would be proud to say that they got their start in the CSWF. And if I have anything to say about it we’ll be around for a long time. Someday I would love my daughter to be able to tell her children about how it feels to be a part of the CSWF.
Firehawk: What’s normal? I sleep until 2pm. I get up. I check my messages. I use the bathroom. I eat breakfast. I work out for about 2 hours. I run any errands and go shopping when needed. I call Dave and ask him what’s going on(if anything).I check the website(www.cswfol.com---cheap plug). I make whatever phone calls or e-mails that are needed. I burn a few DVDs. I eat dinner with my wife. I shower,get dressed and go to work by 10pm. I get off work at 6am. I get home. I eat a quick snack. On most mornings I make love to my wife(all depends on how tired we are). We take a shower together. then I fall asleep. The cycle sort of repeats itself with some variation(going out to dinner instead of cooking/going to the movies----that sort of thing).
Firehawk: It’s a good thing for me. She helps keep my focus where it should be. She’s another godsend. As for her safety----she’s a fifth degree black belt that has competed across Canada(NO B.S.). I think she can take very good care of herself.
Firehawk: I say that I hope to see you all at our upcoming shows. April 24th is Retribution and somehow Dave has got Al Snow to come to face Ron Killings for the belt. That is going to be a barn-burner.Not to mention John Shane getting in the ring to face Tara Charisma with one hand tied behind his back. That's the one I want to see. Plus the Solution going for the tag titles and Grim Reefer facing Michael Shane for the Crusier”X”Championship. All that and so much more. Who knows who may show up.
Keep an eye out for the new improved website(www.cswfol.com). And I hope that everybody out there keeps an open mind about not just the CSWF, ROH, NWA/TNA but all of wrestling.
Keep the independents alive and well and going strong.