Firehawk with his daughter, Aiyana

What's up everyone in DOI-land and welcome to another McInteview, here on the DOI. This time I interviewed CSWF promoter, Billy Firehawk. Firehawk has been the talk of many people recently, due to what people are calling "actions" at a recent NWA-TNA event. In this interview, Firehawk answers every question from NWA TNA, CSWF, His Favorite Wrestlers, Retirement and so much more. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did.

DOI NOTE: To read an interview I did with Firehawk 11 months ago, to see some earlier questions Firehawk answered, check out:
Firehawk 1st DOI Interview

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: Firehawk, it's been a while since you last did an interview here on the DOI, and alot has changed in that time, and most of it for the positive for you and your CSWF. My first question to you is, how are you doing and what are your thoughts on the state of CSWF, now known as NWA Cyberspace?

Billy Firehawk: I’m doing very well and NWA CyberSpace is doing well too. I think we are a still growing company that will continue to get better each show. We(Dave, Derek & I) learn more with each program and can only get better and better.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: CSWF had a rough history, running highly expensive shows in front of 30-60 people. Now, CSWF is starting to see payoffs from their hard work and promoting, as CSWF has seen 300+ people at their last two shows. Why do you think more people are coming out for CSWF shows, especially since there is so much wrestling in the area on any given weekend?

Billy Firehawk: Yes we had a rough beginning but as you yourself have said our numbers have and are continuing to grow. One of the main reasons for this I feel is because we cater to true family entertainment. I know this will sound like a knock on others but I really think a lot of “indy” feds are more into the violent aspects of wrestling and have really forgotten about good old fashioned wrestling. I’m not knocking “hardcore” wrestling at all but I for one, enjoy the type of wrestling show that I can take my daughter to.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: CSWF is the only indy promotion to utilize NWA TNA talent and storylines in their product. Do you think this hurts or helps you? On one hand it does bring you more fame and notoriety but on the other hand, you only appeal to a certain amount of fans. What are your thoughts on working with TNA?

Billy Firehawk: TNA is without a doubt one of the best feds out there. In it’s 3 year history it has grown from what some would call a “southern” style wrestling into a world wide sensation.( Sounds like NWA CyberSpace huh?) They have some of the best wrestling talent out there. I am proud to have some of the very best they have to offer on our shows. Hurt us? Not in the slightest. Appeal to a certain amount of fans? I think they(and us) have the type of wrestling that appeals to all types of fans.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: CSWF has brought in such talent as Roddy Piper, DDP, Kanyon, Jeff Jarrett & many other big names. What other big name stars will we be seeing in the CSWF in the future?

Billy Firehawk: That would be telling. Some of the fans have told me that the S in NWA/CS should stand for surprise. All I can say is keep watching.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: What is CSWF's relationship with NWA TNA? Will CSWF ever be a subsidiary of TNA?

Billy Firehawk: Like I just said that would be telling. Keep watching. Anything and everything is possible.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: You recently acquired the NWA name from NWA-NJ promoter, Fred Rubenstein. What are your thoughts on Fred Rubenstein's heat with Gino Moore and Joe Panzarino, the two other men who claim ownership of the NWA-NJ name? If Gino wins his lawsuit against Rubenstein, do you think that by associating with Rubenstein, it might come back to bite you in the ass later, if Gino owns the name?

Billy Firehawk: First of all let me say that I am grateful for all that Mr. Rubenstein has done for us. He has helped us out with a lot of shall we say “legal” snags that we were having(nuff said there). As for his “heat” with Gino Moore & Joe Panzarino that is between them and not us. I hope that one day it is all settled to everyone’s satisfaction. In the long run I feel that there is no harm to us being known as NWA CyberSpace. In the long run it benefits us all.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: With CSWF obviously being bigger than the current NWA-NJ, and very arguably the number 1 or 2 promotion in NJ, how come CSWF doesn't get a direct membership with the NWA, instead of being under the NWA banner under Rubenstein's NWA NJ?

Billy Firehawk: Number 2? In my heart we are number 1. (lol Frank and JAPW) Let me let you in on a little secret. Last year we were approached by then NWA President Bill Behrens about becoming a NWA affiliate. The one snag was is that since our shows are currently based out of New Jersey we couldn’t join on our own. Mr. Behrens asked Fred to get in touch with us and work together with us. It has all worked out for the best that way. I feel we are a very special part of the NWA family and there is no one that is saying otherwise.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: Who in your opinion, are the top talents in CSWF today?

Billy Firehawk: I think everyone that has worked for us is the top talent. But I will give a special shout out to Jeff Jarrett, Michael Shane(or should I say Michael), Tracy Brooks, April Hunter, Slyck Wagner Brown, Matt Striker and his YoungBludz, John Shane’s Gang, Chris Harris and James Storm and of course the two man-monsters Abyss and Mana.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: What's it like being the only promotion in the area to have NWA TNA World Heavyweight Title defenses. How did you broker that deal for CSWF?

Billy Firehawk: I am honored to be able to say we have the World Champion Jeff Jarrett defending his title on our shows. Dispite what you see on TV Jeff is one of the most decent men to do business with. I won’t forgive him for what he did to me at the last show but he is a pleasure to work with behind the scenes. How did we get him there? Through the hard work and business sense of one Derek Gordon. That’s all that need be said.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: At the end of the last CSWF show, yourself and Jeff Jarrett had an altercation, which leads me to this question: Will you be "un-retiring" from in-ring wrestling to challenge Jeff Jarrett whether Jarrett is the NWA TNA World Heavyweight Champion or not? If you do wrestle Jarrett, do you think it will be the easiest payday in Jarrett's life?

Billy Firehawk: Nice to see how much faith you have in my wrestling skills. Seriously let me state for the record I am retired and have no plans to get back in the ring as a wrestler. I am the promoter of NWA CyberSpace. As such I employ some of the very best workers out there and they can deal with Mr. Jarrett for me.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: CSWF starts their TV tapings on March 26th. What can fans expect from the product? When will the show air? Will it air on the internet or on TV, and if on TV, what station?

Billy Firehawk: Plans are in the works to do the one thing we have wanted to do from day one and that is broadcast our show on the internet. JAPW is doing it and we are going to too. Keep your eyes open on our website(www.nwacyberspace.com---cheap plug lol) for details.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: CSWF has improved by leaps and bounds, in my opinion, so far in 2005. What can we expect by the time 2006 comes around?

Billy Firehawk: More of the same improvements. Just because we have gotten bigger and better doesn’t mean it stops there. Like I said earlier we can only get better.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: Just like myself, and everyone reading this, you are a fan of professional wrestling, and a diehard fan as well. With that said, do you think it's professional, as a promoter, as someone wielding power, for you to be seen on national TV and national PPV, marking out with replica championship belts and asking for autographs after the show? Understandably on one hand, as a wrestling fan, it's a great way to collect memorabilia. On the other hand however, it makes you look like just a "mark" fan and not someone who is supposed to be above everyone, as a boss figure, as a promoter. This is the one thing that has been getting talked about by various people in the business, so here is your floor to comment on this. So pretty much, my bottom line question is this, Why did you sit in the front row of a national wrestling show and mark out like a common fan instead of "acting" like a promoter?

Billy Firehawk: Do you know how much “heat” I’ve taken on this one subject from friends, family and everybody else? I have always said that I am a fan of wrestling. From my days when I was training as a sumo till now I have been a fan. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. Was I at the past 2 TNA PPVs? Yes. Did my wife and I have fun? Yes. Are we going to the PPV next week? Yes. Will we have fun there? Yes. Is there anything wrong with that? If you ask certain people out there yes but I say no. Why is it so wrong to be people having a good time at a wrestling show? Thousands do it all the time. Some of the fans have gotten in touch with me and said that they are glad to know that I am a true fan. They have said that it’s good to know that as a fan I would do the best to put together shows that true fans would want to see. Now as to the belt. Did I hold it during the PPV for all to see? Yes. Will I do it again? Probably not. And not because of what has been said about what I did. Did I go and get it autographed? Yes. Am I ashamed of that? No. Can any true fan out there say they wouldn’t do the same thing? I think not. Will I get them autographed again? Yes. When Ron Killings and AJ Styles worked at the CSWF shows last year I asked them to sign my NWA replica belt. I also asked DDP, Lex Luger and Roddy Piper to autograph various different title replicas that I own. I collect them and see nothing wrong with that. If that makes me a “mark” then I for one am proud to be called one because at least I am honest enough to not be ashamed of it.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: What are your thoughts on Trinity and her recent comments on the Masked Maniac Hotline, where she had less than positive remarks about you? Will Trinity ever return to CSWF?

Billy Firehawk: I think the most politically correct thing to say right now is no comment.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: Speaking of women wrestlers, Jazz debuted in CSWF, and it looks like a program between her and April Hunter is forthcoming. What will Jazz be doing in CSWF and what's it like having a former WWE women's champion in your company? Do you think a big time woman wrestling program can draw on the indies?

Billy Firehawk: Jazz will be doing anything she wants to. (lol) She is the former WWE Women’s Champion and I am proud to have her in our company. She brings a lot of respect back into women’s wrestling and I think that’s something that has been forgotten by a lot of promotions out there. I want to bring respect back to women’s wresting because they deserve it. They all work hard and are very skilled at what they do. April, Tracy, Jazz, Cindy, Ariel, Tara Charisma, Serena, Alexis Laree and even Trinity are some of the best wrestlers out there and I’m proud of the fact that they have all worked for us. And I defiantly plan to have them(and others) continue to work with us.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: What are your thoughts on the current state of indy wrestling today?

Billy Firehawk: I think that a lot of the “indies” out there are making great strides in becoming true forces out there. But there are some that just don’t know what direction to go in with there product. Some go from show to show and just do nothing to follow up and make it interesting for the fans. They may have some of the best wrestlers but totally mismanage them and put them in matches that just don’t follow any rhyme or reason. I admit that at the beginning I did the same thing but thanks to certain people(and they know who they are) we now have a direction and definite goals with NWA CyberSpace.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: What are your thoughts on Frank Goodman and UXW, the same company you used to work for during your feuding days with Duke "Pitbull" Snyder?

Billy Firehawk: Mr. Goodman has potentially one of the better “indy” feds out there. But his style of show definitely isn’t my cup of tea.

As for my personal feelings toward the man I have none. I respect what he has created with USAPro(now UXW) and will give him his props but other than that there really isn’t anything to say.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: What are your thoughts on the now defunct-SSCW and Carmine Sabia? With SSCW dead, is there a chance of bringing in another TNA superstar, in the name of ex-SSCW booker, Simon Diamond?

Billy Firehawk: Honestly thinking I really can’t say anything negative about Carmine. I’ve never met the man so how can I speak good or bad about him. As for SSCW I will say that at one time he put together some of the best shows out there with top level talent. You can’t take that away from the man. I wish him well in all of future endeavors.

As for bringing in Simon Diamond? Anything is possible and I will say that if he were to ever work with us it would definitely be a positive thing to have happen.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: Out of all the big name TNA wrestlers that have worked for CSWF in the past 2+ years, which have been the easiest and hardest to work with?

Billy Firehawk: I have never had any difficulties working with anybody from TNA(except maybe Jarrett lol). All of them are professionals and they bring a lot to our shows. They even suggest ways to make it better at times. And they listen to my ideas too. And even on the rare occasion when we don’t agree they do listen to what I say and they give me(and Dave & Derek) respect.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: With Triple X and AMW now feuding in CSWF, how long before CSWF recreates their classic Tag Team Match of the Year match, when both teams battled in a 6-sided steel cage match?

Billy Firehawk: That was one of the most awesome matches in wrestling history wasn’t it? As much as I would love to have that match I doubt we could ever duplicate or equal what they did in that cage. I do know that both teams really want at each other and are glad that I was able to find the loophole they were looking for in order for them to wrestle each other. I’ve spoken to both teams and they feel that they are tied at one a piece for screwing each other.(AMW at Turning Point and Triple X at Super-Brawl Saturday) Now they just want to settle the score once and for all. And it will happen in NWA CyberSpace.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: What are your thoughts on your booker Dave Levy, and do you think he has too much on his plate or do you think he'll be able to handle CSWF perfectly, as CSWF grows?

Billy Firehawk: Like myself Dave is always learning how to do his job better each day. He has a lot of duties now and I think he handles them very well. It’s as simple as that.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: What are your thoughts on CSWF becoming one of the promotions that wrestlers want to be a part of?

Billy Firehawk: Like I said we’re growing and becoming something very special. People see that and want to be a part of it. I’m proud of our work and am flattered that so many want to join up. Unfortunately we can’t hire everybody that wants to work with us. But the door is always open to possibilities.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: Do you think that TNA is using CSWF to see how the TNA wrestlers draw in this are if they ever want to run a house show in NJ? Is it possible that CSWF will eventually run a house show with TNA in this area?

Billy Firehawk: Of course they have their eyes open on how there talent does in this area. And without giving away too much info I will say that anything is possible and can happen.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: What are your thoughts on JAPW, and do you ever see CSWF knocking JAPW from their number 1 spot in NJ? (As many fans and myself consider JAPW the number 1 promotion in NJ)

Billy Firehawk: Again you have to say that and hurt my feeling(lol). I give mad props to Frank and Ray for the work that they are doing. I respect them and their product. And while many may see them as #1 and us as #2 I honestly think we’re equals. We cater to different type of fans and have totally different shows. That’s why we both are the best.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: CSWF returns on March 26th. Why should any fan check out the CSWF?

Billy Firehawk: Why? You really have to ask? I’ll say it honestly. We plan on making history that day. It’s the beginning of a brand new era for us. We plan on bringing to the fans the best action they will ever get for their hard earned dollar. Look at the line up. At Fatal Attraction we shocked the world with Mana vs Abyss. This time they are going to be chained to each other by a dog collar. AMW and Triple X will be there. Slyck Wagner Brown defends the NWA CyberSpace Championship against the former Champion Ron “the Truth” Killings. Matt Striker, Nick Berk, April Hunter, Michael, Tracy Brooks, Josh Daniels, Mike Tobin, John Shane and his Solution. You just can’t beat that kind of line up. Plus you never know who will show up. Speaking as a fan as well as a promoter I know that this is a show you can’t miss.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: What do you want to say to anyone reading this?

Billy Firehawk: I say to everybody be true and honest to yourself and others. Never be afraid to show the world how you feel(as long as you’re not hurting yourself or others). Always remember where you came from. Always respect yourself and the people around you. Have fun in life. Keep God in your heart and love as well. And I also say keep your eyes open on NWA CyberSpace. As I’ve said before we are a growing company and will always do our very best for you,the fans.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: Thanks alot Firehawk, I appreciate you giving up your time to do this interview.

For more on CSWF, visit http://www.nwacyberspace.com