What's up DOIites? Hope everybody's enjoying the middle of the week. To brighten your day, I had the privilege to interview MLW and WXW mainstay, Mana the Polynesian Warrior. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.

Doc: Mana, thanks for doing this interview with me. Before we start, why don't you tell us exactly where your from and what tribe you belong to.

Mana: Yeah bro. I am from the north island of New Zealand, a region called Waikato, from a small tribe of the Ngati Haua people named Raungaiti. Kia Ora Tuhakaraina Whanau

Doc: What made you decide to become a pro wrestler instead of pursuing a career in Rugby like most from your country do?

Mana: I am from a family of rugby players, all of my brothers (Marshall, Barry, Mark and Ricky) had awesome rugby careers and I was expected to follow suit really. From the first time I watched wrestling though, I felt that was more my calling, not rugby even when I trialed for New Zealand u/19s and asked to trial for Australia u/21s.

Doc: You told me that you did play rugby at one time. Obviously rugby is a physically intense sport as is wrestling. How are the physicality, injuries, and conditioning similar and different?

Mana: Well I played rugby since I was four years old and I played around 20 years of my life. But in one and a half years of wrestling I have had more niggly injuries than rugby ever provided me with. So all those so called marks who think its fake shut the hell up and get in the ring.

Doc: Why did you decide to come train at the Wild Samoan Training Center over other schools?

Mana: If I was going to come all the way around the world, I wanted to have something familiar to come to besides my uncle and his family. Samoans and Maori and from the same lineage and make up of people so lets face it, thats why we look the same. Plus I looked up to Samu when I was first watching wrestling and I still do now.

Doc: What do you think attributed to you being the fastest student to graduate form the WSTC?

Mana: Want bro. You either want it or dont bother coming through the doors. It isnt easy, its a hard knock life. Its not just train and get the WWE contract. You got work for it. Thats why I beat Billy Kidmans record at WSTC. Plus I didnt want to take a backseat to no one especially, being a Maori. I was the first and I didnt want Maori to look weak. So there you go a straight up answer bro lol.

Doc: What makes the WSTC and WXW so different from other indy feds?

Mana: Well I know a lot of feds harp on about the family feeling within there locker room and there probably is but I doubt no other locker rooms father figure commands respect as much as Afa the Wild Samoan. Plus Pops just plain loves his workers like his own children and in turn we do treat each other a lot like family.

Doc: We've recently seen you on MLW as a member of the Samoan Island Tribe with your partner Samu, but recently you've made your singles debut. What's it like to team with somebody of the stature of Samu, and what are your goals in MLW now that you've embarked on your singles career.

Mana: Well to team with Samu was one of my initial goals anyway. I have wanted to be part of the Samoan Swat Team/Headshrinkers since I was 11 years old. As for MLW, I am grateful to just be allowed back there to perform. There is a great roster with no egos and a lot of talent which are always happy to see each other. As for being single now in the fed, I have the ball now where I take it. It is up to me but believe me lack of effort to succeed is not an issue.

Doc: After each match, you do a native war dance. Can you explain to us it's significance?

Mana: Sure, its called a Haka. It is a war dance of the Maori, most famous because our national rugby team (the all blacks) performs it preceding their games. I do it to represent my people, my culture and to make sure the opponent knows who just beat them.

Doc: What's it like for you to be so far away from home? Are you able to keep in touch with your family and friends frequently?

Mana: To be away from home really sucks, but it needs to be done. I am constantly talking to my family every chance I get. They know I am here for a reason and they allow me to be here because of the love I have for this sport. Its also a really great learning experience to meet new cultures here and new people. America has such a diverse array of nationalities and personalities for that matter, so it makes it interesting at all times.

Doc: Where do you hope to see Mana The Polynesian Warrior in 3 years?

Mana: Three years if I am still here wrestling that will be a blessing alone. But to just be here with the friends I have made here, and making my family proud is enough for me. To be the first to represent my people, my culture and my family as a Maori is an accomplishment alone and I have done this. Anything God allows me to have from this point further is a bonus.

Doc: Thanks a lot for taking out the time to do this interview with me.