What up DOI-maniacs and welcome to another McInterview. I was lucky enough to meet up with Johnny Ova, aka Joey Maxx in ECWA, to get this interview. Johnny is one of the brightest cruiserweights on the indy scene and is currently the JCW Cruiserweight champion. Johnny wrestles all “ova” the indies in ECWA, NYWC, JCW and ICW, as well as many others. In this interview Ova talks about his career, his future, his best matches and a ton more. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: I read the piece by Bobby Riedel in the 5th issue of the Declaration of Independents, and saw how you got your start in the business after your fathers untimely death. Can you let everyone know who's reading this, who doesn't know, how you got your start in your business, and how difficult it was to get in, especially after one of your bigger supporters passed away?

Johnny Ova: well after my dad had passed away, I knew I had to do it in honor of him. So I just kept at it. Did my dad passing away hurt, yes but it's not good to let it just eat you alive. So after he had paid some of my critical mass tuition I wasn't going to quit, I am not a quitter. I HAD to do it. So I thank god every single day when I wake up for all the opportunities he has given me so I have that chance to make my dad proud.

”The MiC”: You have a unique style for a cruiser/light weight. Many cruisers rely on a "high spot" style and not focus on other aspects of wrestling. How do you feel about those wrestlers, and how did you develop your own style?

J. Ova: Well I give those wrestlers some credit because some of them can do some amazing stuff, But I do also think to much "high spot" wrestling is very bad. I am trying to bring the old school style of wrestling back with a little twist of OVAlation on it. I watch constant tapes of myself and realized when the crowd was into it the most was in the 70's and 80's. People all over the place crying and fainting it was nuts. And now a day’s people just pop for the "high spot" but a lot do appreciate and miss the "old school" wrestling.

”The MiC”: Who were your favorite wrestlers growing up? What wrestlers didn't you like growing up?

J. Ova: Hmm there are so many but my Favorite's growing up were without a doubt Shawn Michaels, Ted Dibiase, Marty Jannetty, Bad News Brown, and Ludvig Borga. Hmm there weren't any wrestlers that I totally disliked. I booed them cause I wanted to see them get beat up. I guess they did their job.

”The MiC”: What have been some of the best moments in the wrestling business for you? The worst?

J. Ova: My Best Moment so far in this business was eating dinner with Ted Dibiase. That was amazing. Training with Xavier as well, all learning experiences and they are truly amazing. Probably the worst moment was when I broke my nose at the ECWA's Super 8. Was still an amazing show and I loved the battle royal, but the broken nose wasn't to fun.

”The MiC”: You are currently the JCW Cruiserweight champion. How does it feel when a promotion puts you in title matches, and to actually win the championship?

J. Ova: It truly is an honor and especially with a GREAT fed like JCW. I actually didn't even know I was winning the title, I just thought it was a gauntlet match. So it really is an honor to work for such a great promotion.

”The MiC”: You are also working in the primarily student based NYWC, and putting on great matches with one of your biggest rivals, in Dan Barry. What's it like working with someone who wrestles the same style as you, and after wrestling the same person alot, how hard is it to "top yourself" the next time you meet?

J. Ova: Well Dan Barry and me have a lot of History together. He is one of my closest friends and he is SO talented. So we click so well together, we have the same mind and wrestle almost exactly alike. But it's a great feeling to know that our "rivalry" got so big. We love to work each other and we work each other a lot, so after the match were like " I don’t know how were going to top this one" but we always figure out something and try to make each match a little different and give the fans 150%.

J. Ova: This is such a hard question, I Have had a lot of good ones but I would probably say one of the NYWC matches with Dan Barry. Either the first one or the second, there were both very good. My best tag match ever I would say The Maxx Brothers Vs Ace Darling and Matt Stryker. I had so much fun and those guys have tremendous talent.

”The MiC”: What’s it like working in the ECWA, one of, if not the top, indy promotions in the US?

J. Ova: It's AMAZING. There's nothing I can really say, it's something you have to experience. The Fed is so organized and the Locker Room is a Great Bunch of guys. Jim Kettner is a great guy. He helps me out a lot there as well as Kevin Kelly. Kevin inspires me a lot, and it's a privilege to be working for the ECWA.

”The MiC”: You wrestle as Johnny Ova everywhere, except for ECWA, where you're Joey Maxx. How come you don't use the Johnny Ova name everywhere? Furthermore, you're primarily a tag wrestler in ECWA. Would you ever like to make a singles run in ECWA, or are you content as a tag team wrestler?

J. Ova: I am very content as for where I am now in the ECWA. Jim is doing a fantastic job. And c'mon look at me, and look at Johnny Maxx, we really do look so much alike, and a lot of wrestlers really think were brothers. Would I like to have a singles run there? Sure, but I am in no rush.

”The MiC”: Speaking of tag teaming, do you enjoy singles wrestling or tag team wrestling? If you prefer one to the other, how come?

J. Ova: I prefer singles because I love the pressure of it just relying on you and your opponent. But yet again Tag Team wrestling is a whole new style and a whole lot more Psychology to be thrown in. So it's Fun doing either, as long as I am wrestling I am Happy.

”The MiC”: Wrestlers are known to be their biggest critics. How often do you watch your matches and look for ways to improve?

J. Ova: Well I watch at least 3 hours a wrestling per day. Not just my own stuff, but other workers as well. But I really tear myself apart. It takes a lot for me to be happy with MY performance.

”The MiC”: There has been a rumor on several message boards that you are one of the people who were "stiffed" by Jac Sabboth at a recent ICW show. Can you comment on that, and let people know if that's a true or false statement?

J. Ova: That's the key word their "RUMOR". Their was and is absolutely no heat between me and Jac Sabboth. I think he's a great promoter and would've loved to work his last show but I will be making my Elks Lodge Debut at the Next ICW show and just wait till you see who it's against!!!

Ricky O- Great Promoter, deserves more credit.
Frank Goodman- Met him once, seems nice.
Fat Frank- Would love to work for him in the future.
Jim Kettner- Unbelievable friend, Amazing promoter.
Carmine Sabia-Funny Guy, Honest
John Curse- The Best Trainer
Mike Mayhem- Also good trainer, and fantastic worker.
Jac Sabboth- Misunderstood
Harry Slash- Great Guy, Knows what he's doing.
Dan Barry- Possibly The greatest Upcoming Light heavyweight on the Indy's.
Wayne The Convenience Store Guy- Underrated, Fantastic Worker
Jay Lethal-Phenomenal
Johnny Maxx-Nice Guy. Great and Fun partner.
Bobby Riedel- Amazing friend, Helped me out Spiritually and with wrestling. God's Gift to me.
J Silva- JOBBER.. lol
Grim Reefer- Should be booked more, would love to work him.
Vince McMahon- Pure Genius
Vince Russo- Sketchy
Shawn Michaels-ICON
Rock- Great Charisma, just wish he'd give more to wrestling then movies.
Bastion Booger- Mr America
Giant Gonzales-Wanna work him
Internet Critics- Most of them are ruining professional wrestling. Some are very good though.
Declaration of Independents- Great bunch of guys would support them anytime. Interesting (as in good) newsletter
Johnny Ova/Joey Maxx- Determined, well not give up, Will give his fans 100% every time he comes out that curtain.

J. Ova: Honestly To be in the WWE. It's been my dream since I was 3, why should I give up now?

J. Ova: If anyone in the New York area wants to Train to become a professional wrestler, CRITICAL MASS is the place to be. www.criticalmassprowrestling.com , if anyone would want to Contact me they can go to my website at www.johnnyova.cjb.net . And I guess this could be a good time to wish my great friend LIVEWYRE the best of luck at OVW and he's got my support all the way. And watch out this summer and the rest of the year. Johnny Ova will be appearing in some new places but 1 thing is for damn sure, if you thought Ovalation occurred before on the Indy Scene, Wait till what you see is on the AGENDA!!