Hey Declaration of Independent fans. Today “The MiC” has sat down with indy sensation Pat Gunner. Pat is new to the NY/NJ area, and has most recently wrestled for USA PRO Wrestling. He’s also the current PWA World Heavyweight Champion, which runs in Connecticut and Massachusetts. I’d like to thank Pat Gunner again, for giving me the exclusive scoop on the dealings with ACW. I found this interview very informative and hope you enjoy it. For more information on Pat Gunner, keep it here on the DOI site, or check out
www.patgunner.com

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: Everyone I'm with Pat Gunner. He's worked all over the east coast, recently PWA and USA PRO Wrestling. Thanks Pat for this interview. First question is, How did you get into wrestling, and what made you get into this business?

Pat Gunner: what made me get into this business was a love for this sport from an early age. When my father and me used to go to the new haven coliseum and watch the wwf when they came to town. From an early age I attached myself to wrestling and eventually decided to look for a school to train

SEAN “THE MIC” MCCAFFREY: Where did you eventually wind up training, and who did you train with, and was there any notable names that came out of your training class, besides yourself?

Pat Gunner: I trained at the house of pain dojo in Waterbury, ct. There I trained with Fred curry Jr and Mercedes Martinez.

SEAN “THE MIC” MCCAFFREY: What do you think is your best match? You're the current PWA World Heavy Weight champion and a former ACW tag champion, would you consider those your best/favorite matches?

Pat Gunner: I would say that my best match was for the first PWA show in January of this year vs. Steve Corino. It was my first defense with the PWA title. My PWA title matches have been some of my favorites, but all of my matches have been a learning process.

SEAN “THE MIC” MCCAFFREY: Who are some wrestlers that you enjoy working with? On the flipside, whom can't you stand wrestling against?

Pat Gunner: I enjoy working with guys that can handle themselves well in the ring, like bull dredd, matt striker, Steve Corino, raven, mike osbourne, ec negro. Some guys I can't stand wrestling against are guys that are sloppy in the ring, like mark Vincent, shabba white, the black dragon, and basically a lot of wrestlers from upper new England, I haven't run into a lot of good matches with them.

SEAN “THE MIC” MCCAFFREY: Maybe it has to do who the New England guys trained with. Moving on, who are a few wrestlers that you would you like to wrestle, whether alive or dead?

Pat Gunner: one that sticks out recently that I have a lot of respect for and enjoyed watching wrestle was Mr. perfect. Also some wrestlers I would like to wrestle now are basically those best on the indy scene today, to prove to the critics and fans that I’m definitely an up and coming wrestler from the new England area.

SEAN “THE MIC” MCCAFFREY: Mr. Perfect was one of my favorites too. Can you talk about the new promotion out of CT and MA, PWA, your affiliation with it and what can we expect from PWA in the near future, and long-term future?

Pat Gunner: PWA started in January of this year by a man named zeke haramis and as of recent, is being manned by commissioner Ryan Cox. My affiliation is that I am the first ever PWA champion and it has been my experience being there that the promotion grows at every show. You can expect big things for the near future and the long-term future. I believe PWA is here to stay and will grow to become the biggest indy promotion in ct.

SEAN “THE MIC” MCCAFFREY: Would PWA ever consider running in NJ, with the myriads of other promotions there? Or do you think PWA would expand to NY, considering there is only 1 major NY promotion (USA) and one minor one (NYWC)? If not due to the NYSAC, would PWA consider running in NY, if the NYSAC went out, as it is rumored to? OR is PWA just happy with CT for now?

Pat Gunner: PWA I believe is happy with ct for right now. I can't be fully sure. Their third show was in mass. But who knows, watch out NY & NJ, and for that matter, any other New England state, or northeast state

SEAN “THE MIC” MCCAFFREY: What are your favorite promotions that you have worked for? Also, what are some promotions you wouldn't want to go back to?

Pat Gunner: I don't work for my past, I work for my future. Basically, I’d like to get into some promotions like roh and japw. I love working for PWA and USA pro, those are my two favorite promotions. I have a few others that I work occasionally when they run, but those are my two main focuses right now.

SEAN “THE MIC” MCCAFFREY: You'd be a good addition to those promotions. Do you study your matches to learn what you could to better? Also do you follow the WWE to take notes and pick up some tips on those wrestlers?

Pat Gunner: I do study my matches to see what I can improve on next time. Occasionally I watch the wwe, I fine myself lately being too busy to watch all the time though.

SEAN “THE MIC” MCCAFFREY: You haven't been missing too much. Who are/were your favorite wrestlers, and who were your influences?

Pat Gunner: my influences have been sgt. slaughter, Mr. perfect, the ultimate warrior, and a lot of wrestlers that were around in that time frame. My favorite wrestlers now on the indy scene are my self (of course! lol), the sat, balls Mahoney, sabu, dirty rotten scoundrelz.

SEAN “THE MIC” MCCAFFREY: That's a solid list of wrestlers, except the Warrior in my opinion! What do you think about people who sell tickets just to wrestle on a show, barring if they have no talent or not? (Ticket sellers) Also, what do you feel, as an accomplished wrestler, having to work with ticket sellers?

Pat Gunner: I think there's a place for them in this business. I think everyone deserves a shot. But once they get their shot, if they're not good, then they should be weeded out.

SEAN “THE MIC” MCCAFFREY: Can you comment about your work with ACW?

Pat Gunner: yeah, I figured there'd be something about this. There is in every interview I do, seems to haunt me like a dead skeleton hand coming out of a grave. acw was a promotion that I thought had potential but due to certain decisions made and directions taken by the company, I decided that it was in my best interest to leave, even though there are various other stories going around that have been started by "certain" people.

SEAN “THE MIC” MCCAFFREY: Can you comment on that? Can you clear the air for everyone, and can we get Pat Gunners side?

Pat Gunner: there's certain rumors that they fired me, there’s certain rumors that I couldn't handle it anymore and that I didn't have what it takes to make it. Blatantly, all those rumors are bullshit (excuse my language). The reason why I left was for 3 months I would go to train at the school and every time I got there, everyone would be drunk and no one was in the shape to train, maybe one or two. And I also own my own business, which they wanted me to give up for them, with all the "empty" promises of making me

Pat Gunner: successful. The company was no place for me to be, the company was going nowhere, and before it dragged me down, I decided to leave.

SEAN “THE MIC” MCCAFFREY: This interview is uncensored, so say what you want. Thanks for clearing it up. Now that's in your past you're ready to move on, can you let the fans know, what are your upcoming bookings?

Pat Gunner: April 4, usa pro in queens, ny, April 25, PWA in Meriden, ct, may 10, hicw tba, may 23 (?), PWA, and June 13, PWA Danbury, ct

SEAN “THE MIC” MCCAFFREY: Cool, personally I'm looking forward to those shows and seeing you there. What are your career goals and aspirations, and where do you see Pat Gunner in 5 years?

Pat Gunner: I’d like to be on the top of my game, whether it be in the wwe or on the indy circuit. But who knows, a lot of things can happen in 5 years. I can't fore see any injuries that will stop me in my on going pursuit for success.

SEAN “THE MIC” MCCAFFREY: How hard is it to manage 2 jobs at once, when one of them takes up all your nights and weekends?

Pat Gunner: very hard, I don’t have much time for myself. I’m very lucky to have people in my life that understand the sacrifices I have to make and support me.

SEAN “THE MIC” MCCAFFREY: Are there any final words that you want to say to promoters, fans, fellow wrestlers and to anyone else reading this?

Pat Gunner: basically thank you for taking the time to read this and your time for doing the interview. And expect to see me to do my best in the ring to entertain all the fans that come out to support indy wrestling.

SEAN “THE MIC” MCCAFFREY: Thank you everyone and check out http://www.patgunner.com for all the latest news on indy sensation Pat Gunner!

Email Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey
themic@sscwwrestling.com