Hey you loyal DOIaholic and welcome to another McInterview, with longtime independent star, Mike Quackenbush. I thought this interview was one of the better ones I conducted and I thank Mike for doing this and taking time out to talk to us. I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did.

Sean The MiC McCaffrey: How did you get into pro wrestling?

Mike Quackenbush:I snuck into the independents in 1995, but I wrestled around a bit as far back as 1991. I only got serious about the indies in 1997, and then I started to travel a bit more and get my name out there.

The MiC: Who were you favorites growing up? Which guys didn't you like growing up?

Quack: As a kid, I didn't really enjoy wrestling. There was a kid in my neighborhood who would get all the PPV's, and sometimes I would be there just to hang out with all the other kids. I saw an early Wrestlemania there, and was bored to tears. The only guy I liked watching on the show was Jake Roberts, and it was just because he had such a great presence. Hogan and the Warrior were so dull and unathletic, it couldn't possibly appeal to me.

The MiC: Your feud with The Reckless Youth was one of the better indy rivalries in recent memory. How was it wrestling him, and do you feel you became a better wrestler because of it?

Quack: Absolutely. I may not be the most gifted wrestler in the world, but one thing I do well is learn from others. That might sound like a silly remark, but I have met more than my share of guys that get put in a program with a world-class worker, and never learn a thing from the other guy. I take something away from every match I wrestle, and when I worked with Reckless in some 50 or 60 matches across three years or so, I absorbed a lot. It was a great period of growth for me, between 1997 and 2000.

The MiC: Where did you learn the Japanese and Mexican styles from? Was it hard picking it up?

Quack: Lucha libre is extremely difficult. I've been lucky enough to work a lot of luchadores over the years, and I try to pick up one or two techniques from everyone. The Japanese style is more like pro-wrestling than it is lucha libre, and the difference is less in the moves and more in the storytelling, and the emotional quotient of the match.

The MiC: What do you think has been your best match?

Quack: That's tough to answer. Among the best from the 90's would have to be Break the Barrier, a three way dance with Lou Marconi and Don Montoya. Since the new millennium dawned, I'd have to pick one of the CHIKARA multiple man tag matches. Maybe the 6 man tag from May 25th of last year, or the 8-man from October 12th.

The MiC: You are the innovator of many moves, where do you get your creativity from?

Quack: I try to watch as much wrestling as possible, and look for ideas and inspiration not just in wrestling, but in movies or performances that I see.

The MiC: What has been your best memory in the business?

Quack: Working with Eddie Guerrero last year was a highlight, as was working El Hijo del Santo. There are a few things from the business I will never forget, experiences with special fans more so than a string of matches. The response I got from the audience my last night on tour in Germany is something I'll tell my grandkids about. The WXW (Essen, Germany) fans pounded the mat, surrounding the ring on all sides, chanting to me in English: "Please come back," and I really was moved by that.

The MiC: Who would be your dream opponent, living or dead?

Quack: The original Tiger Mask, Satoru Sayama, in his prime.

The MiC: Can you let everyone know about your book and how they can get it? Quack: In 2000 and 2001 I wrote an autobiographical work titled "Headquarters," which covers large parts of my life. The book illustrates the way a public, pro-wrestling life, and a private life can sometimes collide and corrupt one another across several years. About half the stories deal with my life in wrestling. The book is available through my website, at mikequackenbush.com. My 1998 publication, "Fantastic Finishers" is a 96-page exploration of 29 finishing moves that has been out of print for some time. It's very difficult to obtain a copy.

The MiC: What has been your favorite promotion to work for? Your least?

Quack: Fresh off my first tour, I can say that WXW (Germany) is a fabulous place to work. The audiences at CHIKARA shows in Allentown, PA can't be beat. The crowd that supported the FWA of Palo Alto, PA will always hold a special place in my memory.

The MiC: What do you think about the current state of indy wrestling? WWE?

Quack: The indies right now are getting stronger, but by and large, they are still pretty boring. All the companies fall into the same few genres, and there is just an overwhelming sameness to it all. The WWE is dreadfully boring, but I only see RAW, so that's not a fair evaluation of the company as a whole.

The MiC: Vince McMahon is on the phone, he wants you to wrestle just to put over upcoming guys, but get a steady paycheck. Would you want to do that, or would you rather work indy matches, where you can be showcased?

Quack: I really have no interest in working for the WWE. Money talks, don't get me wrong. It's hard to say no to a paycheck, but its even harder in my mind to give up what I have done so far, and am creating with CHIKARA to go play job boy for Vince.

The MiC: Who are your favorite wrestlers to watch today?

Quack: I watch the Toryumon group pretty religiously. They are all supertalented kids with a real cutting edge style. I couldn't single out just one guy from their roster. I've always enjoyed watching Jushin Liger, Manami Toyota, Johnny Saint and Dos Caras.

Word Association:
Reckless Youth = King of the Indies!
Vince Russo = The cancer of wrestling
Vince McMahon = New shoes!
Eric Bischoff = Hot fudge sundae!
Ultimo Dragon = Great wrestler, great trainer
Rey Misterio Jr = The definitive cruiser of the 90's
HBK = Poor Marty
Taz = Better than Michael Cole on any given day
Paul London = Unlimited potential
Bastion Booger = He's no Max Moon!
Great Sasuke = Politics will never be the same
Mike Quackenbush = Groovy

The MiC: What do you have to say to anyone reading this?

Quack: Support your local indies! And when you want to support change in the stale world of wrestling, drop by chikarapro.com and see what we're all about. Cheers!

The MiC: Thank you Mike for doing this interview and good luck in your future matches.