Interview: Slater Vain

MA Viper

Profile

Nicknames: Slater Vain, Vinnie Valentino, Vance Vain and Smoke
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 230 lbs.
Began: Spring 1998
Finishing Moves: Vertebreaker and The One Night Stand

Athletic Background: Union Schools (1997 Graduate) Tulsa, OK. Team Co-Captain, 1996-97. 5 yrs. Training/Competition. Ranked Top 5 in State 1995-97

Promotions Worked For: APW, APWA, HWA, MEW, MRW, MWF, NOAH, NWA-TNA, OCW, OPW, PCW, IRON, SRPW, UCW, UWA and WWE

Titles Held: SRPW heavyweight champion, OCW heavyweight champion, Three-time OPW tag team champion, OCW tag team champion.

Questions

1 - What made you decide to get into pro wrestling and how/where were you trained?

SV: I have always wanted to be a pro-wrestler - since I was a young boy. My cousins and I used to crowd around the TV to watch people like Hulk

Hogan, Randy Savage, Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. As soon as I graduated high school, I found a school and started my training. I started at Oklahoma Pro Wrestling in Tulsa, OK. A few months later, I was invited to California where I trained at the APW Boot Camp under Mike Modest and Donovan Morgan. I attribute my success to the training I received from them. They are truly amazing workers and good friends.

2 - How did you come up with the name Slater Vain?

SV: I’ve worked as a number of characters over the years. I started in Tulsa, OK as Vinnie Valentino. That’s the name I used for the majority of my indy career. I’ve also worked as Vance Vain briefly and as Smoke (with Urban Wrestling Alliance, now defunct). I was still using the name Vinnie Valentino when I went to an invitation only tryout camp for WWE a couple years back. The agents there told me that they didn’t like me as an Italian and encouraged me to explore other gimmicks that better fit my personality. I’ve heard for years that I look like Slater from “Saved By the Bell” and I guess you could say I’m a pretty-boy and therefore somewhat vain. Thus the name - Slater Vain.

3 - Tell me about your funniest road story.

SV: Most of my humorous road stories center around the antics of my buddy, Sylvan Grenier (La Resistance). Thing is, they don’t come across quite as funny unless you toss in his French accent. Any time with Sly is a great time.

4 - Take me through your day upon finding out about getting a deal from WWE.

SV: Well, I’d already had the week from Hell. I’d just finished my 13th show with WWE for the year (tryouts) in Houston, TX. I was pretty bummed out because although I got to do some security guard spots on Survivor Series (with Stone Cold) and RAW (with Shawn Michaels), I didn’t get to wrestle any actual matches. The agents said that since I’d been seen on TV as part of security that it wouldn’t make sense to have me as a wrestler, too. They are big on continuity. Anyway, I drove the 9+ hours home from Houston on Wednesday, got up at 5-something-a.m. on Thursday and flew out to North Carolina. I work with a great guy out there on a direct-to-video wrestling promotion. Anyway, I was pretty much thinking, "I've worked 13 times for WWE this year. They've seen me work. They know who I am. They know what I look like. Nothing's happening. This may just not happen for me. So it's time to support the family and be the family man and wrestle on the side and if something happens down the way, we'll deal with it then. But right now, my focus needs to be on getting a full-time job and supporting the family." So my phone rings and Dr. Tom (Prichard) is on the other end. He's asking me how I'm doing and what I'm doing. I tell him I'm in the airport getting my bags and such. He asks me, "oh, what are you doing?" I respond, "wrestling for a guy in North Carolina." I segue into "do you mind if you book me for some of these shows at the end of the month and at the beginning of the year?" Because there's some real close ones over in Arkansas and Memphis. He's like, "hmmm. Hold on a second. Let me check that." And he puts me on hold and I have to listen to "I'm an ass man". I think I heard the entire song. I think I was on hold for 5 minutes. I was like, "great. I like to spank 'em. I'm an ass man" If you've ever heard that song, he likes to do a bunch of things to asses. Anyway, he comes back on. He's like, "Well, ya know, the end of December is a long way away. How about this? How about December 1^st, we just go ahead and start you on a contract?" And I'm sitting here thinking to myself, "I gotta be daydreaming. He couldn’t have just said that." He says, "We'll start you on a contract. Your contract will be in effect December 1st. I need you to report to OVW on January 5th." And he gets all my information from me and I hang up my phone and I'm like, "I believe I just got a contract!” It was just like that. I did not expect it.

5 - How do you spend your free time when not wrestling?

SV: I spend as much time as possible at home with my family. I have a wife, Stephanie, and a 2-year-old son, Braeden. I think it’s important to keep my priorities in line, especially in a crazy business like this. I obviously spend a lot of time at the gym, as well. You have to do that to look good obviously, but it also is important to keep your body in good condition to avoid injury.

6 - Who are your favorite people to work with and why?

SV: There’s a local guy in Tulsa, Brandon Groom, who I’ve worked countless times over the past few years. He’s an ex-amateur state champ in Oklahoma and always can be counted on for a great match. There’s so many from Tulsa - Big Daddy Moore, Kenny Campbell (Outcast) - great light heavyweight with tons of ability and the list goes on and on. I can’t say enough good things about Mike Modest and Donovan Morgan. They spend a lot of time overseas in Japan with NOAH right now. They are the ones who got me my tour with NOAH this year. As far as big names, I suppose my all-time favorite WWE match was in September of this year with Val Venis. I feel like that was my breakthrough match.

7 - How do you feel about the Internet's involvement in wrestling?

SV: Kind of mixed feelings. I think it’s great that there’s so much information and exposure. Of course, I can’t help but wonder what kind of damage all this “inside” info is doing to the average fan’s perspective. I miss the days of kayfabe.

8 - Do you try to pattern yourself after any wrestler?

SV: I wouldn’t really say I pattern myself after anybody, but growing up my favorites were Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. I’ve watched their tapes over and over again, trying to learn whatever I can from them.

9 - What is the toughest part about being a pro wrestler?

SV: It obviously takes quite a toll on your body - you learn to live with a high level of aches and pains on a daily basis. I’ve been lucky though - no severe injuries to date (knock on wood). The travel schedule can be exhausting, too. I really got a taste of that on my 28-day tour with NOAH. It’s hard on a physical level, but also it’s really hard to be away from your family for such extended periods. Especially with a young son at home - you miss out on a lot of the milestones, which is hard.

10 - What do you feel makes you stand out, as compared to other wrestlers?

SV: I think the focus has kind of shifted in wrestling - a lot of big guys who look good are out there in the spotlight who maybe don’t have the experience/abilities of the former superstars like Hart and Michaels. I think what makes me somewhat different is that I have a solid look AND I can work. I think my strongpoint is my wrestling. My amateur background helped me there.

11 - What are your thoughts on the wrestling business today, as well the state of Indy wrestling?

SV: Well, the numbers would indicate that it’s not at its high point, but there is still a huge, strong fan base. Pro wrestling will not die - it’ll soon be back on top where it used to be. I think things will get better with competition, too. It’s hard when there’s only one big-player in town. The hey-day was during the Monday night wars. I look forward to seeing where it heads. Indy wrestling is no different than big time wrestling. The numbers are down, but the indy level is surviving. I know most of the promotions I work are changing the focus back to the family - the young kids. People who remember the “good old days” versus the teen demographic. I think that’s where the real money is.

12 - Describe your most memorable moment in the business so far.

SV: Obviously that would be “the phone call” - I’ve worked for almost 6 years with a single-minded goal of getting a contract. It’s finally happened. My dream has come true. Now I need to focus on setting new goals - to get moved to the travel team, to debut on primetime, to main event on primetime, to debut on a PPV, to headline a PPV, to work a Wrestlemania, to headline a Wrestlemania - it’s all baby steps. And I believe that with hard work, perseverance and the support of my wonderful family, I can achieve each of those goals too.

13 - Where do you see yourself in the next 5 to 10 years?

SV: Wow - I’m sure I’ll still be in the business. I suppose I’d have to say that I’ll be somewhere along the baby steps I just listed. I’d hope that in 5 years, I’ll be on the fulltime roster and will have made it to at least a few PPV’s. 10 years - that’s a harder one to gauge. I just want to take things one step at a time and not get ahead of myself. Right now, I’m just happy to have my big-time shot. This is something people only dream of - and it’s my life!

14 - Any messages for your fans or ones who are just now being introduced to you?

SV: Thank you so much for all your prayers and support. My list of thanks is a mile long, so I’ll spare you that. Keep watching WWE TV - I promise to do you proud!

Check out Slater at these upcoming shows:

12/13 - SRPW – Tulsa, OK

1/5 - Report to OVW

Also, check out his website at: www.slatervain.fanspace.com

Any feedback or comments can be sent to: doiviper2k3@yahoo.com.