Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: How did you get your start in wrestling? Was your training anything like Tough Enough?

”The Arsonist” Tim Arson: I got my start in wrestling at the world famous Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn, NY. For those of you younger people out there who may not be familiar with my dojo it's been the wrestling birthplace of the some of the finest performers in our industry today. Alumni include the WWE's Tazz, Tommy Dreamer, D-Von Dudley, Bill Demott, Little Guido, former ECW star Angel, Nana, Matt Striker, P.J. Friedman, the late Ted Petty and Alex Rizzo as well.

And no Sean my training was nothing like that on Tough Enough. There were no Navigators taking me to and from the mansion to the state of the art training facility, and there were no chauffeured limo trips to WWE events and different countries instead there was $40 per trip worth of transportation from Upstate/Staten Island to Brooklyn in the snow, rain what have you. And I train in a ring that changes like the weather, some days you can only bump in one side because a board or four is out of place and the feeling of bumping on an out of place board resembles that of a bump on a pitching rubber or the neighboring boxing rings. But I wouldn't give up the PRICELESS training that I received from Johnny in and out of the ring, and the others that have graced the Gleason’s ring for anything in the world.

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

Arson: I was always a heel follower in case my wrestling doesn’t show that lol, but I enjoyed watching every Saturday morning and evening religiously and even On Tuesday nights sometimes on fuzzy channel 41 or 47 Spanish networks. My favorite wrestler was and still is Ric Flair. A close second is HHH. Others with honorable mention were Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, Superstar Billy Graham, Jake Roberts, Roddy Piper, Paul Orndorff, Big John Studd, “Strongman” Ken Patera, Slick, “The Magnificent One” Don Muraco, Bruiser Brody and Ox Baker pics from the magazines, the Hart Foundation, The Samoans. I HATED Hulk Hogan with a passion until he turned heel and I still believe that’s when he was at his best (WCW NWO days), I also wasn’t a big fan of Andre the Giant, the man never took care of himself, and I particularly enjoyed the angles with him losing his hair, The Maple leaf Gardens cracked sternum by Bundy incident, that reminds of one of the greatest Hogan memories when Muraco held his legs while Bundymania splashed away and filled Providence on Saturday Nights Main Event!!! .

The MiC: How did you get involved with the Blackhearts hotline?

Arson: Well I was working a job at ESPN and this guy named GUY told me about the hotline and said to give it a call so I did and that’s when I heard Uncle Zombie calling for anyone to introduce themselves by buying him a beer at the Elks obviously back in his drinking days so I was drinking beers and I saw this crazy looking fucker with a confederate flag bandana on so that night we drank some beers and he and I just clicked came from similar backgrounds and the rest was history. I didn’t become an on air personality until his spontaneously charismatic partner Brian Damage took a job at shadow traffic thus taking up a few of his nights. It’s a wonderful family we all get along so well. At the last ICW show Anthony “The Funker” debuted the Blackheart T- Shirt which did very well for the amount of people that showed we sold about 20 shirts and from what I hear he just ordered more today BUY THE SHIRT!!!! Oh Sorry Sean we’ll save that for later lol!!

The MiC: What do you have to say about message board haters, who go out of their way to insult you?

Arson: KEEP IT COMING, I love it when you all talk about ME When a guy who isn’t booked in main events or in SOME CASES NOT EVEN BOOKED, or the “upper echelon” of your card and gets more heat than your “so called” heels and “so called” top talent than you really need to ask yourself why your losing money or barely getting a 100 people in the building and should go thru a major reevaluation of your fed. And people, and haters alike can say what they want about the message boards but the reality is is that EVERYONE who is ANYONE in OUR GAME reads them only a select FEW have the BALLS to admit it though or POST UNDER THEIR REAL NAMES like yours truly and that upsets me but what can you do not everyone can be me and vice versa.

The MiC: What do you have to say about the Masked Maniac minute, where you're a topic of conversation?

Arson: Fine with me as long as he doesn’t have any fantasy that he’ll ever pull my pants down or any foolishness like that. He can say what he’d like, he does his thing, I’m not scared of him, but one person I’d never want to cross is that evil, sadistic partner of his the Masked Willy Maniac.

The MiC: Many including myself, think your match with Reefer at the 3/15 ICW show was your best match. But, what do you think has been your best match so far?

Arson: Well of course it was the best you’ve seen of me so far, that’s the only time since I believe you’ve been going to these shows and updating your site that someone has given me the opportunity to do something mano y mano in a singles match where I belong. Reefer is excellent and it just flowed, the kid has poise and is definitely on his way in this business and I have nothing but love for him. I mean I’ve had good matches vs Kid Kruel , Striker, but my favorite probably was the one vs Kid Kruel on 4-26-01 ICW because it was in the Elks , Kruel is one of the better indy talents today that knows how to work and when I say that I mean if we call 3 spots that’s a lot we just fed off of each other and it went real smooth. Unfortunately most guys today put together five act broadway spectacles that they call wrestling matches and its gotta be done step by step and then once theirs a fuckup it’s obvious! you can see it, as a fan I’d be pissed after paying money to see a ballerina act.

The MiC: Being an indy fan, I see alot of good wrestlers. I honestly think you are one of the underrated wrestlers. Do you feel that you are underrated? And if you are, how do you think you can be used?

Arson: Well I appreciate your candor Sean. Yes!!! Resoundingly I think I’m one of the most underrated indy stars today, partly my fault and partly the fault of the bookers I’ve worked for so far . My fault because I haven’t really sent my tape out to anybody because I don’t have a car right now and NOBODY is opening the door to their car offering Tim Arson a ride to the next show in Bumblefuck ,NJ,PA,CT, or DE, and anytime I would ask someone for a ride to a show I get the ol’ rigamarole of whose cars full and who’s gotta go here first and Matt Striker offering oral sex to let him drive me , and this and that I’m sure you get the picture. I hate asking people for rides but definitely in the next 2 months that should change as I will be back on the road again going places that I never beennnnnn. And part 2 of the question is that Frank and Jac haven’t seen me as somebody who can be number one in their promotion, they don’t feel I’m worthy of working the almighty Xavierrrrrr or Red or any of the former ECW talent for that matter, to them I say shame on you but you never know maybe someday they’ll change the way they feel cause I sure love proving people wrong and of course being the bad guy.

The MiC: What indy promotions do you like working for? What indy promotions don't you like working for?

Arson: I enjoy working everywhere I go just about, honestly I cannot say I’ve been treated inhumane at any one show, I don’t have any problems backstage with anybody except when I’m changing in a crowded locker room and I catch Matt Striker staring at me from across the room I feel a bit funny then but when I catch him he looks away and I just figure to myself that he wasn’t looking at me that way then I just hurry up and get dressed and leave. lol

The MiC: What would be your dream match?

Arson: I would love to face Ric Flair, who doesn’t? I would also love to face Ricky Steamboat I think he was the best at getting heels over and was one of the best ever. But as a dream match I would want to face Hunter just because of my admiration for what he has accomplished and the different styles that he has acquired from guys that I grew up watching as well. And I’m sure everyone out there would want to see that as well being as my close comparison to Hunter.

Word association:

Frank Goodman: Should do a better job with me but a fair and square businessman, standup guy, good dad, and a family man………… oh but don’t forget to pay his wife at the door lol!!!

Masked Maniac: Sick bastard, suffers from dyslexia confusing his waist size with his neck size and wears ugly Hawaiian shorts, and loves seeing pee pees of smelly guys.

Ricky O: Worked for him once about 3 weeks ago, was cool to me, hopefully I’ll get to start working there regularly being that it is so close to my house where he normally runs.

Jac Sabboth: Always paid me but I feel he lets others get in his ear too much or at least that’s how he used to be from what I hear but we’ll see how he does now, I still have unfinished business with him though.

Blackheart: Only a special breed can be considered Blackhearts. BUY THE SHIRT!!!

Mike Zevon: Awesome dude, I really think he wanted to use me better when he was writing for Frank but unfortunately….well fortunately now we can just be drinking buddies at shows!! He reminds me of my cousin Rocco.

Message Board Haters: Probably a lot are the same ones that shake my hand backstage or in the crowd but like I said earlier KEEP IT COMING cause without you guys I wouldn’t have as much drive to piss people off and you keep me fresh and witty.

Ms. Sinful: Very nice woman, a sweetheart, and I am proud to say that I broke her into to USAPRO and the business for that matter now that she is working for Gino and on TV up there in Jersey I’m very happy for her and wish her nothing but the best.

Becky Bayless: I never really talked with her too much but she seemed to get upset when I asked her for a piece of gum, I don’t think she thought I was worthy to ask someone of her stature for a piece of gum oh well she has a good look though.

Lex Luger: A real shame.

Fat Frank: I do not know the man, he has a strong promotion and I will definitely be sending him my tape soon or I’ll go to a show to see if he can use me.

Matt Striker: Natural charisma, he started training a lil bit before me , has me rolling when he does the eighties gimmick type of character, wish I had more of a chance to train with him more often.

Ticket Sellers: Should not be relied on so heavily but I know they are needed to make money for the house, so I can’t knock anyone’s need to make money and for the most part they are not well trained and if they are they won’t be a ticket seller for long so everyone’s happy The promoter, Mom, Dad and FAT Aunt Mary too can see their Precious Billy wrestling in front of a crowd awwwwwwwwwwww….

Livewyre: Has an excellent look, sort of Tazish, as a person I wish there were 30 Livewire’s in the lockerroom because he is a genuinely good person and you can’t gimmick that.

Danny Demanto: Sausage fingers is alright, I feel he needs some more in ring training and out of ring training as well but that comes with experience, but definitely not a bad guy especially when he reminds me to take my PROOOTEEINN.

Harry Slash: Has wildflowers of creativity growing in his mind for the business and storylines even though he has also procrastinated with my progression in ICW too. But we’ll see what the future holds .

Josh Deely: Has become a cult hero in USAPRO, from what I hear everyone wants to work him now. My favorite Josh Deely moment was the USA show before last in that 80 team tag team match extravaganza that we all were treated too when he was eliminated with Trekkie he flailed his arms like a lil fat kid who couldn’t get an ice cream off the Good Humor truck and it was soooooooooooo fucking hilarious to me.

Los Problemas: They look verrrrrrrrrrrryy familiar and I’m gonna get to the bottom of it !

Grim Reefer: One of my best wrestler friends, he’s real and you don’t have to worry about a thing and he has TRADEMARK STUFF in the ring which is a good thing and should serve as a lesson to some of you cruiserweights out there that think you have to REINVENT THE WHEEL EVERYTIME OUT. The only thing with Reefer I can’t figure out is that he always looks so damn tired like he hasn’t slept or something but he’s happy so whatever lol.

DRS: My boys fellow Corazon de Negros!! amigos!! Enough with my Spanish Jargon!!LOL! What can you say they’ve took the local indy scene by storm, they have more gold than the Federal Reserve and they are on point with everything you need to be awesome classic heels facials, bumps, and aggressiveness and are definitely the CREAM OF THE TAG TEAM INDY CROP.

Vince Russo: Don’t know him, but feel he tried to hard to be over the top.

Vince McMahon: GENIUS

Internet Reporters: Don’t mind them at all, I feel they always keep the WRESTLING STEW POT hot and brewing whether people are watching or not and without you guys at DOI where would an underutilized individual such as myself be able to speak his mind.

Declaration of Independents: Again without you guys where would I be. Oh and where the fuck is my picture!!!!!!??????

Tim Arson: A student of the game who continues to learn on a day in day out basis in and out of the ring. A man who has given his all to this business and will continue to until his dying days. A man who cannot be stopped from accomplishing his goals and will stop at nothing to get to where he has to go. A good hearted person who has made mistakes but is man enough to admit when he does. A man who doesn’t hold his tongue when wronged.

The MiC: What people in wrestling have pissed you off and why?

Arson: Well Jac Sabboth pissed me off last Friday when I showed up at the Elks after losing a half a days pay at work, going thru changes in traffic worrying about making it on time to be there only to find out that I wasn’t booked on a show that I was previously told I would be and a show that definitely could have used me.

The MiC: Do you think shooting hard on the Blackheart hotline will affect your career?

Arson: Well yes actually I think it’ll affect my career, hopefully they’ll get their heads out of their asses and realize that they have a talent and a hard worker in Tim Arson and they’ll stop playing around with me and book me properly if not I go elsewhere wear gold myself or make someone else’s champion look like a champion and make them look dumb.

The MiC: What are your career goals?

Arson: At this point to remain healthy, and make it to the WWE, I’d also like to go to Japan and just travel everywhere.

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

Arson: I just want to thank DOI for giving me the opportunity to express myself and it was a pleasure to do this interview, See ya at the show Whatever you do be good at it and don’t let anyone or anything hold you back, when your better than the rest they don’t get upset when they down ya it just means they know your better too.. Call the Blackheart Sports Entertainment Hotline to hear Zombie, Damage and occasionally yours truly give you the news, including scandal gossip and rumor at (718)707-1122. BUY THE SHIRT!! BUY THE SHIRT!!! The Official Blackheart Shirt can be purchased at www.wrestling-news.com and also just go to the fucking site cause it’s the best wrestling site on the net !! And last but not least I just want to thank DOI for giving me the opportunity to express myself and it was a pleasure to do this interview, See ya at the show!!!!!

The MiC: Thanks for doing this interview.
Email the MiC at themic@sscwwrestling.com