Picture Credit, Nick Verona, www.nywcwrestling.com
What up boys and girls, and welcome to the first McInterview to the DOI RELAUNCH. Today I present to you, Tyler Payne. Tyler Payne is an athletically gifted wrestler, and relies on his wrestling ability more than anything else. He is trying to bring back the old school back into wrestling. Tyler has been the butt of many jokes I have made on this site, which really stemmed from the McReview of the last NYWC show. Want a refresher?
NYWC McReview 8/16
Well everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and if we ever say anything that is not agreed or bold, we will always give that person a chance to defend it. Tyler was kind enough to address the “Tripe H Conspiracy”, tattoos, but more importantly, his career and his wrestling.
Check out this one of a kind DOI only interview with the NYWC World Heavyweight Champion below. It is 100% unedited. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: How did you get into pro wrestling, and what was your training like?
Tyler “No Highspots Needed” Payne: Like everyone else who is in this business, I grew up on watching wrestling. When Hogan bodyslammed Andre the Giant I was hooked, my Mom bought me the Hulk Hogan Barbell/Casette Workout Set and I started my training then...in all seriousness, I found a flyer for Critical Mass on my car after the last Nitro at the Nassau Coliseum, decided to call and see what it was about, the rest is history. The first 3 months of training were the best, in my opinion, the first 4 students- Brock Vendetta, Dicky Rodz, Myself, and somebody who quit (Tek) all learned to bump on an unforgiving dojo floor, and I kinda liked it that way anyway, I wasn't in a rush, I just wanted to learn anything and I was happy to be apart of it.
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: You are a fixture in the NYWC. What is it like working for NYWC compared to other promotions?
Tyler “No Highspots Needed” Payne: We have a great group of guys in the NYWC, a great lockeroom, where we weed out any potential problem characters. Unlike many other federations, that tell you what direction your character is going, should be like, and is, the NYWC gives workers an outline for what we want, with the rest being filled in by the workers themselves. Wrestling is supposed to be fun and the NYWC keeps it that way. Each NYWC show is a collaborated effort.
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What is it about the Critical Mass Wrestling school that turns out great technically sound wrestlers such as yourself, Johnny Ova, Dan Barry, Livewyre, etc.?
Tyler “No Highspots Needed” Payne: What the Critical Mass Wrestling School comes down to is, like the NYWC, it's a great environment to be in. Critical Mass is not a school where you have to worry about getting a broken nose or a concussion, for absurd reasons, by trainers who feel it is the only way for students to pay their dues. ALL Critical Mass students know the importance of respect for the business, above all else.
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: Some criticism was given by some fans, including myself, that you were all over the last NYWC show, earning the "Triple H" nickname. How do you respond to such criticism and what were your feelings when you realized you were going to be all over the show?
Tyler “No Highspots Needed” Payne: I'll explain this as much as I can without giving away too much backstage business. The man (who will remain nameless) who was chosen to be the man to carry the NYWC backed out on us last minute, leaving somewhat of a predicament for the Tournament being 2 weeks away. Above all, we knew (and by we, I mean Curse, Rodz, and Myself) that the NYWC needed somebody it could depend on being there to defend every month. Options were written out, all of which either fell through or were not agreed on by all. Curse brought up the idea of putting the strap on me, which initially I was not happy about for numerous reasons, the main reason I was more focused on the newly formed No Highspots Needed with partner Ru Star. An angle was already previously setup for myself in the Special Stipulation Tag Match when I teamed with Havok from The Solution. The Booking Committee voted I was the best solution to the NYWC Title situation and I had to prepare for a night of 4 matches. Honestly, around match 3 I was sick of myself, but any real wrestling critic would've realized that in a tournament when a man advances it means he will be out for more. When I was a face, you (The Mic) had no bad things to say, I guess that means I must be doing something right if I can make everybody hate me with one heel turn. In the end, I did what was asked of me, for the better of the fed and not for my own selfish reasons, something I wouldn't expect critics to understand without having to explain myself.
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: Rumor time .Do you carry around a sledgehammer to shows? Is it true you spit water all over the place at wrestling shows?
Tyler “No Highspots Needed” Payne: Another example of how unintelligent and unprofessional these interviews can be, but I'll play along because I do have a sense of humor....the only sledgehammer I carry around is in my pants and I only spit water on net writers who ask stupid questions. ZIP!
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: You have recently worked for JCW, among other feds, such as ECWA. What is it like working for JCW and ECWA?
Tyler “No Highspots Needed” Payne: JCW was fun, but my home away from home is ECWA. Jim Kettner is a wrestling genius and I learn from him every time we talk. If I learn as much about the business as he has forgotten I will be happy. Yeah, Kevin Kelly is alright, too...haha BOOOO!
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What do you think has been the best match in your career?
Tyler “No Highspots Needed” Payne: I can't really pick one, but I have had my best matches with LiveWyre, Dicky Rodz, Mike Mayhem, Tony Burma, Johnny Ova, and ironically- my partner Ru Star.
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What is with the tattoo on the small of your back? Do you feel that it looks like a tattoo a stripper might have?
Tyler “No Highspots Needed” Payne: The Mic must wake up in the morning and say to himself... "I really am witty for a 25 year old virgin!"...I saw the tattoo on your Mamma's back while I was taggin' her from behind, it means BADMOTHERF'R (this interview is rated PG) in Chinese...I guess we all can't be as cool as The Mic, proudly wearing White Trash Heineken tattoos.
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: Ru Star and yourself are a great wrestling tag team. Your team name is very appropriate. Where did the "No High Spots Needed" tag team come from, and is it a tribute to Chris "No Gimmicks Needed" Candido?
Tyler “No Highspots Needed” Payne: Well, you see Chris Candido had the moniker "No Gimmicks Needed" meaning that he did not need to act or look a certain way to get himself over, he just let himself shine through. Our moniker (is this too big of a word for you Mic?) means something entirely different. We want to do something that almost no one on the independent scene wants to do today, which is wrestle and not do eight million backflips and spots. All "No Highspots Needed" means is that we plan to contribute to this business by doing something different, which is keeping ourselves grounded in battle and not giving into the gymnastic Olympics that indy wrestling is today. To say that you don't like No Highspots Needed, is to say that you don't like the WWF/NWA/AWA 80's wrestling we all grew up on.
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: Do you have any prematch superstitions?
Tyler “No Highspots Needed” Payne: I stretch and drink a refreshing can of YJ Stinger.
Word Association
John Curse- The Sheriff...don't get too close, his Dragon Breath is fierce!
Greg Stengel- Eats more McDonald's than anybody I know.
Crusher Doogan- Bald is beautiful.
Frank Goodman- Smart, but shrewd businessman.
Jim Kettner- Indy Wrestling's Greatest Success Story.
Johnny Ova- Eat some food.
Livewyre- A Wrestling Prodigy, I am so proud of him, can't wait to see him on RAW/Smackdown!
Dan Barry- My Favorite Wrestler, leader of Bellmore's Most Wanted.
Solution- The White Hit Squad.
Nuke- A young Vader in the making.
Southern Vinny Stylin'- Never fails to get heat.
Spyder- Was probably a seamstress in his former life.
Jay Lethal- Mr. J-Cup '03...nobody deserved it more- Congrats!
Rob Eckos- Unbelievable!
Mason Raige- Untapped Potential....a great friend who in a short time will make a LiveWyre-esque impact in this sport.
Tony Burma- A great, loyal friend I know I can depend on...The Pimp of all Pimps! ZIP!
Dickie Rodz- My Arch Rival....not gay enough...JK
Matt Hype- Along w/ Tony Burma and Mason Raige, The Future of the NYWC.
Wayne/Mikey Whipwreck- I marked for the Roxbury.
Ken Scampi- The Human Wreckin' Machine Ken Scampi.
Vince McMahon- Hopefully, my future boss.
Stephanie McMahon- Tell me you wouldn't bang her to get ahead?
Triple H- My new role model....Cannot be blamed for the state of the WWE today, he was on top well before he was on top of Stephanie, he is the classic bad guy. Everybody is a Flair mark in one way or another, he just makes it more known. I don't mind being compared to Triple H, he is a star, and is a man whom I share the same kind of passion for this sport with.
Slingblade Carl- A real net writer (unlike The Mic) who takes notes (unlike The Mic), watches the whole show (unlike The Mic), doesn't get sloshed posting inaccurate results(unlike The Mic), and is professional (unlike The Mic- get the point?)
Bastion Booger- 2 words...Atkin's Diet.
Giant Gonzales- Love the suit.
Ru Star- Along with myself, should've been wrestling in the 80's....Ru has a great wrestling mind.
Tyler Payne- 3 words...No Highspots Needed!!
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What are your short term and long term career goals?
Tyler “No Highspots Needed” Payne: I believe in the NYWC product and want to do everything in my power to make it a wrestling juggernaut, I put both the schools' and feds' needs ahead of mine in hopes of making it succeed.
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What do you think about the current state of wrestling? Indy wrestling?
Tyler “No Highspots Needed” Payne: Both WWE TV and the Indies need to go back to the old school way. Wrestling in the 70's and 80's RULES!
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What's a normal day in the life of Tyler Payne?
Tyler “No Highspots Needed” Payne: Tyler Payne has no life between college, work, the gym, and Critical Mass.
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What do you want to say to anyone reading this?
Tyler “No Highspots Needed” Payne: NYWC is the NEW WAVE of professional wrestling, I pity the fool who hasn't seen an NYWC Rampage show!! What are you waiting for?? Where else can you see a wrestling show in NY for just $10!?! Nowhere, that's where...check out WWW.NYWCWRESTLING.COM for more information
Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: Thanks for the interview and not hitting me with a sledgehammer.
