Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: You got into the wrestling business training with Sonny Blaze. What was that like and what was going through your mind the whole time you were training?

Mikey Whipwreck: Well you're half right about me being trained by Sonny Blaze. There are only 3 things Sonny taught me:


1. How to act in a locker-room - come in say hello to everyone, take your bags find an open spot, sit down and shut up. This is something that most of these new kids need to learn. Too many of them come into the locker-room like they own the place and god forbid they might have to put somebody over.

2. Work the left side of the body.

3. Your job is to make your opponent look good first, then get yourself over. - Another thing new guys need to learn. Putting people and taking bumps is how I got over. The same thing with Tommy Dreamer. Another good example is RVD, yes his stuff looks real good and stiff (because it is) but if you notice he ALWAYS makes his opponents stuff look good and brutal.

As I was training though I had no ambitions of actually being a pro wrestler. Sonny always told me that I was too small and that I'd never get a match anywhere. he wouldn't even train me, my tuition was staying at the gym real late and mopping the floors and cleaning up the place. My buddy Stormin' Norman actually had the size at the time to make it and I would just train with him and a couple of other friends of ours and every now and then Chris Michaels and The Power Twins would come down. Working out with Chris was really cool because he would actually teach us and "work" with us. The Power Twins would just come down and really beat the crap out of us. I left the gym some nights after working with them with broken noses, busted lips, separated shoulders and shit like that.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: You have a very storied ECW career, becoming the first ECW Triple Crown Champion. What was it like winning championships in ECW? Was it like winning any other title? How did it feel knowing that Paul Heyman had enough faith in you to represent his company as World Heavyweight Champion?

Mikey Whipwreck: Well my first championship was the ECW Television Title and I have to admit I thought it was a rib until I actually had the belt in my hand. Guys always told me that my shocked facials while looking at the belt were great but I have to admit I was really surprised and shocked. I just remember thinking that I just accomplished more in 5 months in wrestling then the Power twins accomplished in years. Plus It was something I could through in my parents face who thought I was crazy and stupid for doing this "wrestling thing". After knowing I was winning the World Title I was really happy because my grandmother had passed away in the beginning of the month and she was the only one who would really support me at home. That plus having the respect of the entire locker-room was incredible. I knew my reign was going to be short but with Paul E giving me the ball for 2 months having faith in me to have good matches with Raven, Rey Mysterio, Steve Austin and Sandman. It was an honor. I mean I never would have thought I'd have the chance to wrestle Steve Austin and then for him to suggest putting me over was like a dream.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What was your favorite match that you ever had?

Mikey Whipwreck: My favorite match would have to be against Cactus Jack or with Tajiri against the FBI the second night in Hammerstein when we lost the belts.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: You won the ECW Tag Team titles with Cactus Jack. What was going through your mind when you won the tag belts with a legend?

Mikey Whipwreck: I thought that was a rib too. I saw Tod Gordon at the hotel before the show and he said Terry Funk wasn't coming in and that I was taking his place and teaming with Mick and winning the belts. I was like, "OK Tod whatever". Plus Mick was my idol and I remember saying to Taz that things like this don't happen to me. Well it happened.

A young Mikey Whipwreck

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: You had a long feud with The Sandman in ECW, that later trickled into WCW. Would you call Sandman your "most hated" opponent? What feuds did you enjoy in your career?

Mikey Whipwreck: My most hated opponent would either be Sandman or Little Guido. They are both fun to work with though.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What are your overall thoughts of ECW now that it's gone? What do you think could've been done to save it?

Mikey Whipwreck: ECW was revolutionary for the wrestling business. I'm not going to get into all the reasons because they are well documented. It was the greatest place to work and the locker-room was like a giant dysfunctional family. After some weekends the family hated each other and after some weekends the family was in great harmony. Other weekends the family looked like Vietnam. Real good times, especially the Vietnam times. What could have saved ECW was a little thing called bookkeeping. I swear that sometimes Paul would have attendance figures written on paper napkins. It was a miracle we survived as long as we did.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: Besides typing out interview answers, what is the number 1 thing that pisses you off about the wrestling business?

Mikey Whipwreck: Any wrestling company that thinks they are just like ECW and every promoter that thinks he's Vince McMahon.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: You had a short lived WCW career where you really didn't get a shot to show what you could do, even after having a great match with Billy Kidman. What are your overall thoughts about working for WCW? What was it like there?

Mikey Whipwreck: Working for WCW was the drizzling shits. I came in Stole the Show with Kidman and I got buried for it because certain old guys couldn't follow it up. I had maybe 10 matches the entire year and I made more then $12,000.00 a match. I was like a paid vacation. A shitty Vacation but it allowed my body to heal up and When I came back to ECW it gave my body the chance to go another 1 1/2 years working good solid matches.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: For the record, Eric Bischoff is a.... (fill in the blank)

Mikey Whipwreck: Mark for the WWF's top guys from the 80's and early 90's

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What was it like working in the Elks Lodge during...
ECW?
USA Pro?
ICW?

Mikey Whipwreck: ECW - It had an atmosphere like no other building in the country. I hated the building itself but the crowd really made up for it.
ICW - ICW was the first time I worked the Elks after ECW closed and the atmosphere wasn't there and I hated the building a little more.
USAPro - They had better atmosphere there but it became just another building at this point. All the Magic was gone. I really hated the building at this point and I never want to go to Queens Blvd. Again.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: In early 2001, ECW and WCW were both done, and later on, property of the WWE. Have you ever had any talks with the WWE about entering? What are your thoughts about WWE owning all of your ECW footage?

Mikey Whipwreck: I spoke with the WWE briefly in 2001 but there was no way my body could take the 4-5 days wrestling schedule. I think the WWE owning the ECW footage is good and bad. WWE can take that footage and put in on their own video's and DVD's and maybe their fans can get a taste of what ECW was about and it will keep the ECW name going around forever. The bad part is None of the guys are going to get paid for it so it.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: In October of 2001, you wrestled your "retirement" match, by beating Little Guido. Did you ever think you would come out of retirement? Do you feel there is such a true thing as retirement in wrestling with all the comebacks such as Hogan, Flair, Michaels and now even your ECW Tag Team Champion partner, Mick Foley?

Mikey Whipwreck: I really did think I would stay retired but after wrestling for so long you start to go crazy sitting home and it's also what Roddy Piper calls "The Sickness". This business gets in your blood and it's very hard to go back to a "normal" life after wrestling.

A Natural picture of Mikey

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: You have made a few appearances wrestling for Ring of Honor. What are your thoughts about the Ring of Honor promotion, and what do you think needs to be done to keep ROH successful? What do you think can hurt them?

Mikey Whipwreck: I really like the ROH product as a whole. You have strong style, Lucha, traditional pro wrestling and hardcore wrestling. I think that as long as they don't try and get too big too fast they will be fine and they seem to be expanding at a good pace. Their roster is incredible and the only thing I can see them lacking in would be their production. Also they have to be careful to put a balanced mix of all their styles to keep one style from seeming more important than the others.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: You have seemingly worked for almost every NY indy fed in recent years. What has been your favorite indy promotion to work for?

Mikey Whipwreck: I really like working for NYWC. they have all young guys who are working hard to make the company successful. They don't really have any big names on their shows and are drawing 300 consistently. I know other promotions draw more people but for a group only 1 year old they are doing great. Word Association

Paul Heyman
- Great wrestling mind but not a good CEO.

Vince McMahon
- Ruthless and by far the best promoter in wrestling history

Eric Bischoff
- Right place at the right time

Vince Russo
- I think he's overrated

Jeff Jarrett
- Never got the big push he should have gotten in the WWE

Jasmin St Claire
- an example of someone who needs to learn to keep their mouth shut

Blue Meanie
- Very funny and more talented then he gets to show

Rob Feinstein
- made a lot of money off the boys

Jac Sabboth
- tried hard but just wasn't cut out for promoting

John Curse
- first House of Hardcore student, has a good thing going with NYWC, needs to be more Assertive

Frank Goodman
- puts on good shows (except for ticket sellers) but are a bit too long for my taste

Tyler Payne
- He has a very good idea of what's going on for a guy so young

Dickie Rodz
- needs to get a little bit of self confidence

Low Ki
- Intense and one of the hardest workers I've ever seen. Excellent in the ring and out

Guillotine Legrande
- Very talented, what he lacks in execution he makes up for with psychology and mic work

Steve Corino
- right place at the right time, took the ball and ran with it

Sandman
- what you see is what you get, really knows his stuff. Should be a booker somewhere

Justin Credible
- great guy and very fun to work with

James Vandenburg
- This guy should have a job in the WWE already, what the hell is Vince thinking

Cactus Jack
- The MAN. Nicest guy, best promo's ever, taught me more then I ever deserved to know and really took care of me when I was just starting out. I owe him beyond what could possible ever be paid

Steve Austin
- Funny as hell and what a great worker

Terry Funk
- Terry defines the term "longevity" who would have thought he would be instrumental in the new style of professional wrestling with ECW

Billy Kidman
- underutilized, though he seems to lack Charisma

Raven
- greatest wrestling and non wrestling mind I've ever seen witnessed. The master of the Jedi mind trick

Girls in the wrestling business
- If they can wrestle great, if not go away. Unless their naked of course

Road Trips
- With the right people they are great (i.e.: raven, sandman, Vandenburg) with the wrong people very painful (i.e.: Jeff Jones, SAT, Wayne driving)

Deaths in wrestling
- They suck, I just wish guys could get their act together before it's too late

Wrestling fans
- I like the respectful ones. I hate the ones that think they know everything and like to talk about workrate. Just watch the damn show already and enjoy yourself

Dan Barry
- Ultra talented, needs new ring gear

Wayne aka "The Convience Store Guy"
- Works very hard but he needs to find his niche. He's got the ability to do so much more then he's doing now

Tara Charisma
- Very sweet and very very very tough. I've seen Tom Marquez do thins to her in the ring that have made much bigger guys quit and never come back

SAT
- Unlimited potential but their mouth and lack of discretion get them in trouble. They've not only burned a few bridges they've blown them up

Red
- Going to make his comeback and be the best cruiserweight in the biz. I hope.

Solution
- Good guys but they need to decide what they want and go for it. I love John Shane

DRS
- Very talented but they talk to much and it seems they believe their own hype.

Deranged
- I love that kid. he had my back one time and stood up about it and said what was on his mind to someone who could have squashed him like a bug.

Mega
- needs to get out more and realize he's 6 foot 7 and not 6 foot 2

Bastion Booger
- he's fat, excellent finishing move

Giant Gonzales
- he's big, terrible finisher

Declaration of Independents
- great place to find out all the scoops on indy wrestling and they are doing a great job of covering the promotions that none of the other "top" sites will cover.

Mikey Whipwreck
- Chubby crippled guy who is past his best years in the ring but still tries to be entertaining and have a good time. I think if he really wanted to he could still go out there and have an excellent match with anybody

Mikey during his WCW days

Mikey Whipwreck: I touched on NYWC earlier but I think they can survive as a decent promotion that is a nice alternative to the WWE for local fans

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What are the pros and cons of NYWC?

Mikey Whipwreck: Pros are:
young hungry talent
young talented talent
decent fan base
cheap tickets compared to others
Cons are:
limited budget
people like to talk to the wrong people
too many Indians thinking they are the chief

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What is it like working for USA Pro Wrestling and holding their tag team title with Wayne? If you could change one thing about it, what would it be?

Mikey Whipwreck: It's great teaming with Wayne because it gives me the chance to teach him in the environment he needs to be taught in and that's in front of a live crowd. If I could change one thing it would be putting us on early so we didn't have to leave the building at 2 am every show.

Mikey after watching RAW

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: If you were booking the WWE, what would be 3 immediate changes you would make, if any?

Mikey Whipwreck: 1. Change the entire format of RAW, it's been the same thing for years now and it's boring.
2. Stop giving the same matches all the time, who want to buy a PPV seeing the same matches we get on raw and smackdown
3. Stop shoving guys that are not over down our throats and star pushing guys people actually like, for example Matt Hardy

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: You have had many career highlights. Is there anything else left to accomplish?

Mikey Whipwreck: I've accomplished everything I've ever wanted to accomplish. I would like to have one more tag team match with Tajiri against the FBI

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What do you want to say to anyone reading this?

Mikey Whipwreck: I'd like to say thanks to everybody who's ever supported me and for those that haven't, I have found great joy in the fact that you had to watch me on TV every week. Also if you get a chance, check out NYWC. Their website is www.nywcwrestling.com. I gotta have a little more cowbell. This time Gene, explore the studio space, really, explore the space.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: Thanks for doing this interview and for the Blue Oyster Cult reference.