What up DOIites, and welcome to a special DOI Interview, conducted by staff member Adam Dolan. In this interview, Adam talks to Spider, who is a regular on Connecticut indies. Check out the following to learn more about Spider.

Adam Dolan: When did you first become a wrestling fan? What wrestlers or federations did you watch?

Spider: It had to be 2nd grade. A buddy of mine brought the Ax and Smash wrestling action figures into school and I thought they were so cool looking, so I started watching. I love Bret Hart's stuff. He's always been an influence. The late Curt Hennig and the Rockers were big influences as well.

Adam Dolan: When and why did you decide to take it to the next level and become a pro wrestler yourself?

Spider: It was actually because one of my good friends, aka the Scottish Gigolo, had started training at USA Pro Wrestling School. I loved wrestling so I tagged along and helped setup the ring and stuff. Then I was given the chance to be his bumbling manager, Stuart, so I jumped at that opportunity. Then I realized I wanted to DO what I watched him do at every event. So I began training in May 2002 and here I am.

Adam Dolan: Where did you train? Can you describe what the training was like?

Spider: I trained at USA Pro Wrestling School in West Haven, CT. I'll be honest, the training was way harder than I thought it would be. I was sore all the time (I still am sometimes) and there were days when I couldn't get out of bed, literally. It was very strenuous, but as they say hard work has paid off.

Adam Dolan: Do you continue to train? Why or why not?

Spider: Yes, I train regularly. If you don't, you lose your edge. Your wrestling training never really stops. Every match you have you should learn something from, even the crappy ones. For instance this past match I had with Mike Quackenbush, I learned I need to work on my endurance. hehe.

Adam Dolan: Who are your role models in the wrestling business?

Spider: Mike Quackenbush has always been one of my role models, especially on the indy scene. I saw a show with him in like 98 called Break the Barrier in the old ECW Arena and his match was awesome. At the time he was a really small guy. So that gave me hope that I could do it. Bret Hart is a big role model, as is Kurt Angle.

Adam Dolan: How did you come up with the name Spider? Is it a takeoff on the “Spider” character from Goodfellas, or am I totally out in left field?

Spider: Yeah, totally left field. hehe. I was setting up the ring for Fred Yale at the time and at this one show I was wearing a shirt with a big Spiderman logo on the front. So everyone who didn't know my name at the time was like "Spiderman, come here and do this." The name kinda stuck, but I didn't want to blatantly rip off Marvel comics, so I shortened it to Spider. I think it fits. I look and move like a Spider. hehe.

Adam Dolan: Does it bother you when people refer to or react to your youthful appearance? Do you ever get any negative reactions to it, or does it help you as a [pardon the expression] babyface?

Spider: Not at all. In fact most of the time, it's a good thing. Looking young helps me appeal to the younger fans I think. And a lot of people like cheering for the underdog, which I am, 9 times out of 10. When it does start to get on my nerves I just think, "When I'm 40 I'm gonna look like I'm 30 and YOU won't." haha. I take everything really light heartedly.

Adam Dolan: I see you on cards all over the place here in CT. What federations have you wrestled for? Or should I ask, are there any you HAVEN’T wrestled for?

Spider: hehe, the latter would probably be easier to answer, but let me run down the list anyways. I've worked for just about all promotions in CT at some point. ACW gave me my first couple of matches. Of course NAWF, which is my home fed. I would never miss one of their shows. I'm heavily involved in getting CCW back off the ground. I worked for PWA and XBoku when they were around. I think that's all of the CT based ones. I work a lot in Mass also.

Adam Dolan: What do you think went wrong with Xboku and PWA? Will we see either fed return in some form?

Spider: Ummm, definitely the booking problem. I don't wanna trash talk either of them because both feds treated me well. But how the hell can you run a show with Roadkill, Balls Mahoney, Justin Credible and a ton of name indy guys in a place that only holds 150 people TOPS and expect to make money?? You can't. Ultimately, that was PWA's demise. Similar situation with XBoku. But I think if more promotion had been done for their Terry Funk show, they would have at least broke even. I think PWA is officially dead and XBoku has at least one foot in the grave so to speak. But this is wrestling and you never know when one may pop back up. If either did, I would work there again, no problem.

Adam Dolan: Do you wrestle outside of the state, and if so where?

Spider: Yes. I wrestle a lot in Massachusettes. NWA: NE, SCCW, MWF, I will be working WWA the end of November and Power House Wrestling in December. I've branched out into New York as well. There's this new fed that I work for, Lucha Xtreme Wrestling that I would encourage any fan of either Lucha style or hardcore to check out. I've been down to WXW in PA once and I would love to go back.

Adam Dolan: Will we see the Spider vs J-Busta feud in USA Pro or WXW one day?

Spider: You just never know. I would love to. I'm just taking things one step at a time. I want to feel like I'm "ready" before I try and get on shows like USA Pro or ECWA or ROH or TNA. Busta has been making a name for himself in a lot of these places and I'm hoping when I'm ready I'll get a call from one or more of them. I would love to have the opportunity to work with all the talent that these feds have.

Adam Dolan: Without getting yourself in trouble, can you describe the good and/or not-so-good qualities of the various feds you’ve worked for? Or if you’d prefer, can you describe the plusses and minuses of the CT indy scene in general for those who aren’t familiar with it?

Spider: Well, overall, I think the CT scene is crappy, but it's not the feds' faults. Unfortunately, people don't want to come see indy wrestling anymore like they did 4 or 5 years ago. I think every CT fed has something to offer. ACW brings in a lot of old ECW guys and have great action for the hardcore fans. NAWF is more family oriented, but they bring in people that CT fans would never get the chance to see otherwise. This last show, they flew in Justice who is an amazing talent from Florida, and back in April they brought in the Fallen Angel, Christopher Daniels from California. So you just never know who will be on one of their shows next. Lastly, but certainly not least is CCW. I don't want to play favorites, but their product has something for everyone. They're do the hardcore stuff that NAWF doesn't have and they'll bring in high flying that ACW doesn't have. They're always open to new ideas and they always have surprises. If they keep going the way they're going, they will be HUGE.

Adam Dolan: A lot of people don’t know that in addition to being the NAWF TV champ, you are also the NAWF’s official webmaster. How did that come about? What are some of the challenges and rewards of running a site for an indy fed?

Spider: Well, I've done quite a few websites for indy wrestlers and feds alike. It is what I want to do as a career (in case this wrestling thing doesn't work out) and since I'm so involved in wrestling it makes sense that I do their sites. There really aren't too many benefits. Usually the time I put in far outweighs the small compensation I get, but it's two things I love so I don't mind.

Adam Dolan: What are your short and long term goals in the wrestling business?

Spider: Well, short term is just to be the absolute best I can be. Just to keep training and get better and better. Long term, I of course would jump at the opportunity to go to ROH or TNA or WWE, but realistically, few get to go to any of those. So I guess my long term goal is the same as the short. Just to be the best I can. If I get signed and show up every Monday or Thursday, cool. If I remain a "weekend warrior" for the rest of my career then so be it.

Adam Dolan: Thoughts on your recent match with Mike Quackenbush?

Spider: Where to begin?? I mean this guy was and is one of my heros. And he's been around for like 10 years so he knows infinitely more than I do. It was really just a dream come true. I was nervous as hell, but I think overall I put on a decent performance. I would jump at the chance to do it again. He gave me some excellent pointers and insight, so I think next time I would be more prepared for him.

Word association:

Vince McMahon:
Evil Genius

Vince Russo:
Killed WCW

WWE Tough Enough:
Rigged

ECW:
Awesome. My favorite fed of all time.

Ring Of Honor:
The best fed out there right now.

NWATNA:
The only fed on TV other than Vince.

“Smart marks”:
Nowadays, they far outnumber the normal marks

J-Busta
Excellent, I'm proud to say I trained with him.

Luis Ortiz;
New England's absolute best indy worker right now.

Krazy K:
Crazy-ass high flier. I would love to work him.

Xavier:
Intense.

Don Montoya:
Funny as hell.

Crash Holly:
He will be missed. He was one of those guys that was always entertaining every time you watched him.

Fred Yale:
Gave me a great opportunity.

Jason Knight:
Trying to keep the memory of ECW alive. Gave me my first match.

Snake Brody:
Spelling. Nice guy though.

Message boards:
Fun way to interact with wrestlers, but get out of hand and taken too seriously 90% of the time.

The DOI:
Awesome. Even more awesome now that my interview is here.

Adam Dolan: Any final words for your fans?

Spider: Thanks so much to each and every one of you. You've made it possible for me to live a dream and without you there would be no Spider. Thanks so much.

Adam Dolan: Thank you for taking the time to do this interview.

Spider: My pleasure.

Adam Dolan: Check out Spider’s online home at www.wrestlingspider.com