As usual I will send out my shout outs and whatevers………….I have to thank Homicide for pushing me to try to get work down in IWA Puerto Rico because I am going down May 21-23 for my first tour……………I guess I should send some congrats to Dan Maff for going on his first tour the very next week to IWA:PR (May 27-30)………BUT I WONT!!!!!!…………..It is kind of ironic though that we are both going to Puerto Rico a week apart………..could the Wrestling Gods be trying to tell the world they want a DHS reunion????……………….like Triple H used to say 'Its my time now!!!"…………To my girl Jaz, One!!!!……………For years now I have read so many of the Low Ki 'haters" thoughts, yet it always seems that all those who hate, never have one solid point to prove…….try growing up with him, then I can understand you hating Low Ki………MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW…….….I have a quick confession, I just turned 25 last week and I thought I would be scared knowing that a third of my life is over, but I have to admit, I have been very blessed to have the family I have, the friends that I have met and to have the memories in my head that I have and to all those who have helped me in one way or another my life, I thank you…………..I'm RICH BIACH!!!!!!………….Guapo, YOU ARE THE MAN…………..DRIP, DRIP, DRIP…………Finally I just wanted to say that for the past 7 years, I have been known to everyone when I step in the ring as Monsta Mack. However with the current comatose state of the DHS portion of my wrestling life, I feel that Monsta Mack is a definite part of that coma. With that said, I want to look to the future and carve an etching in the stone that is wrestling under the name Steve Mack. While I was supposed to debut that name in ROH, it never happened so I have decided that I have a few more eyes watching me now, I can make this transition a bit smoother. I will only use the Monsta Mack name in Puerto Rico for now but when I wrestle anywhere else, Steve Mack is what I expect to see next "SUCKS!!!!"
I recently went to a CZW show with Homicide to check stuff out. I was pleasantly surprised with the setup and the backstage camaraderie and acceptance. Now to broaden the picture for you guys, I haven't been to a CZW show since 1999-2000. I don't really keep up with who comes and goes but I know who the core guys are. Also the last time I went to a CZW show, it was the time of weed whackers, glass panes, thumbtacks, scissors and barbedwire. Well for the uninitiated such as myself, times have changed down there. While there still are hardcore moments, wrestling is quickly becoming the attraction. Names such as B-Boy, Nick Gage, Messiah, Jimmy Rave, Roderick Strong, Alex Shelly, Dan Maff, Trent Acid, Chris Hero and Rukkus are solidifying and elevating the wrestling status of the Home of Ultraviolent Wrestling. Before they had opened the door, they ran a bunch of videos on the big screen over the entranceway. In a very classy move on John Zandigs part, he had ran a video which was dedicated to the ten year history of the Viking Hall (a.k.a. ECW Arena). What was so cool about it was that it included some of the most memorable moments in the buildings short but historic history. Another interesting tidbit is that the CZW fans are some of the most stubborn hardcore fans in the world. Often there are times where I have read about how difficult these fans are to please. Yet as I walked through the crowd during intermission and after the show, I was shocked to witness many of them had approached me as if I was one of their own and compliment me. A few had even asked me if I would wrestle for CZW and seemed pleased when I answered that I would if I were to ever get asked to do so. The show was really entertaining but if you are going to get the video tape of the May 1st show, I demand you watch the Teddy Hart-Homicide portion of the show. If you ever questioned the validity of wrestling, this altercation will leave you guessing. All I have to say is watch the headbutt. HOLY NOSEBLEED!!!!
I am not sure I should be admitting this but, I kinda have developed some respect for Teddy Hart. He has taking a lot of beatings from Homicide this year and it seems like things are starting to settle in his brain. However I myself am starting to realize that he is a lot more misunderstood than people seem to give him credit for. Now I am not saying everyone who ever had a problem with him should kiss and make up, but what I am saying is that there are two sides to every story. The only time I will say he was wrong was the ROH fiasco, but hey, people forgive and forget all the time. I will say this though, the T.H.S(Teddy Hart Security) at the JAPW show was awesome.
Which leads me to the April 24th JAPW show. It's no secret that growing up, Big Van Vader was a huge influence on my career. He's a big man who beat the hell out of everybody he faced in a very convincing fashion and did things, such as a picture perfect second rope moonsault, that made me want to wrestle like him. Over the years though, his sparkle had somewhat diminished in the eyes of the American pro wrestling fans mostly due to the fact that his stint in the WWF/E completely sucked. Let me be the first to tell you from first hand/forearm experience, that Mother FU**** hits HARD! Not only does he hit hard, he is extremely quick handed like a boxer. After trying to save E.C. Negro from eating the Chokeslam of Death(which I was too late for) He had me in the corner for his famous combination shots and the first two were hard enough but then he must have gotten excited by the growing roar of the crowd and next thing I know, I saw three rapid flashes in my head. I watched the tape at the Modtrom studio and he hit me 4 times in less than one second. Homicide watched this with me as I watched and the man who is very rarely shocked, got out of his seat and yelled "God Damn Boy, you got whipped by your daddy". Then there was the Vader Bomb. The only way I can describe it to you is this; you know when you do dips at the dip rack machine at the gym and you just hang there to crack your entire spine? Well I felt that as well as my ribs touch the canvas through my back as his four hundred and fifty pounds (Yes, I said 450lbs) of mammoth body came crashing down on to me. Needless to say I was sore for a few days after but you know what? I wouldn't trade it in for anything in the world. I know that the main event for the June 5th show has been set with Dan Maff and Samoa Joe teaming up to take on Vader and Mike Awesome, which should be a great match. If I had my way however, I would be Dan Maff's best friend for a show just to team up with him to take on Vader and one of my other influences who will be in town for an autograph signing, Stan 'The Lariat" Hansen. Of course as soon as the match is over, I would clothesline Dan Maff harder than the tree that stopped Sonny Bono, but it would be a match I could retire after. (Little known fact; although they were a very successful tag team in Japan, holding numerous titles, they have never once teamed in the States)
The last thing I wanted to touch on is Joey Matthews and 3PW. I wanted to applaud 3PW and its staff for recognizing and showing the wrestling world something many of us boys have known for a while. Joey Matthews can not only run with the ball if you give it to him, but he can lead your company no matter who is around him. Like him or not, Joey is one of the hardest working guys today bar none. I respect him and his ability in the ring tremendously but its his dedication to give the fans everything he has and not leave out any details that makes him an ultimate example of how to be a Professional Wrestler. I have mentioned it before but watch his matches with either Low Ki or AJ Styles from 3PW or his ROH stuff and you can see what I mean by he is a hard worker. In a business were it almost always seems that hard work is never rewarded, one of the good guys got some major props. When the three count was made as Joey had pinned the shoulders of the then champ, a.k.a. the Godfather of the ECW arena, Raven, and the announcement was made that Joey was the new champion, the crowd exploded and gave him a standing ovation. The only time I have heard that crowd louder was when Stevie Richards had given his emotional speech, but the decibel level when Joey had won the belt was very comparable. I see a very bright future for 3PW as long as young studs like Joey, Macho Man Matt Stryker, Rob Ekos, CJ O'Doyle, Mike Kruel, Roadkill and Damian Adams are given the ball. I am glad to be a part of that locker room.
Well that's it for now. I am not too sure when my next column will come but unlike the teeth in the head of all of the suspect on the TV show, Cops, I will be back. Just make sure to check out USA Pro on May 14th at Club Amazura in Queens, either 3PW on May 15th at the ECW Arena in Philly or JAPW on June 5th in Rahway or June 12th in Trenton New Jersey. I should be at all of those shows so holler at me and let me know what you thought of this column or anything else going on in your world. I won't bite, unless you are a girl. Watch for the eggnog on your face and Protect ya neck!!!!!!!!!
Monsta Mack