Stuart Allen better known as The Dominator has been the driving force behind EWW and an excellent wrestler for FWA and EWW respectively. He gives a lot back to wrestling through the training he gives to up and coming wannabe wrestlers and is only too happy to give up his time. This week I managed to catch up with him and talk to him about the two topics on everyone’s lips Revival and the future of EWW. The interview also uncovered some rather intriguing news.
What were your thoughts on Revival last Saturday and what was it like from the perspective of being involved with the event?
It was a good show all round. A good atmosphere backstage, as everyone was up for it. And to have Dynamite Kid backstage was inspirational, and an honour for me personally to meet him. It was great to be involved in something like that, because although we have seen others try and fail, like UWA, UCW and Wrestlexpress, this was the first time national exposure has been given to an established group. I will be surprised if Bravo don’t pick it up and give it a regular spot, because the quality of the wrestling was very strong. There were no angles to speak of on the night, but the show was a launch pad used to introduce the characters to the public who probably haven’t seen our British lads before.
What affect do you think Revival and the SWAT will have on the UK scene?
It has got off to the best start possible, and I hope the T.V audience figures in March do the event some justice. SWAT has the benefit of weekly exposure through Talksport on radio, and the listening figures for that channel are pretty huge. It is the last hope for British wrestling for a long time I think, because it is at its peak as far as popularity goes, and it won’t last forever.
One question on the lips of many wrestling fans is what is happening with Extreme World Warfare. Over the last two years it has been one of the most innovating wrestling promotions in the UK with brilliant events like “Scorched Earth” and “Castled”. What does 2002 have instore for EWW?
Castled was a big success, and we were happy to follow up a show like Scorched Earth with something as big as that. But it was just icing on the cake for us, almost like a celebration for all the hard work Jamie and I had put in throughout the year. We don’t run often, but when we do, we don’t run just a regular house show, we make it an event, because we pride ourselves in having creative minds unlike anybody else in the U.K scene. We have never considered EWW as competitors, because what we do is so totally different from the others. Our’s was always more of a show for everybody, not just wrestling fans.
But as for 2002, we have no plans for a follow up to Castled at this point. We have to concentrate our efforts into the school. The CPA has so many members since we started it back in 1999, and we have some great students who we owe our efforts to. The school has been very important to us, and 2002 will see another, more commercial training venture added to our list. Just look at our school and the FWA Academy, the CPA students that are coming out of these schools are of such quality that in three or four years, they will be the ones people will be watching. That makes us proud.
You are listed as being involved with a new promotion the Elite Wrestling Council can you tell us any more on your involvement with them or about the federation itself?
Am I? I wish they would have told me about it then. I’m sorry, but I’ve never heard of them until now.
Who would you say are your best friends in wrestling or closest associates?
Since I got back into the business in 1998 after a long lay off, I have made many close friends through EWW. I am lucky to have my fiancée Niki (Pleasure) travelling with me when I do shows, and that keeps me happy on the road. Jamie, my business partner is obviously a very good friend and my closest associate in the wrestling business, I wouldn’t have been doing the last three years of shows if we hadn’t met up. So he’s the one to blame! Jonny Storm has been a good friend since I met him back in 1998 at our first show, and I am proud to say that I am a big Jonny Storm mark! He is the best U.K performer I have seen live, and he is match of the night every night. His ‘Rewind Frankensteiner’ at Revival was beautiful. Stevie Knight and I go a long way back too, and he is a top man, and a great heel. Funniest guy though has to be Chris Manns (Flatliner), he is the biggest pisstaker in the business, and has had me literally in tears of laughter on many occasion, which isn’t easy! I love it when people can make me laugh like that.
What would you say is your greatest moment or memory you have in all matches you have wrestled, and shows you have appeared on?
My matches with Fighting Spirit were always my favourites, because he had a similar style to me, and was up for doing or taking anything. It was also the height of our feud and the heat we got was always good. It’s a shame he retired, because we could have gone up a couple of notches. Also, working main event in Florida for Chris Carson against Frankie Capone in SCW was great. They ran the show around me, and had some awesome workers on it, so that was a nice touch for them to go to that trouble. Also, as I said, I won’t ever forget meeting Dynamite Kid the other night at Revival. Things like that don’t happen often.
You have been involved with the FWA for a while now could you see yourself upping your presence in the federation and headlining like we know you can?
My tag partner Tyrant had a setback just before Revival, which was a shame because we were just getting ready as The Overlords in the FWA. Just bad timing that’s all. I don’t know what they have in store for us for this year now. We’ll see.
Finally what does year 2002 hold for the Dominator?
If this year carries on like January, then it will be a good year. I have auditioned to be the Bodyguard to Halle Berry in the new Bond film, and I am working a tour in the North for Stevie Knight in early March. As for the rest of the year, Jamie and I will be putting a lot into our schools, and a lot of effort into producing talent for the future.
Cheers,
Stu
Click here to visit the Official website of the Dominator
Adam Sibley