This week I had a chance to catch up with one of the UK Scene’s top stars and new columnist to Wrestling 101, Scott Future.
Scott, can you tell the Wrestling101 readers what you have been up to since the last time Wrestling101 caught up with you?
Sure. I think I spoke with you guys last on my return from a couple of dates in Texas, and since then I’ve been training hard, trying to get the diet right and working hard to progress. LA Muscle have adopted me as a sponsored athlete, which is great because it means I am flying the flag for all us wrestlers by being considered a legitimate athlete by such a large and respected company. It’s also given me exposure as they feature me on the main website http://www.Lamuscle.com and they keep the LA Muscle family of customers up to date with my career, plus they also featured me in the product catalogue with the other athletes which I am very thankful for.
I’ve wrestled in Ireland for the first time in 2002, and in 2003 have wrestled many dates across the UK. I also helped develop RBW into its current state and contributed on many levels, not least working to build a wrestling school that is now expanding.
I won my first title since we last spoke too, and was announced a couple of weeks ago in the ring as the youngest ever Mid-Heavyweight Champion, which if correct, is a great achievement.
Scott you are still very young, but have been involved with the wrestling industry for many years now, you have taken on many UK and International stars, who would you say your favourite opponent has been?
Well I made by debut at 18, and although it does seem like I’ve been around forever, I’m 24 now. I have had a great blessing to wrestle many top wrestlers. I think wrestling Lenny Lane in Iowa, and going over as a foreigner in his own country will always stick in my mind, not least because I learned a lot in that match about myself and the wrestling business and it’s one of those turning points you get. I have nothing but respect for Lenny. I always mention my match against Fast Eddie because its one of the few chances I have been given to wrestle a cruiserweight and show some agility… we did have a great match. Other wrestlers I have a lot of respect for include Johnny Kidd, Blondie Barratt as we have recently had some wars, and so many others I cant mention them all.
In your time overseas you studied at the infamous Hart family dungeon, could you just explain what it was like there and what you gained from the experience?
Sure, it turned out brief. I was there a very short time, but I experienced the Dungeon and am very pleased to be able to say that, especially since there has been talk of selling the property. I gained a lot of self-confidence upon my return and was aware of what I needed to work on. This was another one of those “turning points” definitely.
Sadly this year, the legendary Stu Hart passed away, while you were training at the Hart Family Dungeon did you have any dealings with Stu, and if so what was he like?
We had a good talk. A long conversation – just the two of us. He told me a lot about how he came through in wrestling, and about how things are today. He talked about aspirations for his children, and he told me some stories that are priceless. He gave me encouragement that I had the right look and the potential to go far with hard work. I’m working very hard. I think Stu is a pioneer in wrestling. I can’t be any more thankful that I had the chance to meet with him and if I take nothing else from Calgary it would be that experience.
Just going back a few years now, you were scheduled to be involved in the WrestleXpress event, but you never appeared on the card, what were your thoughts about the whole set up of the event?
From my point of view things were going very well until sometime in October when it all started to dissolve. I chose not to appear because A) I had a loyalty to those who’s bookings were not being honoured and B) I didn’t want to interfere too much with the new people who came on board to save the show but I did meet with Scott Conway at a later date and we had a chat about it, we even talked about me working for the TWA – but I’m up here in the Midlands and they like to use wrestlers from wherever they run shows, which was the South mostly. It’s a shame he didn’t come up to the North a little more because we would have worked something out. It wasn’t an easy time but I feel looking back it was the right thing to do.
During your time as a wrestler, have you had any more bad experiences with promoters?
Where do I start (laughs)… yes I have, but I’ve also had good experiences with promoters too so you have to take the rough with the smooth. All I can do is be professional and hard working and if there is any justice in the world that will be enough. I’m known for being professional and approachable and I don’t use the internet as a way of scoring points so Ill make like an American and take the 5th amendment. On the whole I don’t have too many problems because I am reliable and this goes along way in our line of work. I think most wrestlers would agree with that.
The biggest talking point within the UK Wrestling Scene is the proposed X Wrestling event in April, what do you think about this event, and do you think it can live up to all the hype?
I know very little about this, other than the first press release I read some time back. I did send them a message wishing them the best of luck because I think the UK needs something like that to really work. Being burned as I have, and many other wrestlers have, by the constant influx of “next big thing” promotions in the UK, I hope it does work out because the failures are setting wrestling back and damaging the fans trust. I wish then the very best and hope it all goes off very well.
You have stated previously that you were one of the first UK Wrestling stars to use the Internet as an effective way to advertise and provide information; do you think the Internet plays an important role in wrestling, particularly within the UK Scene?
Yes I do. Sadly the Internet has allowed for anonymous people, with no real wrestling education or knowledge, to sit behind a computer in a bedroom, and take to point scoring or grudge making. These people are the kind of people who wouldn’t say something to your face or mine, but would write an essay on the problems they have with me, or any other wrestler.
I think the positive aspect of forums and the Internet is it allows some monitoring of what real fans, who are the most important part of wrestling, actually want. These constructive criticisms are very helpful to people such as myself that like to make each match better, but when the criticisms become childish or baseless jibes against someone’s character its not helpful to any of us. The Internet, like when used in any other walk of life, is great for those who approach it with the right attitude.
More recently you have been involved with the RBW Promotion, can you explain how you are finding it?
Well as we speak I am coming to the end of my active run with RBW for now at least. In 2004 the wrestling school, which I have worked tirelessly on from day one, will be taken over by the very capable “Hardcore” Keith Myatt. I’ve had some great matches with RBW and some amazing feedback from fans who like old-school style technical wrestling which is coming back into fashion. I will always be apart of RBW however because I think they will attest that my contribution has helped create the expansion you are seeing.
When you made your debut for RBW, you took on UK Wrestling legend Johnny Kidd, how did it feel to be in a match like that?
I think its matches like that which keep me interested in wrestling. The buzz from knowing you went toe-to-toe with a legend, and that legend then praised you in front of a paying audience is unmatched. The first three matches I wrestled for RBW were booked as face vs face matches, which puts lots of pressure on the wrestlers to work up some heat into the crowd. It’s very difficult to get people to make noise when they don’t hate either wrestler. If you look at the heat and the match quality, those were all very successful and I’m thankful to everyone I have wrestled at RBW.
The year 2003 has been very successful for RBW, with the expansion of the promotion, and shows across Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire, what would you put this success down to?
The success is down to a number of things but primarily increased confidence. They have a great new logo where as they didn’t have a media friendly logo before. They have a new website which is gaining in hits all the time. They have seen the school succeed for months, and this has given them the confidence to move forward I think. It certainly hasn’t hurt.
You have been heavily involved in the RBW Training School, how are you finding training future wrestling stars, and why do you think it is so important to get quality training?
Training in 2003 was another high point. I’m not one for rushing people through 100 moves they have seen on TV in 3 hours. They only forget what you have taught them if you do that. I took the same approach as the way I was taught and that is the real art of wrestling takes time and cant be rushed. You have to start from a lock up, so if you’re not getting the lock up right why do you want to move on from that? I go back, and back again to the same moves, and at the end of November more than a handful of students were showing real flashes of brilliance. Whether or not I am heavily involved with the school in 2004, I feel sure that much of what I taught them will stick with them for the rest of their careers, even if they don’t realize it yet. Quality training is sparse because often those making the training decisions have no training themselves. That’s a shame. My hope is that my students will utilize my knowledge, gained from many matches, in many countries.
The class in Nottingham is such a great bunch of people, they have been a great source of support for me, and I view them as friends. If they work hard enough they will shine.
Going back to when you first started out in wrestling, where did you train and who taught you?
I started at Hammerlock. My first trainers were Justin Richards and Andre Baker. Much of what I was taught by Justin has shaped the way I coach because I know his way works. Andre and Justin really put the emphasis on legitimacy and having character. Hammerlock was definitely a good place to start. Then of course I’ve taken instructions from many people, such as Bruce Hart, and the wrestlers that I learn from in every match.
As a wrestler and a trainer, what is the best bit advice you could give any wannabe wrestler?
There is an old saying that sounds kind of rude but my years in wrestling prove it to be true: “Keep you mouth shut and you ears open”. It’s a magical formula. There are no short cuts.
You were involved with the TAP Wrestling promotion; can you tell us briefly about that?
I wasn’t really involved with TAP although I do know some of the guys down there. I was offered some matches and as yet we haven’t gone ahead but who knows what the future might bring.
Looking at the UK Wrestling scene who do you think is currently the best talent the UK has to offer?
I think Doug Williams success is deserved as a wrestler.
Which current UK Wrestling star would you most like to have a match with any why?
To be honest I never really give this one much thought. I like to wrestle people who are in the business for the right reasons, and if there is a mutual respect I enjoy wrestling anyone. There’s obviously a few names I’ve not locked up with here yet but that may come down the line. It’s the attitude and outlook that I like rather than the name involved. I’ve wrestled “Monday Night” TV Stars and local heroes and I get pleasure from both.
Taking a look at the UK Wrestling scene as a whole, what do you think promoters and talent need to do to for the UK Wrestling industry to compete with larger American products?
I think the bigger groups here need to keep working hard and see where it takes them. Groups have to be media friendly and there is a big production gap between the UK and the USA in general. It all takes money to remedy, but if enough people are dedicated, they will get there so long as they listen to people who can teach them rather than people only interested in their own position. Dedication will have to prevail in this business because no one stays here for the money do they?
Scott, you are one of the most well traveled UK Wrestling stars about, you have been across the world to likes of Canada and the United States, from your travels what is the most important thing you gained?
I was a 12 stone, bullied, unconfident, meek, shy child when I went to my first wrestling session. Over the years I’ve shed blood, sweat and tears. I’m 235lbs and working up, I have never taken steroids. I’m a 6 foot 4 wrestler who gets to “Beat up the bad guys” as one email of a very good friend of mine put it. I didn’t realize until the last couple of weeks that I provide a symbolic beating of the bullies that plague us all. The most important thing I have gained is that I have tried hard to work to something I always dreamed of as that bullied child and that can never be taken away.
Scott, I’d just like to say welcome to Wrestling101 UK, how do you feel about being onboard?
It’s really great to be on board, I have conversed with Adam Sibley on this and I’m looking very much forward to being part of www.wrestling101.com
What can the UK Scene readers expect from your columns?
I think a well backed up approach where I don’t just spit Ideas but rather present an argument with facts to illustrate my point, and I hope that readers will help to shape the column so it evolves into something they have to check each week.
Scott as we approach the year 2004, what can fans of Scott Future expect to see from him during the next year?
Next year I have my biggest test yet, to top all my previous years, and since 1998 I have achieved this, I hope 2004 will follow the same pattern!
Any final comments?
Thanks for reading my interview and God Bless.
Once again Scott many thanks for giving us some of your time.
Dan