The Gargoyle

The one type of interview that I personally enjoy is talking to the other fans. I find it refreshing to meet people that would drive sometimes four hours to see an independent wrestling card. These are the fans that you wished you could clone 100 times over.

My fan guest this week is from the Florida panhandle gulf coast. He has been a very big contributor to Wrestling 911 from about the very beginning. He keeps us abreast of a promotions that we here in central Florida do not hear much of because of distance. I thought it would be very appropriate to interview our friend The Gargoyle. I was able to get in touch of him by telephone.

Marcus Pitts: Welcome to Marcus’ Pitt sir.

Gargoyle: Thank you and I appreciate it.

MP: I know you reside at the Panhandle area of Florida. Where about are you from originally?

GAR: My father was in the Air Force and we moved a lot but I’m originally from Orlando.

MP: Who did get you started in watching wrestling?

GAR: Actually I discovered pro-wrestling on my own. I always had an interest in amateur wrestling,then I saw pro wrestling on T.V. and I was hooked.

MP: Who were some of your favorite wrestlers growing up?

GAR: The first pro-wrestling I watched was the original Florida Championship Wrestling. My early favorites were Jack Briscoe, Dusty Rhodes and The Funks. Then I saw “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair and The Horsemen and I became a HUGE mark for them. Even in various combinations they were the ELITE group. Just look at the talent that were Horsemen A.A., Benoit, Malenko, Pillman, Blanchard, Ole, just AWESOME !!

MP: Were you into athletics when you were growing up?

GAR: Yes I liked all sports and participated in them until my size became a factor. It was then I focused on amateur wrestling which I was good enough to place in the top 8 in the Fla State wrestling tournament in my weight class (119lbs.) in 1980.

MP: Do you remember your very first wrestling show you saw live and what stands out in your memory from that show?

GAR: The 1st show I remember was a Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling show in Ft.Walton Beach ,Fla. and had wrestlers like Mike “The California Hippie” Boyette, Ken Lucas, Cowboy Bob Kelly, Col. J.C. Dykes and masked Mighty Yankees, Duke “The Guillotine” Miller , and Dynamite Dick Dunn on the card. But what I remember the most was the atmosphere, the electricity of the crowd !! You knew you were in a building with wrestling fans, something that sadly seems lacking in crowds today.

MP: Everyone knows you as The Gargoyle. Would you like to tell everyone your true name? You do not have to if you do not want to tell anyone.

GAR: I’ll remain known as The Gargoyle, mainly to spare my lovely wife anymore embarrassment than what she already endures. She’s the GREATEST and indulges my love for pro-wrestling even though she hates it.

MP: I find it refreshing that we are getting some good representation from your neck in the woods. What promotions do run up where you are so the central Florida fans get an idea that your area is not devoid of wrestling at all?

GAR: Like any business there are a multitude of promotions in my area ,which ranges fron Eastern Miss., Southern Ala., and the Fla. Panhandle. My personal favorites are in Miss. (XIW), Ala. ( AWF),and in the panhandle of Fla. (Ultimate) ,(CSW),(GAWF), and (WIW). All of these promotions put on entertaining shows and have solid rosters. They do however have a variety of styles, so it’s a matter of taste.

MP: I know you are really a very good fan of GAWF. What makes this promotion special in your eyes?

GAR: The thing I like about the GAWF is there willingness to experiment with their product and they bring in “NAME” talent from other areas to their shows such as DCFC, Chuck Taylor, New Jack , Vordell Walker, etc.

MP: I see that an old friend of mine, Vordell Walker, wrestles for GAWF.

GAR: Yes, the last time I saw Vordell Walker in action was in XIW in Pascagoula,Miss and he is always bringing it in the ring.

MP: Would you name some of the GAWF workers that you really think can go?

GAR: Some of favorite GAWF regulars are Dallas Riley, Bill Weaver, Steve Goins, and Maxwell Chicago.

MP I am from central Florida and you are trying to convince me to come up to the panhandle and watch some wrestling, how would you entice me to drive that far to watch a wrestling show?

GAR: Most people aren’t as crazy as me because I drove 950 miles roundtrip on my Central Fla. wrestling adventure. So my advice would be to plan a mini-vacation while you’re in the area to coincide with a wrestling show. We have THE BEST beaches, great parks, etc. so there are other things to do while you’re checking out some Gulf Coast wrestling action.

MP: You were actually on the west coast of Florida to a few shows. Where did you go and who impressed you from central Florida?

GAR: I came down to visit some friends and I did a double-shot of ASW that weekend. One show was @ STROKERS in Tampa and the other was @ a VFW hall in Spring Hill. Both shows were great and the people @ ASW are first class. They treated me like a king and I can’t thank them enough. I’m really looking forward to seeing ASW again in the near future. I saw quite a few wrestlers that impressed me while I was there such as Simon Sez, Biff, Noooie Lee, Kaoti Romeo, Tommy Taylor, Aaron Epic, and Los Ben Dejos. But all the ASW guys were entertaining and friendly.

MP: Lets talk about the fed for a bit. You have made it known that you are not exactly a fan of Hulk Hogan (Terry Bullea)? Why the hatred? LOL

GAR: To me, HOGAN is the most over-rated, no-talent, wrestler to lace up a pair of boots. I will give him credit , he does have good mic skills, he HAD a good look, but he had NO mat skills. He was in the right place @ the right time and sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. That’s my take on Hogan. I will not discredit his contributions to pro-wrestling because he did bring it to the next level as far as bringing wrestling to the mainstream audience. I just NEVER liked Hulkamania.

MP: I see that Total Nonstop Wrestling’s ratings are abysmal. What do you think are the causes of it?

GAR: Total Nonstop Wrestling’s ratings suck for 1 reason alone ….HOGAN !! LOL !! No seriously Total Nonstop Wrestling needs to ditch the old washed up guys like The Nasty Boys, Hall, Nash, Waltman, Sean Morley and focus on pushing the young talent. Get away from trying to stir up controversy and concentrate on WRESTLING !!! I mean what the HELL is up with the Orlando Jordan thing ? I don’t want to see that crap and it’s not because of his lifestyle either that I feel this way. Total Nonstop Wrestling needs to go back to what made them FUN to watch, the high-flying X-Division style, young athletic wrestlers wowing the crowd.

MP: What about Vincent K. McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment . Are you a fan of this promotion and did you watch Wrestlemania 26?

GAR: Vincent K. McMahon is an arrogant fool (although a very rich one),the World Wrestling Entertainment SUCKS, no I didn’t watch WM26 because I’m tired of having my intelligence insulted. Next question please.

MP: Do you feel vindicated by Bret Hart’s beating of Vincent K. McMahon or do you think it lacked something?

GAR: It was a complete waste of time and I feel it will tarnish Bret Hart’s legacy.

MP: I have to ask you why do you wear the mask in all the pictures that I see you in?

GAR: As a big fan of all styles of wrestling I really dug the Mexican luchadores and all the colorful masks. I liked the way the Mexican fans reacted to them so I decided to do the same. I scoured the internet until I found a mask I liked and then I bought one. I now have 4 masks and will continue to add to my collection. Besides I like being different and it’s FUN. I’m all about having FUN.

MP: You are a big supporter of independent wrestling. I know why I appreciate indy wrestling. What do you like about indy wrestling?

GAR: Indy wrestling is the heart & soul of the wrestling business. It’s the place where you still see the passion, the drive, and the aspirations of indy wrestlers. These athletes put their bodies on the line for their genuine LOVE of wrestling and their desire to entertain fans. We all know they’re not getting rich being an indy wrestler and that’s what I RESPECT the most about them. They know the pay isn’t great or the venue may be crappy but they still do it anyway !!! That speaks volumes for their personal character. That’s why I wear a mask, make signs, act crazy etc. because I want them to know how much I appreciate their efforts so I’m gonna give my all as a fan to show them my appreciation.

MP: Are you a listener of Steve Goins and On The Map? I think he does a fine job of representing the panhandle.

GAR: Yes I do listen and Steve does a fine job in promoting indy wrestling in North Fla. However being based in Tallahassee which is NOT part of the panhandle ( just busting Steve’s chops) he does put in alot of work to get the word out about indy wrestling and he should be commended for that.

MP: Is there any last words you would like to say to the central Florida and the wrestling 911 fans out there reading this?

GAR: All I can say is SUPPORT INDY WRESTLING !! When you’re @ the shows make noise, be alive, show the wrestlers your appreciation. Also support SnowMan & WRESTLING911.COM !! If you’re curious about my area checkout FrontRowFanatics.com or Gulf Coast Wrestling.com.

MP: Thank you for taking the time to do this interview and I hope to meet you real soon either in central Florida or up in the panhandle.

GAR: Thanks again for having me it was fun and I hope to meet you @ show in Central Fla. soon.

The Gargoyle is a true wrestling fan and like I said before, we need more like him especially since MMA has started to take away some of the fan base of professional wrestling. All that can add is what The Gargoyle always ends his posts,” Support indy wrestling”.

Marcus Pitts