INTERVIEW WITH JOHN ROSELLI
- 04/27/2006 (8:10:18 pm)
- Georgiann Makropoulos
Talks about WWE release, OVW training, TNA, what the future holds and more….
Interview courtesy of www.gerweck.net
direct link:
http://www.gerweck.net/johnroselliinterview.htm
Interview with John Roselli
Interview conducted: April 26, 2006
Key:
SG> Steve Gerweck
JR>John Roselli
SG> How did you break into the wrestling business?
JR> I was always a big fan growing up, and as my
passion grew, as well as my interest in fitness, I
decided I wanted to be and make it as a wrestler.
While attending college in Fairfield, Connecticut, I
met a wrestler in the gym who brought me to a local
wrestling school in Springfield, Massachusetts, and I
quickly began attending classes.
SG> Who was your favorite wrestler growing up?
JR> When I was real young I was it was in the middle
of Hulk Hogan’s big era in the 80’s, so he was my
favorite at the time. As I grew older I liked Bret
Hart and Shawn Michaels.
SG> Tell me about your training with Kevin Landry.
JR> It was a real good experience. Kevin was trained
by Paul Roma, and was probably his top student. The
good thing about Kevin was that he always emphasized
the basics, and always had a good mind for psychology.
The training was very simple, yet still very
effective. It was a perfect start for me.
SG> At this point in your career, what is your biggest
strength? What is your biggest weakness?
JR> I would say my biggest strength would be my drive
and determination. I am still very young at only 24
years old and am very motivated to one day look back
at a very successful career. My biggest weakness would
probably be my limited experience, because due to
several injuries earlier on, I have not been wrestling
very long. Furthermore, I often times wear my heart on
my sleeve, so mentally and emotionally I still have
some growing up to do.
SG> Your best match thus far?
JR> I have had lots of good matches the last several
years, but there isn’t one in particular that really
stands out above the rest. I am still waiting for that
one.
SG> How did your developmental deal with WWE come
about?
JR> I moved down to OVW on my own and began in the
beginner’s class. I got a job waiting tables to
supplement my income. From there I just worked my butt
off and got promoted to the intermediate class, then
the contract class, which was a big highlight for me
because back then very few individuals without a
contract were allowed to train in that class. Tommy
Dreamer was a tremendous help to me, and a supporter
of me, and eventually I was offered a deal.
SG> What was it like training in OVW?
JR> It was a great experience working and learning
from guys like Lance Storm, Bill DeMott, Al Snow, Jim
Cornette, Paul Heyman, and Danny Davis. And it was
like a big family, where practices were fun yet still
very productive. I was very comfortable there and it
was one of the nicest experiences that I have had.
SG> Do you feel you were prepared for WWE when you
were called up to the main roster?
JR> I would have preferred to stay in the
developmental program longer, just from an ability and
experience level. As far as OVW preparing me, they
prepared me the best they possibly could with the time
they had with me.
SG> What was the highlight of you brief WWE stint?
JR> Being able to debut in my hometown, at the most
famous arena in the world, Madison Square Garden, live
on RAW, is something not many people can say and it
was certainly memorable.
SG> Why do you believe you and Antonio were released?
JR> There were several factors involved, but I think
it really steams from the fact that we could have used
more time before our debut to tighten up our work and
the gimmick they envisoned, and we were trying to play
catch up the whole time.
SG> How did you learn of your release from the
company?
JR> Myself and Antonio received a phone call.
SG> Did WWE give you encouragement towards a possible
WWE return?
JR> Yes.
SG> Why do you believe WWE doesn’t push many tag
teams?
JR> I don’t think it’s a matter of not pushing tag
teams, it may be more of the fact that there hasn’t
been many really good, legitimate tag teams to push
recently. There haven’t been many legitimate tag teams
like there were in the 80’s and even 90’s. However,
for example, just look at a solid team like MNM who
have come along, and definitely made a mark.
SG> Since your release, have you received a lot of
booking opportunities? Perhaps international bookings?
JR> Yea, there have definitely been a lot of
opportunities thus far and I have been keeping very
busy. As far as international bookings go, I just came
back from a very successful Puerto Rico tour with WWC,
and am looking to be doing some more international
work in the months to come.
SG> Have you had any contact with TNA?
JR> Yes, there has been some contact.
SG> What is the biggest rib you have had played on
you?
JR> I do not want to give this individual the credit
he would desperately crave if I told the story.
SG> What is the biggest rib you played on someone?
JR> I cannot reveal this in lieu of the fact that it
hasn’t been the last time I will play it.
SG> Who is a better wrestler, you or Antonio?
JR> We both have our own strengths and weaknesses, we
can leave that up to everyone else to decide.
SG> Where do you see yourself in five years?
JR> This is professional wrestling and sports
entertainment, sometimes I can’t even tell you where I
see myself tomorrow. The business has changed so much,
I cant even guess where the business will be in
another 5 years, so I cant really say where I will be.
All I can say is hopefully I will be healthy enough to
still be performing in the business, having made and
saved enough money to live on, and most importantly
still having fun. And from a “normal life” standpoint,
in five years I will only be 29 so my life will just
be getting started.
Roselli is currently accepting independent bookings at
[email protected]
direct link:
http://www.gerweck.net/johnroselliinterview.htm
Interview with John Roselli
Interview conducted: April 26, 2006
Key:
SG> Steve Gerweck
JR>
SG> How did you break into the wrestling business?
JR> I was always a big fan growing up, and as my
passion grew, as well as my interest in fitness, I
decided I wanted to be and make it as a wrestler.
While attending college in Fairfield, Connecticut, I
met a wrestler in the gym who brought me to a local
wrestling school in Springfield, Massachusetts, and I
quickly began attending classes.
SG> Who was your favorite wrestler growing up?
JR> When I was real young I was it was in the middle
of Hulk Hogan’s big era in the 80’s, so he was my
favorite at the time. As I grew older I liked Bret
Hart and Shawn Michaels.
SG> Tell me about your training with Kevin Landry.
JR> It was a real good experience. Kevin was trained
by Paul Roma, and was probably his top student. The
good thing about Kevin was that he always emphasized
the basics, and always had a good mind for psychology.
The training was very simple, yet still very
effective. It was a perfect start for me.
SG> At this point in your career, what is your biggest
strength? What is your biggest weakness?
JR> I would say my biggest strength would be my drive
and determination. I am still very young at only 24
years old and am very motivated to one day look back
at a very successful career. My biggest weakness would
probably be my limited experience, because due to
several injuries earlier on, I have not been wrestling
very long. Furthermore, I often times wear my heart on
my sleeve, so mentally and emotionally I still have
some growing up to do.
SG> Your best match thus far?
JR> I have had lots of good matches the last several
years, but there isn’t one in particular that really
stands out above the rest. I am still waiting for that
one.
SG> How did your developmental deal with WWE come
about?
JR> I moved down to OVW on my own and began in the
beginner’s class. I got a job waiting tables to
supplement my income. From there I just worked my butt
off and got promoted to the intermediate class, then
the contract class, which was a big highlight for me
because back then very few individuals without a
contract were allowed to train in that class. Tommy
Dreamer was a tremendous help to me, and a supporter
of me, and eventually I was offered a deal.
SG> What was it like training in OVW?
JR> It was a great experience working and learning
from guys like Lance Storm, Bill DeMott, Al Snow, Jim
Cornette, Paul Heyman, and Danny Davis. And it was
like a big family, where practices were fun yet still
very productive. I was very comfortable there and it
was one of the nicest experiences that I have had.
SG> Do you feel you were prepared for WWE when you
were called up to the main roster?
JR> I would have preferred to stay in the
developmental program longer, just from an ability and
experience level. As far as OVW preparing me, they
prepared me the best they possibly could with the time
they had with me.
SG> What was the highlight of you brief WWE stint?
JR> Being able to debut in my hometown, at the most
famous arena in the world, Madison Square Garden, live
on RAW, is something not many people can say and it
was certainly memorable.
SG> Why do you believe you and Antonio were released?
JR> There were several factors involved, but I think
it really steams from the fact that we could have used
more time before our debut to tighten up our work and
the gimmick they envisoned, and we were trying to play
catch up the whole time.
SG> How did you learn of your release from the
company?
JR> Myself and Antonio received a phone call.
SG> Did WWE give you encouragement towards a possible
WWE return?
JR> Yes.
SG> Why do you believe WWE doesn’t push many tag
teams?
JR> I don’t think it’s a matter of not pushing tag
teams, it may be more of the fact that there hasn’t
been many really good, legitimate tag teams to push
recently. There haven’t been many legitimate tag teams
like there were in the 80’s and even 90’s. However,
for example, just look at a solid team like MNM who
have come along, and definitely made a mark.
SG> Since your release, have you received a lot of
booking opportunities? Perhaps international bookings?
JR> Yea, there have definitely been a lot of
opportunities thus far and I have been keeping very
busy. As far as international bookings go, I just came
back from a very successful Puerto Rico tour with WWC,
and am looking to be doing some more international
work in the months to come.
SG> Have you had any contact with TNA?
JR> Yes, there has been some contact.
SG> What is the biggest rib you have had played on
you?
JR> I do not want to give this individual the credit
he would desperately crave if I told the story.
SG> What is the biggest rib you played on someone?
JR> I cannot reveal this in lieu of the fact that it
hasn’t been the last time I will play it.
SG> Who is a better wrestler, you or Antonio?
JR> We both have our own strengths and weaknesses, we
can leave that up to everyone else to decide.
SG> Where do you see yourself in five years?
JR> This is professional wrestling and sports
entertainment, sometimes I can’t even tell you where I
see myself tomorrow. The business has changed so much,
I cant even guess where the business will be in
another 5 years, so I cant really say where I will be.
All I can say is hopefully I will be healthy enough to
still be performing in the business, having made and
saved enough money to live on, and most importantly
still having fun. And from a “normal life” standpoint,
in five years I will only be 29 so my life will just
be getting started.
Roselli is currently accepting independent bookings at
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