P.G.: Thank you for allowing me the PRIVELEGE of being your first interview in print. Please tell us how you got into the business and what was your inspiration to become a professional wrestler?
Teddy: As far as the inspiration, I grew up in Dallas, Texas and during that time as a kid, I grew up watching wrestling and going to shows frequently. The place to be was The Sportatorium where the NWA was running regular shows there and the Von Erich family ruled the roost, so to speak. They eventually became World Class Championship Wrestling and that really made an incredible impression on me. Although I was a proud Texas native, instead of being a huge fan of the Von Erich family (which I was to a degree), it was The Freebirds that really got me pumped up! I LOVED the Freebirds and still do to this day, as to me, they were EVERYTHING I wanted to be like! I'd always dreamed of being a wrestler, but then I discovered music and that was IT. I dedicated my life to the guitar and followed that path, but wrestling was always there and I remained a fan of it. It wasn't until 1991 when I got the chance to seriously consider becoming a wrestler, but to make a long story short, I simply couldn't afford $3500 to go to "Gentleman" Chris Adams' wrestling school, so the dream was put on hold for a long while. Fast forward to 2000....(here is the abridged version) I started doing backyard wrestling just for fun with NO plans other than to have a blast with it, but with the work we put into presentation, we attracted a lot of attention (Jacksonville and Savannah both sent news crews to cover us and we made TV) and eventually I got the attention of the owner of Thunder Wrestling Federation. Since I was already doing video production by that time, he asked me if I'd be interested in becoming a real pro wrestler and to "stop playing around in the backyard". This was FINALLY my chance to do what I always wanted to do and a deal was struck. I did TWF's video production and in return, it paid for my wrestling school. I trained my ass off and several months later in October 2001, I made my pro debut in Gainesville, FL in a "Japanese Death Match" with TPT Johnnie Lee....and received my first concussion!! Nice way to start a career! Since then, it's been a constant paying of dues and doing my best to learn as much as I could and earn respect from the boys. I like to think I did!
P.G.: What do you think of RWF Owner J. Douglas Howdie?
Teddy: I first met Howdie while honing my skills in the TWF. We have worked together many times and although at first we didn't see eye to eye a lot of the time, eventually we earned respect for each other and now we're working together again! I really like him as a person and as a personality. At one point in 2008, I co-founded another wrestling fed & ran and booked shows. It's hard work and now Howdie is doing it. I have a new respect for him because I know what he's going through trying to put this company together and I feel like I relate to him more and more. I understand the stresses and the work involved and so far, I think he's doing an amazing job! Plus, like me, he's a metalhead, so bonus points! He's a killer dude and I'm honored that he chose me to come and help represent the company!
P.G.: You had surgery a while ago and many folks believed that was the end of your carreer. Was there an inner push to return to the ring or did you know that you were coming back?
Teddy: Back in October 2006, I contracted diverticulitis, which is an inflammation and infection of the colon. I was still wrestling for the TWF at the time and since I was training pretty regularly, I merely thought I had pulled something in my abdomen and continued to train. Then, on October 30th, TWF had a show and I was booked to work, but something wasn't right....the pain was getting really bad and the nausea was horrendous. I was told to sit out the night, as I couldn't even pick anyone up or take a single bump without feeling like something was tearing inside of me. I stayed and shot promos for everyone and did the multimedia stuff I usually did at the time (all video related) and went home. 4 hours after the show, while asleep, I was awakened by the worst pain I've ever felt in my life, as if I'd been stabbed in the stomach by a hunting knife. Then my body went into shock and my father ended up picking me up and taking me to the emergency room, where we were informed, after numerous tests, that my colon had ruptured and I was immediately prepped for emergency surgery. I spent a week on a ventilator keeping me alive, as most of my vital organs started shutting down. The family was called in and was told I didn't have much of a survival rate. Somehow, I regained consciousness after a week and spent 2 more weeks in ICU, as the sepsis in my body was overwhelming. I don't know how I survived, but I did. It put me out of action for a solid year (3 months of it sporting a colostomy bag) and 4 surgeries later (for the illness and 7 hernias suffered from training again too quickly), I eventually left TWF and started Down South Hardcore Wrestling with Cameron LaRue in 2008. I always knew I'd come back once I had the bag removed, but recovery was slow going. It's not an illness that plays around and I found out during that time just how lucky I was to have survived, as the mortality rate on that is somewhere around 70%. Of course now, I'm fully recovered and it's back to the ass kicking business! But even when I was recovering, I still managed to have a spot created for me for remaining TWF shows, but not in active competition. I just couldn't bear being away from it!! The support I received from the boys in the locker room was simply incredible and to this day, I still have those friendships and the respect as a worker. Makes me very proud!
P.G.: Is there anyone in the wrestling business that you have a personal vendetta against or ‘heat’ as they say in the locker room?
Teddy: No. No heat whatsoever. Earning respect from my fellow workers is paramount to me. Kind of hard to earn it if I'm creating problems. I don't have much of an ego left to involve myself with all that and having legimate heat does no one any favors. I'm fairly easy to get along with and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to insure the fans get their money's worth and willing to help my fellow workers get over and listen to ideas. I'm a team player and I always believed that EVERYONE can look good if everyone works as a team. All a part of being professional. To me, it's not about "me" but about the SHOW....the FANS!!! If someone has legimate heat with me, that's their problem. I've had heat with others in the past....and it's not netted a single positive thing. And as I'm getting older, I simply don't have the patience for it. I have fans to entertain....isn't that more important than having someone get their ego placated?
P.G.: What wrestler past or present would you love to have a match with?
Teddy: Ah, now this is a good question! Basically, I'll work anyone. Even though I primarily have built my reputation through the hardcore style, I graduated wrestling school and DO know how to work. I choose hardcore because it's where I think I shine best. There are a lot of workers out there and since I'm not pretty or excessively large in build, it just became easier to create a niche for myself. Plus, I have this "stuntman mentality" that I think both works for me and against me. I don't get as much respect from a lot of other workers due to them not recognizing hardcore as a "legitimate" style, but even when I do those kinds of matches, you will still see me work! I still wrestle....but eventually I'll start upping the violence quotient during the match and then look out! I look at "hardcore" in wrestling like I look at metal bands....."hardcore" wrestling is the "death metal" of the business and since I love extreme things, it was a natural progression. That being said, the one worker I would love to work a match with (and I'm going by currently working wrestlers) would hands-down have to be Necro Butcher! I still mark out for his matches and maybe one day, I'll get to! But then there's also workers like Mad Man Pondo, Brain Damage, Nick Gage, Corporal Robinson, and Thumbtack Jack, just to name a few, who I'd love to work with. The list is simply too long to list here.....but Necro?? DREAM MATCH for me!! The only thing that would make that even better would be to work him in Japan! It is a dream of mine to be able to work in Japan. If I could do that just once, I could retire the next day and feel like I did what I wanted to do! I have no pipe dreams about making it big in wrestling. I know the odds are against me, so my sights aren't set quite so high....but that's just me, I guess. If I had to choose someone for a regular non-hardcore match, there are several that come to mind, but I have to say I really enjoy the work of Craig Classic and certainly add Vordell Walker in there. Class act guys and I know if I ever got the chance to work them, I'd definitely learn something, and if I had to explain why I still wrestle, it's because it's so important to learn something new or something I didn't know I could do. Again, my list is too long!!
P.G. : Your reputation as a ‘hardcore wrestler’ is well known and on June 18th, you face Dallas Riley in a no-holds barred Hardcore match. What gives you the edge in this match and can you defeat Dallas?
Teddy: Dallas Riley.....OK, I'm gonna say this and this is a straight shoot: Riley and I go WAY back! I've known the dude since he was a young teenage dude with dreams of making it. His enthusiasm is contagious and there's something about him that made me want him to succeed. Up until now, he's been out there and not only paying his dues, but honing his craft and I can say the dude knows how to work! There was a time he had no time for "hardcore" and was a technical purist all the way. We've trained together, we've worked MANY shows together, and we've hung out. He's a truly righteous dude and his attitude is going through a readjustment period right now. We have definitely earned each other's respect and it's my respect for him and his determination to explore every facet of wrestling that made me accept the challenge! In all honesty, when he challenged to me MY kind of match, I was proud of him! He went the route of being "anti-hardcore" before and now he's seen the light! I truly want him to succeed and accomplish all he sets out to do. That being said, we're facing each other on June 18th and I will tell you this: we know each other. We know how each other works. This one will definitely feature wrestling along with the violence I'm known for and for him to want to get in the ring with me and do what I do, that earns MY respect, hence why I don't trash talk him. Not many pros are willing to branch out into that, but he wants to and I'll be more than happy to accommodate him. He's in MY world now and if I don't bring what I'm known for and if I don't come at him with what he knows I can do, he would lose respect for me. He will bring it and this will NOT be an easy match for either of us! June 18th, we are leaving our friendship in the locker room and we're going to deliver to the fans that night what we are known for! He would never want me to half-ass anything and vice versa. It's gonna be a battle and I'll say this too: win or lose, if he makes it through the match, I will raise his hand, because that's how much respect I have for the man.....but make no mistake, either. I'm gonna unleash an ass-whoopin' of seismic proportions and beat him! He knows I can and will. I expect nothing less from him in return! This one is NOT to be missed and everyone can see it on June 18th in Jacksonville, FL!! And FYI, you never know what toys I might bring to the ring!! Teddy Baddstreet has a reputation to keep and I'm laying down for NO ONE!!
**Thank you to Teddy Baddstreet for this very intriguing interview. Don’t forget to get your tickets for June 18th @ http://my9oh4.com/ **