Due to popular demand, I’ve been able to bring you a second SWE Spotlight interview to you this week! After the success of Tuesday’s interview with Martyn Stallyon (which you can read here), I was able to sit down and talk to one of the most controversial characters in SWE. He calls himself SWE’s “Ravishing One”, he’s one half of the MegaPals, it’s “Ravishing” Randy Valentine!
He’s been a stalwart of the SWE for a few years and has had some titanic battles with Bravehart and others during his stay in the company. A former SWE Heavyweight Champion, Randy had some very interesting things to say on the current state of British wrestling, what he feels caused the downfall of the industry in this company and some candid thoughts on wrestling legends.
I promise you, this is definitely not an interview that you’ll want to miss, which means it’s time for me to shut up and let you see what Randy had to say!
Tell us a little about how you got started in wrestling and who your influences were when you started watching it.
I really can’t remember when I was bitten by the wrestling bug. We’d just got Sky TV and my step-dad put the wrestling on. The first match I saw was Mr Perfect vs “Rugged” Ronnie Garvin and man, when I saw Garvin hit that trademark stomp… I just fell about the couch laughing. I’d never seen anything so ridiculous!
The more I saw it though (and I wasn’t really WATCHING it, it was just on in the background), the more I got wrapped up in the pageantry of it and I became a fan. There was no particular wrestler that made me a fan, like Hogan or Warrior. It was the moves, the show, the music and the characters. It was like a comic book come to life. Awesome. Unfortunately, by the era of midgets and Max Moon, I’d grown tired of the WWF, but I still enjoyed going to local wrestling shows, more for their poor imitations than the actual wrestling (which wasn’t all bad).
Eventually that started to lose its shine and I felt too much of an urge to do it myself. I was already willingly being chokeslammed over bars and suplexed onto dancefloors, so it was time to find out how it all worked.
When the next local show came my way, I asked about training and was put in touch with Ricky Knight and the WAW down at the Matrix in Norwich.
When did you decide you wanted to be a wrestler?
Just like pinpointing when I became a fan, I can’t think of when I decided I wanted to be a wrestler. I didn’t want to be a wrestler when I was a kid watching it on TV. I wanted to be a booker/promoter and didn’t even know that was a job.
I’d make match cards and develop feuds with a whole host of WWF toys in an arena I’d made out of wood with my best friend Kevin Beattie. We had weekly shows building to monthly big events. This was before the WWF was doing it. We nicked the WCW ones too and made up some of our own including a “Pit of Doom” match, which took place in a wooden ring that I’d made and it ruined the toys!
When did I want to be a wrestler? When I started seeing past the smoke and mirrors and realised it was possible. Then I took a bump and was hooked, got my first pop and knew I’d never stop.
Is there anything that frustrates you about wrestling in general?
So many things. In mainstream wrestling it’s the childhood fans who became cynical fanboys. The fact the word “fanboy” exists in wrestling. They’re not “marks”. They haven’t been “marks” in decades. They’re fanboys who will bitch and moan no matter what.
As far as British wrestling goes, where do I begin? The politics? The “trackies and trainers” brigade? The desire to get the funk outta here rather than stay and help build? The reliance on Americans to draw a crowd? All BIG problems.
If I were King for a day, I’d squander it to fix British wrestling, but then again, I’m King, so I’m supposed to squander my days! First of all, I’d decree henceforth that BRITAIN is a territory. At most there would be England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but NO more division than that. Stop bitching, start working together, let the cream rise to the top and use the milk to get them there.
My second decree would be to behead “backyarders” on sight. No tights, no training = no sale. There are far too many of these groups all over the country. They’re fake knock-offs and they harm attendance at BRITISH shows, not WWE/TNA attendance which leads to decree three: no more cash-in’s… sorry “fly-in’s”.
If American guys want to help their flagging careers by pimping postcards, fine, but help the business, don’t just suck it dry. After all, it was all the cartoon costumes the Yanks used that harmed the British wrestling scene in the first place. Stay for a while and tour the country. Hold a title. Give us a rub, and by “us”, I mean British wrestling. Japanese and Mexican wrestling have well established heritages. We kinda pimped ours out for fake Undertakers and now we need to get it back.
There are lots of good, strong wrestling companies in the UK right now. What do you put that down to?
It’s pure and simple: hard work. Any promotion in the UK with a good fanbase and a core roster of capable workers deserves a hearty pat on the back. It’s meant avoiding TOO MUCH politics in the locker room, promoting the shizzle out of your shows and delivering on those shows.
BUT there are also a buttload of bad promotions in the UK and these need to be stamped out and shut down, before someone is crippled and or killed, throwing more bad light on British wrestling.
For anyone who hasn’t seen you wrestle, how would you describe your style?
Haha – “adaptable”. I’m a clunky chain wrestler. It looks awkward, so I leave that out of my repertoire. I’ve always called wrestling a three ring circus and in that case, I’m not the strongman and I’m not the acrobat. That leaves the clown. In saying that, I’m also susceptible to bouts of hardcore madness.
Where did the name Randy Valentine come from and what ideas did you have about the character when you first started out?
“Ravishing” Randy Valentine comes from my three favourite wrestlers (not necessarily “influences”, just guys I loved to watch): Rick Rude, Randy Savage and Greg Valentine. He was originally supposed to be a ladies’ man, but my wrestling gear elicited chants suggesting I may be homosexual. I figured why not play to the crowd. The more flamboyant Randy became, the more they booed. Before long, I was grinding middle ropes and bronco bustering waaaay longer than a guy should haha!
What are your memories of your first match?
My first “match” was a battle royal in Norwich for the WAW. It was just a shmoz really. My only memories of it are losing my gear during the set-up, so I had to wrestle in my boxer shorts, and asking a guy to bust me open with these big, studded wrist straps. During the match, he went to do it then said: “can’t mate, sorry” and ran off to kick/punch someone else.
Right at the start of your career, you started training with Ricky Knight down in England. How much did you learn from Ricky and where would rank him in terms of influenced on your career?
Well without Ricky, I wouldn’t be a wrestler so he’s a pretty big influence. He rarely took training; he was more like an X-Factor judge haha! It was Bruce Solomon and Ricky’s son Roy (Zebra Kid) who trained me, with help from the UK Pitbulls, Jimmy Ocean and Drew McDonald.
When I spoke to Mr News a few weeks ago, he talked about how you guys have formed an alliance of sorts. What brought that about and what are your hopes for the team going forward?
To wrestle more than one tag match a year haha. An “alliance” is probably the best way to describe it. We get along really well (even when we fall out) and are on a similar wavelength so it’s just fun. The Megapals are News and I just being naughty boys: pissing off management and winding up the fans for our (and some of the boys’) amusement. Oh, and we win all the time.
Looking back over your career, you’ve had a few injuries, especially to your back and neck. What’s it like when you’re trying to recover and what drives you to get back in the ring?
Injuries are awful and my first one was down to inexperience and putting myself through things I wasn’t experienced enough to be putting myself through. The injury resulted in the end of my wrestling career in England, or anywhere, for several years. It also resulted in a third ass cheek at the base of my spine and months of sleepless nights. Nothing “drove” me to get back in the ring. When I was ready, I went back. It’s tough recovering from a wrestling injury because life has to go on. Bills need paid, work needs done. You can’t just lay around rehabbing when the shelves in Tesco need stacked haha. A wrestling injury at work? It’s looked on as little more than pulling a sicky. That’s the problem with our “fake” sport eh?
Of all the matches you’ve had in your career so far, which one stands out to you the most and which one are you most proud of?
I couldn’t pick one stand-out match. I suppose my match with Shaun Harkin is a favourite, simply because it was a match we did about a dozen times without ever changing it haha! I love so many of my matches for so many reasons with some great guys up and down the country. Which one am I most proud of? Usually my last one. I flog myself with kendo sticks if it’s not!
Who’s been your favourite opponent to get in the ring with and why?
Once upon a time I’d have said Bravehart, but he’s too big to mess around with ol’ Randy anymore. There was a time when we had fun out there though. Johnny Lyons is an easy night. He’s physically tough, but safe and easy to work with. It’s even more special considering I almost broke his neck once. I’ve had my first match with the very good Mr E.G Mackie and I’ve got to say that I could wrestle him 25/8. Great fun and physical in equal measure.
Is there anyone you haven’t had the chance to wrestle yet that you’d love to work with?
I’ve still to work with Martyn Stallyon, Ian Ambrose, Steven Magners, Sam Ross and Jam O’Malley. There are other guys out there, but those five are getting checked off the “to-do” list this year.
SWE have got good relationships with WWE legends like Ted DiBiase and Roddy Piper. I suppose this is a bit of a stupid question, but what’s it like to be around those guys backstage and pick their brains about ring psychology etc.
If they ever join the rest of the guys backstage, I’ll let you know what it’s like. They’re somewhat elitist when it comes to sharing wisdom. They would rather lecture on what they think is wrong with wrestling or sleep. SWE have a great relationship across the pond and there have been some proper goosebump moments, but they say you should never meet your heroes, and after Hell for Lycra IX, I have to agree with that.
I mentioned Ricky Knight earlier and you’ve also been working with SWE for a few years now. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given, whether it’s about your character or in-ring work?
I’ve looked for and received a lot of feedback and advice over the years, some I’ve taken on board and some I’ve not. As for the best piece, that was very early in my career. I was at a show and met a fellow Scot who shall remain nameless. I was told to treat him with the utmost respect and be on my best behaviour.
He asked me if I drank. I told him that I enjoyed a beer or two. He asked me if I did drugs. I said “not at all sir… honest”. Then he asked me if I f***ed loose women. I said “not at all, no”. He replied: “You’re f***ed in this business then mate.” Best. Advice. EVER. Haha.
What advice would you give anyone who’s thinking about getting involved in the wrestling business?
Keep an open mind. Do your homework before picking a school. Stick at it. If you’re not a “wrestler” there are plenty of other vital tasks in making a show enjoyable. Good announcers and referees are just as important. Think about what would help British wrestling. Work hard at helping promote shows. Basically, get your head out of the “stars and stripes” clouds and try to build the business here.
Let’s pretend for a second that Vince McMahon calls you up and offers you a match against any wrestler from the past or present on the biggest stage of them all. Who would you want to face and why?
I’d like to wrestle Barry Horowitz and put him over! Goldust in the late 90s would’ve been fun. Any time I think of a Randy Valentine/Goldust interaction, I picture the time Johnny Depp was on the Fast Show. If that means nothing to you, then Google it.
When it’s all said and done, how do you want wrestling fans to remember Randy Valentine?
Geez. If any wrestling fans remember Randy Valentine I won’t care what they think. Making a big enough impact on a strangers life from a few wrestling matches is a big enough compliment to me.
Where can fans get in touch with you if they want to know where they can see you wrestling?
I’m clueless on Twitter, but I use Facebook. You can find my page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ravishing-Randy-Valentine/190935784282792
Feel free to drop me a line, I’m very pleasant. All future SWE shows are available on the SWE Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/SWEonline?fref=ts
If SWE shows are a bit out of your way, check around online, there will be a good promotion running shows near you. Please do your homework and don’t settle for sh****rse promotions. Enjoy wrestling, love it for what it is and have fun. Peace out babies!
There’s only one word I can use to describe that interview: wow! Randy’s thoughts on British wrestling and legends of the sport had me in awe because no-one’s ever given me those kinds of answers before. He didn’t hold back and I’m sure that after reading his comments, you’ll all have plenty to say! Feel free to leave a comment below and give us your feedback on Randy’s interview!
As the man himself said, he doesn’t do Twitter, so like his Facebook page here. For further information on when you can see Randy wrestling in 2013, follow SWE on Twitter @SWE_online or visit their official website: www.sweonline.co.uk.
There’s still one huge name from SWE that I’ve yet to sit down with, but I’m trying to get that organised for the beginning of 2013. It’s going to be massive, so stay tuned for that! As always, thanks a lot for all your feedback on the SWE Spotlight here on SLTD Wrestling. I’ll be shining the spotlight again soon.
Until then, thanks for reading!
George
SLTD Wrestling's resident Scottish Nightmare. Some of my content may not be suitable for younger readers or those who are easily offended!
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