Rex Rottwyler: Hello, this is Rex Rottwyler and welcome once again to our shoot interview session. Today we are at the home of a new comer to the XWA, but not a new comer to the sport, "The American Phoenix, Phantom of the Opera", or as he was known around here the last few weeks as TAPPOTO. How are you today Phantom?
Phantom: I am just great. Shall we get started?
Rex Rottwyler: We shall. So as always the first question how did you break into the business?
Phantom: Well it would probably be a year and a half-ago now. I started in a federation with my good friend Ice. He has to be my best friend on the planet. That was the XIWA, Ice and myself where Co-op champions, their version of tag team champions in our second week. I then also went solo to get the Global Heavyweight Championship.
Rex Rottwyler: How was it in the XIWA? Was it well run?
Phantom: It was okay, I left on differences with the president, and decided I was better needed elsewhere, vacated my titles, packed my bags, and left. My next stop the USWA.
Rex Rottwyler: Where you successful in the USWA?
Phantom: Yes, by far one of the best to grace the ring in the USWA. I held five separate championships, four singles and one tag. That Tag team championship I got a fellow USWA guy to help me. Now while I was in the USWA, ICE called me one night and said he needed a partner in ERF, the federation he was currently in. So after talking to the President of USWA, I began moonlighting in the ERF. Ice and I won the tag titles hands down. Shortly after that, the president of the ERF hit on Ice's lady. Ice of course kicked his ass but we were stripped and fired. So still wanting to moonlight I went back to the XIWA and began my hardcore days. I was X-treme champion in XIWF and Hardcore Champion in USWA. That was the first and the last of my hardcore wrestling.
Rex Rottwyler: Wow, I am impressed, I thought you were just some wash up from the WWA.
Phantom: Well Rex, you XWA guys have a lot of wrong opinions of WWA, but we will get to that later. Would you like something to drink Rex?
Rex Rottwyler: Yeah, a pop will do.
Phantom: A what? Yankee, it is a coke you weirdo. Hey Cindy, bring two cokes, heavy on the rocks.
**A Swedish maid brings in two drinks and sets them on the table, the maid herself is not much to look at. In fact, she could probably make a Freight Train take a dirt road. She then turns and leaves**
Rex Rottwyler: She's not much to look at, but damn can she cook. Christine never was a good cook.
Phantom: Christine? Is she your wife?
Rex Rottwyler: Wife of six years. She is my guiding light at times.
Phantom: Okay where was I? Oh yeah. I decided I was a big fish in a little pond with the USWA and the XIWA, vacated and left both federations. I took a short stay in the WWW; there I became World Tag-Team Champion, when I kicked two guys asses in a handicap match. They were not worth my trouble. By this point myEgo had began to build and I left that federation for bigger and better things. In late April I signed in the XHW, there I became United States Champion, and with Ice I became one half of the Tag Team Champions once again. That federation closed there doors, striped all titles and paid out all contracts and went home. Now out of a job, on May 24 1999 I signed with WWA, yes it was out of the country, and I had to travel to some fucked up places but that is truly where I hit my stride. If I remember correctly Truth and Hall Monitor where in the WWA when I joined. I never got to them, they left about the same time, and I became quite busy. At the time I was working with Timberwolf, a name many of you know quite well. The Fatal Four formed and it was a four on two. Sean "Sureshot" Kelly, MBX, Jeff Brady, who was known by another name but prefers it not be said, and Outlaw vs. The legend Timberwolf, and the Rookie Phantom. I became Internet Champion rather quickly but then my and Jeff passed it back and forth in a feud that would save WWA. I beat Outlaw, I beat MBX, and I beat Jeffery, all 1, 2, 3, and all clean. I never got to Sureshot. He still to this day owes me a match. Timberwolf left shortly after that, many more followed and it was just basically JB and myself, who neither one of us at that time was ready for main event status, but shit happens. So that Canadian Die-hard Bastard, and a Smarted mouthed American fought tooth and nail thew it all. I have the utmost respect for the guy; he is an awesome in ring competitor. That was last summer we have not fought again. Some of the talent returned and a lot of new talent joined. At that point I took it upon myself to train a new guy to be able to so what I do in the case that I am not there any more. Nightstalker was that man. He has turned into a great talent, and when the WWA reopens I can not wait to work with him again.
Rex Rottwyler(yawns): Oh shhh..forgot I was on camera. Is it true you are the man that destroyed "The Timberwolf Empire"?
Phantom: Oh yes I remember. It was Christmas of 1999, and so everything was at the wire. I went toe to toe with the man and we gave it our best and my best came out higher. He retired before the pay per view, and returned ten days later, but my damage had been done I was the victor.
Rex Rottwyler: How do you like Doc and Tokyo?
Phantom: Well I really have not had the chance to talk with Doc face to face, he gave me his cell phone number a while back. I gave him a call when I was interested in coming over here, and he gave me Tokyo's and the rest is e-fed history.
Rex Rottwyler: How did you feel about the death of Justin Santiago?
Phantom: Now true enough I was in WWA, and did not know him personally but this news was all over the presses like wild fire. Loosing someone in this sport like that is a great shame. I hate that our sport is turning into that.
Rex Rottwyler: How do you like it in the XWA?
Phantom: This is a nice federation well ran. You have someone you can trust in Doc. That was a problem with the WWA, you must share your angles with the office, and if the entire office is in the ring, how can you pull one over they already know. On the contrary, they do not have to tell you anything.
Rex Rottwyler: That brings me to my next question. What do you think of President DC?
Phantom: Good guy, keeps to himself, no one knows the real DC, also a slimy, backstabbing scumbag. Always watch your tail pipes with DC.
Rex Rottwyler: Has it been hard to adjust to the different life style of XWA from WWA?
Phantom: No, I barley missed a beat. The second I got the news that WWA closed I called Doc, and I did my first interview the same day. It was quite easy, there is not that much different.
Rex Rottwyler: What do you think of the XWA?
Phantom: It is quite nice, I got about the reception from the XWA talent I thought I would. WWA never really add any hard feeling towards XWA, but they do no feel the same.
Rex Rottwyler: Who do you hang out with in the locker room?
Phantom: Well right now pretty much just Appolyon. Other than him and my other WWA friends I keep to myself. They resent me around here right now. I just mind my own business. Respect is earned not given.
Rex Rottwyler: Were you any close with the late Sonny D'Lite?
Phantom: Yes quite, that hit me quite hard. I could not believe it I was out of action, and out of the range of the news for that week and I did not find out until the day before the funeral, I barley made it. He was a good man, I blame DC for his death, and DC pushed him way too hard. He should have got a vacation long before that. Chalk up another for DC.
Rex Rottwyler: Okay now to the list of names, and you tell me what you think.
Phantom: Okay.
Rex Rottwyler: Little C.
Phantom: He is a good guy, stuck on himself a little but are we all not a little? I like him.
Rex Rottwyler: Wizard of Odd.
Phantom: Only seen him once there is not a lot I can say. Seems to have his spell.
Rex Rottwyler: The return of Hall Monitor.
Phantom: I think it is great talent was getting thin here in XWA really fast. I look forward to getting him in the ring. This battle is a long time coming.
Rex Rottwyler: Another battle a long time coming, Truth.
Phantom: Yes, I respect that man probably as much as I respect Timberwolf. I know Timberwolf's limits; I still have got to learn Truth's.
Rex Rottwyler: Sean Starr.
Phantom: Great guy, shame I have to kick his ass, oh well.
Rex Rottwyler: Calvin Krime.
Phantom: Calvin Who?
Rex Rottwyler: Doc O'Leary.
Phantom: Great guy always watching out for us. I like him a lot.
Rex Rottwyler: Prez Tokyo.
Phantom: Another Great Guy, all the respect in the world for what that man has done.
Rex Rottwyler: Jeff Brady.
Phantom: Good friend, it is great to finally be on the same team with this guy.
Rex Rottwyler: Jimmy D.
Phantom: Still getting to know him, great guy from what I see though.
Rex Rottwyler: Monsoon.
Phantom: I see great promise in him. He can go far with the right help.
Rex Rottwyler: Tokyo Enterprises.
Phantom: Oh come on Rex, you are boring me. Okay allow me. The XWA looks at my fellow WWX members and me with hatred, we are only doing our jobs. We are just making this place interesting. Where would XWA be without WWA? I mean I am not here to really Destroy XWA, I am here just for the summer. I do not want to destroy the place I just want to work all summer. It is like softball. I am just making a living. This is only my job, do not blame me.
Rex Rottwyler: You also said that you wanted to do a plug.
Phantom: Yes, this is for all of The American Phoenix's fans; if you want to learn more of me, go visit www.angelfire.com/pq/Phantom. My own personal webpage baby!
Rex Rottwyler: Well thank you Phantom, and I have learned a lot about you. Thank you.
Phantom: Your Welcome, Maybe we can do this again in the near future.
