Professional Wrestling Interview:
Mike "Phoenix" Youngblood
by Ben Autobot - SnowMan

Are there a lot of drugs in wrestling?

DRUGS ARE ANY WHERE IN ANY SPORT, BUT YES THERE ARE A LOT OF GUYS I KNOW ON THE INDEPENDENTS WHO USE DRUGS (COKE/WEED/PAIN PILLS).  ON THE TOP LEVELS, I DON'T REALLY KNOW OF ANY GUYS USING DRUGS LIKE THAT.  STEROIDS ARE COMMON IN ALL OF WRESTLING, AND I'VE EVEN USED THEM A TIME OR TWO.  MY FAVORITE WAS DECA DURIBOLIN.  IT GETS RID OF FAT AND MAKES YOUR JOINTS STRONGER.  IF USED WITH TESTOSTERONE ITS A GOOD STACK.  BUT I KICKED THAT 2 YEARS AGO.  I REALLY DIDN'T NEED IT TO BEGAN WITH, I WAS ALREADY BIG ENOUGH AND STRONG ENOUGH TO BEGAN WITH.  BUT, IF SOMEONE WANTS TO USE A DRUG THAT'S THEIR BUSINESS NOT MINE OR ANYONE ELSE'S.
 

What do you dislike about wrestling?

WELL, WHAT I DISLIKE ABOUT WRESTLING? THE FACT WE GET SO MUCH NEGATIVE PRESS ABOUT BEING DRUG ADDICTS, THUGS, CRIMINALS, STUFF LIKE THAT. WHEN YES THERE IS A FEW BAD APPLES, THAT DOESN'T MEAN ALL OF US ARE THAT WAY. THE QUESTION THAT I HATE MOST IS,"IS IT FAKE". I WILL NOT EVEN GET ON THAT TOPIC. THEIR ARE SOME STUPID FUCKING PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD!
 

What do you think of working for Carlos Colon?

THE BEST MONEY I MADE WAS WITH CARLOS COLON, HE WAS VERY GOOD TO ME. I AM GOOD FRIENDS WITH THE COLONS AND I LOVE WORKING WITH THE COMPANY. TWO OTHER PLACES I MADE GOOD MONEY WAS WITH MUTA (ALL JAPAN). I WORKED WITH HIROSHI TANAHASHI, KENTA, AND HIROYOSHI TENZAN. IN JAPAN IT’S A DIFFERENT BREED OF WRESTLER.  EVERYTHING IS A LOT STIFFER THERE AND I LIKE IT LIKE THAT. THE USO TOUR BRUNG IN MORE MONEY THAN ANY OTHER COMPANY I WORKED FOR. IN 6 WEEKS I MADE 17,200 DOLLARS.

What do you think of the WWE's product?

WWE WAS A COOL PLACE TO WORK ALSO; I DID 31 DAYS IN 1994 WITH THE HARDY BOYS, AND A FEW OTHERS. I WRESTLED BOB BACKLUND, MABLE AND MO, RAZOR RAMON, SHAWN MICHAELS/DIESEL AND A LIST OF OTHERS. I WENT BACK AGAIN WHILE WORKING FOR CARLOS IN 2005. I WRESTLED ROB CONWAY AND KURT ANGLE. WWE OFFERED ME SOME MORE SPOT SHOWS, THEY WANTED TO GIVE ME A DEVELOPMENTAL DEAL BUT AT THAT TIME I WAS BURNED OUT AND TIRED FROM WRESTLING IN PUERTO RICO, JAPAN. I NEEDED SURGERY ON MY KNEES AND SHOULDER, AND I MENTAL WAS JUST SICK OF THE POLITICS IN THE WWE. THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.

What is it like wrestling in Puerto Rico and Japan?

WELL, I LIVED IN PUERTO RICO FOR 4YRS. AND WRESTLED FOR CARLOS COLON OF THE WWC FROM 2003 UNTIL 06 WHEN I JUMPED SHIP TO SAVIO VEGA'S COMPANY THE IWA.  MY STINT WITH CARLOS WAS VERY GOOD, I WORKED SOME OF TNA'S TOP TALENT AT THAT TIME KID KASH, DAVID YOUNG, KONNAN FORMER WWE WRESTLER JOEY MERCURY, EDDIE COLON, JUVENTUD. I HAD FEUDS WITH CURTIS HUGHES THAT LASTED A COUPLE MONTHS.  GREG THE HAMMER VALENTINE WAS ANOTHER GUY I LIKED WORKING WITH. I HAD A PARTNER ERIC ALEXANDER WHO NOW WORKS FOR WWE DEVELOPMENTAL AS ERIC PEREZ. WE HAD MANY MATCHES WITH DELTA FORCE TWO GUYS THAT PLAYED FOOTBALL FOR THE DALLAS COWBOYS. CARLOS COLON ALSO DID WORK WITH THE GREAT MUTA AS FAR AS SENDING TALENT TO WORK IN JAPAN, I SPENT 1 MONTH THERE THROUGH CARLOS, AND WENT BACK AGAIN BY MYSELF AFTER I LEFT CARLOS COLONS COMPANY. I SPENT 4 WEEKS WITH SAVIOR VEGA, WHEN I LEFT CARLOS. A GOOD FRIEND BRIAN LEE (FAKE UNDERTAKER) AND I MET THERE AND EVERY NIGHT WAS A PARTY FOR US TWO. BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.

Who do you like to work with?

MY FAVORITE GUY TO WORK WITH IS TIMBER THE INSANE LUMBERJACK. WE'VE WORKED EACH OTHER AT LEAST A HUNDRED TIMES OR MORE SINCE 1995 UNTIL RECENT. HE IS THE ONLY GUY I KNOW AT 300LBS THAT CAN DO A 450 SPLASH AND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MOON SAULT I HAVE EVER SEEN. HE'S A HELL OF A SCIENTIFIC WRESTLER ALSO. KURT ANGLE IS THE TOUGHEST PERSON I'VE WRESTLED. I WORKED WITH HIM IN HIS FIRST EVER LADDER MATCH IN ROANOKE, VA. 2 WEEKS BEFORE WRESTLEMANIA. HE'S A NICE PERSON TO, I ENJOYED WORKING OUT WITH HIM IN THE GYM AND IN THE RING THE DAY OF THE SHOW AND LITTLE DID I KNOW THE DAY WE WERE TRAINING IN THE RING SGT. SLAUGHTER ASKED ME IF I WOULD WORK WITH KURT. I WAS VERY EXCITED AND NERVOUS AT THE SAME TIME, BUT ONCE THE SHOW STARTED I PUT ALL THAT BEHIND ME. AND WE HAD A GREAT MATCH. IT WAS THE ANGLE INVITATIONAL I WAS APART OF.

What do you like about wrestling?

THE THING I LIKE ABOUT WRESTLING IS THE TRAVELING AND THE MANY PEOPLE I GET TO MEET ON THE ROAD. I LIKE ALSO WHEN I'M IN THE RING I CAN PLAY WITH THE PEOPLES EMOTIONS. I HAVE THEM IN THE PALM OF MY HAND, I CAN MAKE THEM HATE ME OR LOVE ME. ITS UP TO ME TO MAKE THE PUPPETS SING OR DANCE ANYWAY I WANT THEM TO. I ENJOY THAT THE MOST. JAPAN IS MY FAVORITE PLACE TO WRESTLE, ITS TREATED MORE LIKE A SPORT THERE. THERE'S MORE RESPECT AMONG THE WRESTLERS, IN AND OUT OF THE RING. THE PSYCHOLOGY IS A LOT DIFFERENT ALSO AND THE FINISHES TAKE ABOUT 5 OR 10 MINS. LONGER THAN THE AMERICAN FINISHES DO. THERE IS SO MUCH EDUCATION AN AMERICAN CAN GET WHEN THEY WRESTLE FOR INOKI OR MUTA'S PROMOTIONS. I'VE ALSO PERFORMED FOR THE AMERICAN MILITARY BASES ON USO TOURS MANY TIMES WITH THE NWA MID-ATLANTIC OUT OF CHARLOTTE, NC.

You've been somewhat outspoken about the WWE.  What else do you dislike about the WWE?
THE THING THAT PISSES ME OFF WITH THE WWE IS THE TALENT THEY BRING IN SOMETIME IS THE PURE SHITS, BIG MUSCLE HEADS WHO CAN'T WORK A LICK. GUYS WHO REALLY HAVEN'T BEEN TRAINED. I COULD SAY A FEW NAMES, BUT I'D RATHER NOT. FUCK IT, TYSON TOMKO, THE GREAT KAHLI OR WHAT EVER THE HELL HIS NAME IS. "UMMM' SNITSKY, MARK HENRY, HORNSWOGGLE "WHAT THE HELL IS A HORNWOGGLE". HOW MUCH MONEY IS BEING WASTED ON GUYS THAT CAN'T WORK? WHO EVER HIRED THESE WRESTLERS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OUT BACK AND PUT DOWN LIKE AN OLD MULE. MY THOUGHT IS REPLACE THESE CLOWNS WITH A SHANNON MOORE, BILLY KIDMAN, AND KID KASH. HELL, THEY HAVE HOW MANY DEVELOPMENTAL WRESTLERS, A HUNDRED OR SO. THERE IS ONLY TWO AGENTS IN THE WWE I PERSONALLY THINK NEED TO BE PUT OUT OF THERE MISERY AND I REALLY DON'T WANT TO SAY THERE NAMES. AND I WANT!! I HAVE ONE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY, VINCE GET RID OF JOHNNY ACE AND STEVE KERNS, PLEASE!!!!!!! DAMN DID I SAY THAT.

What do you think of AfroSquad.com?

I AM A COMPLETE SQUADDER!  GO AFROSQUAD!

Who is your least favorite wrestler?

WELL, THAT’S A GOOD QUESTION! HMMMMMMMM, I WOULD SAY MY LEAST FAVORITE WOULD BE THE BOOGIE MAN, I DON'T KNOW THE GUY PERSONALY BUT THE GIMMIC SUCKS, AND FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN OF HIS WORK IN THE RING HE'S VERY GREEN. IT'S NOT HIM PERSONALY, JUST THE GIMMIC. MY FAVORITE TO WATCH WOULD BE RIC FLAIR AND A CLOSE SECOND IS RANDY ORTON. I'M ONLY SPEAKING FOR THE MOMENT, CAUSE TRIPLE H IS NOT IN THE GAME RIGHT KNOW,HE WOULD SHUT THEM BOTH DOWN WORK WISE, AND ON THE MIC. OH NO, I DIDN'T JUST MARK OUT DID I!!

What do you think of WWE's divas?

I THINK THAT THE DIVA'S ARE COOL, I MISS SEING IVORY, MISS TEXAS (JACKIE). THOSE TWO COULD REALLY WORK A MATCH.  I WAS GOOD FRIENDS WITH SHERRY MARTEL, WHO I MISS A BUNCH, SHE WAS A GOOD PERSON AND FUNNY TOO.  I REMEMBER ONE NIGHT IN MEMPHIS WE JUST FINISHED WORKING A BIG SHOW.  IT WAS HER, LONI KIA, ME.  WE WENT OUT ON THE TOWN TO A FANCY RESTURANT, AND I TELL YA SHE DRANK ME UNDER THE TABLE AND COULD STILL WALK A STRAIGHT LINE.  THOSE TWO GIRLS GOT ME SO DRUNK AND THEN HAD TO BABY SIT ME; I WAS SO SICK THE NEXT DAY. IT WAS FUN HANGING WITH HER AND LONI; THEY HAD ALOT OF GREAT STORIES OF BEING ON THE ROAD.  BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION I THINK THAT A WOMEN HELP BUILD THIS BUSINESS AS MUCH AS THE MEN HAVE, AND I THINK THEY DON'T GET AS MUCH CREDIT AS THEY DESERVE.  AT THIS POINT AND TIME I THINK MICKEY JAMES IS THE BEST WOMENS WRESTLER IN THE WWE, BUT TRISH WOULD GIVE HER A RUN FOR HER MONEY.

Thanks for your support and your time.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND I THINK YOU HAD ALOT OF GOOD QUESTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ALSO I'M TAKING BOOKINGS, SO IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED, YOU CAN REACH ME AT wrestlekings@hotmail.com or www.myspace.com/wrestleking3.

THANKS AGAIN, MICHAEL YOUNGBLOOD