Interview: Joey "Playboy" Corman

On The Mike: Interview with Australian superstar Henry ‘Lobo’ Jones

By Mike Altamura

'Playboy' Joey Corman possesses a rare quality in the wrestling business. It isn't his high-flying or mat wrestling abilities. It isn't even his better than average mic skills. It's his honesty. Corman is a straight-up guy. He doesn't fear backlash from fellow workers in the wrestling business for comments he makes, and is 100% dedicated to doing his talking inside the squared-circle.

He doesn't care for backstage politics. Since debuting in January 1998, Corman together with close friend Samir has taken the business by storm. Known as the Overboyz, the tandem of Corman and Samir became immensely popular throughout the Texas wrestling scene, and eventually were booked to wrestle for notable East Coast promotions such as Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) and Pennsylvania-based International Wrestling Cartel. Sick of the politics in wrestling, the tandem recently decided to take on a new gimmick - Hallomass.

In the following interview, Mike Altamura talks to Corman about Hallomass and what it represents, how the gimmick has been received thus far, the 5'6" 165 lb Norfolk, Virginia, resident's style as a wrestler, wrestling for CZW, and much more.

Mike Altamura) When and why did the Overboyz gimmick start?

Joey Corman) We started the Overboyz due to the fact that we weren't getting any recognition from the promoter that we working for on a regular basis. I don't really care to mention him because I'm not interested in promoting anyone except for us, but he wasn't giving us our due and we decided to shoot on him and his company.

MA) How successful do you think that gimmick was?

JC) The gimmick did exactly what we wanted to do. It got way over and we proved it with the reaction that we got on the way to the ring, the gimmick sales, and the lack of house after we left.

MA) In recent months you and Samir have undertaken a new gimmick, and are now working collectively as Hallomass- a wicked and sadistic tag team. What sparked the change in gimmicks? Does Hallomas' represent anything in particular?

JC) Hallowmas is a reaction to the business as a whole. We got sick of everyone running their mouths and acting like little kids and we decided to shut our mouths, not acknowledge anything but ourselves, and let our work do the talking. I understand that talking in the business is important these days and we are able to do it if it is necessary; we just don't care to at this time. I don't want to talk to anyone wrestling related that I don't HAVE to.

MA) How has the 'Hallomass' gimmick been received by fellow workers and moreover wrestling fans thus far?

JC) A lot of fans don't seem to get it. The ones that do seem to enjoy it. As far as the boys are concerned, I don't really care what they think about it. I couldn't care less about the gimmicks they are doing and I want them to do the same for me. I don't get paid by the boys nor do I work for them so I couldn't care less how they receive it.

Mike Altamura) What inspired you to be a wrestler?

JC) I've been watching as far back as I can remember. I grew up in Norfolk, VA so I got actual wrestling on TV. Mid Atlantic, NWA, and several regional places had TV in our area. Later we got the Vince McMahon circus but like most fans in our area we either turned the TV off or went to a local show to see what we considered wrestling. I got to attend many great NWA cards at the Norfolk Scope with my dad and I just decided that it was what I wanted to do.

MA) Who were you trained by and who impact have they had on your career?

JC) 'Killer' Tim Brooks started my training and I finished it with a guy named Jason Nash. Killer didn't really have much impact on my career. He put in the word for us with a few people and that got my foot in the door at some places but overall I don't think 'Killer' is a very big fan of mine. I still have all the respect in the world for him though; he was a great brawler and really knew how to work his character. He is still one of my favorites. Jason Nash helped a lot because he started his own promotion and booked me all the time making it easier for me to make contacts and be seen.

MA) Last December you and Samir had the opportunity to wrestle Paul London & AJ Styles on an LWE show. What experiences did you derive from that encounter?

JC) Nothing really. I've worked Paul London several times and as for AJ we always thought he was a hell of a guy and a hell of a talent. I wasn't really impressed with him at first because he did too much flip flop crap but he turned into one of the greatest workers hands down. I can't say we really learned anything other than AJ is great in the ring and out of it.

MA) What are your memories from your three-way match with Samir and Brad Michaels at CZW's Cage of Death 3? Is there any reason why you haven't wrestled for the promotion since then?

JC) That match was great. It was our East Coast debut and who better to have it with than two of my friends. We went back in and did another date for CZW (vs. The Midnight Outlaws) and we are supposed to return one day. It's wrestling so you never know. I really liked CZW and their locker-room atmosphere. Zandig is a hell of a guy and his crew busts their asses.

MA) How does it feel to have someone like Mikey Whipwreck saying you and Samir are two of the brightest young stars currently on the U.S independent circuit?

JC) That was great man. I've been a Mikey fan for a long time and to work with him was an honor. He is a great talent and to have him put us over, a guy who's been in the ring with just about everyone was freaking great. We learned more in that one match than we did in the 2 years that we had been working before that.

MA) How would you describe your style as a wrestler?

JC) It varies with my mood. I'll fly but I don't like to blow my knees and ankles out. I've slowed my style because I want to last. When it's called for I'll pick up the pace and do some crazy stuff, but in places where I'm a regular and established I like to pace myself. I don't like to hit all my big moves in one match because it leaves me nothing to do the next time out. That and I don't ever want to outshine the baby (face) with moves. I've always said I can hit a 450 and a moonsualt and so on, but if the baby's big move is a hiptoss we are really gonna have trouble getting him over. I want to be like Ric Flair. He uses 6 moves, knows way more that that but uses 6 and he is a legend. I love Ric Flair.

MA) How difficult is it to keep developing new maneuvers to ensure you remain innovative as a wrestler?

JC) It's not hard. Do like everyone else does. Get some Japanese tapes and steal their stuff. Plus like I said if you pace yourself you don't have to use all of your so-called "innovative" moves. Samir and I have forgotten more moves than most people have ever learned.

MA) What are the best and worst aspects of professional wrestling?

JC) Like I said I've always wanted to be in the business and just becoming a wrestler was a dream come true. That's the best aspect. Worst - Sorry promoters (pimps), boys who are bigger marks than the marks (i.e. guys who believe their own press, think they are stars) and the internet.

MA) What's the best 'rib' you've ever pulled off?

JC) I'm not too big on them. We do little things. Showing out of state workers empty envelopes at the end of the night making it look like the promoter completely ripped us off, which is really believable. Samir and I will act like we have heat with each other while we are working our tag matches with younger teams so it completely freaks them out and they think the match is going to be a disaster.

MA) What do you wish to accomplish in your wrestling career before you retire?

JC) Go to Mexico and Japan, and make enough money to buy a house.

For more information on 'Playboy' Joey Corman and Hallomass visit http:// www.hallowmass.vze.com Mike 'Kryptonite' Altamura can be contacted via email at icemanalt@aol.com or totalwrestlingma@aol.com

Editors note: Thanks to Mike Altamura for granting us permission to re publish this awesome interview. Greg Tingle.