Interview: "Bad" Brad Michaels - 16th September 2002

GT. Why did you get into wrestling?

BM. When I started watching wrestling I fell in love with it, and gradually decided I would like to give it a try. Once I actually started training to become a wrestler, there was no turning back. Wrestling is in the blood. Either you love it or you don't. It can be a hobby or a passion. With me it's a passion.

GT. How?

BM. I had been attending live local wrestling for several years, and had become friends with several of the wrestlers. Eventually I began video taping their workouts, and it went from there. As they say, the rest is history.

GT. Best Match and who with?

BM. I don't think I could choose just one. I really enjoyed my series of matched with The Dark Angel. They were entertaining for the crowd, and we had fun performing together. I also had a good match with former WCW wrestler Norman Smiley.

GT. Favorite move?

BM. Piledriver.

GT. Weirdest experience or road story or biggest "rib" taken or given?

BM. WOW! Far too many to go into here.

GT. Short, Medium and long term goals?

BM. I've already met my short term goals. I'm in the business that I love. I wrestle frequently. I run a successful wrestling school. My long term goals would obviously be to go further in this business, with the ultimate goal being WWE. For the time being I just want my wrestling school to take-off bigger and better.

GT. Prefer heel or face?

BM. Heel.

GT. Worst injury?

BM. Torn tendons in my shoulder.

GT. What you do when you are not wresting?

BM. Run my school and relax when I have a free minute.

GT. What parts of American / world have you traveled and / or wrestled?

BM. I've done most of my work in the southwest area. But I have worked in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, Nebraska, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Missouri.

GT. Your wrestling style described as...?

BM. Fast-paced, intense, and entertaining.

GT. Most embarrassing moment or gimmick, or strangest thing asked to do - in the ring, or out of it?

BM. I've had my bare ass exposed in the ring for several weeks in a row. That wasn't really all that embarrassing, though.

GT. Do you have real "heat" with anyone, and have you even got into a "shoot"?

BM. I don't have any real heat with anyone. There are always going to be people in this business, as in anywhere else in life, that you don't like. But you just deal with it, act professionally and coexist for the betterment of the company. And yes, I have been in a shoot in the ring, but I don't care to go into details here.

GT. What's sports and interests did you have in school?

BM. Honestly I wasn't big into sports in school. I would rather stay home and watch wrestling than to participate in a school club or anything like that.

GT. If you didn't wrestle for a living, what line of business would you do otherwise?

BM. I don't think I can answer that. Wrestling is all I see myself doing.

GT. What wrestlers you model yourself on or look up to?

BM. Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels are big influences.

GT. What keeps you strong, when the business, and life in general, can get tough?

BM. Good question. This business is a hard one to stay positive in often times. You just have to tell yourself that things will get better and that it's not easy. You have to realize up front that making it in this business is an uphill battle, but it's worth the fight.

GT. How successful has promotion through the Internet been for you, and is this the same for all wrestlers?

BM. It varies. The internet is certainly a positive way to get your name out there. People from an area where you have never wrestled can see your website and contact you through that. I have had that happen numerous times. (Cheap Plug Time - www.badbradmichaels.com)

GT. What's next for The Bad Boy?

BM. I'm taking things one step at a time, waiting to see what this great business deals me next. I am going to Ohio in December to wrestle former WCW star Elix Skipper.

GT. What wrestling promoter do you respect the most?

BM. I really enjoy working for a guy named Scott Davis (a/k/a Nite) who own and operates Texas Championship Wrestling. He is all about having fun. He's all business, don't get me wrong. But his company is fun to work for. Everyone gets along, and it's one great big family.

GT. What's your opinion of the WWE and Vince McMahon?

BM. He's done something right to get where he is today. I respect Vince a lot, even if I don't always agree with the things they do. However, I don't often disagree with it.

GT. What's the name of your finishing hold?

BM. Piledriver.

GT. Any special message for your fans in Australia?

BM. I've not been to Australia, but would love to go sometime. Please keep up the support through the internet. God bless you all.

GT. Thanks mate, your a champ. That was totally awesome. Regards from "down under".

...end.

Links

Bad Brad Michaels official website