America’s Academy of Pro Wrestling (AAPW) is a professional wrestling school located in Austin,TX. We have over 35 years of experience training pro-wrestlers, managers, referees, announcers, and valets. Our classes are open to both male and female students of all ages.
AUSTINAAPW.COM
Letter from the Editor Welcome to the very first issue of Heel/Face Magazine. We are really excited to launch this magazine and hope that you enjoy all of the hard work that went into producing it.
DECEMBER 2016
EDITOR Jeff Cerda
Much like our website, you will see original content with the continuation of series, interviews, opinion pieces and features on some of the people in the wrestling world. While we cannot feature every single wrestler, promoter or manager in one issue, we still managed to fit tons of coverage into this issue. Shana Roy brings you an all new “Wrestling Cocktails� featuring Delilah Doom, Brandon Roy sits down with Houston Carson and Brandon Oliver of River City Wrestling, Joseph Montana wrote a feature piece on Ricky Starks, Jason Harris has an opinion piece and yours truly brings you a feature story on the wrestling legend George de la Isla. Thanks to everyone on staff for their help in getting this issue out, especially Michael De Leon, and to our advertisers for their support. We hope you enjoy reading this as much as we enjoyed writing it.
STAFF WRITERS Jason Harris Joseph Montana Brandon Roy Shana Roy DESIGNER Michael De Leon Original photos property of respective owners.
A MEMBER OF THE PROJECT SPURS NETWORK Email heelfacewrestling@gmail.com for advertising inquiries.
Jeff Cerda, Editor Heel/Face Wrestling
All editorial content Copyright 2016 Heel/Face Wrestling
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
NWA Wrestling Revolution EVERY FRIDAY in December in McAllen
Metroplex Wrestling EVERY SATURDAY in January in Bedford
NXT-Sat 1/28 San Antonio
Metroplex Wrestling EVERY SATURDAY in December in Bedford
Wrestle Circus - Sat 1/14 Austin, Reality of Wrestling-Sat 1/14 Texas City
Texas All Star Wrestling Sat 1/28 Cypress
Anarchy Championship Wrestling Sun 1/15 Austin
WWE: Royal Rumble Sun 1/29 San Antonio
America’s Academy of Pro Wrestling Sat 1/21 Pflugerville, TX
WWE: SmackDown Live Tue 1/31 Corpus Christi
Texas All Star Wrestling-Fri 1/27 Brazoria, TX
Ring of Honor Wrestling Fri 2/3 San Antonio, TX
River City Wrestling-Fri 1/27 San Antonio
VIP Wrestling-Fri 2/10
Evolve-Fri 1/27 & Sat 1/28 San Antonio
America’s Academy of Pro Wrestling
VIP Wrestling - Friday 12/16 Dallas, TX America’s Academy of Pro Wrestling Sat 12/17 Pflugerville Wrestle Circus-Sat 12/17 Austin, Inspire Pro Wrestling-Sun 12/18 Austin Total Championship Wrestling Sat 12/31 Killeen NWA Wrestling Revolution EVERY FRIDAY in January in McAllen
eorge de la Isla may not er match aga be a name that m any Texas and an wrestling fans ar e fa- Boesch an d miliar with, but if you change his attended an indy m show in Texas, “P au l chances are you’ve is the on seen his work st ar ted in the and you didn’t ev en know it. In m entor. He w 2017, George will ce lebrate 50 years w hen I would in the wrestling bu siness, whether to buy my tick it be as a wrestler, b ooker, promoter one day he inv or mentor. These d ays you can catch to talk wrestlin George in Pflugerv ille, TX at his w ould give Ge wrestling school, A merica’s Acadeto wrestling for my of Professional Wrestling, helping creating the st ars of tomorrow, “Back then jus today. Before we talk about that, was getting dra let’s take a look at how it all began. was going to ge asked me what I The Early Days didn’t get drafted George got his firs t taste of wresno, go to college I tling when he was 11 years old and lege wasn’t for m his father would ta ke him to local w ays, with the tho events. “It was extr emely scary for a wrestler always me. I saw two huge humans in the m ind.” Paul Boesc ring without shirts and slamming h im the question and beating them selves to death, hear. “Paul asked I thought that was horrible!” Fur- to become a wrestl thering his feeling of being terrified yes fast enough. H was when he met one of the wresa trainer and get tlers before one of t the shows. “My he would help me dad used to go earl y to the shows to I was trained. see the wrestlers sh ow up. I remember this one time, a man with a black mask with a The Wrestler white eagle on it After completing reached down and shook my hand George learned and I was terrified, th I thought to mymany unwritten ru self that I would n le ever go to anoththe wrestling busi ne
G
ain.” A trip to Hou ston, n encounter with Paul Morris Sigel wou ld mind about wrest ling. ne that actually go t me e business, he was my would always see me d go to the box offi ce kets for the shows and vited me to his offi ce ng.” Befriending P aul eorge an attachm ent r life.
st about everybod y afted, so I though tI et drafted too. Pau l was going to do if I d and I said ‘I dun I guess.’ I knew colme, but I went an yought of becoming in the back of my ch would then ask he was waiting to me, ‘do you want ler?’ I couldn’t say He told me to find trained and then get booked once
r Is Born his training hat there were es and rituals in ess. He trained
for seven months before he even mel and The Dalto stepped foot in a ri n Brothers. It was ng and his trainwhen he began to tr ing was only once avel as a wrestler a week, which th at he met some of isn’t much compar his best friends ed to the training that he still talks to regimen of today. today including George paid with Ali Vaziri, or you al chicken and eggs ra l might know him ther than actual as the Iron Sheik. money, because bac k then, that was payment enough. “When I trained “I met Ali around for the first seve the early 70’s and n months withhe had just won out stepping into a a bronze medal ring, I felt like I in the Olympics. wasn’t getting anyw I started roomhere, but it was ing with him whil part of the rituals. e we were on the Ring time wasn’t road and going to just given to you.” our shows. I also worked a lot with Jerry Lawler. He was a character, George trained w a phenomenon. ith Barry Young, What a lot of peo Paul Estrada and ple don’t know Tiger Conway to about Jerry, is that name a few, althou when I had met gh he admits he him, he was 21 year learned every singl s old and he was e time he stepped already a millionai into the ring. “I re re. He was a big member one time main eventer, a bi in San Benito, Texa g draw every sins, Joe Blanchard gle time. I got to go had his way with m to Georgia with e. Back then, when him quite a bit, as you were a newco well as Florida.” mer and wanted into the business, th ey beat you until “Wrestling has take you say you wanted n me many placout. Even though es. I was fortunate I got my tail beat, I ju enough to wrestle st took it because the Brisco Brother I knew if I didn’t, I w s (Jack & Jerry) , ouldn’t get in and the Funks (Dory an wanted in badly.” d Terry) and every time I wrestled somebody, it was a different experie “Paul gave me a big nce. I was touring list of promoters a lot of the east co and told me ‘the best ast at this time, thing you can do but I always wan is get away from Te ted to go to the xas and get yourwest coast. I wante self saturated in ot d to live there. I her parts of the loved it because th United States.’ So off e trips were very I went.” George sh ort, everywhere el got to work with so se seemed to me of the best in be many hours aw business at that tim ay from show to e including Nick show, but the west Gulas, Roy Welch, Tojo Yamamoto, Ron Bass, Bill Drum -
always seemed like a short drive time I saw him he would always motion and create my own charaway between shows.” say, ‘I gotta call my mom’ acters. This was around 1980 or so. I was in Orange, California “Jerry Jarrett and Mrs. Jarrett “I was supposed to wrestle Moon- at this time and the promotion (the parents of Jeff Jarrett) al- dog one week on a Wednesday name was Pacific Coast Crown ways treated me with respect night. we built up this feud and it Wrestling. Karl Lauer helped and they took good care of me. was going to be the main event on me get a ring and he let me used The McGuire twins (Georgia this show. But just a day before, he his license at that time so that boys) were my neighbors at one was killed in an automobile ac- I could get started. I had many time. I’ve never had comrade- cident. I was shocked, I had just good wrestlers come out and rie like I have in wrestling. I seen him on Monday and then work out and teach at my gym was very fortunate to survive 14 he was gone. It really hurt me to and I ran this until about 1990.” years as a wrestler.” know that your friends could be here one minute and then gone George decided to move back to Moving Out West the next, just like I could.” Texas, but he wanted a fresh start George finally got his chance to in a new city, rather than going go out west and met more peo- George never takes anything for back to Houston, so he chose ple that he considers lifelong granted and he knows one day the city of Austin to continfriends. “I was with Roy Welch he will have to step away from ue his journey in the wrestling in San Francisco and Las Vegas. wrestling forever, but not any- business. “I went back to the
“
I love all my students.. what they do with their lives after going through my training...as long as they go on to do great things, that is just as rewarding.
I met Chavo and Gory Guerrero in southern California. I used to always listen to Gory because I knew I would always learn a lot from him. Mando was a great help, Hector was a fantastic guy and a good guy to learn from. Chavo is a really close friend.” “Some of the other guys I met in California were John Tolos, ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper and Moondog Mayne. Moondog would always have to call his mom on Wednesdays and Sundays. Here he is, the meanest guy in the world, would have to call his mom to check in. Every
time soon. He still has plenty left to give the wrestling world and is still going strong. While he was in California, he saw a lot of good wrestlers not getting a fair shake and decided to do something to help them out. The Promoter Is Born “All these guys would audition for Mike LeBell and they were pretty good but they didn’t make it. I didn’t see why they didn’t make the cut and that bothered me a little. I didn’t think they were getting a fair shake, so I decided to do something about it. I decided to start my own pro-
basics, went smaller and kept it simple. One thing I always teach my students is that you have to learn when to turn it off. The big leagues will tell you to knock it off or they will let you go right then and there. They don’t put up with that. When I was going to NWA, they would always ask me ‘how do you get along with the boys?’ If you started any trouble you were fined or you were out of there, or even if you tried to tell somebody about the business, you were gone,but now it’s not like that anymore. At my academy we have the respect, we make you and we break you.”
Due to various reasons, George’s school/promotion changed names and locations throughout the 90s, but no matter what the name was or where he was located, he still produced some of the best wrestlers and best matches in the area. Some of the wrestlers that he produced out of his school in the 90s were Tarzan Taylor, a Kamla inspired character Dada Zulu, the Bubbalicuous Man, Bobo Blonson, Manny de la Pena and Psycho Simpson to name a few. “These characters came out of comic books that were developed in Austin. Guys from all over Texas wanted in to our shows.” Some of today’s wrestlers that George trained or had a hand in training “Tom Prichard did a clinic for that people might be familiar with me and people from all over include Mr. B, Houston Carson, Texas, Oklahoma and Louisi- Barbi Hayden, Ricky Starks, Victoana came out. Chavo Guerrero, ria, ACH, Steve DeMarco, Heather Pete Christi and Cowboy Don Divine, Christi Jaynes, Laynie Luck Adams would come out to help and Allie Kat. Of course there are me out too, I was very lucky and many, many more, but these are just very thankful for them all.” some of them. Now, after two years of being in Pflugerville, Texas with his America’s Academy of Professional Wrestling, George’s presence in the wrestling business is just as strong as it has ever been. He credits Marty Green for helping keep his school going. “I’ve known Marty since the late 90s. He’s a great man and a great referee. I gave him the run of the mill to help me produce the AAPW show and that’s what he loves to do. I give him credit, he is good and he deserves it. Tell him to stop asking me to bring in Chavo Guerrero though.”
“I never thought I would be almost saying goodbye to this business. There is people like Ricky Starks, Christi Jaynes, Barbi Hayden, I don’t want to let them down. I want to hold some kind of special place in their heart. I want them to remember that I always laughed with you, but when it came down to it, we always took care of business. I don’t want anyone to worry about me, I will always have “I always wanted to retire, but then another class, I will always have anI would come up with something other Ricky Starks to teach, another else or something new to do. I never Barbi Hayden to teach. I will be ok.” gave it up because I always enjoyed teaching the new students. As long In the early days, George menas they wanted to learn and want- tioned several times that he wanted me to teach them, I want to do ed to quit the business or questhis. The people that I have named, tioned why he was doing this. I love them all and they are great. Looking back now, 50 years later I love all my students, but there in the business, I know that there are some that stick with me. What are plenty of wrestlers and fans they do with their lives after going that are happy that he continued through my training, whether it be on with his journey. He has helped in wrestling or not, as long as they so many people in so many places go on to do great things, that is just and he is making change in this as rewarding.” world. Something we could definitely use more of.
Pinned Down with BOOM BOOM Brandon Oliver
By Brandon Roy
wrestling schools. However, in the summer of 1999, I loaded up everything I had into a Jeep Wrangler— which you can’t fit much into an old school Wrangler—and moved back to Texas (I was born in San Antonio) to attend college at (Southwest) Texas State University in San Marcos as well as the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy.
Today on Pinned Down, we take a look at River City Wrestling, and its owner Brandon Oliver. While Heel/Face does quite a bit with them, I myself, have had little interaction with them, but I am going to try and change that. Through this series I have talked to Darin Childs who runs ACW, and Biss who helps runs Inspire Pro and helped I was taking 21 credit hours with ACW. Now I turn to at SWT, while also driving San Antonio and RCW. to downtown San Antonio three days a week to First off, just some back- attend HBK’s school. After ground: what got you the school, I would maninto the wrestling world? age, ref, commentate, ring Why did you decide to announce, and do whatevstart a company, who got er I could for various local you started and who were promotions. After Shawn’s the first wrestlers to work TWA folded, there really with you? wasn’t anything going on locally. I felt like we were I started watching wrestling putting in all of this work since I was about five or to wrestle in front of 10 six years old, and became fans, 5 of them I was rea die-hard fan inspired by sponsible for. So I started the iconic characters of that up River City Wrestling in time in the mid-80s. I was January 2002. Admittedly, hooked on the larger than a lot sooner than I would life personalities. In the have liked, but I felt this mid-90s I moved to Tam- was my calling. pa where it seems everyone that wrestled in the 80s 1. What is the hardest part and 90s lived at one point about starting up a wresor another, and I started tling company or running meeting different wrestlers one? What did you have to and checking out different put on the back burner or
give up to do so?
ketball and football have actual numbers and statisPut on the back burner.... tics. Things are murkier in life. LOL. I taught high wrestling in terms of anaschool English for a little lytics and benchmarks. while, and here’s one aspect I can compare the two. 3. Do you feel that wresComing up with lesson tling has more premature plans for teaching is fun and or just a surprising numexciting, you think that you ber of earlier than expectare the teacher that every- ed deaths compared to one should have and what other sports and does this others are missing. These influence how you run lesson plans are going to your company? change kids’ lives. Well, here’s the thing... coming I think things are changing up with lesson plans is the a lot. Lifestyles and health fun and easy part. It’s the choices have changed. Also, live classroom environ- if you put something under ment that is the true work. a microscope you can’t be Same thing with wrestling. surprised at what you find. Anyone can make matches or dream matches. But 4. Was there ever a moto put up with all the rest? ment when you truly felt It takes tremendous work you had had enough, that and sacrifice. Work that I running a company, dealcannot sum up in words. ing with the venues, the But it’s work that I thrive workers, getting the butts on, makes me a better per- in the seats, did there ever son and makes me perform come a moment when you as hard as I can. thought it wouldn’t work? That you figured it would 2. Do you think its hard- be easier to do something er or just equally as hard else? to get to the big leagues of wrestling as it is say Bas- My original goal was to ketball or Football? make it to 10 years. We’re going on 15. Most compaApples and oranges. I nies never make it this long. would say it’s more com- Everything has its share of parable to the acting pro- stresses, worries, concerns, fession or singing. Bas- arguments and negativity.
For me, it’s who you surround yourself with and keep close. I really enjoy what I do, I really do. I feel like it’s a part of my body, and if it were gone, then it’d be like losing a limb.
“I know more than this guy” and etc.. Not saying we have to be best friends, but in reality, the outside is remarking how unstable independent wrestling is. The majority of promotions are not ran like actual companies. Many things are done in spite. A lot of wasted energy.
5. Why the name RCW, why choose San Antonio? For that matter why Texas? I love San Antonio. This city has embraced me and my family. They showed that this past Friday night where not only was our attendance not affected by Ring of Honor, but we outdrew them. That is remarkable. ROH is one of the best promotions in the world. Everyone thought we were crazy.
nity. Working with respected names in the business and having their respect. Or involving my wife in several things, such as the segment where she slapped me for taking The GodfaRiver City Wrestling be- ther’s hoes. LOL cause SA is the River City, the Riverwalk defines our 7. Were you or did you downtown. To be honest, ever consider being a I’m not even worried about wrestler? Texas. I love my community, the bonds and friend- I was trained and have been ships I’ve made with var- in several matches. Full ious community leaders, time though? No, not at local media, local business- all. I’m comfortable where es, the military and local I am and who I am. Those charities. Wouldn’t trade it. that strive to be the best though and follow through 6. What has been your with the work on it though favorite moment in wres- have my respect. tling so far? 8. What advice would Way too many to narrow you give to someone who down to just one. The first wanted to start their own time the Hardbodies won promotion? What would the RCW Tag Titles and you have done differently I held my daughter in the if you could start over? air. Working with just incredible people both inside Don’t. LOL. I’m kidding, wrestling and the commu- my advice would be to in-
11. If you could do a team up or crossover with any other indy promotion which would it be and why? vest your time and money into an existing promotion, shadow a successful promoter and build your reputation and resume up. Launch the promotion the right way. Would I go back and make changes? Well hindsight is always 20/20, so of course. 9. What would you be doing if you were not in Wrestling?
None. I’m fine by myself. That’s not a knock and I am not being critical. But I enjoy that it’s my family and I’m doing this. Even if everyone “got along,” I’d still just rather do my own thing. 12. Of all the wrestlers and people you have met over the years which were you most excited to meet?
10. If you had the power to change anything in Indy Wrestling what would it be?
I’ve worked with so many legends that have inspired me. Some were one time deals and probably don’t remember me LOL and that’s ok. There’s some legends I talk to regularly. I admire them all, they’ve opened so many doors and inspired so many people with their work.
Oh boy, this could get me in trouble LOL. Honestly, better communication among everybody. Ironically, we all have the same passions and goals, but we get trapped up in egos and
I consider myself blessed to have worked with them, and see them inspire the fans they way they did for me when I was a kid. It’s really surreal and I’m privileged to be a part of it.
Doing what I’m doing now in addition to wrestling, working in the media and higher education.
Q&A with “The Texas Lion” Houston Carson By Brandon Roy 1. What was the toughest thing to give up or sacrifice to be part of the wrestling world? Giving up weekends can be difficult at times because while I’m out working 3-4 days each weekend, normal people are spending time together and celebrating birthdays, holidays, weddings, BBQs, etc. I miss out on everything that normal people do. But I don’t mind now. I love what I do. I’d hate to be normal. 2. Do you think its harder or just equally as hard to get to the big leagues of wrestling as it is say Basketball or Football? It’s harder to become a big league sports entertainer. There are only a few major wrestling organizations. In sports you have an ungodly amount of teams to play for. The NFL alone has 32 teams with at least 60 or so spots to fill on each team. WWE Raw has a roster of about 20 guys.
of early deaths. We don’t get off seasons, we work every week of every year, injured or not. We put things into our bodies to make us feel better for the time being that end up hurting us in the long run. Our bodies can only take so much, and we give them zero time to rest. 4. If you could change anything about the indy wrestling industry what would it be? What about TNA/WWE? There are too many shitty wrestlers on the independents that are allowed on shows. Too many cheap promoters who book cheap talent and produce a cheap product. I lose money all of the time because promoters will pay a guy with half my ability half of my price to try to do the same job. You pay for crap, you receive crap. Gotta spend money to make money. A lot of guys need to look in the mirror and just be honest with themselves and understand that they need to give up and get out of the way. As far as WWE/TNA, they are great. I’d be an idiot mark to critique any of their work, they’re very successful and on television and I’m not there, so obviously they’re doing better than me. Haha.
3. Do you feel wrestling has more premature or just a surprising number of earlier then expected deaths compared to other sports and does this influence you in any way? Definitely has a huge number 5. Was there ever a moment
when you truly felt you had had enough, that maybe wrestling wasn’t for you? If so what kept you going? I hit my 7 year mark this past summer and I had a breakdown. I’d been busting my ass for years to get somewhere to make some big money at this and it seemed as if I wasn’t ever going to get my break. Almost wanted to give up. But I remember how good I was at this, I remembered that this isn’t a job, it’s a passion, it’s what I’m best at, it’s what fuels me, and I had to keep going. I’m only 29 as of November 10th and I’ve got 20 years left in me. I’m going to be a huge star, it’s not a matter of what I’m doing, it’s a matter of WHO is going to finally see me when I’m in the right place at the right time. 6. What promotions do you feel are breaking down the walls separating Men’s Wrestling from Women’s Wrestling and just making it all Wrestling? How do you feel they are doing that? Some feel having men and woman wrestling each other hurts
the reality, what do you think? I think WWE is doing a great job of making women’s wrestling important and showing that some women can really put on great, believable matches. There is some insane talent on their roster right now. As far as men vs women, I hate it. I don’t like phony wrasslin. Haha. Reality makes money. I will not act as if someone half my size and strength can have a chance at fighting me. If she’s Chyna or someone of that stature, it’s a different story hahaha.
until I finally get my chance to come back. On the other hand, it’s incredibly fun being a large heel and working a small baby face. Heel work is my favorite thing to do. Hearing a crowd chanting a guy’s name because I’m so hated that they want him to fight back to kick my ass.
7. What has been your most exciting experience in the wrestling world so far? I’ve had many. Getting to wrestle for the WWE on house shows and putting guys over on RAW was great. Working for ROH was a fun experience. Wrestling guys that I idolized like Scott Steiner, Jake the Snake, and Charlie Haas were great. That’s the great thing about this job, almost every experience is exciting.
10. You have gone from a fun, sort of goofy Old School wrestling to The Texas Lion serious and focused, what brought the change and which is more like your real self? I was a green kid who was always anxious and ready to have a good time. That was that first character, I would dance, I came out to rap music, I slapped hands and smiled all of the time. It was great for the time being. But after one of my serious injuries, I had to sit at home and rebuild a character. Not only create a guy who could kick anyone’s ass in the ring, but never get fucked with in public either. I grew out my beard, let my body hair grow out, put on 20 lbs of muscle, and starting ripping heads off. My fan base grew like crazy and I went from mid carding to being at the top of every show I worked on. The Lion was born and now the only way to stop me, is to kill me.
8. Do you find it tougher to battle men who are powerhouses like yourself I.E Keith Lee, Ray Rowe, Mike Dell or the fast quick, hit you a dozen types in a second like Sammy G, Matt Riot, or Lince Dorado? Which do you prefer to battle? I’m a very adaptive worker. I can work anyone of any size. I enjoy it all. They tell two totally different stories and to me, the story is the most important part. With that being said, even though I’m a large man, I like to work guys larger than myself. It’s fun to tell an underdog story when I’m the underdog. Having to build and build and build
9. What do you think you would be doing if you were not wrestling? Personal training. My favorite hobby is weight lifting.
11. Recently in a Heel/Face Podcast, Gregory Symonds listed you as one of two wrestlers that he said he loved watching and everyone should keep an eye
on, you and Andy Dalton. Does it feel any different when you are praised by fellow wrestlers or workers knowing you were one of only two he said to keep an eye on? First off, Greg is an amazing human being, inside and out. He has a heart of gold, no pun intended. (Be sure he reads that horrible line). It means more to me when fellow workers praise me than fans, because workers know right from wrong in this business. We know if someone can make it or not. And the fact that everyone thinks I can make it means the world to me. My brotherhood is strong and I wish the best for everyone of my fellow wrestlers 12. Who do you consider your toughest opponent ever and who have you not yet faced on the Indy circuit that you really want to? Charlie Haas has been my toughest yet. Mentally and physically. He challenges me to be my best and also hands out a pretty good ass whooping while doing that. We haven’t had many matches when blood wasn’t present. As far as who I want to face on the Indy circuit, I’d go with Chris Masters. We are good acquaintances but have never worked each other. 13. Finally, where are the places fans can see you wrestle in 2017? MAIN EVENT PRO WRESTLING, Full Throttle Wrestling, Wrestle Circus, Inspire Pro, Elite Championship Wrestling, Anarchy championship wrestling, VIP wrestling, too be honest almost every show in Texas I work for.