_________________________________________________________________ Q U E S T I O N S F O R T H E P R O S: With Chuck Smooth _________________________________________________________________ [Interview conducted by Tony D. on May 15, 2000] TD: What's your real name, and what gimmicks have/do you use? CS: My real name is Stan Swida. When I first started as Chuck Smooth I did a Nash spoof, where I was the leader of the Smooth World Order, after that I gradually transformed into my current gimmick, "Britney Spears Boyfriend" Chuck Smooth. I also work as Paul E. Smooth for Ian Rotten's IWA. The character is a combo of BSBF and a Paul Heyman spoof. TD: What height/weight are you? CS: A towerin 5'7 and a husky 160 pounds TD: What circuits do you currently wrestle in? CS: I currently wrestle for Mid-American Wrestling and IWA Mid-South TD: What circuits have you wrestled in? CS: Powerhouse Championship Wrestling, New Wave Wrestling Alliance, Insane Wrestling Alliance, and New Option Wrestling TD: What titles have you held? CS: The NWWA Midwest Title, and a co-holder of the PCW tag team titles w/Jonas the Giant TD: When did you decide to become a wrestler? CS: After being a huge fan my entire life it was something that I have always wanted to do, but thought I could not becauce of my size. However, after seeing smaller guys compete on the indy scene like American Kickoxer, Little Guido and Reckless Youth I figured what the fuck I will go for it!! TD: And how did you get started? CS: Like everyone else I attended a wrestling school. I went to NWWA wrestling school in Lake Station, IN ran by Rex Hart and Rod Bell. However, only a very small percentage of my training came from these two and I was mainly trained by Guy Qubec. TD: Who has been the biggest influence on your career? CS: The guys that I have always marked out for include: Chris Candido, Stevie Richards, Sabu, and Raven. I don't try to patten myself after these guy or anything like that, but I learn alot from watching their matches, especially Candido. TD: What has been the greatest moment of your career? CS: Getting to wrestle for IWA Mid South against Ian Rotten, Axl Rotten and Big Dick Dudley. When I was just a fan I would buy IWA tapes and thought of them as one of the best indy feds around. Then I actually not only got to wrestle for them, but against three names in the business. TD: Who are/were you trained by? What kind of athletic background do you have before you became a wrestler? CS: As I stated earlier I was trained by Guy Qubec who was an excellent trainer. I wrestled from the age of 5 to 15. I quit my freshman year of high school, I had become sick of it. TD: Who is your favorite wrestler to work with in the ring? CS: I have several:My good friend who I started out w/, Kid Trailer Park, then there is Devon Fury who I have worked so many times in NWWA and PCW that it makes me want to puke and I have recently had good matches w/ Derrick St. Holmes and Dino Bambino in Mid American Wrestling. TD: Any major enemies? If so, who, and why? CS: I try not to make any, but some people do not like me and if you don't I could care less. I have enough drama in my life having to go to school and pay the bills. I don't have time to care if someone likes me or not. TD: In which promotion are you the most over? CS: I am over? TD: Do you ever consider working in the WWF, ECW or WCW if they are interested in your talent? CS: I don't see that option ever coming up. Unlike other indy wrestlers I know I do not cloud my mind w/ dreams of making the Big 2 or 3, I cloud my mind w/ dreams of making it on the indy scene. However, if anybody in the Big Time eats a sheet of acid, flips out and offers me a contract I would sign it in a heart beat. TD: If you had to pick WWF, WCW or ECW, where would you go and why? CS: If I was to pick it would be either WWF or WCW for the huge payday, but I would probably have more of a chance in ECW do to my size or lack there of. TD: Do you have a computer? If so, what do you think of the reporters and sheet writers on the internet? CS: I do not have a computer, but I fuck around on my buddy's alot so I get to check the shit out every once in a while. I basically check out just the indy news, like on www.1wrestling.com and www.whoowrestling.com. TD: Do you have a college degree or any other higher education? CS: I just finished my third year of college where I am an education major. TD: Any advice you'd give a wannabe wrestler? CS: Think about it real hard before you start because once you begin its hard to quit. Also, do not go to just anyone to get trained. There are tons of people out there getting ripped off. I was lucky that I had someone there who gave a shit (Guy Quebec) and knew what he was doing when I was being trained. TD: Any final comments for the readers? CS: Visit www.chucksmooth.freeservers.com and support your local indys, or at least the ones worth supporting.