_________________________________________________________________ Q U E S T I O N S F O R T H E P R O S: With Joe Rules _________________________________________________________________ [Interview conducted by Tony D. on September 1, 2000] TD: What's your real name and what gimmicks have/do you use? JR: My real name is Joseph Rugliano, and since my appearance on The Jerry Springer Show last year, I have been known as "As Seen on TV" Joe Rules. TD: What height/weight are you? JR: I'm 5'11" and 237 lbs. TD: What circuits do you currently wrestle in? JR: These days I work most regularly for the United Wrestling Coalition, the United Wrestling Federation, and the Nittany Wrestling Federation. TD: What circuits have you wrestled in? JR: Quite a few, including Connecticut Pro Wrestling, Pennsylvania Championship Wrestling, Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, NWA New York, East Coast Wrestling Association, and many others. TD: What titles have you held? JR: I was the first-ever Jersey All Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Champion. I'm also a former PCW Junior Heavyweight Champion and ECPW Light Heavyweight Champion. I've held the NWF University Park Title and Tag Team Title (with Rick Silver.) I am currently the UWC North American Champion. It's not really a title, but I was ranked #500 in the 1997 Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 list. I shot up to #421 in 1998 and #445 in 1999. TD: When did you decide to become a wrestler? JR: I began watching wrestling in 1984 and have wanted to become a pro myself just about ever since. TD: And how did you get started? JR: I got a job with ECW as a member of the ring crew. After about a year of that, I joined their wrestling school in Philadelphia. TD: Who has been the biggest influence on your career? JR: My best friend and former manager The Lovely Kerri has been my biggest influence. She always encouraged me when everyone else was busy telling me I'd never make it. TD: What has been the greatest moment of your career? JR: There are several memorable matches, and if I had to choose just one of them, I would pick my match with "Sterling" Rick Silver which took place on December 12, 1997 at my old high school in Old Bridge, New Jersey. I had a lot of family and friends in attendance (including Kerri,) and I was accompanied to the ring by Luxurious Lynne. And not only that, we had the best damn match on the card. Another highlight of sorts would have to be when my ex-girlfriend and ex-valet Kristy Kiss brought me on The Jerry Springer Show and had the nerve to accuse me of cheating on her! Well ... as it turned out, I DID have a one-night stand with a 300+ pound stripper named Tiny. Hey, she looked really good after a few beers .... TD: Who are/were you trained by? What kind of athletic background do you have before you became a wrestler? JR: I was trained by JT Smith, and that more than made up for my lack of any prior athletic background. JT was a great teacher, and I can't say enough good things about him. I give JT a lot of credit for my wrestling career, because if it wasn't for him, I never would have made it as far as I have. TD: Who is your favorite wrestler to work with in the ring? JR: Whenever I wrestle "Lightning" Mike Quackenbush, the "Maniacal" Hubie Volk, "Sterling" Rick Silver, or "Live Wire" Dave Desire, I know it's going to be a very exciting match, win, lose, or draw. The Soul Brothers are also a tag team that I've had many great matches with. And I can't leave out Chris Krueger. I've only had the opportunity to wrestle him twice, and they were two of my best matches. If I had to choose just one of those I've just mentioned, it would have to be Silver. Any time we step in the ring with each other, the fans always get their money's worth. TD: Any major enemies? If so, who, and why? JR: Bulldog Blanski. Definitely. He looks just like one of the Gamorean Guards from Return of the Jedi. I can't stand him! TD: In which promotion are you the most over? JR: Wrestling fans love to hate me wherever I go. TD: Do you ever consider working in the WWF, WCW or ECW if they are interested in your talent? JR: Absolutely. I could use the money. TD: If you had to pick WWF, WCW or ECW, where would you go and why? JR: Right now, the WWF is the most widely recognized of the three. TD: Do you have a computer? If so, what do you think of the reporters and sheet writers on the internet? JR: I do, and anyone who feels like it can e-mail me at pwi445@joerules.com or visit my website at www.joerules.com. I tend to avoid most of the wrestling sites that offer news and opinions, because generally (and there are indeed good ones out there) they're done by a bunch of people with no real understanding of the inner workings of professional wrestling...they just think they do. Unless you've had the proper training and have stepped into the squared circle, you just don't know what wrestling is all about. It just isnt possible, no matter how many "inside" terms you think you know. TD: Do you have a college degree or any other higher education? JR: No. I attended a court reporting school for a few years, but dropped out to pursue wrestling. I'm happy with the choice I've made. TD: Any advice you'd give a wannabe wrestler? JR: Don't do it unless you're REALLY serious about it. There are way too many wrestlers on the independent scene who think professional wrestling is a fun little hobby to do on weekends and think it's cool to tell people that they're wrestlers. You must be 100% dedicated to the sport or you'll end up wrestling once a month for some godawful promotion and never amount to anything. TD: Any final comments for the readers? JR: I'd just like to state for the record that I am in fact The Greatest Professional Wrestler of All Time. JOE RULES!!! It's not just a name-- It's a FACT!!