Hey Socaluncensored peeps, this is Mike Draven & I’m back with another fantastic interview with one of Southern California’s favorite luchadors, the one & only SOCAL CRAZY. SOCAL CRAZY has been wrestling for many years & I know you’ve had the chance to see him grace the ring in such companies like SOCAL PRO, AWA, EWF & many more. But here is a chance for all of you to get to know the man behind the mask.
1. First of all, how are you & how are you feeling today?
SC:HELLO AMIGO I AM DOING VERY GOOD, FEELING A LITTLE BEAT UP PERO CON MUCHO ANIMO
2. Do you remember the first time you saw a wrestling match & if so do you remember who was wrestling?
SC:THE FIRST WRESTLING MATCH THAT I SAW WAS AT THE ARENA MEXICO WITH MY DAD. I HONESTLY DONT REMEMBER WHO WAS ON THE CARD BUT I’M PRETTY SURE THAT BLUE DEMON SR. WAS ON AS HE WAS MY FATHER’S FAVORITE
3. Who was your inspiration to get into the wrestling buisness?
SC: GROWING UP IN MEXICO YOU GET TO ADMIRE A LOT OF LUCHADORES. I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT BLUE DEMON SR. PLAYED A HUGE PART,WHEN I CAME TO THE STATES I WENT TO SEE A AAA SHOW AND WAS ABLE TO WATCH MANY LUCHADORES DO THIER MAGIC WHICH WERE ALSO GUILTY OF TURNING ME ON TO LUCHA LIBRE, SOME OF THOSE NAMES WERE PERRO, VAMPIRO CANADIENSE, VILLANO 3, CANNEK
4. What was it about pro wrestling that made you decide that this was the thing you wanted to do?
SC: I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO WRESTLE ALL THROUGH OUT JR HIGH, HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE. SO WRESTLING HAS BEEN A HUGE PART OF MY LIFE WHEN I MEET THE OWNER OF CCW(CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING), HE CONVINCED ME TO TAKE A STAB AT PRO WRESTLING & ONCE I TOOK THAT FIRST BUMP I KNEW I WAS HOOKED.
5. Where did go for your training & who were your instructors?
SC: I STARTED TRANING AT THE CCW PALACE OF PAIN WHICH WAS LOCATED IN VISTA CALIFORNIA (NORTH SAN DIEGO)MY INSTUCTORES AT THE TIME WERE MATRIX, AL KATRAZZ, B-BOY, JAMES MCFARLANE & T.N.T
6. How do you feel about where you trained to be a pro wrestler? Where your teachers a positive infulence on you?
SC: STARTING OUT I HONESTLY HAD NO CLUE THAT THE WRESTLING WORLD WAS AS BIG AS IT WAS, I DIDNT KNOW THAT JUST UP NORTH THERE WAS UPW WHICH AT THE TIME WAS THE SCHOOL TO GO TO FOR PRO WRESTLING. I HONESTLY BELIEVE THOUGH THAT I WAS AT THE RIGHT SCHOOL AND WAS BEING TRAINED PEOPERLY BY MY TRAINERS (AS THE MAJORITY OF THEM WORKED FOR UPW)
7. Who were some of the other students in your class & do they still continue to wrestle?
SC:SOME OF THE STUDENTS THAT WERE TRIANING WITH ME WERE STREET STYLES(SHADY FROM XPW) AND GOALIE HOWE THERE WERE A FEW OTHERS BUT THESE TWO WERE THE ONLY ONES WITH MYSELF THAT STUCK WITH IT.
9. Exactly how long have you been wrestling?
SC:I HAVE BEEN WRESTLING FOR ABOUT 11 YRS NOW & I HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY WITH MY EXPERIENCES AND MORE IMPORTANTLY WITH THE LONG LIFE FRIENDS THAT I HAVE MADE.
10. I know i’ve seen you wrestle in a few promotions in So Cal (CWFH, EWF, SOCAL PRO) but is there any other promotions you compete for? If you do compete for other promotions, do you have a favorite & why?
SC: AS A WORKER YOU TRY AND WORK EVERYWHERE AND ANYWHERE YOU CAN & I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE COMPETED IN SOME VERY FINE COMPANIES. I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT EACH ONE IS DIFFERENT AND TO CHOOSE A FAV WOULD NOT BE FAIR AS THEY ARE ALL UNIQUE IN THEIR OWN WAY.
11. I was in attendance when you made your return to championship wrestling from hollywood after a small hiatus, how did you feel about your return & to recieving a great reaction from the fans?
SC: WHEN I MADE MY RETURN TO CWFH I HONESTLY DIDN’T THINK THE FANS WOULD EVEN CARE BUT OMG THE REACTION I GOT WAS SOMETHING THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET. THE LOVE AND RESPECT THAT THEY SHOWED ME WAS AMAZING GIVES ME GOOSBUMPS TALKING ABOUT IT
12. Have you or do you want to wrestle in other countries?
SC: I HAVE WRESTLED IN OTHER COUNTRIES MAINLY MY HOME COUNTRY OF MEXICO WHICH WAS INCREDIBLE BUT TO GO BACK THERE AND DO WHAT AS A KID I LOVED WATCHING. ONE OF MY BIGGEST GOALS IS TO WORK IN JAPAN AS I LOVE THE CULTURE THERE, ITS VERY INTRESTING TO ME & I HAVE FRIENDS THAT HAVE WORKED THERE AND THEIR STORIES MAKE IT THAT MUCH MORE APPEALING.
13. Please tell me about SOCAL CRAZY & how that came about?
SC: AS I WAS TRAINING IN CCW I WAS TOLD TO START THINKING OF A NAME, NATURALLY I WANTED TO WEAR A MASK LIKE MY HEROES I JUST DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN. STREETSTYLE ONE DAY AFTER TRAINING HANDED ME A MASK WHICH TO ME WAS A HUGE HONOR BECAUSE OF THE FRIENDSHIP WE FORMED BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT WAS WHO I WAS GOING TO BE IN THE WRESTLING WORLD.THE NAME ITSELF WAS GIVING TO ME BY CHARLES GIBB, I HONESTLY WANTED TO USE MY REAL NAME BUT OUT OF RESPECT I STAYED WITH SOCAL CRAZY AND THE MASK THAT STREETSTYLE HANDED TO ME IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME ONE THAT I HAVE BEEN USING FOR THE LAST 11 YRS.
14. Tell me about the early days of SOCAL CRAZY, were you part of any factions?
SC: I REALLY WASN’T PART OF ANY FACTIONS IN THE EARLY DAYS, IT REALLY WAS MORE OF ME GETTING MY FEET WET AND LEARNING ABOUT THE WRESTLING WORLD IN AND OUT OF THE RING.
15. Has SOCAL CRAZY changed over the years? Meaning did you start your career with a different style compare to now?
SC: I WANT TO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE THROUGH OUT THE YEARS CHANGE, BY PERSONAL CHOICE OR BY LEARNING FROM MISTAKES.I HAVE DEVELOPED A LOT THROUGH THE YEARS AND STILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. MY STYLE HAS ALSO CHANGED WITH ME IN THE SENSE THAT IN THE EARLY STAGES I WAS DOING MORE PRO WRESTLING MOVEMENTS THEN I STARTED LEARNING LUCHA LIBRE. SO FOR A WHILE THAT IS ALL I WANTED TO DO, RIGHT NOW I HOPE THAT I MIX BOTH STYLES IN THE RING BUT AGAIN IN WRESTLING YOU NEVER STOP LEARNING.
16. Have you always been a masked wrestler? Did you have a prior persona before SOCAL CRAZY?
SC:BECAUSE I WAS A HUGE LUCHA FAN I ALWAYS WANTED TO WEAR A MASK AND HAVE ALWAYS WORN ONE, I CAN GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT FOR MY LOVE OF THE MASK TO REV PRO AND MY TIME SPENT IN TIJUANA
17. Throughout your career, how many championships have you won & is there any that means alot to you & why?
SC: I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH HAVING A FEW TITLES AROUND MY WAIST THROUGHOUT THE YEARS BUT I HONESTLY COULDN’T PICK ONE THAT MEANS THE MOST BECAUSE HONESTLY EACH ONE HAS ITS OWN VALUE BEHIND IT. EACH ONE IS UNIQUE BECAUSE ITS THAT COMPANY THAT IS COMPLEMENTING YOU FOR YOUR HARDWORK.
18. Who are some of the talent you enjoy working with & why? any matches stand out to you as your favs?
SC: WE ARE LUCKY THAT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HAS A LOT OF EXCELLENT TALENT AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH SOME OF THE BEST. ITS HARD TO PICK JUST ONE MATCH AS A STANDOUT BUT THE ONE THAT I REALLY ENJOYED (BETWEEN MANY) WOULD HAVE TO BE MY ENCOUNTERS WITH B-BOY BECAUSE HE HAD A HUGE HAND IN THE FIRST STAGES OF MY CARRER. SO FOR ME TO HAVE OF MATURED AND SHOW HIM HOW MUCH I HAVE LEARNED WAS MY WAY OF SAYING THANK YOU TO HIM.
19. Is there any Indy talent in Southern california or anywhere that you would like to eventually work with?
SC:THIS AGAIN GOES BACK TO THE PREVIOUS ANSWER THAT THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD TALENT HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND AGAIN I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH WORKING WITH SOME OF THE BEST HERE THERE ARE A FEW THAT I WOULD LOVE TO WORK HERE IN OUR BACKYARD (TOO MANY TO NAME ), OUTSIDE OF CALI THERE ARE 3 GUYS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH ONE DAY: CHUCK TAYLOR, DELIRIOUS AND AKIRA TOZAWA
20. Throughout the years of Lucha Libre, we’ve seen Mask vs Mask matches, Mask vs Championship matches, etc. As a Luchador, how do you feel about this particular stipulation? Have you’ve been in matches where your mask was on the line?
SC: IN LUCHA LIBRE OF COURSE THE MASK IS A HUGE PART OF WHO YOU ARE,ITS A PIECE OF YOUR HEART,SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN TITLES.THE GREATEST HONOR YOU CAN DO IS DEFEND YOUR MASK IN WHATEVER MATCH YOU ARE PUT IN AGIANST A RIVAL WHO IS WORTHY (IF YOU LOSE) IN TAKING IT FROM YOU. i HAVE DEFENDED MY MASK A COUPLE OF TIMES IN MEXICO AND IN THE STATES AND HAVE BEEN IN SOME BATTLES NUT LA MASCARA DE SOCAL CRAZY SIGUE AQUI ECONMIGO Y EN MI ALMA.
21. Do you have any road stories or any fond memories with talent outside the ring you would like to share?
SC: ONE OF THE BEST PARTS ABOUT WRESTLING IS THE TRAVELING, ALONE OR WITH OTHER WORKERS. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO HAVE OF TRAVELED WITH A LOT OF COOL PEOPLE & I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT THE ONES I REALLY ENJOYED WHERE THE TRIPS WITH LITTLE CHOLO BECAUSE ON TWO OCCASIONS WE HAD CHAVO GUERRERO JR AND DAMIEN 666 WITH US AND FOR BOTH OF THOSE GUYS TO SHARE STORIES ABOUT HOW WCW WAS RUNNING AND ALL THE STUFF THAT WENT ON, WELL AS YOU CAN IMAGINE IT WAS SOME OF THE BEST STORIES I HAVE HEARD IN A LONG TIME.
22 What do you think makes a good match in the ring?
SC: THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS THAT GO INTO MAKING A GOOD MATCH FROM YOUR PHYSICAL ABILITY TO THE WAY YOU CHARM THE CROWD AND EVEN TO THE WAY YOU REACT IN THE RING, BUT TO ME I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT BEING ABLE TO TELL A GOOD STORY IN THE RING IS WHAT MAKES OR BREAKS A MATCH. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WAS ABLE TO LEARN FORM ADAM PEARCE AS TO ME HE IS THE BEST STORYTELLER IN THE BIZ,MY ENCOUNTERS WITH HIM WERE LIKE GOING TO SCHOOL LEARNED A LOT
23. Do you watch WWE or TNA? If so, what do you think of the product?
SC: GROWING UP I WOULD ALWAYS TRY TO CATCH SOME KIND OF WRESTLING ON TV BUT IT WASN’T UNTIL I STARTED TRAINING AND LEARNING ABOUT THE INSIDES OF WRESTLING THAT I SLOWED DOWN IN WATCHING THE PRODUCT ON TV. I WATCH SOME OF IT ON OCCASION BECAUSE I HAVE FRIENDS THAT WORK FOR BOTH COMPANIES BUT I DON’T WATCH THEM ON A REGULAR BASE NOT BECAUSE THE TV PRODUCT ISN’T GOOD BUT BECAUSE AS A WORKER MYSELF SOMETIMES I CAN TELL WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I MISS FROM WHEN I WAS WATCHING IT AS A KID THAT SURPRISE ELEMENT. I THINK BOTH COMPANIES ARE GOOD AND HONESTLY WE NEED THEM BOTH.
24 Speaking of the big 2, have you had an opportunity to wrestle for them in any dark matches, tryouts or gut checks?
SC: I WAS ABLE TO GET LOOKED AT A WHILE BACK BY WWE WHICH WAS AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE FOR ONE BECAUSE I HAD ACHIEVED ONE OF MY GOALS WHICH WAS TO TAKE A BUMP IN A WWE RING. I WAS ABLE TO WORK A LITTLE WITH SOME WWE SUPERSTARS AND GOT TO SEE WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DONT SEE AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE CAMERAS…VERY COOL EXPERIENCE
25. How do you feel about the current Indy Scene here in So Cal?
SC: I REALLY ENJOY THE SCENE WE HAVE HERE IN OUR BACKYARD. WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE A MIXTURE OF A LOT OF STYLES WITH A BIG LUCHA LIBRE INFLUENCE (OF COURSE ). TO ME WHEN YOU HAVE A STYLE THAT PEOPLE ARE USED TO, IT CAN GET A LITTLE BORING AND I BELIEVE HERE WE HAVE LEARNED TO CHANGE UP EVERY NOW AND THEN WHICH ONLY MAKES THINGS BETTER NOT JUST FOR US BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR THE FANS.
26. Some talent has set a goal for themselves saying if they don’t make it, they’ll walk away. Some are in college while wrestling, some have full time careers. So do you have a goal in trying to succeed in the buisness or do you have something to fall back on if things don’t turn out the way you want it? Or will SOCAL CRAZY continue to wrestle & enteraining fans for many years to come?
SC: I WISH I COULD SAY THAT I WILL BE AROUND FOREVER LOL BUT THATS NOT THE CASE, I AM BLESSED TO HAVE SOMETHING TO FALL BACK ON IN CASE THIS DOESN’T WORK OUT IN THE LONG RUN. BUT I CAN SAY THAT MOST OF MY GOALS HAVE BEEN REACHED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A FEW THAT I STILL HAVE TO WORK ON REACHING
27. Tell me about your “Dream Match”?
SC: HONESTLY I HAVE WORKED MOST OF THE GUYS THAT I HAVE WANTED TO WORK BUT THERE IS ONE GUY WHO I WOULD CONSIDER A DREAM MATCH AND THAT WOULD BE RICKY MARVIN. HAVE BEEN A FAN OF HIS SINCE MEXICO AND WOULD LOVE TO ONE DAY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK HIM (IN JAPAN WHICH IS ANOTHER GOAL).
28. Once again, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing you wrestle in a few promotions in Southern California & there are some questions I wanted to ask you in reguards of some current matches/feuds you’re in. You are currently competing in a Best of 7 series against Famous B in CWFH, how are you enjoying this series & what was it about Famous B that made you feel that he was the guy to do this with?
SC: WHEN YOU ARE IN THE RING WITH A WORKER WHO IS VERY TALENTED, YOU WANT TO HAVE MORE THAN JUST ONE MATCH WITH SAID PERSON. SO FOR ME TO DO THIS BEST OF 7 WITH FAMOUS B IS A TREMENDUS HONOR.
29. Are their any other talent you would like to do a Best of series in any promotion & if so who & why?
SC: THERE ARE A MANY NAMES THAT POP OUT THAT I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A 7 SERIES WITH. THERE IS REALLY TOO MANY NAMES TO LIST BUT TOP ON MY LIST RIGHT NOW ARE: JOHNNY GOODTIME, SAMURAI DEL SOL, LOS LUCHAS (YES, I KNOW THEY ARE A TAG TEAM), SCORPIO SKY, B-BOY (HONORABLE MENTION)SCOTT LOST, MR.EXCITEMENT
29. Over at SOCAL PRO in your hometown, it seems that your long time partner Kid Caramba decided to turn on you. Have you two ever faced off in the past & are you looking forward to the confrontation at one of the two SOCAL PRO shows this month?
SC: WHAT PEOPLE DONT KNOW ABOUT ME AND CARAMBA IS THAT WE HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER EVEN BEFORE WE BOTH STARTED OUR JOURNEY IN WRESTLING, I HAVE SEEN HIM GROW UP IN AND OUT OF THE RING SO HONESTLY WHAT HE DID NOT TO JUST ME BUT TO THE FANS OF SOCAL PRO WAS AN ACT OF A COWARD AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT IT DID BREAK MY HEART. WE BOTH HAVE WORKED WITH EACH OTHER IN THE PAST BUT NOW HE HAS DECIDED TO STEP UP TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND I WILL GLADLY BE THE ONE TO SHOW HIM THAT IT IS FAR FROM EASY.SOCAL CRAZY VS KID CARAMBA LATER THIS MONTH IN SOCAL PRO.
30. Now another promotion you’re competing in is Apex Pro, where you are challenging Apex Champion Brandon Gatson for the Championship but if you happen to lose your match, your contract with Apex Pro is terminated. How do you feel going into this match knowing that this may be your last match with the promotion?
SC: YOU KNOW SOMETIMES YOU SAY THINGS IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT AND HOURS LATER YOU THINK “OH MAN WHAT WAS I THINKING” BUT WHEN I THREW THAT CHALLENGE AT GATSON I DIDNT FEEL LIKE I WAS MAKING ANY MISTAKE,I KNOW WHAT KIND OF ATHLETE GATSON IS AND I KNOW HOW AWESOME HE IS IN THE RING,I NEVER TAKE ANYONE FOR GRANTED,BUT I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT THIS TIME I CAN BEAT HIM. TO ME RESPECT IS VERY VERY IMPORTANT AND NO GREATER RESPECT IS GIVING WHEN SOMEONE YOU HAVE GONE TO WAR WITH LOOKS YOU IN THE EYES,SHAKES YOUR HAND AND TELLS YOU “YOU BEAT ME CHAMP” THATS WHY I PUT MY APEX CARRER ON THE LINE BECAUSE I WANT TO HEAR GATSON SAY THOSE WORDS.
SC: ALL I CAN HONESTLY SAY TO THE FANS IS THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR NOT JUST LETTING MYSELF WORK FOR YOU BUT THE ENTIRE ROSTER HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. WITHOUT YOU GUYS WE ARE NOTHING AND YES WE TRAIN A LOT BUT WE TRAIN FOR ALL OF YOU SO WITH A HUGE HEART I SAY THANK YOU AND KEEP SUPPORTING ALL OF US.
Once again I would like to thank SOCAL CRAZY for taking some time out of his busy schedule for this interview & make sure to catch him this friday in Covina with EWF & SOCAL PRO on Friday April 12th just to name a few. For more info on upcoming shows to see SOCAL CRAZY, hit the Event’s page here on Socaluncensored.com
If you have not done so, you can like him on facebook @https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/SoCal-Crazy/413288832033731
Thank you again Socaluncensored & to all the peeps who visit our site, I do hope you all have been enjoying the interviews as I enjoy talking with the stars of Southern California. Until next time, this is Mike Draven sigining off.