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INTERROGATION
SHIRLEY DOE
Conducted by Joe Dombrowski
IWC Color Commentator / Media Correspondent
Q: We’re just days following one of the most brutal matches of your career, as you battled Sebastian Dark in a Falls Count Anywhere match in the next chapter of your war that many never reach a resolution. What was it like participating in such a hardcore environment with a man like Mick Foley watching over you? How are you feeling physically and mentally now that you’ve had a week or so to recover?
A: Every match, I always prepare like going to war. You don’t know if you’ll be alive when it’s over, so you need to prepare yourself mentally for that. It was an honor to have Mick Foley be our referee, I think even Sebastian can agree to that, in that he is someone that Dark and I both aspire to be like in the ring. As much hatred as the two of us have for each other, we both respect the fact that when we have matches with one another, we always give more than we think we can and bring out the best in each other. I appreciated Mick’s help in the two on one odds with T. Rantula and I’d love to team with him someday, but that’s pretty much a dream.
As to it being such a hardcore environment, that’s pretty much every time I seem to get in or around the ring. I tried to go to Japan to wrestle, first night in, barbed wire and light tubes. So you can’t get away from what you do, I guess.
Mentally, I’m doing fine. Physically, I’m having some neck and knee troubles, like always, as well as some dizzy spells, which are always fun. But it’s nothing new and nothing that will take away from the amount of effort I promise to put in for every match.
Q: Let’s switch gears to discussing the very prize you’ll be pursuing in just days, the IWC Heavyweight Title. From mounting frustrations with IWC management over his career and the firing of his best friend, Eric Xtasy’s attitude has taken a definite turn for the worst. Your thoughts on Xtasy’s recent change in attitude?
A: If it works for him, that’s fine with me. I really could care less about his attitude, if he can bring it in the ring, that’s all that should count.
Q: Your thoughts on his performance as a champion thus far?
A: You have to understand that I believe the champion of a company should represent it to the rest of the wrestling world. Do I think I could be that guy? Probably not, but I’d at least try my best. I’m basing my thoughts on the old NWA school of Harley Race and Dory Funk Jr. being champs. That’s what every champion should aspire to be. I think Samoa Joe in ROH does a good job of that, personally, and I’d like Eric to think more like a champion. Every match should be the end of the world and a real challenge. I think we in wrestling have come to think champions should be like Flair or Triple H, using cheating means to hold onto a title. I prefer a fighting champion who will take on anyone.
We’ve been lucky in IWC to have a great lineage of champions, like Punk, Cabana, Vega$…I’d like to see Eric try to rise to that level.
Q: You did manage to defeat Xtasy in a championship match during IWC’s last trip to Turkeytown, although it was via DQ. What was running through your mind following that chain of events?
A: That’s what I’m talking about. I’d rather he try to beat me in the ring than rely on numerous people helping him. I think he’s more concerned with having fun than being a champion and being the man in IWC. It’s a big responsibility and he should at least make an effort to see if he can handle it.
I felt like I had him beat, with actual wrestling for once, and to have it taken away probably made me more upset than I’d care to admit. And who knows if lightning can strike twice?
Q: Xtasy used the 30 day clause, a rule not strictly enforced to begin with, as the excuse to not giving you an immediate rematch. Instead he teamed with Sebastian Dark to battle you and Glenn Spectre. That match was one of the most unique I’ve called in my career, what was it like to be one of the participants in such an unorthodox situation?
A: Well, I knew something like that was going to happen, but it didn’t mean I didn’t get distracted and it didn’t mean I won. So, all in all, the whole situation sucked, if I may be so blunt.
Q: Xtasy ended up forming a rather unique alliance that night with Spectre. You & Glenn Spectre did complete a successful tour of Japan together this past spring. You seem to be relatively the same Shirley Doe we all remember, but what the heck happened to the once serious competitor known as Glenn Spectre?
A: I think I am the same Doe, except I realized again that I really love wrestling with all of my heart. Hey, it worked for Glenn, he was popular as hell in Japan. If that’s what it takes, go for it. I respect his bravado. Of course, I’ll still murder him if we ever wrestle. I owe him after that tag match. He should avoid getting involved in Turkeytown.
Q: After the tag match, the full 30 days had passed and still no rematch for you. I speculated on commentary back at the Big Butler Fair that Eric Xtasy was taking advantage of all the other issues promoter Norm Connors has been facing (constant pressure from the Commission, his recent injury, etc.) and using them to sort of slip under the radar so to speak and try to hold off defending his title as long as possible. Your thoughts on that assessment? Has Xtasy been avoiding you?
A: Hey, if he can pull one over on the whole company, more power to him. I did that plenty of times. Then again, when I was High Stakes champion, I defended my title every show in every match imaginable. I doubt many people could do the same. Yes, or course he’s avoiding me. Wouldn’t you?
Q: Now we come just days away from your shot at redemption. You’ve been here longer than most of the roster, many would say you deserve it more than most. This Saturday night could be your career-making night. With that in mind, what exactly does the IWC Title mean to you?
A: My career, in my eyes, has already been made. I made it to Japan, I’ve main evented shows, I’ve done my best to help IWC become known, but this is the closest I’ve come to the title since I made it to the finals and lost to Cabana and lost in my rematch (Editor's note: Doe is referencing the IWC Heavyweight Title Tournament in July 2002 won by Colt Cabana and the rematch that followed the next month). This is a major opportunity and I promise the fans that I don’t take it lightly. I am going to do all I can to actually wrestle a match that is what I feel a title match should be and give the fans more than their money’s worth. I appreciate that they’ve started to support me, which is strange in that all I’ve done for most of my career is go out of my way to alienate people.
Saturday in Turkeytown, I am going to try and accomplish this one major goal. I hope Eric is excited about this match and as prepared as I am. And I hope he has the goal of giving people something to remember. IWC may be about a lot of things. My goal on Saturday is to say, look, we use talent from all over the world, but our hometown boys can kick just as much ass and try just as hard. And if I can do that, it doesn’t matter, win or lose, as long as I give you something to remember.
See
Shirley Doe challenge for the IWC Heavyweight Title this Saturday at
Showdown in Turkeytown 3! Click here
for details on this event!
Send feedback to iwcmc_dombrowski@yahoo.com