A Harold interview:

Harold: Thank you Mr. Azreal for sitting down to do this interview I know you've had a long week and I know you're always busy.

President Azreal: Indeed.

Harold: I like to start all my interviews with a bit of history, so tell our readers, where you got started, how long you've been in the business and how you ended up in SFT?

President Azreal: I have been in this industry for years, I started as a scout for a small company then realized that I had what it takes to take the company and tear it down.. Then rebuild it as I did with the WWC. I took all their wrestlers and then used them to start and build my own stars. I eventually closed it after about six or seven years and waited a few years and came in to SFT as a talent advisor, then eventually ... worked.. My way to the top of the SFT. On an out of character note I started in a little federation known as the XFW, with some friends, we hopped from there to the WZW, then we hopped around like 4 feds that would close down after a month or so. So I got mad and decided to make my own. I joined WCL about the same time because it wasnt right for me to try to play my own character in my own fed. I was in others as well but nothing that is worth mentioning right now.

Harold: You had been in SFW in its early years correct?

President Azreal: -ooc- yes I came in originally with a few guys J Dogg, Cole Cash "Ray Cross" and myself as Lexus. We were the triad and did decent we gain some titles but things went south and I decided to play myself.. The Dark Wolf. And that’s who most people remember me as in the SFW days.

Harold: Tell me what’s the main difference you see between SFW back then and SFT today?

President Azreal: The Ego's and the Role-playing style. Before no one had egos if they were better they didn't rub it in people’s faces. They just gave me a match and would show them instead of bantering like children. And they role-plays were alot more based on the characters being wrestlers and that history and they built storyline on the fact that they were wrestlers. Pettis and DVD were some of the best. That was back when Cage didn't act like a little bitch and played the game the way it was meant to be played.

Harold: Currently you are SFT's President, and most agree no one had ever moved up through staff as quickly as you did, how'd you manage such a rise to power and in such a timeframe?

President Azreal: Experience I would say. The fact that I will always be the guy who steps back and is the voice of reason. The fact I have been a fed owner for years and not to toot my own horn but am one hell of a match writer. I try to take the peoples characters into the matches I write. And the fact that being trained as a wrestler in real life helps me build psychology in the matches they way they would be viewed in real life. And I earn respect instead of demand it. But that is all jut my opinion. I would say if you want to know the truth as the other Superstars and the staff of the SFT they can tell you.

Harold: Well that leads me to a question that can’t be avoided, Shadow, how is your relationship with him? Many over the years have said he’s a very hard person to work with or work under, how have you managed with him? Or how is your relationship with him?

President Azreal: I think I am one of the few staff members that aren't intimidated by him. Maybe it is because I am from a long time ago. Perhaps because when I was gone for a year or two we still talked on IM about non e-fed related things. I think we get along very well and we respect each others points of view. People of the same intelligence level get along well and I think we are both very intelligent people so conversing is easy for us to do. For me he is one of the easiest people to work with.

President Azreal: I know he trusts me, and I can trust him to not be worried about my decisions as Staff member.

Harold: Ok so here’s a toughie, what is better, being a wrestler in SFT or being a staffer in SFT? And tell me why one is better than another and what you like from each aspect of the jobs.

President Azreal: I don't think they are comparable. I mean I haven’t really gotten to put a full effort into SFT as a wrestler... YET. I really enjoy being on staff because I know people look forward to reading the matches I write. And when I produce and am given a good quality show to work with it is like watching a legacy being created. Not to sound like an egomaniac that’s not how I want to sound. I just love giving others something good. And As a wrestler.. I want to come in and show I have what it takes to be on that Hall of Fame wall. So to do that I have to catch up with Nirvana and Havoc and Johnny Legend. And there is only one way I can do that.

Harold: So tell me if you were active right now as whoever, what would be your top 3 dream matches? Can be anyone from the past or current. Who do you personally wished you could fight, or refight?

President Azreal: Well I really enjoyed when I fought Johnny Legend I was playing Slade and I do want to do it again I think it would be great. I have a few. The guy who Played colonel Freedom.. I would love to Play Slade and fight a character of his named Dudekind. The rest would all be as me playing Lexus. Definately want to face Nirvana and Legend. But number one, I want to face Ray Cross or his other persona Cole Cash one on one in the SFT where there is no biasness’ in voting. He and I have never in either of our long long years in e-fedding ever got to have a match against each other and I would be honored to face him. He and I have been from one side of the efed world to the other together, I really can't wait for his return.

Harold: I’m sure SFT will be glad to have him back, that’s something I was impressed when you came in, cause you didn’t just comeback you came with new and interesting people that helped SFT to a different level. SFT is often referred to by many as "home", why did you specifically return to SFT? And why do you feel that many vets who leave eventually return to SFT? What is it bout SFT that just makes people come back?

President Azreal: SFT is a home because Shadow will not let it die. And the people that care about him and this place they help him achieve that goal. Its ability to stay strong and standing is a testament to it being a home. For me I was in alot of places and its like a child growing up sure grandmas house is cozy, but I am grown up now and SFT is my home and where I stay. Sure WWC has great memories but that is gone and if anything the fall of that and many other great feds that everyone holds dear is only a testament to the SFT and its ability to be there when we its family need it most. Even if it is just to rant on the OOC board or sign up for a meek return to get our frustrations out or to help the staff out when Shadow needs us. That’s what makes it home.

Harold: You have a unique perspective, being a wrestler and staffer, so lets talk world title, why do you personally think its been so hard for SFT to keep a world champion more than a few weeks? What is it about the title that makes it hard for anyone to keep it for any time? Is it that the competition is too even, or too weak? Or just that the title is jinxed? LOL

President Azreal: Lack of will power. Plain and simple. Everyone in the world lacks the will power to go one once they achieve the highest award there is to have. They don't want to say "I lost it" they want to say they retired with the belt. And that is why I hold Havoc in such High esteem. Because he lost the belt. He was there.. He fought to keep it and still stuck around. He didn’t disappear or drop the title when he had it he lost it like a man. If everyone had the BALLS he had there wouldn't be a world title problem.

President Azreal: Everyone Has excuses, but Havoc.. He sticks his neck out and people insult him.. He deserves praise for not making excuses.

Harold: You've been around a long long time, seen many wrestlers, whose promos did you see and say to yourself "wow now that’s great", who impresses or impressed Azreal and from your wrestling perspective, who influenced you and your characters and style of work?

President Azreal: In the SFT, when I returned I wasn't sure if I wanted to come back to e-fedding. I hopped on and talked with shad via e-mail and he linked me cause I had lost it. I went and the first thing I read was a Seth Dryden roleplay. It was that one single roleplay that told me. "Man what did I miss... this guy is awesome and he isn’t the champ." I always liked Seth’s role-plays. The reason I like Johnny Legend also, he brings character to the character. He adds just a bit of color to the black white and grey world most role-players have. Out of the SFT there was a guy named Awesomous who was great at that and one of in my minds "legends" in efedding that I can remember.. And Johnny reminds me alot of him.

President Azreal: On a side note, when writing..I find the heels, that actually are heels and not "bad asses" much more fun to write and much more fun to read. Unique is the word.

Harold: Now do you like Johnny’s rps now or always? Cause up till he lost/dropped the title he had been learning from Shadow, tutored if you will to expand his character and open new doors Johnny had yet to learn.

President Azreal: I actually enjoyed them before. The writing is alot better now. But the character itself is slowly becoming the same as the rest.

President Azreal: If he took the teaching of Shadow, and applied them to the witty old Johnny Legend character I don't think he could be stopped

Harold: I think Johnny did apply allot of what he was taught though trouble is, Shadow can only show someone the door, not show them how to unlock it or walk through it, Shadow has a style that most consider quite "different" I guess is the word, so Johnny can only do so much, I think age plays a factor, do you believe that as you grow older and experience more of life that can make your writing better, or does age not play a factor, a good writer is a good writer no matter the age?

President Azreal: Well, I think everyone improves as they grow older. Whether its from experience in writing or experience in life I am not sure. But people definitely improve. I know since my return my writing has improved. And I actually think it is because of the others. They consistently set the bar higher. And some grow faster than others. Look at Brickcity B he started as a sub standard character, and now he has turned into quite the powerhouse and who knows if he doesn’t burn himself out in the next two or three years he could see his name on that hall of fame list. So it is hard to say where a good writer comes from and how they improve, its all different for each person.

Harold: So right now if you were given an opportunity, if you could be World Champ or become Co Owner, which would you choose and why?

President Azreal: that’s a hard one

Harold: I don’t make these interviews cake walks I make the hard questions, you want sugar interviews, you can talk to Connor and be on his stupid mag that never gets posted, with me its the real stuff, what readers want.

President Azreal: I don't think there is anything more I could do as Co-Owner that I couldn't do as President. Other than have the nifty title. Being Co-owner means nothing, honestly I feel that if I really wanted it. All I would have to do is ask the boss, I feel I have done all that I need to prove I can take that title. But being World Champion, that is something that has to be earned and if I were given the chance to do that. I would cause I have yet to feel I earned that title.

Harold: We recently found out you stepped away from producing Sedition, what was your reasons for stepping down, you’d done such a great job.

President Azreal: Well, like I said above I need to prove to myself that I have what it takes to walk with the big boys. And in order to do that any justice I can't staff at the same time. Of course I will always be there for Shadow. I am sticking around on staff as long as Shadow needs me. But when he releases me of staff duties everyone better watch their gold because The Dark Wolf was for fun. Slade was the test.. And Lexus is the bringer of the end. When that happens SFT will always have Azreal on the back burner in a pinch when SFT needs him. But I want to run with the big boys, I have carved a legacy as Lexus in so many feds and those sites are all closed down and can't be found again. I know that here the SFT will live forever.

Harold: Well Azreal I want to thank you for one of the most interesting and real interviews I've done in quite a long time.

President Azreal: I want to thank the SFT for sticking around, I want to thank Shadow for doing his best to keep myself, all of the roster and the SFT in his high interests. And I want to thank you Harold for doing this interview with me. And I hope this interview inspires and helps some of the SFT roster. Thanks Again.