A Harold interview:
Harold: Ok folks today I’m joined by the one and only Havoc. Havoc thank you for agreeing to do this interview I know you're busy preparing for the ppv and you've been gone a while, how do you think your short break will affect you come ppv time?
Havoc: After 12 straight months of going at the SFT Main Event pace the break should leave me refreshed... and ready for another year on top
Harold: Lets talk your World Title reign you held it the longest anyone has in quite a long time, after so many failed attempts at winning it, tell us, how did it feel finally winning the world title? And how was it having to defend that title every week?
Havoc: It felt great winning it again.. then winning it twice more... and then breaking the record. And although I didn't defend every week, I never lost once while having the belt.
Harold: Did the rigorous title defends week in and week out drain you? Was that a reason for your leave?
Havoc: Well, during 2005 I was burnt out and wanted to give up at least 3 times, including after the Lethal Lottery. I managed to stay in it though until I reached all of my goals. But finally achieving what I wanted combined with hellacious defenses were just the straws that broke the camel's back.
Harold: Well its a well known fact that Shadow puts the champs through hell or worse, do you feel he pushes world champs too much or too far? And how did you get along with the owner during that time?
Havoc: Shadow and I didn't really speak much during my reign, but I think I earnt more of his respect than I had before. I think before he just looked at me as very talented, but not someone who could be a good World Champion (with good reason though). So, I think I added another dimension to the respect. And yeah, he makes it hard on the champions. There's no champion's advantage in SFT, so you don't really have to be the clear-cut winner to become Champion. And people really step it up when they get title shots, so there's 2 or 3 times a month that you have to bust out 3 champion level RPs in a week... which is a huge challenge.
Harold: Its a well known fact that Shadow tends to judge the champs harsher than regular wrestlers, do you feel that is fair or is it unjust? Personally I've always disagreed with him on that aspect, that a champion should not be judged harder than others, although he's only one voter, his vote is always seen as the most important. What is your view on the way champs are judged or seen by the staff and especially Shadow?
Havoc: I'd say the better RPs should always win the match. Maybe in non-title matches the champions should be judged a little harsher maybe, but it's a little stretch to give the World Title to someone who didn't really win the match, but just won by lowered expectations. In my mind it kind of devalues it.
Harold: Well you held on to the World Title for a long time, something the champs before you had failed to do. From your experience, why is it so hard for guys to hang on the World Title? is it the talent is so even, or that by the time they get the title they burn out? or is it just plain laziness or they get to cocky that they think they’ll cruise by on matches? What’s the problem? Or is the rumor of the title being cursed true? LOL
Havoc: There's no curse. A big reason it's passed around like Legend's mother is because guys don't set any goals for themselves afterwards and lose motivation. Like me when I first won it, I wanted to win my next matches but got both a mixture of cockiness and apathy. I figured I could always win it back... and did. But once I had the title record, and people were calling me a paper champion, I set out to break another record and to prove them wrong.
Harold: So respect from your peers means allot, I can understand, but what’s more important to you nowadays, respect from your fellow wrestlers or holding the world title and being the best? In other words what motivates you?
Havoc: The competition motivates me. Competition is what keeps me going and will hopefully help me finish my novel. Beating Legend a lot is always fun.
Harold: Ok let’s talk history, how did you get started in this business and how long have you been in it, and where did you get your start and how did you end up in SFT?
Havoc: Since late January of '04. A couple of my friends were bored and joined WFW. At that point my scope of feds didn't extend past that. Through a fight with Goldeneye, my friends and I all ended up in the short-lived UFW. Then Big T got me to join 1MW and became impressed with me. I became friends with Gunz there after the two of us had a tiny misunderstanding. Then 1MW closed and Gunz and I decided to come to SFT and try to dominate a weak tag division. That goal never really came through though... but the rest is history.
Harold: You've been around a while, something I like to ask all vets is this, what is it about SFT. Why has it lasted so long, why is it everyone who leaves eventually comes back? What is its appeal? Obviously something about the fed keeps people here or makes them return? What’s your take on it?
Havoc: Well.. I still wouldn't consider myself a vet since I've only been in top feds for a little over a year, but SFT has a very dedicated guy running it who refuses to let it die. The key thing that keeps SFT alive is that although sometimes the under card dwindles down to next to nothing, there is always a few guys up on top that could be on top in any other fed. Like just a couple months ago, the roster was floundering, but you still had Myself, Nirvana, and The Great Malinko. That's an all star trio if I've ever seen one.
Harold: Ok next question, if you could face any 3 wrestlers past or present who would they be? In other words what would be your dream matches? Who and why?
Havoc: Shadow on equal grounds- His reputation precedes him, some it would be a fun notch in the belt. But in SFT, I don't see it as an equal match up, whether people are bias consciously or subconsciously.
Cage- His most recent work was amazing and I'd like to see myself against him, trying to assimilate his style a bit. Havoc: *Shadow on equal grounds- His reputation precedes him, so it would be a fun notch in the belt. But in SFT, I don't see it as an equal match up, whether people are bias consciously or subconsciously.
Harold: I can understand why you'd chose all 3, but with the first 2 those matches may never happen, Shadow rarely takes matches and like you said you’d have a hard time with him, just his rep alone is sometimes enough to get him wins, and Cage well Cage has a feud with Connor and may never return. Jared though that could happen soon.
Harold: Now next question who do you get along with best in SFT and who do you not get along with at all?
Havoc: I get along with pretty much everyone on top... some of which could be partially mutual respect for each other’s writing talents. I'm good with people like Allisa, Nirvana, Malinko, Seth, Grizzly, Christian Cage, and even sometimes Gust! Havoc: I also <3 Rad... and Cage and I are on good terms
Harold: Lets talk ppv, with everyone in that battle royal how would you rate your chances of winning it? Battle Royals are always unpredictable and very hard to win, and with the staff putting a 3 rp limit that evens the match pretty much for everyone, already you're considered a front runner to win it, but in your eyes besides yourself who do you consider a major threat in the battle royal, who will be your main competition come Sunday?
Havoc: Well, I won it last year which gives me some confidence going in because I think I know the style of RP you need to do to win a Battle Royal against so many people. This year has more people that will be competitive than last though. Connor has been on a hot streak. Malinko is damn good, but I owe him one for taking my title. Grizzly will be a toughie... And Jared Mayer will be a force if Allisa decides to do 3 RPs. I don't know if she will though, because the World Title doesn't seem to be something she's very high on... if she was she'd probably have my record... or at least be tied with me for it.
Harold: One more question, now that you’re back in SFT, what is your immediate goals? What is Havoc going to do first or concentrate now that you are back?
Havoc: Win the Body Count Rumble for the 2nd year in a row. Become World Champion for a fifth time and break my own record. If I don't break my record, then I hope to win the Lethal Lottery. And hopefully win the KotDM tourney. Also to beat Nirvana in a singles match, since I'm at 0-1-1 against him right now.
Harold: Hard goals, but I'm sure you'll accomplish them, in that I have no doubt, Well Havoc I want to thank you for doing this interview and our readers want to thank you. Is there anything you want to say before we end? (say your last words and we're done)
Havoc: Thanks for having me... and uhh.. to everyone else... watch out.
Jared Mayer- The character that made me fall in love with Allisa's writing. Simply amazing.
Honorable mentions to another match with Nirvana and one where Seth Dryden and I are both on the top of our games.
I don't get along too well with Kyle Murphy sometimes. But obviously Bane. I pitied him at first, because some vets ganged up on him, but then he burnt his bridges talking shit about a win by quantity after Seth's internet went out. And THEN talking shit about beating Mokoko who (as usual sadly) no showed. He also for some reason couldn't understand that when insulted, I'm going to insult back. The concept of quid-pro-quo is totally absent in his mind, so he paints me as some evil monster. He has some kind of mental disability.