A Harold interview:

Harold: Folks tonight I’m joined by the man beast, the monster of SFT known simply as Grizzly Z. Grizzly thank you so much for sitting down with me on such short notice.

Grizzly Z: Hey, it was this or prison, and I'm told here I can safely drop the soap.

Harold: um okay LOL, well Grizzly you recently returned a few weeks ago after a short Hiatus. And since your return you've been different, one may say you're more focused or simply put someone lit a fire under you, you were always good, but now you seem resolved to prove you're one to be feared in SFT, what’s changed for you? Or what is different this time around?

Grizzly Z: I haven't changed. I think the SFT changed. Even in the short time I was gone, it went to Hell in a hand basket. I came back to put things back on track.

Harold: So you believe you're the one to bring SFT back to its rightful glory among federations? Isn’t that a bit egotistical of you? Do you think you're on par with guys like Murphy, Brickcity, Malinko, Havoc?

Grizzly Z: The only one of those guys worth my time is Havoc. He's the only one with any kind of balls.

Harold: Do you think right now, you'd be ready to take on Havoc for the world title?

Grizzly Z: Frankly, yes. But like I said when I first came to the SFT: I will pay my dues. I'll earn the right before I demand it.

Harold: Ok well let’s talk past, where did you get your start, how long have you been in the business and how did you end up in SFT?

Grizzly Z: I never wrestled a day in my life before the SFT. I came to Strike Towers fresh off a prison term for vigilantism. I wound up at the SFT's doorstep through an anonymous letter... It sounded like a good thing at the time... OOC: Actually, it was the short-lived wrestler Jester who brought in to the SFT. He is close friends with Azreal and Colonel Freedom (guys whom I have gotten to know quite well in the last few months) and he urged me to join.

Harold: I did not know you were in prison, if you don’t mind us asking, how long where you in there? And what appeal did wrestling have or hold for you?

Grizzly Z: I did 5 years in a minimum security prison for "vigilantism" or taking the law into my own hands, and then a week or so after joining the SFT. I broke out, and was later pardoned for my crimes. Wrestling is about the only profession where I can kick the crap out of somebody and not get arrested for it. It's beautiful.

Harold: So SFT is your first and only fed, so as a fresh face to wrestling in general and SFT, what is it about SFT you personally like and what is it you dislike or something you’d change if you had the power?

Grizzly Z: OOC: The atmosphere... It keeps me writing, and keeps my writing "chops" fresh. If I could change anything, it would be the interaction between staff and role-players. Having worked on both sides now, I can see where the RPers can get restless, and I can see where the staff gets frustrated. Sometimes I feel like both sides need a good kick in the pants. Other times I can sympathize.

Harold: Well one thing that I ask all wrestlers is simply put Shadow, what if any is your relationship with Shadow? Do you get along with him or what kind of interaction have you or do you have with him? And what do you think of him and the way he runs SFT?

Grizzly Z: Generally I get along with Shadow. Granted, our interaction has been extremely limited, but I have a great deal of respect for him. He does the job, and though I get a little irritated with certain booking practices, I understand one fundamental thing: Shadow is the boss. What he says goes, and that's that. He earned his position. Who am I to argue?

Harold: Still most feel he's too detached from the wrestlers, keeping them at arms length, when Connor was co owner, Connor was the one who dealt with day to day things for the roster, now that Shadow is sole owner he's seen less and less online, do you think as owner he needs to be more available for the roster, or is his detachment a good way for him to stay impartial and stay away from little ooc skirmishes that go on in SFT?

Grizzly Z: As far as the OOC "skirmishes," I think the rest of the staff is empowered and responsible enough to handle it. Connor has taken it too far more than once and I have frequently disagreed with the way he does things, but I've made no secret of when he's being an idiot. As to Shadow, so far as I'm concerned, he has a life outside of the SFT, as do the rest of us. He does enough as it is. Keeping the wrestlers at arms length is probably the best thing to do. Although, I do think he should have a co-owner who is more "hands-on." Somebody like Azreal, who is a dick, but at least he's fair-minded.

Harold: If you could face anyone in SFT present or past, which 3 people would you want to fight and why?

Grizzly Z: Top three: 1) I'd like to face Nirvana again without the pressure of KotDM. Nirvana is arguably the best wrestler in the SFT right now, and I'd like to fight him again.

Grizzly Z: 2) I want a piece of Brickcity "B." He pisses me off.

Grizzly Z: 3) I want a shot at Havoc at some point. His style is closest to mine, and I feel it would be a hell of a match.

Harold: One thing I like to ask most wrestlers is why do you as a wrestler feel that before Havoc's current reign, why had it been so hard for anyone to hold onto the world title more than a few weeks? Is it that the talent is just so even that anyone could maybe be world champion, is the talent level that good, or is it that the world champs get too cocky or too lazy? What’s your personal belief on what many call the curse of the SFT world title?

Grizzly Z: I liken it to a certain level of accountability. You reach a certain point and you suddenly realize that you're pretty much on top. The only way to go is down. And so you're always waiting for that roller-coaster to take you down again, and you get so paranoid about it that you make a mistake or burn yourself out. Havoc's got more staying power than anybody in the SFT. He's one of the most consistently GOOD wrestlers on the roster, and he's earned what he's got.

Harold: Who do you personally like in SFT, by that I mean whose promos do you enjoy reading/watching? Who influenced or influences you now if anyone? And Who do get along well with in SFT in or ooc, and who do you not get along with in or ooc?

Grizzly Z: I like Nirvana's RPs. They're always a bit creepy, but always good. De Marco is always a good read, as is Havoc. I enjoy Cadmus Vir's too, though they need some work. As to influences, I'm a style all my own. I can't say I'm influenced one way or another. As to who I get along with OOC, I'd say Havoc, DeMarco, and Azreal, but I tend to get along with everyone. Christian Cage. Hell, even Venom, who Z's been at odds with since the beginning. The three people I can't STAND out of character are Brickcity "B," Saga, and Joe Gunn.

Harold: You just came off a tough match at the ppv, and though you didn’t catch the Hardcore title, you came damn close, what’s next for you? What titles do you have your eyes set on?

Grizzly Z: It ain't no secret that the Hardcore title has a warm spot in the sub-cockel region of my heart... But it's time for a US/IC shot, methinks. From there... Heh, from there, I'm claiming that world title.

Harold: High Aspirations, since your birth in SFT you've always been considered a workhorse just like Brickcity B, most say its due to you being new and not having been worn out for years and years like many veterans, what’s your secret behind your work ethic, is it for love of the game, or is it just your personal will not to do the bare minimum but to excel in any and every match.

Grizzly Z: Neither, really. Don't get me wrong, I do love the game, and I do have a desire to excel, but I do it for the love of the written word. It's widely known that I am a published writer, but this way I can keep my writing skills sharp. I do it to hone my abilities as a writer and pit myself against OTHER writers of equal or greater caliber. For me, it's about becoming a better writer. And so far as I can tell, it's worked.

Harold: Ahh I see, the better your opponent, the better you get or the better you can become, they make you rise to the occasion as they say. Did I get that right?

Grizzly Z: Exactly right.

Harold: I know you like many have been contacted by other feds bout jumping ship and leaving SFT, but like so many you stay, and those few who do leave always come back, what is it about SFT that many just stick with it, we lovingly call it home, but for you what is it about SFT that makes you stay?

Grizzly Z: A couple of reasons, some practical, some less so. The most practical reason, I guess, is that it's what I know. Period. But the biggest reason I stay is because I like it here. Plain and simple. My fiancé has asked many times why I keep doing, especially when I bitch about having to write an RP or a match that I have no idea what I'm going to write. The bottom line is: I love it here.

Harold: I appreciate your honesty, so one more question I hope an honest answer to, do you think you have what it takes to win the world title either now or in the near future and take SFT to a new level? Or do you just hope to win the world title and would that be enough for you?

Grizzly Z: First off, I WILL win the SFT World title. There is no question there. And once I've won it, I have every intention of taking the SFT up a few notches. The SFT is great: I will make it fucking amazing.

Harold: Well I wish you the best, and I want to thank you for doing this interview, it has been one of the most entertaining and interesting I have done in quite some time.

Grizzly Z: I appreciate that, Harold. You do good work. Just one more thing... Havoc? Keep that belt shiny for me.