Interviews
Exclusive: Interview with a Giant
Published October 17, 2011 at 7:36 am by Tez Himself
WRESTLE HUSTLE: How did you get your start in the business. Where did you train etc.?
KYOTE: I always love getting asked this question. Well, I need to tell you the back story first been a wrestling fan since 1996 and I saw my very first Aussie wrestling show in 2002 in Queensland. I then spent close to two years looking for the WCWA training school and in early 2004, my mum was looking for land to rent for her horses.
She saw an ad at the local shop and went to meet with him, was invited in and saw this championship belt on the coffee table. My mum asked 'what's the title belt for', the gentleman replied 'I'm a pro wrestler'. My mum called me and I met with him later that Sunday and started training that Wednesday.
So on January 6, 2004, I started training at the WCWA sweat shop (now IPWA). I was trained by Peter 'Hawk' Ball, James 'BJ' Blade, Sweet Ass, Mason Childs, Nic XL and many more.
WRESTLE HUSTLE: Early in your career you worked in New Zealand. What was that experience like?
KYOTE: Well my first trip to New Zealand was in 2006 and I worked a show for IPW NZ. I was the current MIW Hardcore champion (WCWA had a name end of 04). I had just turned 18 and I got to work a hardcore match with NZ hardcore wrestling legend, the Machine.
My match was brutal, everything was used in the match. It was also the first time I had fire used in a match (Laughs). The match was a great experience because it was my first time wrestling for a different company, plus going overseas for the first time on my own.
With the trip it gave me the chance to try and work heel but also learn a lot the different styles of wrestling. Having had a really awesome time I went back later that year for the Armageddon expo.
WRESTLE HUSTLE: Mid 2007 saw a new QLD promotion PWAQ start up and you were there from the debut show. What was it like working for a new company that rose to the top of the ranks pretty quickly and what do you think of where the promotion is now?
KYOTE: As people know PWAQ was and always will be a major part of my life. Coming to the end of 2006 we were told MIW was closing down. So, Mason Childs asked me to help him start PWAQ and I jumped at the chance.
Mason and myself were both title holders in MIW so we gave the belts back and told the owners we're leaving and we did offer to drop the belts on the show but there was no shows booked at the time. We left the company with four other rookies (AJ Istria, Ash Riot, Mark Davis and Cam).
Leading up to the first Rise of the Warriors, we were training hard every weekend on the north side of Brisbane. What made PWAQ so amazing was that we worked like a family and did everything together. I feel that the promotion has changed a lot now some for good and some for bad, but right now PWAQ is in a stage of re-building time will only tell what will happen on the good note there's a great bunch of guys and girls training hard to be the best at what they love.
WRESTLE HUSTLE: Following your match with Indy Superstar, Chris Hero, he proceeded to put you over on the mic. What was your reaction as that was happening?
KYOTE: (Laughs) I didn't know what to think truth be told. I felt honored and it was such a real moment because this match happened in my home town, one street away from my house. In front of my family, friends and peers I was so nervous going into the match. It's a great memory.
WRESTLE HUSTLE: When the WWE toured recently, you received a tryout with the company. How did it go and what sort of feedback did you get from them? Are you allowed to go into details?
KYOTE: It was such amazing experience. The funny thing is when I first got the email inviting me to the try out, I thought it was some sort of rib because I had it happen a few weeks earlier. I had someone email me via my website saying they were Vince McMahon (Laughs).
After getting more details I made my way down to Sydeny and met up with the other trialists. There were six of us all up (Shout out to my boys Slade (Mercer) and Jade (Diamond) and the other KPW boys). I also got to meet Big Huss for the first time. When we got to Acer Arena, we got shown to our locker room and got changed into our gear ... But I like leaving people guessing what happened.
WRESTLE HUSTLE: Since the tryouts, you have received some harsh criticism from people in the scene. A case of tall poppy syndrome, especially as you’re known as one of the real good guys on the scene?
KYOTE: I'll be the first to tell you I'm not the best wrestler in Australia, nor in the best shape but I work my ass off to be the best I can be. I treat everyone I meet with respect and do whatever I can to help out in the ring and outside.
Thing is, I never asked for this try out. The WWE contacted me, so I must be doing something right at the end of the day I'm just a guy that loves wrestling and caught a break.
WRESTLE HUSTLE: You made your last appearance for PWAQ at the Eagleby Fair shows in your hometown, even relinquishing the PWAQ Championship. That must have been an emotional show for you, being both your last for the promotion and being in your hometown?
KYOTE: Sure was because of a few reasons I grew up in Eagleby and went to school there and did a lot of work with the community plus having all my family and friends there I got to work two matches a tag match with P'J against Slade & Jade.Later that day a 6man tag with Mase and Harley baker against the farrar twins and Matt logic. After the match I got to cut a promo and say my goodbyes and hand over the Queensland title to PJ. For me this was my real goodbye even though I did work a match at Logan digger the following Friday haha.
WRESTLE HUSTLE: You are billed as Australia’s largest wrestler at 6’ 10” and 400 lbs. Which bigger guys in the scene would like to face off against that you haven’t had the opportunity to as of yet?
KYOTE: I have always wanted to work with Mimic and G.D Grimm over at RCW in South Australia and Big Logan from Melbourne. I'm really looking forward to working with Matt Bailey in SWA in a few weeks
WRESTLE HUSTLE: Outside of wrestling, you are a big video game buff and at one stage you were writing for the website “Revenge on May 6th”. What are some of your favourite games of all time?
KYOTE: (Laughs) Yeah, I've been a gamer since I was a little kid. I'm a huge Halo fan even have the legendary symbol tattoo on the back of my right leg.
If I had to pick my top 5 games in no order, they would be: Street Fighter 2 on SNES, Halo 3 on the Xbox, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Golden Eye on the N64 and Dante's Inferno on Xbox, but I could go on and on about gaming (Laughs). If you ever want a game hit me up on Xbox live, KYOTE88.
WRESTLE HUSTLE: A newer hobby of yours is the 1 kg Steak Challenge. In the past few months you have reached Wall of Fame’s at steakhouses in both WA and NSW. Is QLD next on the list?
KYOTE: (Laughs) Yeah, I love my steak! It was never meant to become a hobby, but it's a lot of fun. Never know, I'm hoping to break my record in Newcastle. I missed out on the record by 20 seconds.
WRESTLE HUSTLE: Recently you have signed up for the new World Wrestling X-Treme promotion. There has been a lot of backlash against the promotion even before the first show. Has that affected you in any way personally or is it something you don’t think about?
KYOTE: Well, at first i wasn't sure on what to do as I was put on the roster before even being asked (Laughs). I look at it like this. If you take a booking you're there to do a job and that's put on a show for the fans. It doesn't matter who or how the show is being run, the fact is your there to perform for the people that paid to be at the show the FANS!!!!!
I have worked shows in front of eight people and I have been paid in cans of coke and hotdogs. As long as the fans go home happy that's all that matters.
WRESTLE HUSTLE: You have also wrestled several big main event matches including against Chris Hero at the debut PWAQ show in May 2007 and a Steel Cage match against Wayne “The Maniac” Mattei at the Allstar Wrestling Supershow in January 2010. What have been some of your favourite matches so far?
KYOTE: Hmm, tough. OK, a few jump to mind right away.
Nic XL from April 2005, Sweet Ass from July 2005, The Machine from in NZ in May 2006, Dal Knox from September 2006, my matches with Adam Bruiser throughout 2007/08 and Max Damage in NZ 2009.
These next 3 matches are what I consider 3 of my best:
Mikey Broderick from PWAQ in January 2009. This match meant a lot to me because it was my first match back from injury and I asked Mason to give me the chance to work with Mikey, because I felt we would have a great match and we did.
Next is my match with Mason Childs earlier this year. It was the very first time we ever had a 1 on 1 match. Mason is like my big bro and I wouldn't be where I am if it wasn't for him. I owe him a lot and I'll never be able to thank him enough.
My all time favourite match was when I got to have a match with James 'BJ' Blade at Halloween Holocaust 08. The reason this match is because BJ in my mind is an Aussie legend and I learnt so much from him. To me this really was a Teacher vs. Student match. I have so much respect for BJ the match was flawless and I'll never forget it.
WRESTLE HUSTLE: What is Kyote hoping to achieve over the next five years?
KYOTE: I hope to be traveling all over the world doing what I love. I'm off to the USA next year for the first time so that's going to be really exciting plus I'm going to WrestleMania (Laughs).
WRESTLE HUSTLE: Thank you for taking the time to speak with Wrestle Hustle, Kyote. Is there anything you would like to plug?
KYOTE: Thank you, it has been a blast. Hmmm well everyone that reads this keep supporting Aussie wrestling and your local Feds. If you want to see what I'm up to next check out my website www.thegiantkyote.com
Be cool stay in school.
Special thanks to Just Mike Designs, for the awesome promo shot of Kyote.
