The Godfather
MTW says:
How did you first get into wrestling?
Godfather says:
I first got into wrestling when I was around 5 years old. My cousin (High Ki on Smash) had bought a couple of the WWF figures. We both then checked out WWF: Challange on Sky Sports one afternoon, and the rest is history I guess. Been watching ever since.
MTW says:
What wrestling organisations have you followed in the past?
Godfather says:
WWF/E, WCW, ECW, CZW, ROH and MLW really. I was a huge ECW fan when it was still around, and I really got into CZW and the other indy feds after it folded. I must admit though, I don't watch as much wrestling nowadays as I used to. Only really WWE PPV shows and whatever is on the wrestling channel when I turn it on.
MTW says:
Why do you think you're less enthusiastic about wrestling?
Godfather says:
After the 2003 Survivor Series, I took a break from wrestling, and didn't really pick it up again until after the new year. At that point it was really a combination of me being burned out with wrestling (I was watching wrestling every single day and just really sickening myself with it), and the fact that I had lost a lot of interest in WWE, because in my opinion, the quality of the television being produced had went downhill. Also, one of my favourite Independant wrestlers had just announced retirement which also kinda sucked at the time. I just didn't feel like watching anymore, so I took some time off and came back to it in the new year. Nowadays however, I think its just really because the federations I used to follow aren't really producing anything fresh, and it's all stuff I've seen before really.
MTW says:
You used to be very into independent wrestling. Is that no longer the case?
Godfather says:
Well no, I still follow Independant wrestling, but not as much as I used to. I think Independant wrestling was at it's height during the Philadelphia wars. As you know, I used to be really behind CZW. While I do still support CZW, I find it harder to shill out £10 or whatever for a show now, when really the shows don't interest me. It's much the same situation as WWE got into after WCW went under. CZW was at it's peak during the XPW vs CZW wars. Once XPW went under, its almost like CZW stopped trying, and I know I'm not the only one who feels the same. Just look at any of the shows in the past year compared to those in 2002. Attendance has really dropped. I think the loss of Nick Mondo hurt them big. While I'll always support CZW, I just don't buy as much of the shows as I used to. They do very little to get people interested nowadays. For example, they had a double header of shows a couple of weeks ago, which were given virtually no promotion. In my opinion, it's a shadow of its former self now, and really need to pull out some fresh material to get the people coming back.
Godfather says:
That being said, I'll always be a fan of CZW. I made the trip to Philadelphia last year from here in Scotland to see them. They were really nice to me when I was there, taking me backstage, letting me meet everyone etc. I'll always be behind them, but I just hope they can get themselves out of this rut they are in.
MTW says:
What about the british wrestling scene? Do you follow that at all?
Godfather says:
Not really no. To be honest, I think with british wrestling, it's a case of trying to run before it can crawl. I went to the infamous GWF show in Blackburn last year. I travelled five hours to see it, and we all know what happened there. I never did get my money back from that, and it really soured me on british wrestling at the time. In that case, the ring never turned up, but in my opinion, all of these possible problems should all be covered and checked BEFORE the show. The whole night just stank of unprofessionalism to me. Also, I'm in Scotland, and the big player in british wrestling is the FWA, who really only put on shows in the same areas all the time. There really is no wrestling scene in Scotland, with the exception of Scottish Championship Wrestling, which to be honest, haven't done much in the way of getting me interested to go to any of their shows.
Godfather says:
(btw that should be run before it can WALK) haha
MTW says:
Okay, getting away from wrestling now. What do you do for a living?
Godfather says:
Right now I'm a full time student. I'm studying Internet Software Development in Glasgow. Basically, it's shit, but I hope to take the course in a preferred direction in September when I begin my honours project.
MTW says:
What kind of direction?
Godfather says:
Well, for my honours project I'm hoping to do something multimedia based. The course I'm doing now is made up of Multimedia, programming and web design. I'm hoping to use the skills I have in multimedia (shockwave, flash, macromedia director etc) to produce my honours project. I'm hoping to move away from the java (programming) side of things, because it's not for me to be honest.
MTW says:
Is that what you would like to do when you leave then, something in multimedia?
Godfather says:
Yeah definatley. I've been really getting into video editing lately too, so as I said, when I come to do my honours project, I'd like to try and combine these things that I enjoy. First I need to pass the course I'm on though! lol.
MTW says:
So are you living at home right now or did you move out to come to University?
Godfather says:
I'm living at home. It only takes me around 15 minutes to get to the university from my house. Plus, I have a friend who lives in the University, and well, it's a fucking dump, plus a lot of the students I see around campus are just your typical stupid immature morons who you'd usually find in a school...not a university. I think that the big disadvantage about living on campus day or night, is that the whole campus would become like, your entire world. You'd barely ever be away. When I finish uni at the end of the day, I can't wait to get out of there! I imagine the feeling I get when I walk out of there is the same as the one that an ex-con would get when he walks out of prison for the first time in ten years. Yes, the days at university DO suck that much.
MTW says:
What do you like to do for fun then?
Godfather says:
Well I'm a big movie fan. Movies are my first love, and always have been. Even before wrestling. I have shelves stacked to the ceiling with videos and DVD's. When I'm not watching movies, you'll probably find me going to see movies with some friends, or going out for something to eat with friends...the usual stuff really. As you probably know, I'm straight edge, so that really eliminates a lot of things for me to do in Glasgow, because a lot of it's nightlife and social activities are all drinking oriantated or are associated with alcohol or drug taking in some way. All of my other friends drink, some more than others, so sometimes it can be difficult coming up with things to do, that everyone wants to do. But yes, I'm a big movie fan.
MTW says:
I was going to bring up the straight-edge deal. For anyone unfamiliar with it, could you explain what it is?
Godfather says:
Sure, basically someone who is straight edge is someone who refrains from the use of alcohol and drugs and doesn't smoke either. Basically, any mind altering substances. Someone who is straight edge also refrains from sleeping around too. However, anyone can not do all of those things and still NOT call themselves straight edge, but actually claiming the "straight edge" title is about making a serious commitment to the lifestyle. There a lot of misconceptions surrounding it though, for example - that straight edger's don't have sex. That's not true...it's just the going out every saturday night and sleeping with every whore in sight that they don't do. Some people also thing that sXe (straight edge) is some type of violent gang. Not at all. It's just about believing that being straight edge is the best way to treat yourself and other people really. It's about taking staying true to yourself.
MTW says:
Okay, and on to the smash questions. How did you come to find Smash?
Godfather says:
Well, I'm sure the people at Smash will love this. You remember that poster - therock88 right? Well, before I even knew what Smash was, I met a guy called Kris Marshall. He was in my class back in college when I started there. He found out I was a wrestling fan, and introduced me to Smash Wrestling. I spent a lot of time reading the forums before I signed up. I did however, see all of the problems he caused there, with all of his stories etc. However, then I finally signed up and started posting. The rest is history I guess. He's gone, I'm still here...lol
MTW says:
I was going to ask about your relationship with Rock88. I have to ask - is his stupidity a work or a shoot?
Godfather says:
I no longer see him, as he started a job while I went to to university. His stupidity, it's a bit of both really. He is nothing like the way he acted on Smash. I think he is just someone who was craving attention, and was fond of telling the odd lie, or 300. In person, while he was a little annoying or a little stupid at times, Kris was nothing like "therock88" really. Inno will probably laugh out loud when he reads this, but I'd be willing to bet that if those two sat down together for a pint, they would get on really well. I'm not trying to justify the trouble he caused on Smash or anything. I know he deserved to banned (all 785 times), and yes he was a moron on here. It's best that he's gone from the board. You may be suprised to know that I think he's retired from message board posting completely now. Last time I talked to him on MSN a couple of months ago, thats what he told me. However, how can you really be sure when it comes to him eh? For all I know, you are actually therock88 lol...
MTW says:
Fuck sake dude, I told you not to say anything. *sigh* Never mind. Whats been your favourite memories of Smash?
Godfather says:
Well, when I joined Smash I enjoyed the Indy board a lot. My favourite memory since joining would probably the CZW vs XPW Indy wars threads that went on in that board. I enjoyed them a lot, as they seemed to go on forever. That's about the only good thing XPW ever did, was be the cause of some good threads/arguments on Smash really. Quite funny that a promotion I despise is one of the things that brought me my favourite smash memory so far I guess.
MTW says:
In what ways do you feel the board has changed since you've joined?
Godfather says:
I think that I've became "Godfather" more rather than "The Godfather". When I joined Smash, the only place I really posted was the Indy board, in those CZW vs XPW posts I mentioned, but I think over the past months, I've got into the general discussion side more, which all started I think really, with a thread about straight edge I started on there last year sometime. I've started to rant a hell of a lot more in the Asylum, although I still try to avoid silly arguments in there, because...well whats the point? I think I've kinda came out of my shell a bit more since I first joined, if you understand what I'm saying?
MTW says:
Out of all the banned losers, who was your personal favourite?
Godfather says:
MalenkoMark....Even though he did PM me like 50 times a day asking me indy wrestling questions (which did get really tiresome), I enjoyed his wrestling rants. I think it's best he stays banned though, as he seems to get carried away too much with things.
Godfather says:
his apparant hate for the moderators and his WWE hate being a couple of examples I remember from him being on Smash.
MTW says:
If the LG Hooker Curse could claim one member of Smash of your choice, who would it be and why?
Godfather says:
Before I can answer that, you'll have to explain to me what the LG Hooker curse is...
MTW says:
Its the term coined by... I believe it was Shane McMahon. It refers to the fact that for a period anything involved with LG Hooker would end up being removed from Smash. LG was heavily involved in stables being banned from Smash and was involved in a number of arguments that may or may not have led to Malenkomark being banned. There was probably something else as well but I forget right now
Godfather says:
ah right...well, I think the person I'd like that "curse" to claim would probably be anyone who decides to act like a drama queen and start these stupid "I'm leaving, goodbye forever" threads, and then proceed to try and get more attention and make a big fuss of things by asking for their accounts to be de-activated. Message boards trying to grow don't need people like that. If people want to leave a forum, they should just leave without making a fuss. As for the whole asking for your account to be de-activated thing...what is the point? Just leave and don't post again if you hate the place that much. Basically, anyone who does that kinda stuff. I think those people need to remember that a big world actually exists when they turn off their computer.
MTW says:
I dont think anyone will crack your cryptic code on that one lol What has been your favourite Smash controversy?
Godfather says:
The whole thing that came up just the other week with Shane McMahon going on a rant against the kind of people I just mentioned, and the fact that they seem to be back on the forum within a few days after their hissy fits...I enjoyed reading that and 25 pages or whatever it was that it spawned, because well, I agree with it. I mean, don't get me wrong, if the mods want to let certain people back on, then fine....it's their forum. I just think that the people who try and make a big fuss out of leaving and stuff...well, they need to wake up and smell reality.
MTW says:
Whats your general feelings on the moderators here on Smash?
Godfather says:
I think they do a good job. Sure, there have been a couple of things in the past I haven't agreed on, like those people I mentioned above being let back on etc, but it's not my place to tell them how to run a forum. I joined smash for the discussion, and I enjoy discussing and debating things there. But to answer your question, I think that the mods on smash do a good job and provide us all with a great discussion board, compared to some of the other shit-hole wrestling message boards around (naming no names or anything).
MTW says:
Well we're almost done now. Time for the name game. Everyone knows, or should know, how this works by now. Godfather, are you ready?
Godfather says:
Yep
MTW says:
thefonz
Godfather says:
reminds me of therock88
MTW says:
Edgerulez
Godfather says:
I enjoy Edgerulez posts. Good contributor to the board
MTW says:
Drummk
Godfather says:
Same as Edgerulez really. One in a long line of good posters at Smash
MTW says:
Rock Bottom
Godfather says:
Funny guy. I talk to him on MSN quite a bit. One of my favourite smash posters.
MTW says:
Bradshaw101
Godfather says:
Never really spoke to him, but from the posts of his that I've read, he seems like a good guy.
MTW says:
The Great Deku Tree
Godfather says:
Another good poster, he's like a walking fountain of knowledge when it comes to videogames I've found since checking out the console, PC etc board.
MTW says:
Van Wilder
Godfather says:
Like Rock Bottom, I've found quite a few of Van Wilder's posts funny. Like most of the guys you've mentioned already, someone I hope sticks around on the boards for some time to come.
MTW says:
Edgefan25
Godfather says:
Don't really know them, or of them to be honest with you.
MTW says:
therock88
Godfather says:
man child
MTW says:
LG Hooker
Godfather says:
Another one of my favourite posters
MTW says:
And finally.... Neds
Godfather says:
ha-ha! I knew that was coming eventually. As you probably know, I could rant all day, so I'll try and keep it short. Basically, neds are the scum of the earth. I hate even seeing them out on the streets. In my opinion, all of them should be hauled out to a field and shot. I truly despise them.
MTW says:
And on that positive note, thanks to Godfather for taking the time to do this. Its been a pleasure.
Godfather says:
it has been. I've enjoyed doing it. Thank you for doing the interview with me too.
