Kirk Sheppard of HWA Online kept sending me the link to this website he was working on for a new wrestler named Ash Parker. He's always talking about a lot of the guys in this fed but he kept mentioning him over and over and how no one could believe he's only been wrestling for such a short time. After hearing about how "great" every indy wrestler is in the mid-west, it kind of goes in one year and out the other. The thing is, when it comes to Les Thatcher's guys in Cincinnati the hype rings true most of the time and the same can be said for Ash. I went down three weeks ago to check out one of their Tuesday Showcases and I couldn't believe the ability of one guy who was wrestling Bo "Fake Shark Boy" Lewis. Some guys are athletic, or know their spots but this guy had "it." If you're wondering what "IT" is, its ring presence. He looked like he knew what he was doing, that he could tell a story and that he had all the ability to back it up. Its one thing to do Moonsaults and the other top five high spots of the day but he was pulling off some chain wrestling and working the psych end of the match great. The wicked Michinoku Driver that finished the match off was a great exclamation point as well. I went and asked Kirk about this guy and he said, "This is the guy who I told you about, who has only been wrestling since December." I thought to myself, "December of what year?" Anyway, his name is Ash Parker, he started training in May of 2000 and debuted back in December a day before he turned 19. Check out his interview and you can say you read about him "back then".Ash Parker of the HWA
BJ: So Ash, how long have you been wrestling now?
Ash: I started training in May, so thats about 8 months ago. I actually had my first match one day before my 19th birthday. That was a big goal of mine when I came out here. I started training in late May, and who manages to have a match after only training that much? That was a big goal of mine and I set my goals lofty and I go out there and work my ass off in the ring. So I wrestled my first match December 1st.
BJ: December 1st, that was only two months ago and they already have you doing Michinoku Drivers, thats impressive.
Ash: Thanks man,
BJ: Whats the most dangerous thing thats happened to you so far since youve started wrestling?
Ash: Uhm, the most dangerous thing thats happened
. We were at practice and we were going over a spot and one of the guys gave me a Push Press. Its like a back drop except you take a face bump on the way down. Well, he went a little low on my thighs instead of on my hips, so instead of taking a foot bump I landed right on my head.
BJ: ouch
.
Ash: Yeah, that was scary. Really, really scary. You have to be careful in there. You have to do your best to take care of yourself and the guy your wrestling. Thats a big, big, big part.
BJ: So has wrestling with Heartland been all that youve expected? Whats the biggest surprise since coming out here, like what have you least expected?
Ash: I dont know. I was a big time smart-mark before coming out here, I was all over the internet before I came out here, and I really didnt know what to expect. Id probably say its the camaraderie of all the boys. Everyone loves each other. We just have a great time whether its a practice or back here, or in the ring, or out at night. We just have a great time together and were all friends. We share one common bond.
BJ: When you started out seeing this on television, who were your favorite guys to watch when you were younger?
Ash: When I was real young, Ive been watching since I can remember, I was a big fan of Bret Hart, Hart Foundation. Uhm, Michaels obviously impressed me, a whole lot of guys. I wasnt a big fan of the NWA or WCW back then so it was mostly WWF. Obviously I loved Hulk Hogan, I was into the Ultimate Warrior but recently Ive been a big fan of Jericho, Gurrero, Benoit. Who isnt a big fan of Benoit. Triple H, all the guys who can do their stuff in the ring and get on the mic and work their ass off.
BJ: So, you started watching when you were younger, did you ever do any backyard or indys while you were younger?
Ash: Of course. Everyone is lying if they say they didnt try it. What we used to do was bring our mattresses downstairs
BJ: I think everyones done the mattress thing *laughs*...
Ash: *Laughs* I started doing Moonsaults off my couch about two years ago. There obviously wasnt any psychology, it was all just moves, moves moves, but shit
oh sorry
BJ: Hell this is TWNP, you can say anything you want like , shit, hell, damn
.
Ash: My friend Jason Hennesey (SP), my brother, we just had an awesome time. Just beating each other and DDTing each other on top of our heads laughs
BJ: You did all the stuff Les tells you not to do know, right?
Ash: *Laughs* Exactly, we had no idea what we were doing. When I first came here and learned how to bump I had a headache for two straight weeks. When your on mattresses its a lot softer then being in the ring.
BJ: Was that the hardest thing, getting through training and everything?
Ash: Im still in there 3 to 4 times a week training. First thing, when I first came out here was around the Hildebrand and the Pillman Memorial. I didnt get my first practice in until a week after I moved out here. So at the Hildebrand Camp the guys taught people how to bump and stuff
BJ: Did you participate in the Hildebrand at all?
Ash: No I didnt, and thats the thing. I was real jealous of the guys who did. *Laughs* I moved all the way from Las Vegas and the first thing I wanted to do was get in the ring. Feel the mats, go against the ropes, go from the top turnbuckle. The big thing for me was taking a bump on the mat. So at the Hildebrand Camp everyone went to lunch and I was the only one there and I HAD to get into the ring. I wanted in there sooooo bad. So I got in there, went against the ropes, took a bump, which was probably a horrendous bump, and knocked my head lose on there.
BJ: So what was your first bump?
Ash: My first bump was the basic back bump, which his holding the second rope and falling back.
BJ: Was it hard for you to get used?
Ash: I thought I caught on pretty well. When I was back home we werent using chairs or doing any of the hardcore stuff
BJ: Or setting each other on fire
Ash: Yeah, or using license plates. We were just doing wrestling matches so that helped me TONS. I was kinda used to it then.
BJ: So you were used to taking a beating?
Ash: Not so much as a beating
I was downstairs trying to take what I thought was a real back bump, so I think it helped me out.
BJ: So youre from Las Vegas, were you a big UNLV fan at all?
Ash: Yeah, I went to UNLV my freshman year. What got me out to Cincinnati, and obviously I was a huge wrestling fan forever, but my second semester of my freshman year I had a Calculus final and I had to get a good grade on it. And no one cares about this because its not wrestling, but its kind of a funny story. I needed a good grade on the final to get a passing grade. So I made myself a little cheat sheet and thought Im only going to use it if I HAVE to use it and I hid it behind my calculator. And I thought if I pull off an A I can get a C and this class
and all of that. So I looked around for the professor and didnt see him, went for the cheat sheet, looked up and there was the professor and yanked that test right out of my hands. I tried to play it off as some hard ass, like I didnt give a damn, but when I walked out of there I damn near had tears in my eyes. Thats what got me out here, I wasnt about to take another year of college Calculus. *laughs*
BJ: So living on the West Coast, you probably have a different style indy wise. Were you into checking out shows when you were there.
Ash: In Las Vegas there is this guy called Buffalo Jim. And Ill tell you straight up, the whole promotion is awful. Its absolutely terrible. Other then that there isnt really promotions out there. There is one guy I wanted to get trained by, it seems like everyone has this story, and I gave him 200 dollars down which was supposed to be the deal, and all of a sudden after that I didnt get in the ring once and didnt teach me a damn thing. After that I learned my lesson, not as hard as some of the other guys.
BJ: What made you come out here to Heartland? The MTV thing, things you heard on the net, or what?
Ash: Believe it or not, it was probably Meltzers show. Im a big fan of the Eyada show. Les was on it and he seemed like a good guy, which he is, and he trains his guys and they are some of the best in the country. I feel like Ive gone to the best place I couldve gone to in the world.
BJ: So youre obviously into the internet. What is your favorite website to visit?
Ash: Oh, obviously TWNPNews by far! Laughs
BJ: Very, Very good! Now tell us the truth and no sites either!
Ash: laughs Well then. Honest to God I do visit TWNPNews all the time. Its my favorite site. Wrestling Observer, Lords of Pain
Some I got for comedy, some I go for news. I would say about anything, take anything you read on the internet with a grain of salt in many cases.
BJ: Ash, youve been a great guest. Thanks for stopping by.
Ash: Hey thanks! Anytime! I love doing stuff like this.
BJ: Wait, one more question. Who are you going to be feuding with or is there one person in particular you like to wrestle?
Ash: Just about anybody. Everyone enjoys what they are doing and knows what they are doing out here. I enjoy wrestling Pepper Parks, Chett Jablonski, Bo Lewis, Crypt Kauldren, Rory Fox its pretty sucky he has to go I guarantee hell be good where he ends up, Race Steele, Taxi Driver, Cody Hawk, the list is endless with the talent here. Im leaving out Matt Stryker, Chad Collyer, blah blah blah. We have some of the best trainers and trainees here and we not only put on great psychological matches but we can entertain the crowd.
BJ: Im sure well be seeing a lot more of you in the future, you do a great job in the ring.
Ash: I hope so, thanks again.
