Shade
Posted by Douglas Nunnally
on 12/21/2004
Interviewer's Note:
Welcome to another edition of "Wasting The Time Of..." and in this edition, I have a huge star of ESW, Shade!
Ever see a gremlin? Ever see an amazing wrestler? What about an outstanding entertainer? Roll those into one, bake for about 2 years, and you have Shade, one of the breakout stars of the young New York promotion. Despite his very small demeanor, Shade has made a huge impact that most only dream of. He has etched himself into everyone's memory with his hissing, demonic mannerism, and breathtaking matches. The name may come as something intriguing, but let me tell you that that is only the tip of the iceberg as they say.
Shade is perhaps the wrestler everyone wants to see, but no one gets the chance. As the ultimate entertainer, Shade lives his character out there for one simple reason: you. The fans. This devotion he lives comes off in the interview below, so keep on reading so we can finally reveal the shade on the mind of Shade..
Douglas Nunnally: First, thank you for joining me here today, Shade.
Shade: Not a problem. Thanks for having me.
Douglas Nunnally: To start, I have to ask. How in the world did you come up with your whole ring attire?
Shade: Actually, when I first started wrestling I wore Black Corduroys, an Undertaker sleeveless shirt turned inside out, and black ripped Nike Sneakers. To tell you the truth, the only thing I had going for me was my medieval mask. Slowly, my attire started to develop. I bought a pair of boots, switched to some sports pants, and even wore an under armor long sleeve T-Shirt [Laughs]. Now I think I look even more the part. I bought some shiny genie pants from EZ Money; he designed them as Sabu wears them. They were good for the time. Now I make my own pants; variations for different shows. I tied some lace all throughout a fishnet shirt. It actually looks pretty killer. But the whole way through, my mask has stuck with me.
Douglas Nunnally: To cut to the chase, how did you come up with your gimmick period?
Shade: Thesaurus.com. Yeah, I know, pretty lame, but I just started typing in "evil" and "dark." I was a heel when I first started off. I eventually came across the word "shade" and it just stuck. Besides that, to be perfectly honest, I think the gremlin part is just really a part of me.
Douglas Nunnally: By the look of your attire and favorite moves, how much would you say Tajiri has influenced your career?
Shade: Actually, not a lot at all. I love his kicks, but who doesn't? But Great Muta was a favorite of mine for a long time, along with the Hurricane and Mick Foley. I picked up a lot of demented mannerisms from him.
Douglas Nunnally: No offense, but you are a rather small competitor standing 5'5 and only weighing in at 141 pounds. Do you think this is an advantage or disadvantage to your career and/or skill?
Shade: My size is my gimmick. I love being small, and the kids like me small. I actually think it gives them someone to relate to. When the guys in the locker room talk about putting up 10 more pounds, I put on 10 more laps in the pool.
Douglas Nunnally: Your profile says that you are an Unorthodox Cruiserweight. How so?
Shade: Well, I do have a lot of Cruiserweight moves, but really I only use the ones that mess people up. I like to attack the neck and I really don't work any other part of the body. Ever.
Douglas Nunnally: Do you feel your size helps that?
Shade: Not entirely. If I had some more size, I'm sure I could pull off more devastating moves. But it does come in handy for acrobatics and lack of hard landings.
Douglas Nunnally: What is it like to be the first person in ESW to hold a title twice?
Shade: It is definitely an honor. Actually, Jonny Puma won the heavyweight title for the second time just two matches after I won the Interstate for the second time. Both titles are very prestigious. Previous holders for both titles include Mastiff, Chris Cooper, Randy Walker, and Tommy Caliber. Tommy Caliber was one of the best up and coming wrestlers I have ever known. He was the first Interstate Champion ever and now he is over seas fighting for our country. He makes it a definite honor to hold the Interstate Title
twice.
Douglas Nunnally: Which Interstate title reign in ESW would you say has had more significance?
Shade: Thus far, the second reign is far more exhilarating than the first. I won it in a hair vs. mask match against Randy Walker. I've defended my title twice against Completely Cody Steele (who has made a Smackdown appearance against Kurt Angle), and I have unified the Interstate Title with the ESW Hardcore title to make the new Unified ESW Interstate Championship when I defeated Ice in December at Season's Beatings. Now the title carries the legacy of both the Interstate and Hardcore pasts.
Douglas Nunnally: Of all three of your title reigns (singles and tags), which do you think was the most important in your career?
Shade: I believe my current title reign is the most important. ESW is really building a following and hopefully the new Unified ESW Interstate Championship will excel the fan base for ESW.
Douglas Nunnally: Be honest. What was the feeling when you got to shave Randy Walker's hair?
Shade: It was incredible. The crowd was hot. Shade got a little lost in the moment and even started eating Walker's hair as it fell from his skull. It was honestly my favorite match of all time. And come January 22nd, it is time to give it another go with Randy Walker at ESW Revolution.
Douglas Nunnally: Does it seem to instill a sense of pride or accomplishment that the people backstage have put that much faith into you to carry the title for so long?
Shade: It really does. I have not worked in but two promotions, but everyone that comes to ESW tells us that we have the best locker room there is. To have the best locker room be behind a hundred-twenty pounder like myself makes me feel real good about what I am doing. A lot of egos in wrestling wouldn't allow for such a thing to happen, but ESW has been great and I will never forget the people that helped me get to where I am today.
Douglas Nunnally: Looking back years from now, is it nice to think people will always remember you for being the first tag team champion with your partner then, Cade Cassidy?
Shade: Cade and I had a good run. We were the first ESW tag team champions ever. We feuded with Randy Walker and Tommy Caliber for a long time and stole many shows together. I wouldn't mind it at all if that is what people chose to remember about Shade.
Douglas Nunnally: What do you feel about the whole feud between you and Cade?
Shade: It was incredible. We kicked it off in the first ever ESW Interstate Championship tournament. He cost me the title, so of course, I cost him the title right back. And it was ended in the first ever ESW casket match.
Douglas Nunnally: What are your thoughts on the epic casket match you two had?
Shade: I could go on for pages about this, but I'll try to keep it short. Cade Cassidy's mother had past the night before our casket match. No one expected him to compete the next day. Especially in a casket match! But he did it anyway. It was incredible. The match was flawless. Looking at what little knowledge we had then about wrestling we criticize the match all of them time. But all in all, it was an ESW classic.
Douglas Nunnally: Did you think your casket match with Puma lived up to the first one you had with Cade?
Shade: This match was the funnest match I have ever participated in. Shade had just cost Puma the heavyweight title and there was a lot of emotion in the match. It lived up the first one all right. It stole the show and it will steal the show again someday. Shade is not finished with Jonny Puma. You just wait.
Douglas Nunnally: You have been with ESW since the beginning. What is it like to see a promotion grow like ESW has?
Shade: It has been a life changing experience. To even imagine that a promotion like ESW could change so many lives of young wrestlers in the world was impossible. But now it is true. We are training more wrestlers to this day. ESW had been struggling to broaden its horizons, but we have a few different tactics now and I expect to see ESW grow even larger. Please keep an eye for ESW, you will not regret it.
Douglas Nunnally: What is your fondest memory so far?
Shade: Walking through those old beat up closet doors for the first time to enter the first venue of ESW. Hearing my own entrance theme, barking at the crowd, and getting nose to nose with an ESW fanatic we call "Phat Nash." That will always be the fondest for me.
Douglas Nunnally: Worst memory?
Shade: Discovering that I won't be able to do this my entire life and keep my body healthy. There are not very many benefits that come with getting slammed on a mat besides the glory of being slammed on a mat.
Douglas Nunnally: Take your favorite match of all time that you were in and compare to your favorite match of all time period. What are they and how do they compare to you?
Shade: That would be Randy Walker vs. Shade and The Ultimate Warrior vs. Macho Man Randy Savage. The both had huge stipulations, they both involved some old school psychology, and the both had the better man (or better freak) come out on top. As long as it pleases the crowd, I love it. Both of the matches did just that.
Douglas Nunnally: Do you feel happy that the supposed "age of the big men" has come to an end?
Shade: Honestly, I don't believe it is over. It is just taking a rest some they can build them all over again. Being as small as I am, it is surprising that I don't mind. I watch for entertainment. As long as wrestling stays entertaining, then I don't care what size men wrestling uses.
Douglas Nunnally: Unlike many of the other ESW wrestlers, you have not branched out to other promotions. Is there any reason to this?
Shade: There are two reasons. One, I don't plan on doing this my entire life. Two, ESW has the best locker room, why would I want to go anywhere else if I am not going big?
Douglas Nunnally: Would you say that the reason you haven't branched out is because of a feeling of loyalty to the promotion that gave you your start?
Shade: Yes. I suppose you got me there. It looks as if there are three reasons I haven't branched to other locker rooms.
Douglas Nunnally: As an independent wrestler, what do you feel about the situation of the Indies presently?
Shade: They are in trouble in New York. It is entirely too hard to start a wrestling promotion in New York State. Standards need to change and people should really voice there opinion about this. Insurance is really the big issue, and I don't believe it is impossible to fight. And that does not mean throwing hot shows.
Douglas Nunnally: What is your take on the current product of wrestling today overall?
Shade: It is getting better. If the WWE is making me like a match with JBL in it, then they are doing something right. It usually follows that other wrestling promotions follow what the WWE does, because the WWE uses whatever is hot at the time. Many people hate me for saying it, but it is sports ENTERTAINMENT, and ESW did not draw a crowd for the teenagers they had wrestling for them years ago. They drew because the teenagers acting for them years ago. No one can ever do it enough. Sell, Sell, Sell.
Douglas Nunnally: How many injuries have you sustained in your short career?
Shade: Besides the normal aches and pains, just one. A broken toe. I took a flipping bump the first day I tried to fight in the ring without boots. I thought I could be like Muta. I can't. I know it is hard to believe that after years of wrestling that is all that has happened to me, but I'm not an impact wrestler. I'm an entertainer. Sell, Sell, Sell.
Douglas Nunnally: Ok, you're in the "gorilla position" getting ready to step up in front of all those "Shade Dwellers." What is the last thing that flashes through your mind?
Shade: The sense of nervousness I have before I go out and the transformation from myself to Shade. This interview is out of kayfabe, but let me let everybody know, there is a real person named Shade, and when he comes to life, I do not have to worry about coming out of character.
Douglas Nunnally: What is your take on the website, TheWrestlingVoice.com?
Shade: It is a terrific site that allows people like myself and Randy Walker, who are just breaking into the business, to get some exposure. Please if you have not already, read Walker's interview. It is on the same page as this one.
Douglas Nunnally: Is there anything else you want to say or touch down on to the fans and readers out there?
Shade: Keep your eyes open for something HUGE within the month of February. I'm repairing a certain something that is fitted for Jonny Puma's body.
Douglas Nunnally: Thanks again for joining me here today, Shade.
Shade: Thanks for having me.
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