by JOHN RODEO

September 23, 2001

I proudly present to you the first ever interview on www.JOHNRODEO.com.

This interview was actually conducted back in October 2000, and my guest was none other than indepenedent wrestling veteran "Confederate Currency" aka "HiFlying" Chris Hamrick, who at that time was employed by Extreme Championship Wrestling.This interview covers many facets of his career in specific, as well as his views of the wrestling business in general.

And what better place to start than at the beginning. So sit back, relax, read, and enjoy, and as always I welcome any and all feedback.

JOHN RODEO: "What were some of your biggest influences in the wrestling industry as a child growing up? What promotions did you watch and what wrestlers were your favorites?"

CHRIS HAMRICK: "Actually, the NWA Mid Atlantic was all that I watched as we didn't get the WWF. I grew up watching Ric Flair from when I was 7 to 17, and after that it was Ricky Morton from the Rock N' Roll Express. I really didn't watch the WWF before I went and did TV jobs for them. But the guys were so cool that I started watching them more. I guess Shawn Michaels was my favorite up there."

RODEO: "What was it that made you go from watching the wrestling and enjoying it, to deciding it was something that you wanted to try and do yourself as a profession? What was it that made you cross the line from being a fan of the business to wanting to get involved?"

HAMRICK: "I think I went to my first match when I was seven years old and they used to run at Sputniks in South Carolina every Saturday night. I would never go unless Flair was there. And for my ninth birthday, my dad bought me a wrestling ring. I stayed in it from sun-up to sun-down everyday that I could and tried some stuff off the ropes. And when I was 15 years old, I got the chance to go to Oklahoma for a week tour, and I had a good time. When I came back home, I was booked every weekend after that."

RODEO: "Who was your first match against?"

HAMRICK: "Alvin Milton. I remember him because it was my dad's promotion; he ran a little independent group. I was heel and I told him I am going to go out there and raise some hell; they are going to hate me. And when I stepped out that door, I didn't say jack."

[Hamrick laughs]

HAMRICK: "I was scared to death. My first heel match wasn't that great, but I worked at it and went from there."

RODEO: "Was your dad happy to have you involved as part of the business, or was he more hesitant because he knew of all the politics involved, the travel, and the physical punishment?"

HAMRICK: "My dad told me one time, 'Son, wrestling is worse than any drug you can ever take. Once you get in it, you can't get out of it unless you absolutely have to.' My dad had his own ways. He tried to make me mad, because he knew that I would try that much harder."

RODEO: "I see. Some people respond best to different types of motivation and he knew what would drive you and motivate you."

HAMRICK: "Yes. He knew that if he told me I couldn't do it, it would make me want to do it that much more. And he knew that I loved it. He was really proud when I was doing TV jobs on the WWF, not because I was doing jobs, but because I was on TV and living out my dream."

RODEO: "I had heard your names in newsletters previously, but I was there that night (the night of his second WWF TV appearance) and it was the first time I actually had the chance to see you live. And to this day, when I mentioned to people that I'd be doing this interview for my web site, they would ask, 'Who is it with?' I'd answer Chris Hamrick, and they'd respond, 'You mean the guy who went flying through the ropes against the 1-2-3 Kid?' It was very, very unforgettable."

HAMRICK: "You know, actually that is what drives me. When I first got my computer maybe a year ago, I was just playing on there and I was talking to some guy. 'You're not the guy who went through the ropes about 5 years ago.' And I was like 'Man, I can't believe that you remember that.'"

RODEO: "That really says something too. Because with all the wrestling, and all the pay-per-views, and all the matches that take place on TV, there's a lot of spots like Chris Kanyon getting thrown of the top of the cage, and so many other high spots, that most of it seems to be forgotten. But for something like that match to stick out in people's minds actually speaks volumes. It really does."

HAMRICK: "Yeah, yeah. I mean that was at least five or six years ago and there is so much that has happened between now and then, and for someone to remember that one bump, it means a lot to me, it really does."

RODEO: "What was Sean Waltman's or some of the other boys reactions to that spot?"

HAMRICK: "Actually I did it the night before, my first match ever with the WWF, against Tatanka. I asked Sean if we could do it, and he said, 'Yes but let's think of some other way to do it so that it does not look like a copy of what you did with Tatanka.' And it came out to where he ended up kicking my feet, I went through. And actually the funny story about it is that when I was going out the TV camera man was right there to where I was fixing to land and I tried to grab the rope to reposition myself, and when I did, I missed everything. And I went out without touching anything and it kind of knocked the breath out of me. Sean's next move was supposed to be a cross body over the top. But luckily the camera man was still there so he just leaped over gave me a dropkick or something. Yeah, he liked it. I went up there, the Italian Stallion is the one that took us, matter of fact it was the first time that I met Jeff Hardy, when they (The Hardy Boyz) were doing jobs. The third night, they didn't have my name on the list, so I told Stallion, 'Maybe I don't have to work tonight, because I am kind of tired,' so he said, 'Let me check and I'll be back.' Like fifteen minutes later, he comes back and he said, 'You can give that up, all the boys want to work with you.' And actually that is when I started talking to Owen."

RODEO: "What were your thoughts on Owen? I myself met him once in Portland, ME back in 1992 and he seemed very friendly. But it was just the basic hi, nice to meet you conversation. Obviously it was a real tragedy what happened to him."

HAMRICK: "He was so cool. He was funny, and he was a great match. The night after I took the bump with Tatanka, I was ready to leave and Owen called me over there, and he didn't have to do that. He said 'Unbelievable, that was one of the most awesome bumps that I've ever seen in my life.' He was just the opposite of Bret. To me, Bret's a butthead. He don't like talking to nobody, and he wouldn't work jobber matches because he said that he wasn't going to end his career like that. Then Owen said, 'I wish they'd let me work you because you'll jump up for guys, and they'll send these fat guys who won't go up for a suplex.' And I got to work Owen. About maybe two months later, as soon as I walked into the building, Owen was like, 'I'm working you tonight.' And I said, 'I don't know, I haven't seen the card yet.' And he said ,'Yeah, they said you're working the kid who took that bump through the ropes. Your name is right up here.' And that was like two months after I had been up there the first time. He said, 'Do you want to do it?' And I said, 'I don't know. Do you think that we should?' And he said, 'Yeah, it's unbelievable.' And I said, 'Hey, we're there.'"

RODEO: "That's great. Based on that, did your amount of independent bookings as well as your name recognition improve?"

HAMRICK: "Actually, after my job with Sean Waltman, (Jim) Cornette came up to me and asked me to do that bump for him on his TV, which was Smoky Mountain. And I gave him a card, and he called about a week later. So I was on TV getting my butt whipped by the WWF guys, and then I was getting my butt whipped by the Smoky Mountain guys, so I was getting a little bit of TV time. And I was doing fairly well on the independents. I probably could have done better, but I really don't like to travel a whole lot, and Italian Stallion ran close to my house and he ran every weekend. And he took care of me. Not compared to now, when I look back and think of it, but back then it was decent."

RODEO: "A lot of times it this business it is a challenge getting a booking, let alone a pay day. So to be taken care of, and to have a show located locally, are definitely a decided advantage."

HAMRICK: "Yeah, and plus he ran every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. And I was on a guarantee; a small guarantee, but I was on a guarantee and he treated me right. He never cheated me. A lot of people say that he cheated them, but I have to say that he never cheated me. He always gave me what I was told, and he was responsible for taking me to the WWF."

RODEO: "Based on everything that you have told me, is the business everything that you dreamed it would be? And if not, what about it surprised you?"

HAMRICK: "Yes. The business has been very good to me, it really has. I've met a lot, a lot of nice people as far as people I grew up watching on TV. Ricky Morton, me and him hang around all the time now. And when I was watching him about 15 or 20 years ago, watching him on TV, I never dreamed it would be like that down the road together; calling each other, hanging out. Yeah, it really has. It has lived up to my expectations, especially now. I love where I'm at. I love the people that I'm with. And it's changed a lot, it really has. The independent wrestling thing now is if you buy a pair of boots, and you call a promoter and say, 'Hey, I'm a wrestler, I'll work for five dollars,' you'll probably be on the show. Whereas somebody calls me, and asks me what would it take for you to come to so and so, and I name a price, and say, 'You know, you are good, but I have a local guy that will come in for almost nothing.' I say, 'Call him and quit bugging me.'"

RODEO: "Sometimes in this business, you get what you pay for."

HAMRICK: "Exactly. I told every promoter I've ever run across this: you get what you pay for. And if you don't want to pay for the guys that know what they're doing, that make a living at this, and if you want to pay five dollars for some guy that has been in the business for maybe six months, maybe not even that, maybe he just happened to get a pair of boots and can take a bump. And then when they don't draw back the next month, they wonder why they are not drawing. Well you know, if you give the people shitty shows they are not going to come back."

RODEO: "Very true. And the bad thing about it is if somebody is running a show like you mentioned, when the next honest promoter comes through, the town might already be dead because of the negative stigma attached with independent wrestling. Not to mention the fact that people will advertise names on posters that they never even tried to contact."

HAMRICK: "Exactly. That is false advertising."

RODEO: "What was it that the Italian Stallion saw in you, that he thought that you were good enough to work the WWF TV tapings?"

HAMRICK: "I don't know. They needed a bunch of guys, and Stallion has faith in me, and wanted to take me. I knew I could bump for them, I knew I could put them over, so there was no problem there. Actually my first match was, remember when Raw used to be that one hour live and then they would tape one hour?"

RODEO: "Exactly."

HAMRICK: "Me and Tatanka were on the live hour, and I'm going out to the ring thinking, 'Oh my god, if I mess up, the world's going to see it.' Then I got in front of the cameras and I'm thinking, 'All my friends and family are watching me.' After that, I was good to go."

RODEO: "That ties back to the fact that you stated earlier, that the high that one gets from doing wrestling is higher than the highest high you could ever get from using a drug. Once your adrenalin kicks in you are all set."

HAMRICK: "Exactly. I sit here and watch tapes of me doing stuff, that I'm thinking I will never do that again. But then I get out to the ring, and you know, with the fans and all? And here I am, I've done it again."

RODEO: "Was that bump that you took with Waltman through the ropes the craziest bump that you have taken in your career?"

HAMRICK: "Hmm. That, and the one, I'm not sure if you got to see the one from the (ECW World) tag team tournament (in Manhattan)."

RODEO: "No, unfortunately I did not."

HAMRICK: "I was standing on the apron, on the apron, they'll hit me, and I'll kind of flip and land on the floor on my back."

RODEO: "I did see that at the ECW Anarchy Rulz pay-per-view."

HAMRICK: "Yeah, I'd say that, and maybe a back drop over the tope rope, because I go straight over and land on my back."

RODEO: "Will you not do any of those moves if you do not trust your opponent entirely?"

HAMRICK: "Not really because it is all me. The only thing they have to do is get out of the way, otherwise I'm going to end up kicking them. Going off the apron, that is my own thing there too, because I decide when I jump and when I don't. Basically they are all me. You know?"

RODEO: "Yeah. That having been said, have you suffered any serious injuries?"

HAMRICK: "Actually, I've hurt my tailbone like two or three times, and then I hurt my shoulder with New Jack."

RODEO: "When was that? Was that back when you worked in Smoky Mountain?"

HAMRICK: "No. That was in ECW."

RODEO: "Back to Smoky Mountain for a moment. What was it like there? It must have been a great learning experience."

HAMRICK: "Hmm. Cornette is a genius, no doubt about that. But umm, I hung out with Chris Jericho, Chris Candido, Brian Lee, naturally Ricky (Morton) and Robert (Gibson). I would say probably Ricky, because Ricky would sit down and talk to me about things that nobody else would. About what would make the match better, what I could do. He's helped me a lot, he really has."

RODEO: "That is so great to learn from someone so experienced."

HAMRICK: "Exactly. I know, I mean like what a ten-time World champion. I'll take any advice that he wants to give me."

RODEO: "Exactly. As talented as he is, and as talented as he was, the era that he made it was one mainly of big muscle men. So for him to get in, succeed, and have the longevity that he did, not to mention that he is still going today, speaks volumes not only for his in ring ability, but also his understanding of what gets him to that level. Did he have anything to do with, or how did you get your big break with ECW?"

HAMRICK: "Kid Kash got me and E.Z. Money a tryout and we went up to Columbia, SC and we did our tryout. And actually I got dressed back in my street clothes, and was just hanging out in the back. And Tommy Dreamer came up and told Kash, 'Kash it's you and Chilly Willy versus your two boys in the first match tonight. And I was like 'holy sh*t, no way!' And so we went out, worked the match, and thes rest is history."

RODEO: "How long ago was that?"

HAMRICK: "That was May 25th (2000) I believe it was."

RODEO: "Did you have to send promo tapes in beforehand, or did you get the tryout by way of word-of-mouth?"

HAMRICK: "No. Kid Kash had the tryout set up, so we owe him a lot."

RODEO: "Can you tell us how you first came to meet Kid Kash?"

HAMRICK: "Actually the first time I met Kash we were in Asheville, NC. Him and Ricky Morton were supposed to be teaming up, and Ricky no-showed. And I had the long blond hair. They asked me would I take Ricky's place, and I said yeah. Me and Dave (Cash aka Kid Kash) became friends then, and have been friends ever since."

RODEO: "Has ECW been everything that you hoped it would be?"

HAMRICK: "And more! And more! ECW has one of the best locker rooms in this entire business."

RODEO: "I read a quote before, and this goes back some time. It read to the effect that Paul E. Dangerously, Paul Heyman, said that when he was in Memphis, though it was only for a short time, like a month, that that was the most information that he had ever learned in a short a period of time. Would the same hold true for you in ECW?"

HAMRICK: "Oh yeah, definitely. Definitely. And the thing about it is, everyone there is there to help everybody. There are no cutthroats, there is no behind-your-back talking. When somebody sees you doing something wrong, they'll tell you; not in a criticizing way, but in a way to help you. When we did the tag team tournament and the pay-per-view, Tommy Dreamer sits everybody down, and goes over every match, match by match, and tells you, 'Look at this; what did you do wrong? What could you have done instead of this?' And it helps. It really does, because when you are used to a certain way, but then when Tommy points something out you are like, 'Yeah, you know, he is right. It's exactly that.' And hopefully it will help me change it."

RODEO: "Any honest feedback, whether it be positive or negative, is one of the best ways to reflect, learn and improve."

HAMRICK: "Right, right. Otherwise, you don't learn nothing. They take the time to sit there and watch the match with you. Now how many people are going to do that?"

RODEO: "Very few indeed. And a learning situation like that helps to elevate the work and the understanding of everyone involved. Now earlier, you said that you worked your ECW tryout match with E.Z. Money. How long had you known him for?"

HAMRICK: "Yes, I knew him through the independents. I guess I've known him for about five years."

RODEO: "How is it to be working as a part of 'Hot Commodity', along with him, Julio Dinero and Elektra?"

HAMRICK: "Yeah. I'd be pleased to do anything there, you know? I'm glad to have a job there."

RODEO: "In ECW singles, tag or otherwise, what would your dream match be?"

HAMRICK: "Wow! God, I don't know. I'd love to do a program with Tommy Dreamer."

RODEO: "Have you had the chance to get into the ring at all before with Dreamer?"

HAMRICK: "We've done a six man before he got hurt. It was me and Julio and E.Z. against Joey Matthews, Christian York and Tommy. So like we did that a couple of times."

RODEO: "Were you familiar with Julio and Elektra before having the chance to work with them?"

HAMRICK: "Oh yeah. I'd heard their names. I knew who Julio was, but I think I had met him one time."

RODEO: "Certainly it is great to work for ECW every week. But what in wrestling would you consider to be your ultimate goal?"

HAMRICK: "Just to have a name, to be related with respect. Not necessarily being World Champion, but to make an impact. To get the fans to actually appreciate what I go through and what I do. So they'll say, 'When Chris Hamrick goes through the curtain, you are going to see a good match,' or something like that."

RODEO: "Since you've mentioned travelling before, how difficult is it to maintain a fairly regular schedule, and travel, and work the shows, and go to the gym and so on and so forth?"

HAMRICK: "It's not so bad. The first couple of trips because we were not used to it. But it has gotten easier and easier. So it's not so bad."

RODEO: "You just recently came back from Alaska. Who did you work for, how did that go, and how did that come about?"

HAMRICK: "It was for the WWA out of Charlotte, NC. And I had known them for a while, and I used to do independent shows for them. One night they were like, 'You know how much you would charge to go to Japan for about four weeks?' And I'm like, 'I don't know.' I've heard it so many times before that I didn't really believe them at the time. So I gave them a price. And the next week, they were like, 'OK, we are going to send you your plane tickets.' I think that this is the third tour I've done for them. Me and Rikki Nelson from the Carolinas worked Madd Maxx and Jackie Fulton."

RODEO: "Have you had the chance to work overseas in either Japan or Mexico? Your high-flying style seems as if it would be a good fit in either place."

HAMRICK: "No."

RODEO: "Would something such as that, interest you?"

HAMRICK: "Umm, if the money's right."

RODEO: "If such a thing were to happen, would there be any particular promotion you would like to work for, or any wrestler that you would like to work against?"

HAMRICK: "I would like to work Hayabusa."

RODEO: "Chris, I just have a few last questions, which are more related to the wrestling industry itself, rather than you specifically."

HAMRICK: "OK."

RODEO: "Have you seen either of the wrestling documentaries 'Wrestling with Shadows' or 'Beyond the Mat?'"

HAMRICK: "Yes, I've seen them both."

RODEO: "What were your opinions on them? Was it a good thing for the general fan to see how difficult the business can be, or do you think that showing something such as that puts the business in a negative light?"

HAMRICK: "Well, I'll probably get a lot of heat for this, but I think that Bret Hart got everything that he had coming to him. I mean, he was fixing to leave for WCW, he wouldn't put Shawn Michaels over, and Vince did what he had to do to take the belt from him. Plain and simple, I think Bret was in the wrong, and Vince did what he had to do to protect his company."

RODEO: "And what are your thoughts on 'Beyond the Mat,' as far as the entire Jake Roberts scenario, and Mick Foley's family seeing him repeatedly struck with a chair by The Rock? Do you think that humanizes the business?"

HAMRICK: "I think it shows, you know how people say, 'What you do is fake; it's phony'? People just don't realize what we do. What we go through, what pain we put our body through, just to perform for them. You know, I think it showed the real side of Mick Foley's family. Naturally she would be crying, and scared to death seeing him get hit with a chair like that. Yeah, I think it showed that wrestling is more violent than people give it credit to be."

RODEO: "Unfortunately, there is a stigma attached to wrestling. Without stepping in a worker's shoes, people always say wrestling is fake. But maybe a film like this will open people's eyes, and much like VH-1's Behind the Music, the fans will be able to look at parts of the business, for good or bad, in a more realistic light."

HAMRICK: "Right."

RODEO: "And yet, like going to the movies they can sit back, watch and appreciate it for what it is, sports entertainment."

HAMRICK: "Right."

RODEO: "And while admittedly some actors and actresses do their own stunts, a great deal do not. But in wrestling, the performers always perform their own bumps. Yet the negative stereotype is still there. Being that you've put your body through so much, do you find that frustrating?"

HAMRICK: "Yeah. Especially when little kids are imitating the wrestling moves at home, and yet when someone gets hurt, it is blamed on wrestling. That is like saying somebody went out and robbed a bank just because they saw a Mel Gibson movie. Do you know what I am saying?"

RODEO: "Exactly."

HAMRICK: "There are fights in movies. They don't always do suplexes and things like that, but what is the difference between them watching a wrestling match, or watching a movie where people are fighting and getting hurt? But you never hear the criticizing that people should stop going to the movies, rather it is that they should not be watching wrestling."

RODEO: "Exactly. As far as the internet, as I know you have your own web site, www.HIFLYINGCHRISHAMRICK.com . How do you think that the business has changed as a result of it? It is my opinion that people get to a couple of wrestling sites, learn a few terms like 'mark' and 'jobber', and they feel they are in the business. Yet there is so much more to the business than that. Do you feel that the net has spread the word of professional wrestling, as some shows even book based on Internet feedback? But do you think that that is a double-edged sword?"

HAMRICK: "Yeah. I feel that it has helped to spread the word. And when I first started with ECW, I would get on the internet and read all the things that people were saying about me. It upset me because they were downgrading me and everything else. But then I got to thinking that these are fans that are writing me in, and I am playing the heel part, so naturally they are going to say something bad about me. And Steve Corino and Kid Kash said that they went through the same thing when they first started. You have to wait until the fans warm up to you. Naturally, if they see you come out, and they don't know you, they are automatically going to hate you."

RODEO: "Especially since they are known for that at the ECW Arena."

HAMRICK: "Exactly, exactly. But now the people have seen quite a bit of me. They love my legdrop. They love my high-flying. And now I get good stuff, instead of, 'Where did they get you, and why did they pick you?' As Mikey (Whipwreck) calls them, "mouse pad promoters." You never know who is writing it. It could be a five year-old kid. It could be a six year-old kid. You know? You never know. So I quit taking the criticism to heart, and I just ignore it, because if Paul Heyman and Tommy Dreamer sees something in me, I really don't care what a fan writes, you know? I want to be over with the fans and I want to please the fans, but you can't please everybody."

RODEO: "As long as you are pleased with your own performance, everything will follow."

[Hamrick laughs]

HAMRICK: "As long as the guy who gives me my checks is pleased, then I am happy."

RODEO: "Exactly. What advice would you have for someone for someone interested in getting involved in the business? Obviously based on the Mick Foley home video footage, some fans believe that by taping some backyard wrestling matches that they are on their way towards a full-time job. What would you say to them about getting into the business, being schooled and learning the business from the bottom up?"

HAMRICK: "Get the proper training, you really can't learn it all from watching TV. There is so much more than getting in there and taking bumps and hitting people. Backyard wrestling, that is some scary stuff. Some guys might do it, and live through it and all. But no big time promotions will be interested in that because they don't have the proper training. And in ECW, you have to pay your dues. And you have to pay your dues by doing your training; you come in pay your dues and work your way up when they see fit. The backyard video might have worked for Mick Foley. But how many Mick Foley's are there?"

RODEO: "Exactly. Now, for people that have been working the independents, that are good workers, and have been paying there dues, but for one reason or another have yet to catch a break, what advice would you give them for keeping on? As for yourself, were there times where you doubted that you might ever get a shot at a full-time promotion? What was it that drove you to continue? And what do you feel the eventual breakthrough was?"

HAMRICK: "Hmm? As far as talent, a lot of people have different opinions about who is good and who is not. I mean, on the independent promotions, you don't have to be good anymore. You just have to be there. I've always been told by all of the big names that have been there (on the indies) that if I gained a little weight, and I have actually gained a little weight here lately, that you can pretty well pick where you want to go. I knew what I was doing, and I knew how to do it, and that basically is it. I knew how to tell a story, with the southern training and all that. And I can take those stupid bumps, so maybe that's what caught there eye."

RODEO: "It is certainly something a bit different than the norm."

HAMRICK: "Right, right."

RODEO: "Before we go, was there anything that you wanted to say, or anything that you would like to plug?"

HAMRICK: "My web site is www.HIFLYINGCHRISHAMRICK.com, my email is HIFLYINGHAMRICK@aol.com. For all fans that are reading this just go to my web site, leave me a message on my message board and I will try my best to write back."

RODEO: "Thank you very much, Chris, for doing this interview, and I do appreciate it."

HAMRICK: "No problem."

 

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