CHRIS HERO TALKS
Interview by Al Lagattolla
Chris Hero realizes his upcoming no-time-limit match against CM Punk doesn't quite pack the promise of one of their epic 60- or 90-minute time limit matches, even though it theoretically could go longer. They'll meet again Friday for IWA MidSouth/NWA Midwest on Friday, June 11 at Lafayette, Ind.
Hero talks to Chicagowrestling.com's Al Lagattolla about his return to IWA, his recent match against Samoa Joe and a 6-man tag match that followed the next night as the main event on the show that featured a women's tournament. Hero made Joe tap to finish the second show. Hero also addresses why he hasn't been in Ring of Honor, though he isn't revealing any specific reason, he does say some people aren't as enamored with him as many seem to be:
AL: Since you've been back in IWA, have you received the response you thought you were going to get?
HERO: As you can tell from the Highland shows, it's starting to drift. There is a large group of guys who are really behind me. And there's a large group that's kind of bored with me. Maybe it's more the newer fans who are a little bored with me or sick of me. It happens to everyone. Whenever somebody is in high-profile matches over and over, you will definitely see changes. They want to see someone new. I think that's why the reaction was the way it was (against Samoa Joe).
AL: What were you thinking when half the crowd was yelling "Let's Go Hero," and the other half was yelling "Let's Go Joe?" That's a pretty crazy thing.
HERO: I haven't seen anything like that at an IWA show, but a couple of matches at shows I had in Germany ... for instance, my match against Punk there was totally like that. It was 50-50. Crowds are used to seeing me in Germany, so some of them really like me. Also, the match was an hour, and a lot of the fans seemed more into cheering than watching the match. But it is good to see them so wrapped up in it.
AL: Was that your one long match against Punk this year, or is there another one coming up (Punk vs. Hero in Lafayette coming up has no time limit). What should we expect?
HERO: I do not know. That was the 60-minute ironman match. And now on the 11th (of June), there's no time limit.
AL: You say no time limit and no one knows what to expect. You say an hour time limit and everyone expects an hour.
HERO: Who knows? It could go 15, or it could go 55. No one really knew the first tables and chairs match would go like that, not even Punk or myself.
AL: Now that he's back in IWA and you are back, that will have to affect a lot of the storylines.
HERO: Absolutely. It's definitely a change. He was scheduled to be in King of the Death last year, pulled out and got booked for Zero-One. It was a blow to IWA at the time. He was definitely becoming one of the most well-known guys in the indys at that time. He was working at TNA, was the top dog at Ring of Honor and got booked for Zero-One. He was everywhere. There wasn't really time for IWA for Punk. We had to move on without him, and a couple of guys grabbed the spotlight a little more. It sucks when it has to happen like that. But both sides benefitted. Punk is a better wrestler now than when he left, and IWA is a better promotion than when he left.
AL: There was a lot of anticipation for your match against Samoa Joe, and I think a big reason for that is you haven't been at Ring of Honor. Do you not want to work at Ring of Honor?
HERO: I guess it's bad to be content, but I am content with the promotions I am working with right now. Yes, I have a lot of goals. I think I've had more than 100 matches this year and that's quite a bit for a guy who hasn't been to Japan.
AL: Is it the time thing? You don't have any problems with working at Ring of Honor? They don't have any problems with you?
HERO: I've said it before ... the best way to describe it is that it's a mutual lack of interest. They don't want to book Chris Hero, and Chris Hero doesn't want to ...
AL: Who wouldn't want to book Chris Hero?
HERO: I don't know, man. Everybody's got their likes and dislikes. Some people think I'm good, and some people are like, "I don't know why everybody thinks he's good." Everybody is entitled to their own opinion.
AL: You say you're content but is there anyplace - such as TNA - you'd like to work. I know you've been there, but ...
HERO: I've had like 10 matches on XPlosion, and on no point at TNA did I think that by doing XPlosion, I would get a contract. A lot of people go there with false hopes, "I'll get on XPlosion, and they'll want to book me." Kind of what happened with Zach Gowen and some of those other guys. But I know what I have to do to get a job there. You've heard it for the last three or four years - Chris Hero needs to work on his body. I am more aware of that than anybody else. I've lost a lot of weight and put on some muscle, but I still am nowhere near where I want to be. I've always hated going to the gym. I went to the gym a lot in high school - I played football and basketball - and I really hated going to the gym. So that's been a mental block for me, something I need to overcome. I've spent more time in the gym this year than before.
AL: You have lost a lot of weight.
HERO: Well, I did have to gain a lot of weight before I could lose it. I was up to 280 and now I'm like 225.
AL: But you were at 280 and doing 90-minute matches. It didn't seem to affect your endurance.
HERO: No. I don't know what it is, but I do have pretty good stamina, good ring cardio regardless of whether I have a 6-pack. I can go 60 minutes on any given night. I've had matches with guys like Cash Flo that have lasted 60 minutes - guys you would never expect to see go that long. It's not a matter of that, but I need to look better. I know that I have the skills, and they would probably find something for me if I had the look. I did learn quite a bit working with guys like Terry Taylor and Joe Legend. Raven has taken me aside to explain things here and there. Maybe I was going there to wrestle 3 Live Crew, but I was still able to talk to a lot of the guys and listened to people who have been at the top. TNA isn't necessarily a goal of mine. Yes, I'd love to be on pay-per-view. Yes, I'd love to have the paycheck. But the main goal I'd like to reach is Japan. Obviously, everybody wants to go to Japan. But I'm going to have to be ready for it. If I'm good enough, I'll go.
AL: How does Germany compare with Japan? You have to get paid OK in Germany, right?
HERO: Oh, absolutely. I get to go over to Europe. My first time was in 2000, second time was in 2002. I just kind of lucked into the whole thing and thankfully - because I've wrestled in Germany, because I've got students there and because I was able to work in England and because I wrestle so much over here - I am able to make a living off wrestling. It's not a luxurious living by any means. I'm not rich.
AL: So you don't have your mansion yet?
HERO: No, but I do have a trading card. For some reason, I have a TNA trading card. Some guy gave me a couple of them today. I have my own card, then there is another card that has my ass in it - like a Ron Harris card with my big, yellow ass. What's funny is that I'm the only guy who has a card who has never been on pay-per-view. ... It's a cool thing. It was a nice surprise.
AL: You've been there a few times, do you now speak German?
HERO: I know some words and phrases, but I really haven't made an attempt to learn. It's a really hard language to learn. A lot of the pronunciation depends on how you grow up. I know this is really boring ... but the way they learn the language, their vocal chords form to what they're saying. I just haven't put the effort into it. ... but going over there is awesome. The fans are respectable and the wrestlers are respectable. A lot of the guys there, people are going to know a lot better, a lot of young guys there.
AL: At the women's tournament, your name was thrown around as an influence ... how do you think it came off?
HERO: I didn't get to see a whole lot of the tournament. It was a pretty big night for me ... but usually IWA sets really high goals that are impossible to achieve. Nine times out of 10 we'll pass with flying colors, and I think the women's tournament was definitely that. Were they the best women's matches ever or the best women's wrestlers ever? No. But definitely a different kind of wrestling, and it's really good that somebody takes the time to work with the girls and give them the opportunity. That's what the IWA is all about - giving someone a chance. Light heavyweights, 1996 and 97, American Kickboxer and Tarek the Great, Ian saw something in them. ... Suicide Kid had good matches. Punk and Cabana came all the way from Chicago to Charlestown, Ind., Prazak referred them to Ian and he gave them a shot.
AL: You said it was a pretty big night for you, and the finish had to be a key part of that (making Samoa Joe submit). What do you think when the crowd is calling for it?
HERO: Sometimes in wrestling a moment can last forever, and other times it seems to go by in a split second. (The singles match against Samoa Joe) started so quick and ended so quick, it was crazy. I don't think I really knew at the time what was going on, it was surreal. (In the six-man tag match) I spent so much time on the ring apron watching the match, so everything was so slow and deliberate. When it came to the moment, it was put up or shut up time.
AL: Why do you think there was so much anticipation for the first time against Samoa Joe?
HERO: We both have what some people call indy cred. Some smart marks are big fans of Samoa Joe and some are big fans of myself. He started out in California, got his notoriety there, went out east and now he's been the Ring of Honor champion for a while. I've been in IWA for four years, and I've been one of the perennial guys on top. My fans are loyal IWA fans. I don't think I have too many West Coast fans. It's a different kind of wrestling. It was built up in IWA, but even without the buildup it'd be an interesting match.
AL: You are kind of similar in some ways. Neither of you are small, but you are a different kind of quick.
HERO: We're both hard-hitting guys and we're not cruiserweights. There are a lot of guys that work that style now ... it's the style I really, really love. Kawada is my favorite Japanese wrestler.
AL: Is it the hard hitting?
HERO: It's the emotion. Anybody can hit anybody hard. It may sound cliche, but it's the fighting spirit.
AL: You and Punk are coming up, are you looking toward that?
HERO: It's going to be a rough weekend. Not only do I have to wrestle Punk in a no-time limit match, but then I jump in my car and drive to Philadelphia to wrestle B-Boy in CZW, and he's tough as hell.
AL: You don't have many days off?
HERO: I don't like taking weekends off. I did this whole thing where I calculated my matches from last year. I had 152 matches. I'm on pace to break that this year. ... The Punk match, like I said, it could go 15 minutes, could go 55. I don't know what to expect. If you've seen me wrestle, and I know you have, I'm really slow paced. Maybe that's why my ring cardio is good. I hardly ever go a million miles an hour in there. Some guys can do that. But I'm best suited for a methodical style, and that's what I do.