MWR owner and Editor Brian Kelley : Greg, I would like to thank you for joining us today at Missouri Wrestling Revival. We have covered you causing havoc as a manager at St. Louis Anarchy and Dynamo Pro in the past. Recently, you opened up a new promotion based out of Granite City, Illinois PWCS that has a unique set up based on team competition with several of the top stars around the country. I know that you are very busy preparing for the huge event this weekend for PWCS, so once again thank you for taking the time to speak with us.
Greg: Thank you for having me for this piece. Always appreciate the opportunity to get the word out and promote my brand.
1) You obviously are very passionate for pro wrestling, who was your inspiration to work towards being a part of pro wrestling in the Midwest?
Greg: I’ve wanted to be a manager and promoter since I was about 11 years old, the first time I saw Paul Heyman on ECW. Locally, I got hooked on GCW at about 13 and wanted so badly to be apart of that. Seeing guys like Dingo, Pete Madden, and the Ego Express (KC Karrington and Steven Kennedy) made me fall in love with wrestling all over again. Before that I had no idea Indy wrestling existed, let alone right in my backyard.
2) As I had mentioned, you are now a promoter in the St. Louis area, but prior to becoming a wrestling manager you respected the sport enough to seek training to be a pro wrestler. Who were your trainers or people instrumental in helping you , and what was that experience like?
Greg: I actually went in with the mindset that I was going to be a manager. I sent a promo reel to Dynamo and they liked it enough they invited me to the gym one week. I decided my first day I was going to get in there and try to do everything the wrestlers did, and I ended up doing very well and earning respect. Dingo taught me a lot, soon he stepped aside and Davey Vega took over. Sadie Blaze all the while taught me the managing side of things.
As far as how it was, it was the time of my life. I miss those times sometimes. I was in great shape, made great friends, and really showed myself something I never knew I had. I wonder now and again if I’d be a semi competent full time wrestler by now had I not been dropped on my head and injured my neck. I was really starting to click, but I think I was meant for where I am now.
Evan Gelisticois intense after a hard fought victory at St. Louis Anarchy as manager Greg Jovi celebrates.
3) Your other positions included being a referee and ring announcer. What are your pet peeves that referees and ring announcers do at this level, and what memories do you have of being of those positions?
Greg: I don’t really have ring announcing pet peeves, I’ll just say good ones are hard to find. Number one ref pet peeve is the best ones always want to wrestle it seems. More power to them, that’s not a knock, but a lot of great refs simply strive for more and great refs as well are hard to find.
4) After some time you would shock the fans by becoming a force in Dynamo Pro Wrestling and St. Louis Anarchy as a manager. At Dynamo Pro Wrestling you aligned yourself with the KC Karrington’s First Church of Karrington with Steven Kennedy, Dice and Adam Raw. Today, in the land of Anarchy you lead the N.WO style of faction BOSS that includes the St. Louis Anarchy Champion Gerald James, Dan Walsh, Jordan Lacey and more joining every second it seems as chaos reigns at SLA. Who was your first wrestler that you managed, and what mistakes as a manager did you make that you have fixed since then?
Greg: I think my first “client” if you will was actually Mat Fitchett, and I was a good guy believe it or not. Eventually, I turned on him at Yuletide Terror one year and we were off to the races. As far as mistakes, I remember never knowing where to stand. I was like, “if I stand here I’m blocking their view, but if I’m here nobody sees me at all”. I was super nervous about little dumb stuff like that all the time.
Greg leads the First Church of Karrington at Dynamo Pro Wrestling.
5) If you had the chance to manage to anyone wrestler in the world today who would it be?
Greg: First name that comes to mind is Kyle O’Reily. Great wrestler and great guy. I would also love to manage a female talent, that’s not a dynamic that’s really been done often. Would love to see what I could do managing somebody like Heidi Lovelace.
The St. Louis Anarchy champion Gary Jay has been unstoppable. Next month, in Alton, Illinois he will face JoJo Bravo on April 17th and if he is able to retain his title he will tested by Davey Richards the next night. This Saturday Gary and Greg represents the Ego Busters against the Resurgence Steven Kennedy in the double Main Event.
6) Gerald James has been the SLA Champion while defeating the likes of Takaaki Watanabe, Davey Vega, Angelus Layne and Mat Fitchett and is still one of the most underrated wrestlers in the country. His reign has been highly entertaining, what has been your highlight while leading him during this time.
Greg: There have been so many fantastic matches and moments in his lengthy reign, it’s hard to choose. I think busting up the Angelus Layne wedding has probably been my favorite. Being involved in a wedding gone wrong has got to be on every wrestlers bucket list right?
Saint Louis Anarchy presents: Gateway to Anarchy
Stage One: Friday night April 17th
Stage Two: Saturday night April 18th
Live from Spaulding Hall Club in Alton IL (405 East 4th Street)
Doors Open: 6:30pm Show Starts at 7:00pm
Tickets: Front Row Reserve $15 (per night)
Second Row Reserve $12 (per night)
Gen Admission $10 (per night)
ALL tickets $15 day of show
$1 BEER and FULL BAR
7) Last year, you came up with concept of Pro Wrestling Championship Series. Before we take a look at the upcoming 2015 season, please explain the concept to the fans for us on the team system.
Greg: Certainly. The concept is pretty heavily rooted in how college and high school wrestling works. We have four teams. Each event, the wrestlers from a team compete against the wrestlers from another. Their individual wins and losses go towards their team’s overall record. At the end of the season, the two teams with the best record face off in a four on four elimination match to crown that season’s champion. It’s pro wrestling as a team sport.
Greg Jovi distracts Davey Vega.
Danny Adams vs Paco Gonzalez + JIMMY JACOBS
8) I know from experience that becoming a wrestling promoter is an uphill battle as in today’s environment. There are so Many entertainment choices for the fans to choose. From your experience what has been the recipe for success for you and partner Jason Coellner at PWCS?
Greg: Providing a quality product that is different from the rest has worked great for us. We advertised that we would be new and innovative, and I don’t think anyone has left a PWCS event saying, “Well that’s the same show I saw at ____”. We truly do offer a fun, alternative brand with substance in the ring.
9) This coming weekend PWCS returns to action. I understand that you have DVDs of the first season. Are they all done and ready for the fans to purchase and if so how much?
The DVDs are $10 ($15 for the Championship show , as it will be a 2 disc set)
Greg: Stages 1-3 are all currently available online at pwcswrestling.storenvy.com and at live events. It will be down to the wire, but we should have all those as well as the Championship Spectacular featuring Colt Cabana and Jimmy Jacobs at this Saturday nights event. Jason does a fantastic job on these along with our play by play man Drew Xzono Jr.
10) What should fans expect different this season at PWCS?
Greg: For starters, you’re going to get the return of one of the best wrestlers in the area this Saturday night, and if rumors are true he’s going to put the entire league on notice and on edge.
You’re also going to see a fourth regular season event this year. It internally being called the Wildcard Stage and will provide some fun matches as all four teams will mix it up and have one last shot to secure a spot in the 2015 Championship Spectacular.
And you never know what else might happen or who might show up. Thanks Brian for having me, and thank you to anyone who has supported the league so far.
Brian:Â Once again Greg, thank you for your time and we look forward to another year of exciting PWCS action. Fans, be sure to add PWCS on Facebook and Twitter at PWCSWrestling to keep up with them as well as here at Missouri Wrestling Revival.com, your #1 source of wrestling news in the Midwest.
The dust has settled and the 2014 Pro Wrestling Championship Series has come to a close with The Blacklist (Makaze, Jo Jo Bravo, OutTkAst, and Nate Redwing) coming out victorious! However, their time to celebrate will be short lived, as the 2015 PWCS Season begins March 14th, 2015 in Granite City, IL!
Who will start off the 2015 Season right, and who will have a hole to climb out of? Find out, March 14th!
Tickets are available NOW at http://www.StageOne2015.brownpapertickets.com and can be reserved by sending us a message here on facebook. Get your tickets ASAP for this 2015 kickoff event!
Tickets Prices:
Front Row: $12 ($15 at the door)
Adult General Admission: $10 ($12 at the door)
Children 12 & Under General Admission: $8 ($10 at the door)
The Stage One 2015 Card Will Feature A Double Main Event
***Main Event: Resurgence Vs. Ego Busters***
Steven Kennedy (Resurgence) Vs Gary Jay w/ Greg Jovi (Ego Busters)
***Main Event: Blacklist Vs. Team Anarchy***
Jo Jo Bravo (Blacklist) Vs. The New Team Anarchy Owner (Team Anarchy)
Mat Fitchett & Davey Vega (Resurgence)
Vs.
Brandon Espinosa & Dan Walsh (Ego Busters)
Makaze (Blacklist) Vs. Alex Castle (Team Anarchy)
“The Submission Squad” Pierre Abernathy & Evan Gelistico (Team Anarchy)
Vs.
“The The Viking War Party” Alexander Rudolph and Jake Parnell (Blacklist)
“DirdEy” Jake Dirden (The Resurgence) Vs. “Blue Chip” Danny Adams (Ego Busters)
Superior” Adam Rich Vs. JD Riggs The loser has to follow the winner’s diet for 90 days.
Free Agent Showcase: Justin D’Air Vs. Ozzie Gallagher
Missouri Wrestling Revival 