Pro Debut: August 11, 2007
Trained by: Dingo
Signatures Moves: Cobra Clutch Suplex, Pele Kick, Burning Hammer
Accolades:
-Ranked #417 in the 2011 Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500
-2009 & 2012 St. Louis Invitational Cup Champion
-IHW Heavyweight Champion (x2) (defeated Sean Vincent)
-PWP United States Champion (Defeated Harker Dirge)
-PWE United States Champion (Defeated Mark Sterling)
-HVW Livewire Champion (Defeated Mike Sydal)
-LWA Tag Team Champion w/ Mike Sydal (Defeated The Hooligans)
-CCW Tag Team Champion w/ Brandon Espinosa (Defeated Knuckles ‘n’ Knives)
-MECW Independent Champion (Defeated Count Kharfu)
To Find out more about Brandon Aarons visit:
https://www.facebook.com/brandonaaronsfanpage
Brandon, thank you for joining us a Missouri Wrestling Revival as you prepare for quite possible your biggest night in wrestling this Saturday in Pontoon Beach, Illinois for Pro Wrestling Epic.
1) You began your training at the Dynamo Pro Wrestling gym under the watchful eye of one of the very best wrestlers in this era, Dingo. I know you have a lot of respect for your time with Dynamo and Dingo, please explain how that came to be?
Brandon: Back in the early 2000’s I attended Gateway Championship Wrestling Shows with my father and brother (who are also huge fans of pro wrestling) in the summer of 2006 I had the opportunity to take part in a 3 day seminar with Dingo, Kory Twist, and Cameron Cage. Being that I was only 16 years old at the time I had to get my parents to sign a release form for me, not only did they sign it, but my father actually signed up for the seminar and participated with me. Eventually GCW went out of business and I continued my training under Dingo until in late 2007 when the Dynamo Pro Wrestling Gym opened. The promoters for NWA: Central States Missouri were also the owners of the Dynamo Gym and eventually NWA:CSMO became Dynamo Pro Wrestling. It was quite in experience for me all around, I didn’t have many friends growing up that were into the whole wrestling scene so when I was at the Dynamo gym training with the guys not only did I not feel like I was an outcast, I felt like I was among friends and family.
That environment really helped me not only to want to stick it out through the brutal training sessions and the constant ribbing from the older guys, but it gave me an appreciation for how this business works. Dingo was a huge influence on me when I first started and he would even drive me to training and shows just so I could be apart of it all. He always stuck his neck out for his students, all he asked was that we gave everything we had, as he was putting his name on us and he didn’t want to be embarrassed. I am forever grateful to Dynamo and Dingo for everything I learned coming up, it helped me become not only wrestler I am and will become but the 25 year old man I am today.
2) It has been awhile since we last saw Dingo in action full time, for those that may just are becoming a fan of wrestling in the MWR coverage area and may not have seen him in action, how would you describe your former trainer?
Brandon: Dingo was tough as nails, I’ve seen a lot of tough guys over the years, but he was definitely one of the toughest and most intense wrestlers I’ve seen especially in this area. He was very technical and very smooth in the ring, he had a certain flow to him that you just don’t see anymore. It’s very unfortunate that he is not around anymore, he was one of those guys that had “it”.
3) What was your training like under Dingo and what do you remember from your very first match?
Brandon: His training was very particular, he paid attention to all the minor details. If you did something half-ass he would make you do it over and over and over and over again until you stopped screwing up. He was a hard ass, but also understanding. He never talked down to anyone but wasn’t afraid to tell you if something you did was horrible. To this day I still carry some valuable lessons he taught me over the years and I hope to one day pass them on.
My first match was against Adam Rich at an LWA event in Mehlville, MO in August of 2007. We were technically the dark match, I wore my eyeliner which my little sister applied on me backstage (don’t bring your little sister backstage to a wrestling show) and a cut off shirt because I thought I was fat, haha which now I laugh about. Adam and I had what I would call a pretty great first match. Like it wasn’t amazing, but hell for a first match I felt like it was pretty ok. Well, I also slipped on the top rope at the end of the match but that’s not important
4) Early on you found success as a member of B.A.B.E. Watch with 2 members that would go on in their careers to win the MWR Wrestler of the Year in singles action, none other than Brandon Espinosa and Mike Sydal. What was the highlight of that team in your eyes and what did you lessons did you take from that experience?
Brandon: Espy and Sydal are two phenomenal talents here in the Midwest and dare I say the country. Both guys have taken the time to perfect their craft and it shows by the top tier matches they compete in on a consistent basis. I think as a trio our biggest highlight was at an LWA Event in 2009 when the three of us faced off against The Northstar Express & Arik Cannon. That was also the night Espy left the group. Some of my favorite memories of teaming with Espy were our segments and matches at High Voltage Wrestling. Keny G was great and pretty much let us do our thing and I had the time of my life. When it comes to Mike Sydal and I, the biggest highlight would have to be when we defeated the Hooligans for the LWA Tag Team Titles. I never felt like B.A.B.E.WATCH really peaked as a whole, but we all started doing well for ourselves as singles wrestlers and there was no point in holding each other back. Those two guys will always have special places in not just my wrestling career, but my heart.
5) From there, you did not slow down as you went on to find success in singles competition as you took to take on the very best in the Midwest, including Jeremy Wyatt, Mark Sterling and a man that would become the NWA World Champion, Kahagas. How hard was the transition from tag team action to trying to survive at such a young age against some of the best in the sport?
Brandon: It was awesome because the guys you just mentioned are not only some of the best wrestlers in The United States, but they are incredible wrestlers to learn from. Wrestling Kahagas was great for me because he was one of the first veterans I had the chance to get in the ring with and really learn from. Over the years Ive had the privilege to wrestle Wyatt and Sterling on more than one occasion and every time I take away more knowledge from them and apply it to myself. The transition overall wasn’t difficult, but I learned to expect more from myself in the ring because now it was just me every time go to the ring.
6) You were instrumental in the success of Independent Hardcore Wrestling that was based in Illinois where you really came into your own. The fans really rallied around you as many wrestlers looked to make a name for themselves in a new promotion. Though the promotion did not last long, the crowds were red hot from top to bottom, what do you see as your highlight in the company that’s saw you feud with the likes of Eric Allen, Steven Kennedy, Sean Vincent, KC Karrington and Cameron Cage?
Brandon Aarons and IHW found success with the fundraiser for the St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Brandon: I think the highlight for me was just someone giving me the chance to show what I could do when the handcuffs are off. Winning the IHW Title the first time was huge because after that I held 3 other titles for 3 different companies besides IHW. I felt like I was starting to get noticed, to get my name out there more than ever. One of my personal favorite matches was against KC Karrington back in 2011. I don’t think Ive ever jelled with someone so well in a match before and to me that was the match where I told myself I never wanted to quit wrestling no matter how tough life got for me or how hard it was going to be to make it in this business. Unfortunately, a few months later I was sidelined with injuries and soon after IHW ceased operations.
KC Karrington just felt the swift kick from Brandon Aarons.
7) MWR has covered Pro Wrestling Epic in the past, including the Epic 8 Tournament when it was based out of Lincoln, Illinois. This tournament is under new management, but the Epic 8 tournament survives and fans in the St. Louis area will be able to see this historic tournament in Pontoon Beach this Saturday. Fans may be surprised to know that during your time as a former PWE US Champion you were challenged by the then Ring of Honor World Champion Tyler Black (WWE’S Seth Rollins). You were able to get the win via DQ, as well as a handshake from a man that I stated in the recap on this site who I felt was the best wrestler in the world, and I feel that holds even more weight today. I was thankfully on hand to cover the event in person, yet I ask you what do you recall from that historic match in your career?
Brandon: That was without a doubt the biggest, most humbling experience I have ever had in Professional Wrestling. I learned so much about myself and also what it will really take to get to the next level. The match itself isn’t what stands out to me when I think about it, I was 20 years old, some young kid one the indies trying to make a name for himself going up against a guy who was regarded as the best in the world, what stands out to me is he gave me a chance, he let me work hard, and he worked hard for me in return. I’ll never forget that.
8) At that point you were one of the hottest young stars in the sport, that is until an injury took you out of action for a whole calendar year. I covered your return match against the current MWR Wrestler of the Year, Ricky Cruz at Dynamo Pro Wrestling. I know you have never back down from a challenge, but that first match back was rough as the “King of Chaos” took advantage of your ring rust. Thankfully, in the past 6 months I can tell that you were hitting your stride as 2015 has come upon us. What was it like to sit back and watch others move up the ladder?
Brandon: It pissed me off. It made me feel worthless. It gave me a dose of reality that once you’re gone, not a lot of people give a shit. You have to always keep yourself current in whatever you do. You have to refuse to fall to the back of the pack. If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse. I told myself if I came back I would do it with the goal of never giving up until I’ve done what I set out to do when I was some 16 year old kid, and that is to let every single person know who I am. This is me pushing myself, stepping on toes, doing what is best for me and my career. A lot of people don’t realize how selfish this business is, but I do.
9) You recently won the 2015 Sexiest Male of the Year based on the most votes by the fans over Valentines weekend. Your MWR Trading card #15 states on the back that it is a FACT that when you enter the ring ,“GIRLS GO CRAZY”.
I hate to be the one to ask ,but since then we have received tons of letters from girls wanting to know if you are single, and what’s the best strategy for them to get a date with you?
Brandon: That is a FANTASTIC question. I actually am single at the moment, unfortunately I’m not really looking. Wrestling is amazing in so many different ways, unfortunately it doesn’t make the best business to have a relationship in. If I was to take the time to find a girl she would need a certain set of skills: She would need to be fit (health is a priority), she needs to be trustworthy (no easy girls), she needs to be patient (my schedule gets crazy), she needs to trust me (don’t hack into my fb/email), and she needs to be funny, none of this boring and annoying stuff I get all the time. Also don’t stalk me. I get that enough. Lastly but certainly not least, you need have great hair, odds are we will be sharing hair products
10) By winning the MWR Sexiest Male award as well as coming off the huge main event during the last PWE in Pontoon Beach you will now have a target on your back as you look to make history.
Now I ask you to please tell the MWR fans why they should make their way to see this exciting night of action on Saturday.
Brandon: This past year I have been pushing myself in the gym, and in the ring to show everyone why they need to keeps their eyes on me. This Saturday I am going to show everyone why they’ve been needing to keep their eyes on me, and continue to do so. I promise a performance from myself that no one has seen before. I want the standard in Midwest Wrestling to be higher than it has ever been. I want to be the person that helps raise it up. The show this saturday means more to me than anyone can ever imagine. Everything I’ve gone through the past few years with injuries, relationships, friendships, all my personal issues, it all leads to this Saturday Night in Pontoon Beach, Illinois where I’ll show up and give the greatest performance of my professional wrestling career.
I would like to thank you Brandon for taking part in this Q and A, and we look forward to presenting you the MWR Sexiest Male of the Year trophy while wishing you the best in the Epic 8 tournament.
Missouri Wrestling Revival 