Pick My Brain: Kevin Riggs

Anytime indie groups draw 1,000 people, people should take notice. Virtually NONE of the indie groups Stateside draw that many people, and the AWF is doing it. Who's saying "Who?" now?

Riggs is an interesting guy with an interesting career. No one ever hears about wrestling in Alaska, until now. So sit back and let's pick the brain of... "The Showcase" Kevin Riggs.

1. Please take this opportunity to plug any websites, tapes, products, or anything else you'd like.

Well, I'd just like to give out the link to the Alaska Wrestling Federation website, www.alaskawrestlingfederation.com. That about covers all my bases!

2. Let's be frank. To make it in WWE, you have to be huge, ripped, incredibly charismatic, related to the writers, or sleeping with the writers. Why do independent wrestlers who don't meet that criteria continue to wrestle? Is it just for fun, or do they really think they stand a chance of being noticed?

It's hard to slay a dream. In all honesty, the first thing that is taught about the business is that it isn't a dream job to the average man. I don't think Joe Lazy Man Blow would really enjoy the non-stop travel and the hectic schedule and the lack of sleep and the hardships of personal life. It takes a special desire to even begin to think of a purpose in professional wrestling. I will be the first one to say that my chances of making it to the WWE are slim to none but that isn't the issue to me. I'm going out in front of crowds of people and doing what I love to do and for the independant circuit, it's the passion of what you enjoy that keeps you fueled through hardship.

3. No one I've spoken to has heard of the Alaska Wrestling Federation. Come to think of it, no one I've spoken to has ever visited Alaska, or even considered it. AWF isn't covered in most newsletters, because no one lives there to report on it. Please fill us in on what us fans are missing in AWF, what they're all about, and why we should check them out.

Professional wrestling is practically non-existant in Alaska until the Alaska Wrestling Federation came to a head. AWF is all pure Alaskan talent. We don't fly guys up and we don't bring in names. Our promotion is solely based off of the talent in the area. We have some damn good talent with guys like Calvin Smoove, "Sweet Suga Stud" Shawn Summers, Matt "Pretty Boy" Floyd, Sgt. Max Steele, Jubei, just to name a few. We have endless potential with what we have. It was a rough start but the AWF is beginning to snowball into something bigger than we ever imagined it could be.

4. Indie workers over here make about, well, nothing. And when they do get paid, their checks bounce. How honest and generous is AWF with payroll, and how is attendance at the live shows?

I haven't seen a single dime step into my pocket for any match I've had in the AWF. We aren't here for the money. We're here for the passion and the love of what we do. Granted, greenbacks in my wallet would not unsettle me but my bank account isn't the issue at this point. It's about making it work and we are doing rather well. Our last show pulled in an attendance of about 500+ and this upcoming show is expected to be completely full (The auditorium holds 1,000 or so people...very exciting)

5. Does AWF have local TV, or is paying for air time not cost effective for the promoters?

We are in the works of getting a television show. Right now, all the details haven't been completely ironed out but it's something we would like to have going in the near future.

6. Alaska has a stereotype of being this huge iceberg full of Eskimos and fish. It's freezing, and people say there's nothing to do out there. Please, use this opportunity to break the stereotype and tell us what living out there is really like.

Alaska is a very beautiful place. Cold in the winter, nice long summer nights. I wouldn't really know how to defend against the stereotype since my computer is hooked up to a generator because, as we all know, igloos don't have electrical outlets, right? right?!

7. When was the last time WWE or WCW came to Alaska, and were the shows any good?

We have a SmackDown! brand house show coming up on January 5th but other than that, it had been 11 years since the last WWE house show. I don't ever recall ever having a WCW show here.

8. Are there any famous wrestlers who are from Alaska, and if so, who?

Yes, "The Showcase" Kevin Riggs, of course!

9. Give us your thoughts on the following cast members of the current Tough Enough season. If you don't watch Tough Enough, then please tell us if you've entered the Tough Enough contest, and if anyone called you back. If you didn't enter the contest, jeez, I don't know, just tell us something Tough Enough-related!

Jonah:
Matt:
Kelly:
John:
Eric:
Jamie:
Nick:
Wendell:
Al Snow: One of the greatest
Bill DeMott: He's quite...hugh...morris...?
Ivory: You get it from a walrus...?

I apoligize, I don't watch Tough Enough, unfortunately, therefore, I have no idea what to say about it. It's an interesting idea but I don't think reality TV in the world of professional wrestling works with me. Sort of an oxymoron, in a sense.

10. Unless they're rich or homeless, all indie guys have day jobs. What is your day job, and what is your educational background in?

I work your average job. I'm a senoir in high school at the moment so hopefully, I can be a graduate and say I was a high school graduate...yeah...

11. What would go through your head if you got the chance to wrestle any of these superstars:

HHH: Please don't starve my family, HHH, I didn't mean to get over!
Rock: Such an overseller that I could send him to Mars with a kick to the ass.
Steve Austin: Hope he takes out his aggressions on someone other than me...and I think we will! (Very tasteless, I know, please don't hate me BWAHAHA!)
Kurt Angle: I'll look good no matter what.
Undertaker: I'm here to mow his lawn
Big Show: Hopefully, I'll finish the match before I drown in Paul's saliva
Chris Benoit: *orgasm*
Chris Jericho: *orgasm*
Ric Flair: *multiple orgasm*
Hulk Hogan: What am I gonna do, brother?
Kevin Nash: Don't have the slightest idea
Rey Misterio: It'd be a lucha good time.
Eddy Guerrero: Very awesome.
Rosey & Jamal: *reads last rites*
RVD: *prepares Band-Aids*
Shane McMahon: LOTS OF CRAZY SHIT!

12. I must say, there's a strong case for bringing back the traditional role of the TV jobber. Raw and SmackDown are getting stale with the same roster of guys facing each other over and over again on TV. Is it a dream for indie guys to get gigs as TV jobbers? Sure you get squashed, but it's huge exposure for millions on TV.

I always thought the JOB Squad was an exciting gimmick. Wrestling is wrestling. Wrestling on WWE TV just makes it that much more sweet, regardless win or lose.

13. What is your gimmick, and how much of it is an act?

I'm a very arrogant and pompous ass. I'm awesome. I'm better than the Beatles, who appartently are better than Jesus, so what does that tell you? My character in the ring is basically the person I wish I could be in real life but don't have the gonads to be!

14. I've seen your photo on AWF's website. Do you think you should grow your hair long and try to look a lot less, I don't know, "normal?" WWE has traditionally not gone after guys who look normal. So many indie guys don't get that. Edge and HHH look like stars... Tough Enough reject Josh Lomberger does not. Howard Stern and David Lee Roth look like stars... Pete Gas does not. Have you considered altering your look at all?

I couldn't grow my hair long for the death of me but I have thought about dyeing my hair so we'll see what happens.

15. Believe what you wanna believe, but the only way to get big quick is to have incredible genetics, work out 24 hours a day, or do what everyone else does: take steroids. Indie guys mostly stay off the juice because they can't afford it. If you got a WWE tryout and Jim Ross told you to bulk up a little (like he did in "Beyond the Mat"), would you consider buying some "goodies" to help you out?

I'm not sure, will Baby Ruths and Snickers really enhance me THAT much?

16. How prevalent are drugs and promiscuity on the local Alaskan indie wrestling scene?

Heh, what local Alaskan indy scene? I AM the local Alaskan indy scene and I'm clean as a whistle.

17. How do you deal with the pain from all the bumps you take in the ring?

Just take it, brother. I wrestle with a herniated disc in my lower back and some neck problems and I don't take any "killers" or anything like that. Sometimes, I'm uncomfortable but I just roll with the punches. Suppose I'm a jackass like that.

18. How long have you been a wrestling fan? Did most of the guys in AWF grow up on 80s NWA, 80s WWF, 90s WCW, ECW, or 90s WWF?

I've been a fan for basically my entire life. Most guys in the AWF grew up on 80s NWA/WWF/AWA and continue to watch it during it's plummiting stages.

19. If anyone like Bruce Pritchard, Michael Hayes, Paul Heyman, Jim Ross, Bill DeMott, or Pat Patterson are reading this now, what do you want to tell them? Remember, these guys recruit young wrestlers for a living, so make a good impression!

Michael Hayes, I hoped you tipped Sean Waltman for that haircut! In all honesty, fi they were reading this right now, I would say that reading this doesn't do any justice so it doesn't matter. Watch me and then we'll see.

20. Does it sicken you that tiny guys like Spike Dudley, Crash Holly, and Jamie Noble have jobs in WWE? Do you ever find yourself watching wrestling and going, "They hired THAT punk, but they won't hire me?? I'm 10 times as talented as the Big Show! What the fuck!!"

Well, I'm not that big of a guy. I'm about 5'11 and about 40 lbs away from reaching 200lbs so I'm kinda in that league and it makes me happy to see guys like Noble and Mysterio and Dudley get hired because it gives me more hope for a small guy like myself.

21. Seriously, kudos to you for getting in the ring and keeping wrestling alive on the indie scene. Believe me, you have way more gusto than any of us who sit on our asses and simply watch wrestling, and don't actually wrestle. With that said, the industry is in a slump it may never get out of, and I hope you have a backup plan for your career. I'm not saying that to you personally, but to every indie wrestler from Kevin Riggs to Sabu to Jeff Jarrett to Scott Hall. Hell, I'm even saying it to Chris Jericho and Kurt Angle, because Lord knows how long WWE will remain in business at the rate they're going. Thanks for the interview, and before you go, please tell us your thoughts on the future of wrestling, and the future of the "Showcase" Kevin Riggs!

The future of wrestling is what we decide to make it. If we want it to prosper, we shall continue viewing. If we want it to die, we will watch reruns of Friends rather than tune into RAW. It's a interesting road and I'm very excited to see where it leads. As far as "The Showcase" Kevin Riggs goes, he out to have a good time and entertain some people. If he can do that, then the WWE doesn't matter because he has lived his dream and nothing and no one will ever be able to take that from him. Once again, check out the AWF website at www.alaskawrestlingfederation.com. If you are interested in contacting Kevin Riggs, e-mail him at KevRiggs1@cs.com. Guess I'll step off my soapbox now. Thank you to the Wrestling Professor for kicking lots of ass and God bless all of you wrestling fans! Take care and live forever!

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Congrats to the AWF for their success. Anytime indie guys are doing some good for the industry, that's all right with us. Check out their site, and go thank Kev for talking to us.

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