Alex Shelley is currently employed by TNA, and is a member of their X Division. He will take part in the upcoming X Gauntlet at the November 7 Victory Road Pay-Per-View.
Q: How long have you been involved in the business?
A: I started training in September of 2001. I had my first match in March of 2002. So I guess I've been around the business for over three years now.
Q: Why did you enter the pro-wrestling industry?
A: Same reason most everyone else does. They watch it as a kid, fall in love with it, and feel the need to be a part of it. I really wanted to be a superhero, but this was the next best thing.
Q: Where did you receive your training to become a pro-wrestler?
A: Originally, in Port Huron, MI by one of the most unqualified trainers in the business. But a few months later, I was trained in Livonia, MI by Truth Martini and Breyer Wellington at their wrestling schools, which were literally 5 minutes from each other. I started going to Windsor, Ontario to train with Scott D'amore, and later Joe E. Legend from there.
Q: What do you like the most about being in the business?
A: The actual wrestling. I much prefer working the mat with Doug Williams as opposed to staying up all night in an airport to catch a 7:10 flight, then pissing the whole next day away sleeping.
Q: How much attention do you pay to the pro-wrestling media and Internet pro-wrestling fans?
A: Tons, actually. I've always fully admitted to being a fan of wrestling. I enjoy learning more about it and reading up on what people think of different promotions.
Q: You are on the roster of two promotions that have a high risk style: Combat Zone Wrestling and IWA Mid-South. What is your opinion of the hardcore style?
A: I personally enjoy watching it. Those guys are gutsy. It's something I could never do myself, but I do give those who participate in it all the credit in the world for being able to do what they do, and entertain the fans in a different way.
Q: With each promotion that you work for, you perform in front of a different type of pro-wrestling fan. Which fans do you enjoy performing in front of the most: TNA, CZW, ROH, or IWA Mid-South fans?
A: They're different groups of fans. Honestly, all 4 of the promotions you mentioned have great fans, so I'll take the easy route, and not say I prefer any of them. They each have different good qualities. I'd say the biggest difference is the ROH and TNA fans. The TNA fans are straight up action junkies. The ROH fans really get into the really small intricate stuff, which is cool.
Q: You have done announcing for CZW and IWA-Mid South in the past. When you retire from the ring years from now, do you think announcing will be something that you will be doing more of?
A: I'd love to. Announcing's a lot of fun, and I really dig doing it at CZW. I don't get as much a chance at IWA shows, but it's fun there too. Still, it's something I think I'm decent at, and can add another dimension to my character.
Q: You are a big fan of British matwork. What is it about the style that appeals to you?
A: It's human chess, put simply. So many switches and counters. It's something different, and it goes hand in hand with lucha at the same time. Besides that, it's low impact, and can seriously prolong a career. Johnny Saint performed the same well into his older years because he didn't take tons of abuse. Why? He was awesome at British wrestling.
Q: Which persona appeals to you the most: Face, Heel, or Tweener?
A: Different personas have different advantages. I honestly prefer working face most of the time though.
Q: What is your gimmick?
A: Um. I...Dunno. Oh, wait. I'm a scummy garage rocker?
Q: Do you prefer wrestling in singles, or teaming with Abyss in TNA and fellow members of the GeNeXt faction in ROH?
A: Teaming with Abyss was different. I enjoyed working with him, but we've since split. I really dig teaming with GeNeXt. That's a lot of fun as well. But singles is where most people make their mark, and you can really tell some good stories with strong singles matches.
Q: Do you think that ROH has recovered yet from the blemish left by the Rob Feinstein controversy?
A: Yep. That was an unfortunate turn of events, but I feel ROH has just kept putting out great wrestling, which is really the most important thing. I was pretty confident they would anyway.
Q: Which do you feel has been your best match so far?
A: Wow, I dunno. I just had a 3 Way Dance with A.J. Styles and Chris Sabin at TNA that was one of my best matches ever. I'll say that, just because it's fresh in my mind, and everyone there seemed to really love it.
Q: Which has been your favorite match so far?
A: Hmmm. Honestly? Hair vs. Boot Hair. Just because it was never, ever done before. Take that, history books!
Q: Whom would you like to wrestle, that you have not yet done so?
A: Well, I still want a singles with CM Punk. I've never worked Chris Daniels. But I'd love to wrestle Eddie Guerrero one day, even if the odds of that are slim and none, and slim just left town. Tracey Smothers too.
Q: TNA has grown in popularity all across the United States, but what do you think they have to do in order to become a major competitor to WWE?
A: I think they're doing what they have to do. They're focusing on becoming a brand that people can recognize by doing monthly PPVs and having a national TV show. Honestly, I just hope they do become competition to the WWE, so more people can make a living off the business.
Q: What do you do in your spare time?
A: Lots of stuff. Read, video games, draw, music, etc. Nothing out of the ordinary. Well, there's lotsa girls I hit on and scummy night clubs, but that's different.
Q: What is your long-term goal in the business?
A: It might sound silly, but I want to become one of the best wrestlers in the world one day. Hopefully, with some luck, continued help from everyone I've been so lucky to have help from, good health, and good timing, I can do it.
I hope you enjoyed this interview with Alex Shelley. In 2003, I began running my own website, World Wrestling Optimum, which consisted of news, articles, and interviews, inlcuding this one. My ebook, "Pro-Wrestling Interviews" contains interviews that I conducted for the website. You can check out my ebook on Amazon.
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