Welcome to Starter For 10. We ask professional wrestlers 10 questions so that you can find out a bit more about your favourite real life superheroes.

On this edition, the Super Wrestling Entertainment System Kevin Williams answers our questions.

What drew you into professional wrestling?

It’s always been a part of my life as far back as I can remember. It’s just what my Dad and me did on a Saturday was watch the one hour Sky One broadcast and the whole family watched the PPVs. I always enjoyed the characters and stories of the early 90’s era of wrestling, so over the top and engaging!

Who were your favourite wrestlers growing up and who are your favourites now?

Growing up I was a huge Bret Hart fan, I remember being utterly raging at him losing to Bob Backlund at Survivor Series 94!

As I got older I became (and still am) a massive Chris Jericho fan. Him, Benoit and Guerrero all had a look and a style that I just adore.

Current day I would have to say Adam Page is really great to watch!

What made you decide to start training to be a wrestler and where did you start?

After my Dad passed of cancer in 2004, having been such a big part of why I love wrestling in the first place, I really started giving it a lot of thought and attended a show at the Rothes Halls (a venue I would later wrestle in a few times now, which I will forever be grateful to Mike Musso for), my buddy and I hounded the ring announcer, and I believe promoter, Orig Williams and he gave us the address for the only school in Scotland at the time and that was BCW. Later when W3L opened in Kirkcaldy it was an easy decision to train closer to home and will always appreciate the education I received there.

Who are your biggest influences in professional wrestling, as a fan and as a wrestler?

As I said, Chris Jericho and co were big influences on me, not even the big moves and spots they did but just they way they carried themselves. As a fan Austin will never not pop me!

Who has been your favourite opponent(s) and do you have a favourite match?

I find it really hard to remember matches I’ve had these days! I have had so many that it takes a lot for me to really have something stick out.

Becoming the first SWE Hardcore Champion in a six pack challenge match last September was definitely a recent favourite.

Myself, Jace Jackson, Eddie Devine, Spike Teirney, KJ Nitro and Chris James all put in a shift that night and we all left the venue that night feeling deservedly proud of ourselves.

Picking up the SWE Tag Titles with Nathan Reynolds against Felix Fortune and Hugo Harris again was another recent favourite match, a lot just clicked and we told a great story.

My favourite opponent has to be The Very Good Mr Euan G Mackie – he is one of the best in the country, he is beyond easy to work with and always tries his best to get the best match out of everyone he works.

I remember working him during a tour with Ted DiBiase and him giving feedback that we told a fantastic story. We’ve had more than a few matches overall to the point where we haven’t been booked in matches for about a year now!

An other favourite opponent of mine is Luke Aldridge, he is at the very peak of his game right now and has worked bloody hard by himself to get there. We have a lot of history and I am glad to have shared a few tag title reigns with him.

What has been your career highlight(s) so far?

Working Joe E Legend for the W3L title is a match I won’t forget however, he is simply one of the best in the world and really took the time to make sure I had what we were doing in the match and I felt really accomplished once it was over and we got to the back.

Just last weekend as well, walking into the Caird Hall and leaving as Tag Team Champions for SWE is absolutely one of the best feelings.

Who would be your dream opponent, past or present?

I would love to have a match with Kevin Owens (Steen), the guy is simply amazing at playing to his strengths while being able to bust out something that drops your jaw.

I also would have loved to wrestled or even just been around Eddie Guerrero.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

Ah this is a big question!

I’ve been wrestling now for 15 years and if I am honest with myself I will be looking for a hook to hang my boots on very shortly. I do have a few more things to tick off the bucket list however.

Once I’ve done that I will always have a joy in coaching. I have always taken great pride in showing people who never thought they could do something and showing them they could. I’ll be the first to tell you, I am not nearly as experienced as most of the coaches in the other amazing schools around the country BUT I will teach anyone the absolute finest fundamentals and building blocks for people to go out and get that next level training. I will also teach people how to be professional wrestlers, there are lots of people who can teach wrestling but very few who can teach you how to be a respectful, contributing part of any promotion which I believe is vital in being a professional.

I also enjoy promoting and booking shows, I was very fortunate to be given responsibilities in organising showcase shows for SWE and W3L as giving the guys training an opportunity to perform is vital in the learning process.

This lead to the formation of FCW (Fair City Wrestling) founded by John Young. We are both very lucky to have been given the chance to run shows in Perth as this was being run by SWE.

From its early inception John had asked me to hold the pencil and help him build his vision of what promotion he would be running.

This is a great honour for me and I want to use it to provide the best mix of talents and variety of shows that this country can provide. Opportunity for young guys in the east of Scotland such as John Kerr, Zack Leon and Olly Silverstone.

Outwith this I will always be running my gaming events with Press Start Gaming Scotland.

I am very lucky to be able to run both wrestling and gaming events, the gaming events bring me such satisfaction as most of what I do is very retro gaming based and being able to spark that nostalgia in people and being able to give kids their first experience at how games used to be compared to what they are is so rewarding!

Where can we find you on social media?

My Facebook is: KevinWilliamsWrestler
My Instagram is: deadcell_kevinwilliams
Fair City Wrestling on Facebook: faircitywrestling
Press Start Gaming Scotland Facebook: PressStartGamingScotland

And finally, why do you do what you do?

It’s simple, smiles on faces.

Game on.

Thank you to Kevin for answering our questions.

 

 

Photo credit Neil Malone.