img_2592Welcome 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, Taylor Vite answers our questions.

What drew you into professional wrestling?

Oddly, the first thing I remember loving about wrestling is the costumes and entrances! It was like boxing matches but with fire, mood lighting, flashy tights and cool masks! After that it was the stories and characters, particularly Kane and The Undertaker. As a younger brother myself, I always identified with Kane and his struggles to get along with his brother (to a slightly less dramatic degree in my case)!

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

Growing Kane was my absolute favourite. Then the likes of the Hardy Boyz, The Rock and Chris Jericho. As I got older I started gravitating towards Drew McIntyre, Jimmy Jacobs, CM Punk, Samoa Joe and, my all-time favourite wrestler, Daniel Bryan.

These days I love watching wrestlers to study their subtle nuances, so the likes of Jonathan Gresham, Jay White, Nikki Cross, Kassius Ohno, and still my man Bryan!

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

I had looked in to it for years but it always just seemed impossible for someone like me – a big nerd in his 20s with no physical grace or skill! It always seemed to me like wrestlers start when they’re really young and I had no chance. But after starting to finally get in shape and watching a lot of DDP I decided to just go for it! So I started in the April 2017 Source class and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!

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

Obviously your trainers have a big influence on you so firstly Mikey Whiplash, Lewis Girvan, Robert Wishart, David Devlin and Glen Dunbar. They’ve really fostered a love of technical wrestling.

In a similar vain, I try to implement a lot of what I see from the likes of Jon Gresham, Daniel Bryan, Jushin Liger, Mike Quackenbush and Fred Yehi.

In addition to that I’m a huge fan of classic World of Sport especially the likes of Johnny Saint, Rollerball Rocco, Sammy Lee and Les Kellett, so I try to use aspects of their styles too.

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

Having finally wrestled him twice this year after a long time waiting, I love wrestling Robert Wishart! We just beat the hell out of each other and it’s great fun! I like matches that devolve a little in to a fight! Alexander Darwin Macallan, Griffin and KOE are excellent for that too.

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

A small and strange one, but Mark Coffey saw me wrestle Griffin in Govan and was very complimentary and offered great feedback. He didn’t have to take the time to do that, so I appreciated that a lot and to get time with someone as good as he is was a big boost for me.

Otherwise, I’ve most enjoyed working in places further afield and the long car journeys spent talking wrestling, playing games and having karaoke sessions with my road mates!

Who would be your dream opponent, past or present?

For properly dreaming, I want to be chokeslammed by Kane!

Beyond the obvious answers of the people I’ve mentioned before (Gresham, Bryan, Girvan, Whiplash etc.) In wider wrestling I’d love to wrestle Kassius Ohno, Colt Cabana, Kikutaro, Jimmy Jacobs, Jordynne Grace and The Best Friends.

Closer to home, I want to wrestle Glen Dunbar again now that I have more experience and less nerves! And with tag wrestling in the UK and Europe booming right now I’d love to team up with Jesse Santana to face the likes of Kings of Catch, I-Gen, Polo Promotions, Fite Network and #WokeQueens.

At this point, honestly, I just want to wrestle anyone and everyone, anywhere and everywhere!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

Ideally I’ll be wrestling enough to work part-time and enjoying my personal life and family time. But as long as I’m healthy and happy, and so are the people I care about, then I’ll be very content!

Where can we find you on social media?

On Facebook and Instagram I’m @TaylorViteWrestler and on Twitter I’m
@Taylor_Vite.

And finally, why do you do what you do?

I love entertaining people! And if I can show off a bit in the process then that’s a bonus!

Thank you to Taylor for answering our questions.

 

Photo credit David J Wilson.