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, Spike Tierney answers our questions.

What drew you into professional wrestling?

Wrestling started for me at around 10 years old when my mate invited me up to watch WrestleMania. This was the first time I’d ever seen anything wrestling related but I knew I’d be watching again, I guess what drew me in the most was the cool moves and how everyone managed to pull them off.

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

At first viewing I was instantly drawn to Rey Mysterio, as the only guy on the card wearing a mask it was something different from everyone else and that intrigued me. After a wee while of watching CM Punk was also up there as one of my favourites. Now I would say Mysterio is still up there as a favourite along with guys like AJ Styles and Ricochet.

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

Having a trampoline in the back garden I was always trying the moves and pretending to be a wrestler. When I turned 15 I was told by Dave Low at an SWE show that they had a school in Dundee so after wanting to be a wrestler for a while I started training and haven’t looked back.

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

Influences for me as a fan, the obvious one would be Rey Mysterio. Other guys include local talent such as LJT and Scotty Riccio as they were two of the guys I always looked forward to seeing at SWE shows and they were the guys I wanted to be like. As a wrestler I would say the coaches who helped me get to where I am now, Dave Low, Kevin Williams, JD Wilde, Nathan Reynolds, Ian Ambrose, to name a few.

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

I always love being able to wrestle guys of the same high-flying style so names like Scotty Riccio, Steven Myles and Ollie Silverstone stand out. I also love matches against guys that have been around a while and I can learn something from even just being out there with them, for that guys like Kevin Williams, Ian Ambrose and Euan G Mackie also come to mind. As for a favourite match I can’t really pick just one, I would say some of my personal favourites are myself vs Scotty Riccio from SWE Fast Track in 2019 as apart of the Future Division Championship tournament, myself vs Ollie Silverstone at Fair City Wrestling II and myself vs Jake Omen at SWE Barely Legal Mother’s Day Massacre as it was my first (and currently only) opportunity to face a guest who had been flown in.

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

Getting the opportunity to wrestle in the Caird Hall multiple times is definitely up there as it’s a venue that’s held some of the greats in this business. Getting the chance to be in a tag team right from day one with one of the guys I practically grew up watching, Scotty Riccio, is also a great highlight for me.

Who would be your dream opponent, past or present?

Again I’m going to say Rey Mysterio, as someone who has watched him right from the start I’d love the opportunity to get in the ring with him. Guys like Ricochet and Will Ospreay are definitely up there as well.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

Hopefully still in a wrestling ring getting to perform in front of the fans and maybe even get the chance to work for other promotions against new guys.

Where can we find you on social media?

I have Facebook and Twitter, both are @SpikeTierney

And finally, why do you do what you do?

I genuinely enjoy putting smiles on the fans faces whenever I’m out there, when I hear their support getting louder and louder I feel I’ve done my job properly and helped them have a great experience.

Thank you to Spike for answering our questions.

 

Photo credit Cracked Hourglass Photography