Interview With: The Snake Man Deven Michaels
Interview By: Andy Steven
Date: October 19, 2006
www.PWMania.com
recently completed an interview with The Snake Man Deven Michaels who is
in the current Indy scene and was trained by Jake The Snake Roberts, Dr.
Tom Prichard and many others. Below is the complete interview:
Andy
Steven: Firstly I would like to thank you for taking time out of your
busy schedule to take part in this interview for
www.PWMania.com.
How did you break into the wrestling business and what have you been up to
recently?
The Snake Man Deven Michaels: I broke in to wrestling after I moved
back to my hometown. I met another wrestler that lives near me and he took
me around to several different promotions and helped me get started.
Andy Steven: What inspired you to become a wrestler?
The Snake Man Deven Michaels: I had a relatively bad childhood. The
wrestlers I saw were my only heros. When things were at their worst I
would think about all the larger than life wrestlers I had seen and that
would help me get through the night. Also when I would tell people about
my dream of wanting to become a pro-wrestler every one would laugh and
tell me that it would be impossible for me to make it.
I wanted to become a wrestler so that perhaps one day I will be hero to
some one and be an inspiration to every one that has a dream
Andy Steven: Who were some of your idols growing up did you watch
wrestling?
The Snake Man Deven Michaels: Obviously Jake the Snake. Then Hulk
Hogan, Randy Savage, The Honky Tonk Man, Rick Rude, and Ted Diabiase are
the main guys I idolized.
Andy Steven: Tell us a little about your training and who you have
trained with?
The Snake Man Deven Michaels: Jake the Snake Roberts was my first
trainer. While living in Tx with Jake I also had the opportunity to take
advice from Jake's father Grizzly Smith. I have also trained with Dr Tom
Prichard and local Indy wrestler Dr Feelgood. I have spent time with The
Honky Tonk Man.
Andy Steven: What was it like to train under Jake The Snake
Roberts?
The Snake Man Deven Michaels: Training with Jake was a once in a
life time opportunity that was both a dream come true and a nightmare all
at the same time.
During my first month Jake put me through pure hell to see if I truly
wanted to be a wrestler. It was basically an old school initiation. I was
stretched, beat, and emotionally pounded to the ground. Jake tore me down
to rock bottom and then built me back up.
Jake taught me psychology, which is a lost art. He also taught me that in
this business you never know who you can and can't trust. That was an
interesting lesson. We were outside his house raking leaves and BBQing. We
took a break to have a drink and out of no where Jake took his thumb and
brushed it against my left eye. My eye instantly started to burn. He had
Bengay on his thumb. As I was rubbing my eye in pain Jake leaned over and
said, "No matter how well you know some one in this business don't ever
trust them."
All and all training with Jake was the best thing that I have ever done
and the best learning experience in my life. Jake taught me about
wrestling and life in general. No matter what people think of Jake I am
telling you that he is one of the greatest men I have ever met. Jake was
and still is like a father to me. To this day if I need advice or just
some one to talk to the first person I call is Jake.
Andy Steven: You went through a training seminar with Dr. Tom
Prichard what was that like?
The Snake Man Deven Michaels: Dr Tom is a great guy. He basically
told me the same things that Jake had already told me. After I told him I
was trained by Jake he assured me that I had had an opportunity that not
many others have had.
Andy Steven: What are some of the promotions you have worked for?
The Snake Man Deven Michaels: In Pa APWF and CWF. In Ohio BDW, SVW,
PWC, and a couple of others. In Wv: WVWA In Mi CIW and World-1
Andy Steven: What is your take on the current Indy scene?
The Snake Man Deven Michaels: Its to easy to become a wrestler on
the Indy level. There are a lot of guys out there that really shouldn't be
there. It seems like a lot of the guys don't want to dedicate themselves
to wrestling. Psycology is lacking, a lot of the matches look like
acrobatic shows at the circus, there's to much hardbore, excuse me I meant
hardcore wrestling for no reason. Guys think that wrestling gear is jeans,
a t-shirt, and sneakers. There isn't as much respect as there should be.
Basically Indy wrestling needs a complete over haul. Wrestling shouldn't
be done as a hobby, it should be a way of life.
Andy Steven: What is your opinion on the internet wrestling media?
The Snake Man Deven Michaels: The internet has certainly changed
wrestling. With all the spoilers you can find. The main problem I see with
the internet is that it pulls the curtain and lets every one see how the
illusion is done. In my opinion that takes the fun out of it for the fans.
I watch Criss Angel walk on water the other night on his show Mindfreak.
It was a great illusion. Do I want to know how he did it? Hell no. As soon
as you know how he walked on water the illusion is gone and its no longer
exciting.
Andy Steven: What is your opinion on drugs in wrestling?
The Snake Man Deven Michaels: Drugs and wrestling were hand in hand
for the longest time. If you talk to the guys from the 70' and 80's most
will tell you that the drugs were a necessity. I think that if you can
control yourself while using drugs more power to you. If you know your
limit and don't go passed it fine.
Andy Steven: Do you have any funny road trip stories you can share
with us?
The Snake Man Deven Michaels: Wow, there is a lot of road stories.
There was one time that I was going to pick up a snake and I had forgot my
bag. The guy I had bought her from let me take the container that she was
in. The damn container was to big for my trunk and the only way it would
fit in my car was with the top down. When I put the box in the car I must
have popped the lid open a little bit. So any way, I was crusing down
Interstate 80 and people start honkying their horns and flashing lights. I
look in the rear view mirror and see my 15' python crawling out of the
box. About the first 3' of her was setting on the trunk lid. When I pulled
over to fix the problem a state trooper pulled up to see what was wrong
and to offer assistance. Once I explained to him what had happened and
showed him the snake he ran back to his car a took off. I'm not sure which
was funnier, the snake crawling out of the car or seeing the trooper run
like hell.
Andy Steven: I would like to thank you very much once again for
taking this time to take part in this interview for
www.PWMania.com,
I wish you the best of luck in the future and do you have any messages to
say to your fans and what is next for Mr. Deven Michaels?
The Snake Man Deven Michaels: Your welcome. And to the fans all I
have to say is this. Watch what you do and where you walk, you never know
which rock this snake will slither out from under next.
You can visit The Snake Man Deven Michaels' official website by visiting
to
www.thesnakemandevenmichaels.com. The Snake Man Deven Michaels
also has a MySpace account which is
www.myspace.com/thesnakemandevenmichaels!
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