Meet Laszlo Arpad: The UWE United States Champion

When the former Hungarian Heavyweight Champion wanted to make his way to the United States to wrestle, the UWE wasted no time in reaching out to him. He quickly booked his flight to The United States, landed in Harrisburg, Pa. and was instantly recruited by “Hollywood’s Finest.” If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that Hollywood’s Finest wastes no time in exploiting people to join their “group.” We saw it with super talented, but young, and eager to get to the top as fast as possible, Eddie Smooth. Now, in my opinion, we are seeing it with the Hungarian strong man, Laszlo Arpad. One can’t argue with success though, despite (some might say because of) Laszlo’s affiliations, he immediately became the UWE’s United States Champion, and has been tearing up the competition in the UWE ever since. The big man suffered his first set back at UWE WrestleRevenge when he lost an extreme rules match to Sage Strong. Mick Foley, the special referee of that match, had made the stipulation that Laszlo’s “money in the bank” case would be on the line in that match as well, thus costing Laszlo the incredible opportunity of getting a world title shot any time he so chose.

Laszlo is preparing to team with his Hollywood’s Finest team mate, and UWE World Champion, Kevin Murphy and their bought and paid for partner, Cyrus Parker, to face Hero’s For Hire Ryan Kolby and Zach Rayne and their partner, UWE fan favorite Sage Strong, at Valour pro wrestling, in York, Pa. on May 31st. He’s also preparing to defend his US title at UWE Meltdown, in Harrisburg, on July 26th against a yet to be named opponent.

I sat down with the big man, in a five star hotel, in Hershey, Pa. for a conversation. He was very polite (for the most part) to which I attribute to his manager, Bookoo Bucks, Miss Briana not being present. I did approach her later, at a Valour Pro Wrestling card. While she was reluctant to speak with me, she did shout this at me. “Laszlo Arpad was clearly the better man in that match. Sage Strong and Mick Foley were apparently in cahoots. Briefcase or no briefcase, just like Hollywood’s Finest, Laszlo Arpad is better than you!”

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Miss Briana wasn’t happy to see me at Valour Pro

Here is what Laszlo had to say-

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Adam- I’m here with the UWE’s United States Champion, Laszlo Arpad. Let me begin by simply asking you about Hungary and what your life was like there?

Laszlo- Do I look like a tourist guide?? Americans create Google and they don`t know how to use it… Jokes aside, I can tell you something other than numbers, about Hungary and about the people who lived and live there. The roots of Hungarians are more than a thousand years old! We started as a traveling horde with a very unique battle style. At the time no other big nation could do anything against the wild and very talented Hungarians. The leader of the horde was Arpad. He decided to settle down where Hungary is currently, in the Carpathian Basin. After a glorious beginning, the luck of Hungary has changed and the people suffered a lot under the rule of different nations that broke in and tried to break the Hungarian spirit. For example the Turkish Empire broke in and ruled over Hungary for 150 years, turning the country into living hell. Lots of killings and slavery, but Hungarians never gave up, and because of that Hungary, as a country, never stopped existing. Same story with the Soviet communist regime. They were here for 40 years but they could never break us, and they had to leave! Hungary survived these horrible times, but the people were never the same again. Hungarians lost hope after world war I when our country got ripped apart, and what was once a glorious big empire, turned into a small country with 9 million people in it. Families got separated by borders, and new countries like Slovakia, Romania, or Croatia when they got on the map. That was the point where people lost hope…But it`s time to give back hope, and glory, to the people of Hungary and your Hungarian Hero will do that by winning a World Championship soon!

Adam- What made you want to become a wrestler? What got you interested in that?

Laszlo- Competition has been in my blood since I was very little! I was two years old when I started to play football…yes real football…you know…the one where you kick the ball and can`t touch it with your hands because…it`s FOOTball!!! I also played basketball for 12 years, I played Floorball, won the national championship, and I was on the Hungarian national team as well! Before professional wrestling I played 5 years of ice-hockey. When you combine all of these sports, it adds up to one of the best athletes you can get! Agility, power, finesse and my obvious good looks! Professional wresting was a natural choice, and sometimes I feel like the sport chose me!

Adam- Did you have any favorite wrestlers growing up? Any one you molded yourself after?

Laszlo- Very good question! You have to know that wrestling wasn’t televised in Hungary until 2011! When I was a kid the only way to watch wrestling was to pay for TV stations like TNT, so you could watch WCW, but not a lot of people did that, and at the time no one in my family, or circle of friends did either. So I was not introduced to the sport until late 2008. Wrestlemania 25 was my first ppv! Sounds crazy. However; as an intelligent person, I looked up the past of professional wrestling as well. I went all the way back to its roots! I educated myself fully! It`s very important to know the past, because that will guide you in your future, and you will always respect the ones that came before you, and laid down those foundations of the sport that you love, and that you can now do, because of those greats of the past! With that said,some of my inspirations: Ric Flair, Kenta Kobashi, Lou Thesz (Tiza Lajos), Arpad Weber (World Champion and promoter), Ricky Steamboat, Verne Gagne, Johnny Saint, Tibor Szakacs, Mitsuharu Misawa, Kensuke Sasaki, Chris Jericho. The list could go on and on.

Adam- How did you break into wrestling?

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Laszlo- Oh easy! Created my own wrestling promotion! Well maybe that`s not the easiest way. But unfortunately there was no other way. No wrestling schools or promotions in Hungary at the time. So I tried to find someone who shared the same interests, and goals, as I did! I met Icarus, who was a free runner at the time, and a huge wrestling fan. He gathered some old friends from school who he “wrestled” with when they were teenagers on gymnasium mats (kids, you dont want to do it this way!). It was instant chemistry, we educated ourselves from DVDs and on the internet. We started to do matches our matches in boxing rings! Hardcore matches with no psychology, but very well executed moves, and we caught the attention of Europe with our YouTube videos. They had more hits than promotions that did real pro-wrestling, and  were on the scene for many years! That`s when we finally got professionally trained by Gabriel Angelfyre from Pro Wrestling Holland! From that point on, there was no turning back, and no stopping us at all. From wrestling outside in boxing rings, in the rain, in front of 400 people, we got  all the way to a TV contract, with a professional look, wand packed arenas of 1200-1700 people in the seats. And since 2012, we have had our own wrestling DoJo, where we learn and  teach the art of Professional Wrestling, with me as one of the head coaches! All of this between 2010-2014! In 2013 I left all of it, to pursue a bigger goal! It was the hardest decision of my life, but big things comes with big sacrifices! Plus I know that Hungarian Championship Wrestling is in the best hands, and I have all the faith in the world in my Hungarian Brothers of Wrestling!

Adam- So you’ve enjoyed your time in the UWE? It’s been a good experience for you?

Laszlo- Yes, yes, it’s a great company, with great leaders, like The Hunter. I love being associated with UWE world champion Kevin Murphy and my manager Miss Bookoo Bucks. Ultimately, money got me here, and they’ve got it, and they know where talent is. I had to wrestle where the best wrestlers are, so I came to UWE to show them that I am one of the best international talents out there.

Adam- I am going to ask you a touchy question now. Why Hollywood’s Finest? I mean personally I believe they might be exploiting you. Taking a foreigner, that has incredible talent, and just sort of…taking

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Laszlo with Miss Briana

Laszlo- Let me tell you that you are absolutely wrong! If you think that, then you don’t know wrestling like you say you do. Then again maybe that’s why you just interview wrestlers? The super intelligent Bookoo Bucks handpicked me immediately after I left HCW! She knows where to put her money, and trust me when I say money, I mean veeeery good money! Money, Power, Excellence, that`s what Hollywood`s Finest is all about! Do you really need any more reasons???

Adam-Tell us about your United States title. You were the Hungarian Heavyweight champion, and now you are the United States Champion. Tell us how you obtained that title!

Laszlo- It was a business decision that payed off perfectly! The Untouchable Kevin Murphy wanted to dominate, and he did…and WE do! Look at us! We have the most gold, and soon we will have all the gold that the UWE has to offer! Stupid Americans can`t even look further than their own nose! People like you say that I was handed the title, but they forget that I had to defend it on the spot against someone I never faced before! Since then, no one is able to take it from me, and it will stay around my waist!!!

Adam- You could look at it that way I suppose. Tell us about your Money in the Bank Victory at Knight of Glory III

Laszlo-What about it? Simple, smarter than all americans tactic! Definitely smarter than Gypsy Spider!!!

Adam-Do you think it was wise to agree to defend that briefcase against Sage Strong in your extreme rules match at WrestleRevenge, that saw Mick Foley officiating?

Laszlo- I never agreed to that, but I faced the challenge because a real hero never backs down! If it wasn’t for cheer seeker Mr. Socko, I would have easily won that match! But there is nothing to cry about, and nothing to worry about! If Sage Strong thinks he will ever have an opportunity to cash in that contract, then his IQ is smaller than a small pack of the french fries you apparently consume so often! Hollywood`s Finest is an unbreakable unit! I’ll admit, it was a tough match…been through tougher before though. The intelligent Jarrett family made a good decision when Jeff Jarrett played his latest single for Sage Strong! (Note: Karen Jarrett blinded Foley with powder, and Jeff broke a guitar over Sage’s head during the match) They know the real talent…let`s hope they won`t forget about it!

Adam-What’s next for you in the UWE?

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Hollywood’s Finest

Laszlo- Keep Hollywood`s Finest on the top of UWE, defend the US title against anyone, anywhere, anytime! And to make sure my “Sword of Attila” takes off some heads from  time to time!

Adam- Laszlo, as we wrap up here I just want to ask you, is there any thing else you could share with us?

Laszlo- Yeah, I like Winnie the Pooh! (mumbles stupid American’s as he wonders off)

Laszlo Arpad the UWE United States Champion, is set to wrestle for Valour Pro Wrestling on May 31st on a stacked card that features WWE Hall of Famer, Koko B Ware. He also wrestles for Lancaster Championship wrestling, that holds their next card on June 21st. Laszlo will be defending his UWE, US title at UWE Meltdown on July 26th, on a card that features Sage Strong vs. Ezekiel Jackson, The UWE World Champion Kevin Murphy defending against Richie Nightmare, and Eddie Smooth taking on AR Fox!

You can listen to my podcast for exclusive coverage, and news, from the UWE, Lancaster Championship Wrestling, and Valour Pro Wrestling every Tuesday. I cover all other wrestling companies with another broadcast on Fridays. You can also check out my website, dedicated to everything UWE, LCW, and VPW at Wrestling Done Right.