Exclusive Interview with Matt Skillz: Meeting Jake Roberts, Bill DeMott and More

The following exclusive interview was conducted on August 18th, 2011, with the young, rising professional wrestler Matt Skillz, otherwise known as Ed Surname in his hometown of England. Topics include his dedicated and passionate road to super stardom, filming his own infamous internet show known as Laugh or Cry TV, and having the honor and privilege or meeting legendary talents including Jake "The Snake"Roberts, Bill DeMott and Yokosuna. Enjoy!

GSM: Based upon your unique blog entitled Laugh or Cry TV, your latest videos displays your impressive, extremist stunts done apart of your training to become a pro wrestler, even including bridge jumping! Why do you continue to put yourself at extreme risks and push yourself to the ultimate limit?

Skillz: "The video you mention is LAUGH OR CRY TV 63 and shows my journey from the backyard to the pro ring. And it is just that: a journey, where I have developed, changed and grown to a point where the more dangerous stunts are a thing of my past, and serious wrestling is a thing of my present and future. A lot of that crazy stuff happened before my professional training. My mentor Jake Roberts certainly wouldn’t condone it.

There’s still a lot of videos in my archives, so viewers will continue to see new mad stuff they haven’t seen before- but on a day to day basis nowadays I do less of that now, and focus on my real life with my wrestling journey as the show narrative. It’s the world’s first unscripted reality show, and you get to see a wrestling career from the very beginning, with all of the thoughts from me and my family.

When doing the stunts, I knew my limits and often presented stunts that were indeed dangerous- but I had safety measures off camera because I’m not reckless. In the ring especially, I take pride in having never been injured and certainly never injuring anyone else, ever."

GSM: Numerous current professional wrestlers have started off pursuing backyard wrestling, with the ever-so-popular Jeff and Matt Hardy tag team being prime examples. Do you see yourself following in their footsteps into eventual super stardom?

Skillz: "Yes. When I was at school I would plan backyard shows at the expense of revision and school work. It’s a decision I don’t regret. In training, when Jake was intensely analyzing my application of an Indian Deathlock, I sure didn’t need algebra. 

My teachers didn’t understand, saying I was obsessed with wrestling. But it was my life plan, so a logical way to spend my time. In the end, I worked at my grades too, and became top of the class academically. Every year, the top of the class would get a book as a prize at Awards Day. I chose a wrestling one- and read it instead of my maths textbook."

GSM: Seeing your hail from the United Kingdom, do you see your long distance from the United States being an issue in pursuing your dream? Or have your ten hour per day traveling schedule prepared you for what's to come in some big organizations?

Skillz: "Geographically it is an issue because things would be easier if I lived in the USA. But the business involves so much travelling anyway, what’s 9 extra hours? Plus, it’s actually a massive advantage haling from the UK- when I’m in the USA, I immediately get attention for being different.

I’m no stranger to travelling so am prepared in full for any travel schedule that can be thrown at me. One weekend this past February was so busy that I don’t think any itinerary will ever intimidate me again! That said, the prospect of going by train is somewhat daunting since they are always late."

 

 GSM: In my personal opinion, I see your high-risk style fitting the TNA Impact Wrestling format, specifically in the X-Division. Do you see that as a possible opportunity for you to strive to success in Orlando?

Skillz: "Actually my high risk stunts on Laugh or Cry TV, I choose not to translate to the ring. I have a mat based style. I have a logical mind, and for me it’s about grounding people, chopping down the tree. Wrestling is a big man’s game- but how tall are they when they’re lying down on their back in the middle of the ring after I take their legs out?

When I’m standing on their chest, it’s me who looks bigger than them. I’ve mastered every leghold in the world. I do work hard in the gym, but not at the expense of learning psychology. I let others spend time building huge muscles in the gym while I study wrestling manuals and learn more ways to make everyone know that the bigger they are, the harder they fall. 

So the X-Division isn’t as suitable for me as some might imagine. Although, Orlando has great steakhouses so I may rethink my entire ring style J."

 

 GSM: While simultaneously training to become a pro wrestler, you have since adopted your own internet show entitled Laugh or Cry TV that has been prominently featured in radio shows, the Sun,and BBC. When did your interest in filming videos begin and how does it affect your everyday life?

Skillz: "The show is my life, documented in full for everyone to follow my journey. I have self documented it from the age of about 8 and have about 500 hours of footage. Channel 4 said I had a ‘unique and extraordinary life’. The filming is integral to everything I do. 

I have always had artistic projects on the go, such as building a to-scale wrestling figure arena or trying to make my bedroom into a work of art. In many ways Laugh or Cry TV is my ultimate project because it serves to document all my other ones. When I die, I will leave the episodes behind and it will tell my whole story. I think it’s fascinating that future generations will be able to see their ancestors in this way, due to the technology we have now. I’m nearly up to 100 shows.

They are every Thursday on Laughorcrytv.com except we are currently on hiatus due to some issues beyond our control. My blog is still updated on basically a daily basis though. BBC3 said my blog was very funny. The media can be a double edged sword, though I’m pleased to say that so far I have actually found them to be very complimentary and much more helpful than I anticipated- though it hasn’t been an easy ride to get to this point by any means."

 

 GSM: How supportive are your friends and family of your career path and what do you believe they think of you?

Skillz: "Very supportive. As far as the wrestling goes, from day one they have been encouraging. There are a few friends from years past that I can’t say that about- but I don’t consider them true friends.

As far as Laugh or Cry TV goes, I’m sure at first everybody around me thought I was possibly a nutcase. But it’s now evident that I do madcap things in a constructive way. Once my show was in magazines and on TV, there’s a certain legitimacy that separates me from actual nutcases you see locally. Though, to be fair, they have also received newspaper coverage- if the crime section counts."

 

 GSM: Who do you find as your inspiration?

Skillz: "My wife has had such a tough childhood, yet she isn’t bitter. Seeing her live a happy life is such an inspiration. She never gives up on the human race and is so nice, when others in her position have turned to drink and drugs.

She has saved the lives of many cats and the world is a better place for her being here. She is my inspiration to not only take that attitude myself, but try to build a nice life for us both as a family. She has saved my life too, by literally dragging me to the hospital in the past. (We all laugh about that now)."

 

 GSM: One of your most controversial moments came when you staged the "lecture fight", where you and your friend staged a vicious brawl to occur during a lecture that has since become an internet sensation. What was your motivation behind this video, and what were you hoping to accomplish?

Skillz: "I wanted something that was universally understandable by all so it would sell across the world, which meant more action than dialogue. It’s actually pretty simple, but in terms of sheer viewership, the most popular too. It has been on cable channel truTV in the States countless times and my brother in law emailed it to my wife as a viral video- before he’d even met me! He didn’t know it was me!

It was the first time I was recognized in the street for Laugh or Cry TV. It was meant to go on longer than it did- I planned to have a panic attack and collapse on the floor, but security was called immediately and the chase was on! So it ended when it did- but I managed to get in a high knee and forearm blow across the back- straight out of Jake’s Snake Pit wrestling school! As a bit of wrestling trivia, my friend in the video says ‘motherf-----g no good bast—d’. This is a direct line from Pat Patterson in the uncut version of Wrestling With Shadows."

 

 GSM: A few years back, WWE Legend Jake "The Snake" Roberts answered your magazine ad in becoming your wrestler trainer, even living with the innovator of the DDT on a few occasions. What does it feel like to such close friends with someone who was a world-class athlete nearly two decades ago in the WWE and how has he influenced you?

Skillz: "On a personal level, he has been so nice to both me and my wife. We intend to go back to the States as soon as possible as we really miss him. On a professional level, there is no mind better than his. To learn from the master of psychology gave me such an appreciation for the nuances of the sports entertainment business.

For example, the first physical thing he taught me was a lockup. We took hours and hours perfecting it, with so many fascinating details to it that even I, as a lifelong fan, wasn’t aware of. That goes for everything in the ring: every wrestling move, every move you make, every look you give the crowd, every slightest bit of body language, every small change in your facial expression. There’s nobody better to learn from, and one day I intend to honour what I promised him, and that is to pass his teachings on as he asked me to do, so the art of our business never dies."

 

 GSM: Speaking of WWE Alumni, you were also fortunate enough to meet up with former WCW and WWE wrestler, Bill DeMott, who told you that you had a "good look". How has that compliment motivated you?

Skillz: "Back then, I sold my belongings to buy a suit so that I looked professional backstage at shows. I wanted to show promoters I wasn’t a kid pursuing a hobby- that I respect the business 100% and am someone to count on. I combined that with a little eye makeup- not over the top, but enough to hold people’s gaze and make my face look somehow different.

When some friends heard about me buying a suit and wearing the makeup, they considered me a bit off the wall (more than usual). But Bill’s compliment was the first thing he said to me. It confirmed to me that I’d made the right decision. If it acted as motivation, it was for me to carry on being me and trusting my choices as relates to the business I love."

 

 GSM: Seeing that DeMott is now one of the head trainers on WWE's reality program Tough Enough, could you see yourself participating in the show in a future season?

Skillz: "I was very pleased when I learned of his role on the show. I can see myself participating in the future, but if it doesn’t happen to be my path to the big stage, then so be it. I’ll lay my own path if I have to."

 

 GSM: Being the die-hard wrestling fanatic that you've been for nearly two decades, you've collected up to nearly $20,000 worth of pro wrestling merchandise that has since covered every inch of your bedroom. Do you plan on keeping the excessive collection as maybe a world record or selling them eventually in order to save up valuable money for future plans?

Skillz: "Funny timing! Literally today I finished removing it all from the bedroom and boxing it up, as the room is in my parent’s house where I haven’t lived for almost a decade, and is being redecorated. I don’t believe I will ever sell it.

I’m sure it is a world record, though hasn’t been officially recognized as such- yet. Maybe I’ll put that on my to-do list, just under ‘find a way to make a blueberry muffin that has no calories’."

 

 GSM: It's also a little known fact that you were indeed the last person ever to be photographed with former WWE Champion Yokozuna before his death in late 2000. How does it feel to be recognized as such?

Skillz: "Well the whole thing was very sad. It was following his last ever match, teaming with Greg ‘The Hammer’ Valentine. I am glad I got to meet him. He was a very gentle and polite man, and the photograph remains my favourite part of my collection- one of the things you could never buy, a truly surreal moment given that it took place in my hometown."

 

 GSM: Thanks for your time, Matt.

Skillz: "Thank you very much for this interview- these questions were great." 

Visit my web site at Next Era Wrestling and my WrestleRant video blog for more of GSM's writings, along with WWE/TNA news, recaps and more. Follow me on Twitter @SAVE_US_GSM.