Jerry Wiseman Interviews PWO’s Gregory Irons

Gregory Iron is an enigma in the world of professional wrestling, affectionately known as “The Handi-Capped Hero” or “The Cripple Crusader” Irons wrestles with a lot of heart while dealing with a mild form of Cerebral Palsy that has made his right arm somewhat useless. Even though this would be a set back or obstacle for most people, Irons is not most people.

The self-professed nerd and wrestling enthusiast is somewhat shy outside the ring but all business when he steps through the ropes. Trained by Jimmy Del Rey and fierce opponent Johnny Gargano, Iron has had some off the chart matches with Gargano resulting in injuries and concussions that both took months to recover from.

As a bibliophile and a writer himself from childhood, Iron always aspired to become a professional wrestling, never once giving thought to his CP holding him back from realizing his dreams. Gregory Iron is an inspiration to everyone who needs to battle through the challenges that life brings things always knowing that hard work and determination can lead you anywhere, even into the world of professional wrestling.

Q. Your dream opponent would be?
A. Right now, I’d love to wrestle Randy Orton. If Shawn Michaels hadn’t just retired, probably him, but right now, Orton is the best in ring performer WWE has right now.

Q. What is your best road story?
A. Uhhh, wow. I don’t know. I’ll just say anything involving Hobo Joe in the car equals hilarity.

Q. Who is someone you always like to watch wrestle?
A. I have always been a fan of guys like HBK, Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, Kurt Angle, guys like that. I can watch their matches all day long.

Q. As a promoter who would be in your money match?
A. Jimmy Del Ray vs. anybody, literally anybody. People love his Heavenly body.

Q. Do you think tag team wrestling is a lost art?
A. Without a doubt. It’s a real shame, too. In the 80′s you had so many great teams… The Bulldogs, The Rockers, Hart Foundation, the 90′s/00′s you had The Hardyz, E & C, The Impact Players, good tag teams are rare anymore. It’s not because of a lack of talent. It’s a lack of wanting to push tag divisions, for whatever the reason.

Q. If you got the call from New York, would you change your gimmick and to what?
A. If WWE wanted me to, I guess. But how much can you really alter MY gimmick? (laughs)

Q. Do you think titles need to mean something again?
A. I think so. It’s rough making a championship credible in an era where there are 4,064 titles around, and the belts change hands so often. I remember when being a double champion was special. But after the Invasion, it seemed like anybody and everybody had 1 or more belt at some point.

Q. You own a promotion, who are the first five workers you hire?
A. All members of X Factor, Oscar from Men on A Mission, and Hobo’s good buddy Virgil.

Q. What is the craziest match you have done?
A. Any multi-tag team ladder match I ever been stuck in on a couple of indie shows. For all the wrong reasons.

Q. Do you prefer hardcore, traditional or a mix of the two for your own matches?
A. Traditional is really works well for me. My story is usually told through my disability, so the basics work best. Any hardcore stuff could always help, if the story calls for it.

Q. Besides yourself, who is the best to ever step into the ring?
A. I have got to stick with Shawn Michaels. He has had so many classic matches, and has overcome so many personal and professional obstacles.

Q. Who is your favorite opponent?
A. Without a doubt, Johnny Gargano.

Q. If you could change one thing about the business, what would it be?
A. I would like people that think they are “promoters” to stop running shows. It’s watering down an already oversaturated market.

Q. Does wrestling need a union?
A. Yes, but it won’t ever happen.

Q. What drew you into the business?
A. Hulk Hogan was the first wrestler I really looked up to as a kid. Guys like Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, Chris Benoit, Owen Hart, made me love the wrestling aspect so much more. But I think Zack Gowen was one of my biggest influences. Seeing him wrestle made me think, you know what, maybe I could do this one day too.

Q. Do you think heels and faces need to be clearly defined again?
A. I have no problem with “shades of grey,” but I think for the most part, a somewhat defined heel or babyface works better if you are marketing towards your average wrestling fan.

Q. In the annals of wrestling, what do you want to be said about you?
A. I hope that people can look to me and be inspired and realize any dream is attainable if you want it bad enough. You can’t let anything stop you, physically, or mentally.

Q. What decade, the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s or 00s do you think best defined wrestling?
A. I am a fan of all eras really, but the Attitude Era is probably the most memorable. The 80′s were big, but from 97 to about 2001, EVERYBODY I knew watched wrestling. I think people may have still been a bit ashamed to be a wrestling fan in the 1980′s, but I think guys like Austin and Rock changed that so much. Man, I miss that time in wrestling!

Q. Do you think internet PPVs would help indie promotions?
A. Unless they are charging $5, probably not. This goes back to wrestling being too oversaturated.

Q. What is one thing you want fans to know about you?
A. That I truly give everything I can when I get in the ring, despite my disability.

Q. Have you ever had aspirations of trying MMA?
A. NOT AT ALL.

Q. Do you think the proposed changes that a lot of state athletic commissions will help or hurt the sport?
A. It will probably help in the long run, assuming they actually get enforced.

Q. Who is someone you would not want to work again?
A. Well, in 2007, I got a reckless concussion from Michael Tarver of NXT fame, so, yea, no offense to him, but you won’t see me in the ring with him anytime soon.

Q. Do you think blading is a necessary evil in the sport?
A. I think when done right, it can add to a story, but there has to be reasons.

Q. Is the punishment you take worth the money you make?
A. I don’t regret any of it.

Q. We are all marks; have to be to love the business, how big a mark are you, what is your favorite piece of swag?
A. (Laughs) I’ll just say that I own every WWE PPV ever, and a bazillion other wrestling DVDs.

Q. Is there any match you would refuse to do?
A. If the price was right, I can never really say never.

Q. With more and more ladies taking on the men in the ring, would you have a problem doing a job for a woman?
A. Nope.

Q. How big of an impact do all the recent deaths of the boys have on the business?
A. It’s a tragic thing. But the new generation of wrestlers seems to be taking care of themselves a little better than those of the 80′s and 90′s.

Q. Using steroids is still a sore subject among some of the boys, especially now that Ivan Putski came out and admitted using and Bruno Sammartino is against them but used them when they were legal, what is your feeling on them?
A. Personally, I have never been one to use drugs, steroids included. It’s an evil thing in the sport. To each their own, but I hope it’s something that leaves wrestling completely.

Q. Does there need to be more competition in the business and do you think TNA is the answer or does someone else need to come along and step-up?
A. Competition is always good. TNA has the talent. I think they are just lacking that one big storyline to get people to look and say, “HMMM, This seems interesting. I’m going to watch this.” I think they should also push the X Division the way they did in 2002-2004.

Q. Does it take an addictive personality to be a pro wrestler or what type of mental attitude do you need to make it in the business?
A. I think you have to be thinking about at least your character constantly. Moves, catch phrases, gear, storylines, you have to always be trying to figure out what works for you, what doesn’t, and how you can constantly improve.

Q. What kind of pre-match ritual do you have before you go through the curtain?
A. Nothing really, I just hope I won’t suck!

Q. Do you find yourself giving 100% no matter if there are 25 people in the crowd or 2500?
A. Without question!

Q. Do you ever practice cutting a promo in front of a mirror?
A. Maybe not necessarily promos as much as facials. My facials tell stories my words can’t always explain.

Q. How do you define yourself as a pro wrestler?
A. I guess the easiest answer for me is I never stop thinking about it. I’d like to think people are not defined by their past. They are defined by the moment. For now, every one of my moments somehow links to my ultimate goal… succeeding as a pro wrestler.

Q. What is the weirdest thing you have had happen while in the ring?
A. Oscar from Men on a Mission at ringside for my match… seriously, what hole did he crawl out of?

Q. Fans either love you or hate you, what has been your worst experience with a fan?
A. There is this guy TTT. He this 8′ 7″ weirdo who comes to all the shows. Every time he talks to any wrestler it’s both the worst and funniest experience ever. He does tarot card readings!

Q. If you could go back to any era and wrestle for one night, where would you go and who would you step into the ring with?
A. Some random Raw with Stone Cold in 1998. The crowds were insane for everything then.

Q. What move do you think is overused and just does not get over now, like the carotid clutch in the 70s?
A. On the indies, it’s the indie kick, I think.

Q. As a wrestler with a handicap, do you feel treated differently or have you had to work harder to be accepted by the boys?
A. At first, I thought I would be looked at different, but it was really just a mental thing. I think once the guys saw how hard I worked on my physique and in ring stuff, they gained a lot of respect for me. Like I said, I am obsessed with wrestling, and I think any guy in the back that has talked to me knows how much I love it, and how far I’d go for it. Hell, when I got that concussion, I could have died for wrestling! But I keep coming back.

Q. You show a lot of courage in the ring, is that how you are outside the ring too?
A. I think Gregory Iron brings every part of the real Greg that might not shine brightly in real life out in the open. I am a genuinely good hearted person. I really want to change the world and inspire people, and Gregory Iron lets the real Greg do that. So, I guess I do have an abundance of courage. I wish it would come out more in real life. The real Greg is shy and quiet for the most part. (Laughs)

Q. Your matches with Johnny Gargano have been off the charts, is he your favorite opponent and how stiff do you two work?
A. Johnny has been my greatest opponent. We have wrestled three times in the three years of PWO, and it gets better every time. I have been told several times that the Iron/Gargano rivalry is the thing that stands out most in the history of Pro Wrestling Ohio, and that makes me feel tremendous. Our Last Man Standing match at Wrestlelution in front of over 1,000 people in 2008 was not just the crowning achievement of my career, but of my life. To be bloody, defeated, and still get a standing ovation and chants of “Greg!” was an incredible feeling. I never knew five years ago I could wrestle, and to be able to say, with a disability, I was able to have a moment like that is almost surreal. As far as stiffness, Johnny and I have known each other awhile, so we hold nothing back.

Q. What are your future plans in wrestling?
A. WWE simple.

Q. As an advocate for handicap wrestlers, would you like to see more overcome their disabilities and work in the ring?
A. I would like to see anybody with a disability achieve all of their life goals.

Q. Working for PWO, describe how that experience has been?
A. It’s really a great place to be. The TV offers a great opportunity for exposure. I don’t know if all the guys realize it, but living locally in the Cleveland area, I legit, get noticed, at least once a day. But more than that, we have a tremendous locker room of young guys, who work hard and great veterans, who help out greatly. It’s like a big family in the back, with guys putting everything on the line to give the fans everything they want. If you haven’t watched it, watch PWO at 10pm on Sundays on Sports Time Ohio. Also, check out PWOwrestling.com.

Q. What is your go to move?
A. Handicapped Parking, of course.

Q. When a spot is botched and the crowd knows and reacts, how does that make you feel?
A. You can’t focus on it, you just keep going.

Q. If you could change one thing about your career what would it be?
A. Nothing. I feel everything has happened like this for a reason. J.J. Dillon has a son with CP, and he really appreciates my work. Something that really hit me was when he said, “I hope there are times when you look back and truly appreciate how far you have really come. If you never wrestle again, you can say you have gotten to live a dream that most will never experience.”

Q. What do you like to do in your down time?
A. I’m a plain guy. I write. I doodle. I work out. Play video games. And did I mention I love wrestling…?