Jerry Wiseman Interviews “The Madness” Chris Hall

As a former collegiate wrestling star and football player, Chris “The Madness” Hall is one big, mean mother, not someone I would mess with even in a lit alley and I fear no man. Hall has always dreamed of being a professional wrestler since the time of watching his heroes, who include Arn Anderson, Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin and others from the more popular “Attitude Era” of the WWE. With the help of WAR Wrestling and many of the independents in the tri-state area Hall is living the dream he always wished for when watching wrestling on TV on Saturday.

Hall is on the main roster of WAR, Wrestling and Respect out of Lima, Ohio and always gives the proverbial 100% during his matches. Hall wrestles hard, smart and like a seasoned vet making every move mean something and telling a story while working his match, regardless of the opponent.

I met Chris Hall a few months ago and was amazed at the agility of such a big man and was also marking out for his match with Matt Mason that included a wicked gig mark on Hall’s forehead. Hall is an amazing worker and has an obvious desire to make it to either TNA or to New York and with his skill and ability, he has a chance and would do well if given the right gimmick and push.

Chris Hall is a mean looking, big, strong, tough mother but was kind enough to sit down with me for a quick interview before the big WAR “Free for All” coming up on June 26 in Lima, Ohio at the UAW Hall. Hall is quick witted, not short on answers or sharing how he feels and honest, one of the rarest traits you find in a worker in the professional wrestling world. I want to say many thanks to Chris Hall for taking time to do this interview and best of luck to you my friend in all that you do in the future.

Q. Your dream opponent would be?
A. That would be either Vader to learn everything a big man needs to know to make it or Chris Benoit, just an awesome worker and could learn a plethora of things from him.

Q. What is your best road story?
A. Well, they all involve bodily parts and functions and fart jokes, they are all better told in person.

Q. Who is someone you always like to watch wrestle?
A. I love to watch HHH wrestle, he has it all going right now and is the man in the business. Of course my boys and trainers The Irish Airborne, they like critiques and vice versa.

Q. As a promoter who would be in your money match?
A. Hmmm…I would have to say Eddie Guerrero v. Chris Benoit v. Kurt Angle, now that is a money maker.

Q. Do you think tag team wrestling is a lost art?
A. It is a lost art, you learn so much from tag wrestling that carries over into singles matches plus there is so much that can be done with a tag division.

Q. If you got the call from New York would you change your gimmick and to what?
A. Hell yes I would change my gimmick and to whatever they wanted as long as I fulfilled on the dreams from childhood.

Q. Do you think titles need to mean something again?
A. Yes, titles need to mean something again, what point is having a title if it is just used as a prop and means nothing? You need to make your top guy look awesome and make him the man to chase after or chase after the belt.

Q. You own a promotion, who are the first five workers you hire?
A. Dave and Jake Crist, Kurt Angle, Vader and Chris Benoit.

Q. What is the craziest match you have done?
A. Damn, that is a tough question, I would have to say probably the craziest match I have ever doen would have to be a tag team street fight involving myself and a partner and Brian Beech and his partner. We were in Norwood, Ohio for HWA, we kind of got carried away and broke some stuff but oh man, the crowd loved it.

Q. Do you prefer hardcore, traditional or a mix of the two for your own matches?
A. I prefer to do traditional style over hardcore but will do hardcore because with red comes green.

Q. Besides yourself, who is the best to ever step into the ring?
A. Damn, I can’t say there is just one because there have been so many greats over the years but in my opinion my top three are Nigel McGuiness, Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero.

Q. Who is your favorite opponent?
A. My favorite opponent, again not just one because there are a few but Jon Moxley, Richard Phillips and Dave and Jake Crist.

Q. If you could change one thing about the business, what would it be?
A. The amount of jokes that think they are in the business because they bought a pair of boots and a singlet and some tape. Get some training, learn to work and be dedicated and keep kayfabe, is that too much to ask?

Q. Does wrestling need a union?
A. I have never been in a union so I’m not sure what goes on but from what I have heard about them, no wrestling does not need one.

Q. What drew you into the business?
A. Actually I became interested in the business since I was little, like all I can remember is watching wrestling live on TV with my mother. The reason I started watching it and got hooked was because of her and saying this is awesome, that’s what I want to be when I grow up and here I am working my way to fulfilling my lifelong dream.

Q. Do you think heels and faces need to be clearly defined again?
A. I think hell and faces have to evolve with the times and being clearly defined is on the workers. You can either get over or you get hear and if you do that then you define yourself as the heel or face.

Q. In the annals of wrestling, what do you want to be said about you?
A. I want to be known as the second coming of Vader and become one of the best big men ever to be in the business.

Q. What decade, the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s or 00s do you think best defined wrestling?
A. Just like everything else wrestling has to evolve but the best decade as I only experienced the 80s and would it would have to be the late 80s and early 90s for me.

Q. Do you think internet PPVs would help indie promotions?
A. They would definitely help indie promotions as long as the young indie workers that are trying to make it and become noticed.

Q. What is one thing you want fans to know about you?
A. I want fans to know whether they love me or hate me that they are going to get what they paid for I always strive to be the best on the card.

Q. Have you ever had aspirations of trying MMA?
A. There have been thoughts of trying MMA I believe I could do pretty well with my amateur background. I just do not have the passion for MMA like I do for professional wrestling though.

Q. Do you think the proposed changes that a lot of state athletic commissions will help or hurt the sport?
A. The changes would definitely hurt wrestling, with the cost it would take for the promoters to run shows, many of the would be put out of business and that would take away from the places that we have to practice and master our craft. But it could be a good thing because the workers that need a license would be run out because they do not have the passion to get it…

Q. Who I someone you would not want to work again?
A. Nikita Allanov, if I did work him again it would not be a work.

Q. Do you think blading is a necessary evil in the sport?
A. Yes and no, if the gimmick is needed toward the end of a story line then yes. I would say no because a true worker can get over and tell the story without blading.

Q. Is the punishment you take worth the money you make?
A. Right now no, it is not worth the money but the love for what we do is enough and the fulfillment of a dream…in the end it will all be worth 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. I still watch wrestling and pop and mark out every now and then but I mostly like to watch and observe and learn.

Q. Is there any match you would refuse to do?
A. As long as the money is right, nope!

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. If you can find a woman that is bigger than I am, maybe Awesome Kong, then I wouldn’t have a problem as long as it made sense and we were both put over.

Q. How big of an impact do all the recent deaths of the boys have on the business?
A. All the recent deaths have definitely changed how the business is see and some promoters have changed the way they run their shows and you can tell by watching them.

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. As long as steroids are taken responsibly they are the healthiest supplement anyone can take. The thing that gives them a bad name is when they are abused, that is when all the harmful side effect begin to come about so if taken responsibly they are amazing.

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. Back during the Monday Night Wars there were three places that were the slingshot for making it with the WWE being the powerhouse. Now there is really only one place to make it and that is the WWE. TNA could be the WCW of old if things were changed and they did not worry about competing right now and just continued to innovate the business. As long as TNA tries to compete and bring in the vets and legends there is no room for the new talent to get that slingshot.

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. If wrestling were easy everyone would do it so it totally takes a certain kind of person to wrestle. Yes, it takes an addictive, a good kind of addictive personality and someone that is determined to put in a lot of time and sacrifice and not just make wrestling a hobby. That is what is wrong with a lot of the indies, people see it as a hobby and do not want it as a career. It is bull if you do not have your whole heart in it the get out.

Q. What kind of pre-match ritual do you have before you go through the curtain?
A. Pretty much the same when I played football and wrestled in college, go over everything in my head, throw on my music and get into the madness mode while lacing up my boots, getting a pump on and taping up.

Q. Do you find yourself giving 100% no matter if there are 25 people in the crowd or 2500?
A. Always strive to be the best on the card no matter what the draw is.

Q. Do you ever practice cutting a promo in front of a mirror?
A. Yes, that is the best place to do it, the facials and everything are right there and to see first hand what you need to do and work on it if need be.

Q. How do you define yourself as a pro wrestler?
A. I define myself as someone who loves this business and will strive to do what it takes to make it to the big dance. I have sacrificed and dedicated time to this business and love every minute of it.

Q. What is the weirdest thing you have had happen while in the ring?
A. I had my opponents partner crap himself and tag out, run to the back, wipe his ass and change his gear and then come back and finish the match. (Editors note: Of all the times I have asked this question, this is hands down the winner!)

Q. Fans either love you or hate you, what has been your worst experience with a fan?
A. I got so much heat from a family of bikers in Southern Ohio for making fun of the daughter that the dad, uncle and granddad (Editor’s Note: Were they all the same person?) all waited outside after the show and I had to wait until they left to exit the building. Talk about cheap easy heat (laughs).

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. Triple H during the Attitude Era, ‘nuff said.

Q. What move do you think is overused and just does not get over now, like the carotid clutch in the 70s?
A. The Chokeslam

To read more of Jerry Wiseman’s interviews, news, and thoughts on the sport of pro wrestling, check out all of his articles at Examiner.com.