Here is our exclusive interview with RWA star Azazel. Azazel is a former two-time RWA tag team champion and a former RWA Next Level Champion.
Thank you for taking the time to do this interview with us.
No problem, thanks for having me.
Can you tell us when you first gained an interest in professional wrestling and which wrestlers were you a fan of at that time?
I was exposed to professional wrestling at a very young age, around 3, but I was until I was 10 that I began to follow it seriously. From the beginning, my favourites were The Undertaker and Kane.
Was there a particular moment that inspired you to want to become a pro wrestler?
For as long as I've been a fan of wrestling, I've wanted to become a wrestler, but I remember watching Triple H's 'Thy Kingdom Come' DVD from 2013 and something about his journey through wrestling inspired me to actively seek out a wrestling school and start training.
You train under Andy Baker at RWA. Can you tell us how you found RWA and when you started training there?
A friend of mine recommended RWA to me in 2013 and I looked it up on Facebook. I then started training in January 2014.
There have been several guest trainers at RWA including names such as Dr. Tom Prichard, Dave Taylor and Rip Rogers. How valuable of an experience is it for you to learn from these men and what differences or similarities are there in each of their training methods?
It's always an honour to be able to directly learn from people like those you mentioned, and every time they come to RWA, there's always something new to take from them. The biggest similarity I find with them all is about working smarter and thinking about what you do in the ring—everything has a purpose.
When did you make your debut and what are your memories of that match and show?
I remember debuting for RWA in July 2014 in a Battle Royal. Unfortunately, I wasn't victorious, but looking back, I've definitely come a long way since then.
You're a former RWA tag team champion as well as a former Next Level Champion. Can we expect to see Azazel as the RWA Heavyweight Champion at some stage in the near future?
Well, the Rumble in Runcorn match itself is for the RWA Heavyweight Championship. Who knows what will happen in that kind of chaotic environment, but I know there's no one more hungry for that title right now than me.
In less than two weeks, you'll be a part of the Rumble in Runcorn event for RWA. What can we expect from Azazel on that show?
Aside from the competing in the Rumble match, I'll also be accompanying the newly-crowned RWA Women's Champion, Alexxis Falcon, to ringside, and when we're together, there's always something wicked to be expected.
Are there any matches that you've had so far in your career that stick out in your mind above any others?
A couple of matches from this year spring to mind: one was against Tommy Hayden back in May (which Dr Tom was there to see in person) and the other was versus Connor "The Bullet" Stafford for the RWA Heavyweight Championship back in August.
As mentioned earlier, you've trained under some legendary names in professional wrestling. What has been the best piece of advice that you've been given so far in your career?
One thing that both Dr Tom and Rip Rogers have emphasised is believing in yourself and perseverance; if you believe you can do something, then you will do it.
Aside from Rumble in Runcorn, are there any other upcoming events where fans can go to see you in the coming weeks?
I will also be competing at Wrestle Island on 3 December, at the Birkenhead Youth Club. They are beginning a tournament to crown their inaugural tag team champions, something which I have my sights set on.
Lastly, if you could name one person who has had the biggest impact on you both in and out of the ring, who would you name?
If I had to name one, then I would say The Undertaker. He has been my greatest inspiration in wrestling, but out of the ring he is defined by his respect, and I believe that being respectful to people is one of the most important things you can be.
Thanks again for your time, Azazel.
Thank you for conducting this interview with me, it was my pleasure.
Once again I'd like to thank Azazel for allowing us to conduct this interview with him. A huge thanks as well to Alexxis Falcon for helping us in getting this set up. There seems to be something very special going on at the moment with RWA and we hope to bring you more interviews with RWA wrestlers in the very near future!
Darren Dyer
Thank you for taking the time to do this interview with us.
No problem, thanks for having me.
Can you tell us when you first gained an interest in professional wrestling and which wrestlers were you a fan of at that time?
I was exposed to professional wrestling at a very young age, around 3, but I was until I was 10 that I began to follow it seriously. From the beginning, my favourites were The Undertaker and Kane.
Was there a particular moment that inspired you to want to become a pro wrestler?
For as long as I've been a fan of wrestling, I've wanted to become a wrestler, but I remember watching Triple H's 'Thy Kingdom Come' DVD from 2013 and something about his journey through wrestling inspired me to actively seek out a wrestling school and start training.
You train under Andy Baker at RWA. Can you tell us how you found RWA and when you started training there?
A friend of mine recommended RWA to me in 2013 and I looked it up on Facebook. I then started training in January 2014.
There have been several guest trainers at RWA including names such as Dr. Tom Prichard, Dave Taylor and Rip Rogers. How valuable of an experience is it for you to learn from these men and what differences or similarities are there in each of their training methods?
It's always an honour to be able to directly learn from people like those you mentioned, and every time they come to RWA, there's always something new to take from them. The biggest similarity I find with them all is about working smarter and thinking about what you do in the ring—everything has a purpose.
When did you make your debut and what are your memories of that match and show?
I remember debuting for RWA in July 2014 in a Battle Royal. Unfortunately, I wasn't victorious, but looking back, I've definitely come a long way since then.
You're a former RWA tag team champion as well as a former Next Level Champion. Can we expect to see Azazel as the RWA Heavyweight Champion at some stage in the near future?
Well, the Rumble in Runcorn match itself is for the RWA Heavyweight Championship. Who knows what will happen in that kind of chaotic environment, but I know there's no one more hungry for that title right now than me.
In less than two weeks, you'll be a part of the Rumble in Runcorn event for RWA. What can we expect from Azazel on that show?
Aside from the competing in the Rumble match, I'll also be accompanying the newly-crowned RWA Women's Champion, Alexxis Falcon, to ringside, and when we're together, there's always something wicked to be expected.
Are there any matches that you've had so far in your career that stick out in your mind above any others?
A couple of matches from this year spring to mind: one was against Tommy Hayden back in May (which Dr Tom was there to see in person) and the other was versus Connor "The Bullet" Stafford for the RWA Heavyweight Championship back in August.
As mentioned earlier, you've trained under some legendary names in professional wrestling. What has been the best piece of advice that you've been given so far in your career?
One thing that both Dr Tom and Rip Rogers have emphasised is believing in yourself and perseverance; if you believe you can do something, then you will do it.
Aside from Rumble in Runcorn, are there any other upcoming events where fans can go to see you in the coming weeks?
I will also be competing at Wrestle Island on 3 December, at the Birkenhead Youth Club. They are beginning a tournament to crown their inaugural tag team champions, something which I have my sights set on.
Lastly, if you could name one person who has had the biggest impact on you both in and out of the ring, who would you name?
If I had to name one, then I would say The Undertaker. He has been my greatest inspiration in wrestling, but out of the ring he is defined by his respect, and I believe that being respectful to people is one of the most important things you can be.
Thanks again for your time, Azazel.
Thank you for conducting this interview with me, it was my pleasure.
Once again I'd like to thank Azazel for allowing us to conduct this interview with him. A huge thanks as well to Alexxis Falcon for helping us in getting this set up. There seems to be something very special going on at the moment with RWA and we hope to bring you more interviews with RWA wrestlers in the very near future!
Darren Dyer