Trent Acid interview
by Joshua Shibata
At EPIC's inaugural show, International Collision,
Joshua Shibata had the opportunity to sit down and interview the
CZW/BJW Junior Heavyweight Champion and CZW Best of the Best
2 winner, Trent Acid. Acid talked about how he got into wrestling,
wrestling in Combat Zone Wrestling, wrestling in Big Japan, New
Jack's role in his wrestling training, and much more. Speaking
of New Jack, New Jack makes a cameo apperance in this interview
and makes his presence felt.
First, I want to thank all the hard working people
at EPIC for giving me the opportunity to go back stage and interview
the wrestlers, and I hope I didn't cause too many distractions
to what you guys were doing. I especially want to thank Gary,
Marc, Paul T (my yellow brother) and Lazie for just being the
nicest of people to me and making this show very memorable.
Joshua Shibata: Alright, this is Joshua Shibata
and I am here with...
Trent Acid: Yea, this is Joshua Shibata…
Joshua Shibata: And I'm here with the Best
of the Best 2 winner, Trent Acid.
Trent Acid: And I would have been the winner
of the Best of the Best 1 if it wasn't for my OWN tag team partner,
Johnny Kashmere, who screwed me over wrestling as the Winger.
But I think I gained my revenge by proving to the CZW world that
I am the best of the best last week.
Josh: Alright, calm down there Trent.
Trent is handed cigarettes from two people.
Josh: Damn. You're getting cigs left and
right. Alright, what made you want to become a wrestler?
Trent: I love everything about it, man. The
whole sport, traveling, entertaining and meeting new people. That
is what I am all about. I've been a born entertainer all my life.
My grandma started taking me to shows when I was 4 years old.
Josh: Your grandma was into wrestling?
Trent: My grandma took me to the Civic Center.
We watched NWA every week or every other week whenever they would
run. We saw Nikita Koloff, Magnum TA, all that good shit. I don't
know if we're not supposed to curse but I don't care. Since we
are speaking the truth here, we're "shooting". My grandma
took me when I was four and I have been watching ever since. Ever
since my grandma died, my career has escalated a little bit so
I think I have an angel on my shoulder.
Josh: That's great. So how did the Trent
Acid gimmick come about?
Trent: Well believe it or not, the funny
story is, no matter what anyone tells you, the reason why [the
name] "Trent" was picked was because it was one of the
100 most popular names for males. And I was skimming through a
magazine at the time in 1994 and I was thinking, well my real
name, and I wont tell you what it is but it is the most popular
name for males…
Josh: Michael.
Trent: OK. You can think its Michael. It
may be Michael. It may be Wilbur. It may be Billy. It may be…
I don't know. Anyway, it was the 100th most popular name for males.
As for Acid, well, I would rather keep that on the DL, you know
what I mean? I thought it was catchy.
Josh: Sure. We'll let our readers decide
why you picked that name.
Trent: Yea. Let them decide.
Josh: Now your career escalated when you
were teamed up with Johnny Kashmere and became one half of the
Backseat Boys. How did that gimmick come about?
Trent: Well, what happened is, everybody
loves the backseat, and a lot of actions happen in the backseat,
and I happen to believe I provide a lot of actions for the fans
and for any of the female fans that want to get involved. Anyways,
the Backseat Boys came about when I was with Johnny Kashmere,
who I have wrestled previously for three and half years. I met
him and the Wifebeater and also Nick Berk. Heard of him? We were
all training at the same gym and there was a promoter/co-booker
of the NWA New Jersey, Donnie B., who thought it would be a good
idea to put two good looking guys together like me and Johnny
Kashmere, and it worked pretty well. Only because me and Johnny
were put together all the time on the Indy shows…
New Jack makes his presence known.
New Jack: Who is this [interview] for?
Josh: SoCal Uncensored?
New Jack: Who?
Josh: SoCal Uncensored.
Trent: It's a shoot.
New Jack: Who are you talking about?
Trent: About myself. I'm talking about myself.
New Jack: This is my buddy [Trent] right?
And whatever he says is true. If he said I fucked a goat, I did.
But I was drunk, and the goat had lipstick on so I thought the
bitch was pretty.
Trent: And the thing about training, this
is the guy who taught me the most devastating punch in wrestling.
New Jack: That's right because all I know
is the punch. And those of you who believe that, you're out of
your motherfucking mind. I will work rings around your ass, but
I don't get paid for that kind of shit. I get paid to beat motherfuckers
to death. But if you beat me up, I will SHOOT YOU! I'm licensed
to carry a gun and I will shoot the shit out of you! All you motherfucking
bitches! I ain't going to be no bitch!
Trent: That man right there is New Jack.
He is the man. He taught me the art of wrestling and how to make
it look real. Actually, a true story real quick because this is
a shoot, I broke my arm five years ago in a gym and everyone thought
that I wasn't even hurt but [New Jack] knew it right away and
he rode with me in my car with my mother to the hospital.
New Jack: Yea. We got a history. And look,
them two girls in Philly that are pregnant, and they let me and
him put it in. But that wasn't us man. We pulled it out. We pulled
it out! That ain't our babies! We pulled it out and shot them
on the chin!
Josh: Now when CZW...
New Jack: Hold on. Don't move on without
me. I got a whole lot of babies. Counting my babies is like playing
a game of spades. I got three and four possible. Alright, I'm
gone.
Trent: Naw, thanks New Jack. Thanks Jack.
Josh: Wise words from New Jack.
Trent: Yep, a wise man couldn't have said
it better.
Josh: Alright, when CZW started a lot of
people were putting it down as an ECW rip off…
Trent: Hey, considering this is a shoot,
I'm going to shoot on everybody. Considering I got New Jack here,
he's got my back. I got Sabu and Jerry Lynn. I got a lot of support
so I'm going to shoot. Its bullshit. A lot of people talking shit
about CZW saying that its hardcore crap. Well, they said the same
thing about ECW when it started, yet it changed the history of
wrestling. I don't care what anybody says but ECW changed the
face of wrestling, everybody knows it, and it became the biggest
threat to everybody. CZW is just something a whole group of guys,
from all over the world, compete and work really hard. You want
to talk about the best locker room, the nicest guys, guys who
take pride in their work. There are no guys with vices, no drug
addicts, no idiots that get caught up in all the gaga that goes
with it, there are just guys who are athletes working together
in a TRUE company and that is why it succeeds, because everybody
is good peoples. That is the best way I can put it. There are
a lot of people who are jealous and a lot of people are bitter
because they can't do it. But hey, they can't cut the mustard
because it is the best in the Indies.
Messiah stops by.
Trent: That's why I am there and that's why
people like the Messiah are there.
Messiah: Yea!
Trent: Yea, Messiah is here.
Messiah: In my under-roos!
Trent: And that is why we are here, because
it is the best ever and I really believe it is the best in the
Independents and I'm sure anybody that is reading this will see
that all the hard work we put into it and all the dedication.
They are all young and hungry guys and I can't say enough good
things about them.
Josh: Is this the first time you have wrestled
in Los Angeles?
Trent: This is my first time wrestling in
California. I have been to the West Indies in Trinidad, I've been
to Alaska, and I've been to Japan eleven times. As you know I'm
the Big Japan Junior Heavyweight Champion and speaking of which,
I have been the champion for a while which is a pretty good long
time for an American to hold a Japanese title. I have defended
[the Big Japan Junior Heavyweight Title] all over America. Up
and down the East Coast. Anyplace you can say, I have been there.
I have been with CZW for the last 2 1/2 years because it's the
best and [CZW] has given me the best opportunity to travel and
learn. To become a wiser person and a better wrestler.
Josh: With your experience in Japan, do you
feel that the Japanese fans are different from American fans?
Trent: The American fans are a lot different,
especially in CZW. I believe that the fans are VERY SPOILED!
Josh: Spoiled?
Trent: I think that very bitterly. If bitterly
isn't a word, well it will be now. They are very spoiled and they
make you work very hard. A lot different from other crowds that
I have wrestled in front of. The Japan crowd, they respect the
sport more. Some of the stuff I do in America I can't get away
with in Japan and vice versa. Its two different culture shocks
and the people look at it differently in America than they do
in Japan. It's hard to explain unless you actually go. A lot of
people I notice in the Indies want to be "Japanese style"
wrestlers. Stiff, strong style wrestlers. Yet, they don't know
what stiff and strong style is because they have never been [to
Japan]. Its one thing when people go around and say, "I'm
stiff, I'm strong, I'm a Japanese style wrestler". But they
have nothing because they have never even been to Japan. It's
a whole different ball game once you go and wrestle and experience
it for yourself, than to just say I do it. I see it all the time
when people talk about Japan, "Oh I studied tapes. I know
this, I know that!" What do they know? They weren't even
there. You can watch as many tapes as you want but you'll NEVER,
in anything in life, WILL NEVER EVER learn anything unless you
experience it for yourself.
Josh: So then I take it your experience in
Japan was great?
Trent: Wrestling in Japan was great. I got
a chance to work with some great people: Kanemura, the Winger,
who I've become good friends with…
Josh: Men's Teioh.
Trent: Yea, I did have a few matches with
him that went very well. It was funny when I first wrestled Men's
Teioh. I was under the impression that he was a different style
wrestler. So, I went into the match thinking a little differently
than I probably should've, so I underestimated the guy and he
beat me the first time we met. It was a good experience I have
to say.
Josh: And you don't speak a lot of Japanese.
Trent: Sukoshi.
Josh: Right, sukoshi. So does that make it
hard when you wrestle someone who speaks a different language?
Trent: Well wrestling is universal and when
you wrestle, there are just some things when you are trained PROPERLY,
and I stress that. When you are trained properly and know what
to do, wrestling is universal. You can communicate with guys in
different ways. Of course you learn some things more along the
way and there are some things you can and can't do to the extent
of the language barrier but other than that, we decided to pull
it off. Of course, the more you go [to Japan], the more you adapt
and you learn guy's styles. THEN, you watch tapes and THEN you
see what's going out there. Its like I said, it's a whole different
world out there. Unless you go there, people, unless you go, anyone
can be any Japanese superstar you want. I am a Japanese superstar.
I have a title to prove it. I've been in magazines, and I've been
there 11 times. SO, I can say I am a JAPANESE style wrestler.
Josh: Do you think CZW is going to be…
Trent: Hey, this is a long interview. Am
I getting paid for this?
Josh: No.
Trent: Shit.
Josh: I'm sorry.
Trent: That's OK.
Josh: Anyway, do you think CZW may become
the next big thing to compete with the WWE?
Trent: I believe, it's not a competitor,
because you just cannot touch Vince McMahon. The guy's a genius.
Anyone can say anything about him, but as far as Independent wrestling
and making good money and giving guys a good place to work and
getting good exposure to elevate them to the next level, then
yes. I do believe CZW is in the best position of anyplace, anywhere,
that you can get a chance. It is a threat to a lot of people because
it's new and there are a lot of young guys that no one has ever
heard of. Yea, they talk about their weedwackers and their hardcore
shit but hey, we are living in the year 2002 and we got to keep
inventing stuff. Hey, I never experienced getting hit with a weedwacker
because that's not my style. But, there are a lot of great wrestlers
and it sucks that a lot of bitter idiots put a bad reputation
on CZW just because of some things. They ignore all of the talent
that is there. You want to talk about great people with some class,
the real human beings that are very good at what they do. That's
why they excel. That is why all the fans choose CZW as the best
of the Indies. That is why I choose CZW as the best Indy out there.
Hey, I don't attach myself to shit. While out here in the Independents
for however long, for whatever, for as long as CZW is around,
I'm going to do my best to help and get the name out there. I'm
going to work my hardest to my ability and make my name as well.
Josh: Five years from now, where would you
like to see Trent Acid?
Trent: Realistically, why did I get into
wrestling? Who did I tell you earlier that I was watching? I was
watching WWF and NWA. Now, if there is any wrestler out there
who tells you differently, I will Yakuza Kick them myself. It
will be foolish to say, "No, I don't want to go to the WWE.
That's not my goal". But yes, that is my goal.
Messiah: You guys are still out here?
Trent: Yes, I'm still out here, Messiah.
That is a goal of mine and I would love to see myself [in the
WWE] in a couple of years. But hey, that's just the way life works
out. If I'm not meant to be on TV every week for the WWE, then
that is not what I am meant to do in my life, and Trent Acid moves
on and conquers something else. I'm 21 years old and I have to
say since I was 14 when I started, I've been to Japan, went all
around the world, won titles, got good exposure, and made really
good money. So far, the wresting business has been really good
to me. I'm not bitter. Once I do get bitter, then maybe it will
be time for me to leave. But I'm here for the long run unless,
God forbid, something bad happens to me, but I don't think B-Boy
would like that to happen.
B-Boy is staring at Trent with a look of shock.
B-Boy: Not Trent!
Josh: Thanks Trent.
Trent: Don't mention it.