Interview With Bill Bain of Championship Pro Wrestling
Interviewed by Ben Tatar of CriticalBench.com - April 2009

Critical Bench: Critical Bench is here with pro wrestler from the Indies federation, Bill Bain. Bill, welcome to Critical Bench, I am interested in stepping into a mind of a pro wrestler. Before we get started, tell us about yourself.

I'm a 27 year old guy, who's big into physical fitness and wrestling. Just an average guy more or less trying to have some fun in life while accomplishing goals I set for myself.

Critical Bench: Bill, what got you into pro wrestling?

Growing up I was a huge wrestling fan, if it was on TV I was watching it. As I grew older I used to tell everyone I was going to be a pro wrestler one day, and most people just would smile and let me go on thinking that's what I was going to do. Most kids want to be something they have a small chance at becoming like a NFL Star or whatever. I was just lucky enough to get myself into wrestling and now at my 10 year high school reunion I can go back and show everyone that the skinny, pimply faced kid who told everyone he was going to be a pro wrestler one day actually is. While it's not how I make my living, I can say that I treat pro wrestling like I treat my real job.

Critical Bench: Now that you are a pro wrestler, what do you really enjoy about being a pro wrestler?

I enjoy performing in front of the fans, getting a reaction, whether boos or cheers, it's good to know that people are into what they are seeing.

Critical Bench: What was your childhood like?

I was a pretty normal kid growing up, I spent a lot of time playing sports. Almost every year through high school I played baseball, football or basketball. The rest of my time I spent hanging out with friends and just being a kid.

Critical Bench: What is your weight lifting routine like?

Right now I'm on a 4 day split (Monday - Back, Tuesday - Chest/Shoulders, Thursday - Legs, Friday - Arms, and 20-30 minutes of cardio post workout) It took me a long time to understand the importance of dieting and working out. In fact my first 2 years wrestling I barely went to the gym at all and when I did go I had no clue what I was to do in there. Thankfully I educated myself on how to work out and how to diet.

Critical Bench: What is the best part about being a pro wrestler and what is the hardest part?

The best part of wrestling is being able to do something that I love. The hardest part is definitely balancing wrestling with all of life's other chores. For me wrestling isn't just the 10-20 minutes spent in the ring on the weekends. It's the hours in the gym, the dieting and the time spent traveling. It's hard, but it's rewarding... when you hear positive feedback, or accomplish goals, it makes all of the sacrifices worth it.

Critical Bench: What drives you to be a pro wrestler year round?

It's the love for the wrestling business. When you decide to be a pro wrestler, I think you have to set some type of goals for yourself, otherwise what do you really have to push yourself? That's what drives me in wrestling, I set goals for myself and I want to meet them, otherwise I don't feel completely satisfied.

Critical Bench: So far in your pro wrestling journey, what has been your favorite, funniest, craziest, and most powerful moments?

Wow, there are a lot of things to choose from. I'll just throw what is probably the craziest out there that I can think of. I was traveling with a fellow wrestler and a mutual friend of ours to Tennessee for a show a few years ago. We ended up getting down to Columbia, Tennessee where we were scheduled to wrestle, but we were unable to find the building. So we stopped and asked some people if they knew where the wrestling show was that night, little did we know there were 2 shows in town apparently and everyone kept directing us to the wrong building. We finally find where we are supposed to wrestle, go inside and talk to the promoter... well the guy at the door has no clue who we are, and said the promoter shows up sometimes around intermission if we wanted to stick around and talk to him. Obviously after an 11 hour drive we aren't going to take that for an answer, so I get the bright idea of going over to the other show and telling them our plight to see if they would maybe use us. After talking to the promoter, he was willing to use us on the show in a singles match. We go out and do our match, however during the match I made a lot of civil war references since I'm from Maryland. Apparently the civil war is still going on to some of the people down there, as they took offense to it. At intermission of the show we tried to get into our car to leave, and the promoter stops us to explain that we can't leave yet. Confused by this we ask what's going on... and he explains that there are people outside that have knives and want to stab me for my references of the North beating the South in the Civil War..... those are the types of fans that make wrestling interesting.

Critical Bench: What is the favorite thing about yourself? What makes you happy and what makes you tick?

I think my favorite thing is my ability to set goals for myself and do almost everything in my power to achieve them. As far as making me tick... I'm a pretty laid back guy, just kind of go with the flow for the most part.

Critical Bench: What do you enjoy doing away from pro wrestling?

I enjoy working out and spending time around my house.

Critical Bench: What adversities have you had to overcome?

I've been lucky to say I haven't encountered many adversities when it comes to wrestling. Independent wrestling is one of the few places that almost always when a door closes another one opens up.

Critical Bench: What makes you different from everyone else?

I'm not sure that there is one thing that makes me different from everyone else. I know of a lot of people that work hard like I do, I know a lot of people that take wrestling as seriously as I do.

Critical Bench: What are your 5 biggest pointers for anyone who would like to become a pro wrestler?

1. Get a good education and have a good job. You aren't going to make a million dollars on the Indies. You need to be willing to sacrifice a lot of your own money and time.



2. Find a good training center/trainer. Search around your area and see what's available, even if you have to travel a bit, do that. Don't think because you watch RAW every Monday that you know what you're doing.



3. Get in shape. I'm not saying every person has to be 6'5'' 275lbs, nor does everyone have to be ripped to the bone. But at least make yourself appear credible... hit the gym, tan. Make yourself look believable to people that are buying a ticket.



4. Get ring gear. Wearing jeans and a t-shirt is not wrestling gear. There are tons and tons of people who make wrestling gear out there, and it's a bit pricey, but owning it will help you look like you belong. You don't have to show up to wrestling school on your first day with boots and tights, but planning to buy it before you start on shows is important.



5. Once in wrestling, you never stop learning. I've been fortunate enough to be in the ring with some current and former TV stars, as well as some long time vets in wrestling and I always listen to any advice given to me. Just because you completed training school does not mean you've learned everything there is to learn. I would be willing to bet that the best guys you are watching on TV today are still learning from their own mistakes and taking advice from others.

Critical Bench: What is the best and worst advice you were ever given?

Best advice would have to be the fact that you never stop learning because it's so true. I can't think of any really bad advice I've been given, I try to take it all with a grain of salt and chalk bad things up to learning experience.

Critical Bench: What supplements do you take?

Whey Protein, Multi-Vitamin, Fish Oil are my main supplements.

Critical Bench: Who do you think are the 5 best pro wrestlers ever and why?

Wow... this is going to be a difficult question to answer....

1. Shawn Michaels - Have you ever seen a bad Shawn Michaels match? He brings his A game every time out.



2. Ric Flair - Again, he's just one of those guys that can have a great match with a broomstick



3. Triple H - Not to keep repeating myself but... he doesn't have bad matches, and everything he does is pinpoint.



4. The Undertaker - You don't stay on top in the biggest company in the industry for almost 20 years on accident.



5. Chris Benoit - Despite the awful things that happened with him and his family. His work rate cannot be denied.

Critical Bench: If you could face any man in the world and main event against anyone at WrestleMania during any point in time who would you pick and why? Who would be your second choice?

There are so many answers to this question, I don't think there's any way I could narrow it down to just 2 people.

Critical Bench: How do you see the future of wrestling? Do you like the direction that it is going?

I think wrestling has a bright future, as usual it's slowed down with fan base over the last few years, but it's due for a boom anytime now.

Critical Bench: When you are finished with your wrestling journey how would you like to be remembered?

I would like to be remembered as someone who had a passion and drive for wrestling. Someone who wanted to give the fans his best every time he stepped through the curtain.

Critical Bench: Do you like the gig that you are given in pro wrestling? If you could change it in anyway, how would you change it?

I enjoy being an Indy wrestler, if I could change what I do, it would have to be getting a job with the WWE. If the question is based just on my independent career, then I wouldn't change what I do. I show up, do what's asked of me and go home...

Critical Bench: Do you enjoy being a good guy face more or bad guy heel?

Definitely a heel, it just comes more natural to me. I've been told I have the look of someone that you want to hate, I don't know if that's a good thing or not. I've been working on a new character. that is going to make people hate me a whole lot more than they do now!

Critical Bench: Bill, do you have any comments to the people who support you? What about the people who boo you?

Whether you like me, love me, or hate me, thanks for supporting me, and wrestling in general. Without fans there would be no wrestling.

CRITICAL BENCH: It has been a pleasure. In closing who would you like to thank?

Thank you for the interview. I'd like to thank my family and my wife for supporting me through all of the crazy times. I hope the best is yet to come.

If you're interested in following my career you can see my schedule and all other information at www. myspace. com/omwbillbain

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