Interview With 'The Metro-Sexual' Danny Devine

Courtesy of Oliver Newman:

ON: Hey Danny, thanks for taking the time out for this interview.

DD: Not a problem man.

ON: Can you give the first time readers a little background knowledge on yourself?

DD: I first started training for a life in wrestling back in 2001 but after a few months of training I suffered a back injury and decided quit while I was ahead. In 2003 I decided I would give it another try and rejoined the training at K-Star wrestling's training facility in Birmingham. I was trained there by Mad dog Maxx and Sal Americana and made my debut in October 2003. From there I worked for a number of promotions around the UK like Future Championship Wrestling, OPWO, WAR and TBW.

In October 2005 I went to train with Lance Storm in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Unfortunately during training (a lot of it was down to the affect the long flight had on my already stiff back nothing to do with how the training was done). I was in agony and learnt that I had a trapped nerve in my lower back so I had one more match and called it quits....Until September 2007, I was physically better and mentally ready with a lot more confidence in myself and my ability and decided to return with a new gimmick "The Metro-Sexual" (which is catching on fast) and a new attitude to enjoy it. I'm now working for a number of UK promotions including AWW and FCW.

ON: Can you talk the readers through a typical day of training at K-Star's wrestling academy?

DD: Cardio firstly followed by stretches and then bumps. Then we would be taken through moves and then left to go and practice them. We worked on ring psychology and how to plan a match and then performed matches in the gym ring for the other wrestlers, before ending the day in a big tag match.

ON: Thoughts on your first match vs. Sal Americana?

DD: I was very nervous to start with, I used to suffer a lot with my nerves and confidence so this was really taking its toll on me waiting behind the curtain. I didn't really know what to do as in reference to the fans as it was my first match and I was nervous. We had a really a good match and the crowd took to me, it flowed well, we had great chemistry together and I'm really proud of that match.

ON: Thoughts on Mad Dog Maxx & Sal Americana as trainers and as people?

DD: Unfortunately Sal doesn't wrestle anymore which is a real shame as he was a great performer. Mad dog is also a great performer and has gone from strength to strength in the UK scene and has always had the knack of re-inventing his character so he stays fresh with the fans. I thank them for what they taught me and I have a lot of respect for them both.

ON: Was their a defining moment/match when you thought I want to be a Professional Wrestler?

DD: The first time I saw Bret Hart I thought he was so cool and I wanted to be like him, but the match that did it for me was The Intercontinental Championship match at Summerslam '91 Bret Hart vs. Mr Perfect. It blew my mind and that was when I thought that's what I want to do.

ON: Can you tell the readers what it was like to train with Lance Storm?

DD: Awesome! I went there thinking "I have been wrestling a few years I will impress him" but in reality he taught me more in 2 weeks than I had learnt in 2 years. He is a great trainer and a great person, I met some cool people there and I respect Lance so much. If anyone wants to go anywhere and train go to the Storm Academy in Calgary.

ON: Your thoughts on the K-Star Wrestling as a company?

DD: K-star has come on leaps and bounds over the past few years, Staxx and Carl have done a very good job there. It had its ups and downs with a lot of guys jockeying for position at the top but I enjoyed it there. I made some good friends and I learnt a lot from KSW and I won't forget that they gave me my first start in the business.

ON: Who came up with the nickname the "Metro-Sexual", and is there a story behind it?

DD: I always wanted to do and arrogant, egotistical character who thinks that he his better than everyone else and one day I was reading an article in the newspaper about "Metro-Sexuals" and when I read what one actually was I thought that's what I'm going to use as my gimmick. I used my favourite villains from Mr Perfect, Rick Martel, Shawn Michaels to create the Deodorant spraying, Mirror checking, leopard fur and tassel wearing arrogant bastard you see out there.

ON: Thoughts on AWW and working for them?

DD: When I was wrestling back in 2004/2005 AWW was one of the places I wanted to work, So when I got my chance to wrestle for AWW last year I was over the moon. I'm thankful that they gave me a shot and I have had some terrifically enjoyable matches with the likes of BBS, Dan Ryder and an awesome feud with Marcus Kool which ended in what I think is the best match that I have been involved in so far at Aston University in a 2 out of 3 falls match. AWW has worked very hard and grown into one of the best promotions in the UK and I believe will continue to do so.

ON: Thoughts on AWW feud vs. British Born Steele?

DD: Me and BBS go way back, it was a pleasure to have had the series of matches that we had together. I think if we were given another chance down the line to be involved in a program we would not disappoint.

Match 1 vs. BBS: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3359749290117159009&hl=en

Match 2 vs. BBS:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-34745194370412784&hl=en

ON: Thoughts on AWW feud vs. Marcus Kool?

DD: Marcus and I go way back as trainees together at KSW we became really good friends and had some great matches together in 2005. With our feud in AWW we took it to the next level and had some classic matches (the finest being the 2 out of 3 falls match at Aston University) that ended the feud. I put it as the best match I have ever had and a lot of is due to the great chemistry we have together, Marcus is one of the best talents in the UK and always a pleasure to work with.

ON: Thoughts on teaming with Dan Ryder and Miss Ryder in '3-Some' ?

DD: What started off as me and Dan just joking around throwing ideas back and forth, has become a monster! It worked and it became popular everywhere we did it. It was basically me, Dan and Miss Ryder just having a laugh being ourselves and enjoying what we were doing. But mark my words 3SOME have not gone away for good they will return.

ON: Thoughts on working for Power Trip Wrestling?

DD: I enjoyed working for PTW, they gave us the freedom to give 3-SOME a try and let us run with it, it's unfortunate that it has had some bad press in recent months.

ON: Thoughts on working for Real Deal Wrestling?

DD: Again it was another place that gave us the chance to showcase 3SOME, but we weren't able to show what we were truly capable of.

3Some vs. Chemical Brothers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw7mLLncGfk

ON: Thoughts on the tag team match with Mr. Valentino vs. Dan Ryder and Marcus Kool at LWL's Halloween Horror show?

DD: Now that was a night when everything clicked into place. Tracey Smothers pulled in the punters that night but we stole the show. Unfortunately no one recorded it so that one is lost forever.

ON: Thoughts on working for Legends Wrestling League?

DD: I thank them for giving me a place to work when I came out of retirement and gave me the chance to work with guys like Ryder, Kool, Mat Mensa and I enjoyed what I have done there.

ON: Thoughts on ex Anti-Watershed Wrestling now Alternative Wrestling World's Television deal?

DD: I think it's great for all of British Wrestling in general. TV is what has been missing from the UK scene for years. it gives us UK guys something realistic to aim for plus the exposure that pro wrestling in the UK will then get on TV will make people who don't know about UK wrestling come out of the wood work to watch their local promotions. Everyone's a winner!

ON: Thoughts on Dan Ryder tag team partner and sometimes opponent?

DD: Dan Ryder is awesome. We have become real good friends and he is one of the best I have been in the ring with, a lot of people only see one side to him though which is a shame. They see the no fear death defying high-flyer but there is so much more to his game, his technical wrestling has improved 100% but he rarely shows this side of his skills due to Dan always giving the fans what they paid to see. Whether he is in my corner and has my back or we are in there face to face we always have fun and can put on a show.

Match vs. Dan Ryder:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3384466793021563550&hl=en

ON: Thoughts on working for Future Championship Wrestling?

DD: It's really good to be back working for FCW. It's always good to see old friends and make new ones. I have had a good series of matches with Laken Xander since being back and I have really enjoyed it.

ON: Do you have a favourite Wrestling promotion/s to watch in 2008?

DD: To be completely honest with you I haven't seen a lot of stuff this year. I like to watch old stuff from all over the world as the new generation of wrestling fans haven't seen the stuff, so I can use it and bring it into today.

ON: Favourite Wrestler/Wrestlers now you're in the Industry?

DD: Well because I am a big fan of the late 80's early 90's WWF product my favourites will always be guys like Bret "Hitman" Hart, Mr Perfect, "Ravishing" Rick Rude, The Rockers and Ted Dibiase. But nowadays I like watching guys like Edge, Chris Jericho, HHH, AJ Styles, Austin Aries, Christian but also like Jushin Liger, Milano Connection, Dragon Kid and a lot of the japanesse product. I respect everyone who has made it in the business because it takes a lot of time and dedication so there are a lot more that I like to watch and learn from. These are the ones that came to mind straight away, but to end that question I am a huge Bret Hart fan but in my opinion Shawn Michaels is the greatest wrestler ever I think he has surpassed Bret and Flair nobody is the complete package that HBK is.

ON: Favourite match as a Fan in 2008?

DD: One standout match that I saw that I really enjoyed was Awesome Kong vs. Gail Kim on TNA Impact.

ON: Favourite match from a Wrestler's perspective in 2008?

DD: Awesome Kong vs. Gail Kim from Impact once again.

ON: You started out in 2003, what was your 'goal' to achieve in the Wrestling business?

DD: I think like everyone who starts out in this business they want to be at the top in the US making the big dollar with the WWE or TNA. That's where every wrestler dreams of being but you have to look at it realistically I'm not as big as the guys they have on there roster and probably will never be, also the fact that its thousands of miles away in another country also makes it harder to get to the top. My goal is basically to go as far as I can go but enjoy all the moments, I really am enjoying it and I feel more confident so only time will tell where I end up I would like to get some kind of work in the US and maybe Japan before I finally hang up the boots, then I would be satisfied.

ON: If the fans could watch one 'The Metro-Sexual' Danny Devine match to see you at your best, which one would you recommend?

DD: vs. Marcus Kool at the AWW Aston University show from earlier this year it was the best match I have had in my career so far.

ON: 'The Metro-Sexual' Danny Devine v Who in a Dream Match?

DD: Oohhhh! If I could hop in the delorean with Doc and Marty McFly I would wrestle some of my heroes like Bret & Owen Hart, Rude, and Henning but today probably Edge or AJ Styles.

ON: Are there any websites you would like to mention?

DD: Obviously there is my own which can be found on myspace at the following address: www.myspace.com/iopdannydevine, www.onlineworldofwrestling.com (Everything you need to know about any wrestler past or present and I'm on there too) and one that I came across my accident a German database site which amazingly I'm on and a lot of UK guys are too and I bet they don't even know at www.cagematch.net.

ON: Any final words for the readers?

DD: Keep supporting the UK scene and stay METRO

ON: Thanks for taking the time out to do this interview Danny,

DD: No worries

Final Thoughts:

'The Metro-Sexual' Danny Devine to me is one of the best wrestlers in the UK, so to have the opportunity to discuss his career thus far was a pleasure. I thank Danny for the interview and wish him the best with his career.