Interview with “Lightning” an interview with "Lightning" Mike Quackenbush

Our friends over at Westside Pro Wrestling did a great interview with NWA Jr. Heavyweight Champion, “Lightning” Mike Quackenbush recently. With their permission we are re-posting this interview. To keep up with the all the news, results and info on the Western Australian wrestling scene, subscribe to westsideprowrestling@hotmail.com.

[Mana, The Polynesian Warrior], brings Westside Pro Wrestling newsletter a monthly column in which he gives his thoughts on the current scene or talks with superstar friends from his past in the United States.  For this article I thought I would get in touch with one of the most amazing wrestlers I have ever had the opportunity to be in the ring with. Some of the stuff he pulls out can be called nothing but amazing. If you don’t believe me look him up on you tube for sure and you’ll see what I mean. His name is “Lightning” Mike Quackenbush and he is the founder of CHIKARA pro wrestling. I first studied Mike Quackenbush matches against Reckless Youth who back then stupefied me just as to how the hell they pulled a lot of there moves off so damn quick and so crisp. These days Claudio Castagnoli and Chris Hero do this with Mike and they are giants.   Quack has been one of the premier wrestlers on the circuit for over ten years now as well as publishing his own books. He is one of the forefathers to a style that can only be described as Lucha / Japanese and X Division all combined into one.  I am proud to put together this interview with one of my good friends and one of the best cruisers in the American Independent scene as well as the world – “Lightning” Mike Quackenbush.
  
Mana:  How did the name “Lightning” Mike Quackenbush come to be?  

Quack:  It was really something pushed on me in the mid-90’s, to try and become more marketable. At the time, I was wrestling as M. Quackenbush. The promoter I was working for at the time felt it needed something more, so I added “Lightning” in tribute to Jushin “Thunder” Liger, who inspired me.  

Mana:  You and the wrestlers/students of CHIKARA received training from Jorge “Skayde” Rivera, how do you think his influence has improved your abilities?

Quack:  He opened up a whole new world of wrestling for me.  He’s in his mid-40’s now, and he is more active and more creative than guys half his age.  

Mana:  You have wrestled in many top U.S indy promotions, as well as overseas in Europe and Japan, which experiences have been the most memorable in your career thus far?

Quack:  For different reasons, wrestling in Mexico, Germany, and Japan are very memorable experiences. My first match in Mexico, I was given a death threat from a fan. Which is kind of awesome, if you think about it. In Europe, the fans have a great respect for my style, and so I always feel well-appreciated when I perform for them.  In Japan, because I had longed to go there, and worked for years with that as my goal, I found it  especially satisfying just to climb in the ring, and hear the announcer call my name in Japanese. 

Mana:  What was it like to square off with someone you had idolized, British pro wrestling legend, Johnny Saint?  

Quack:  Humbling, of course. He’s such a gentleman, in the ring and out. At times, it was almost like I was not in the match, but  watching it on TV. Prior to the day we wrestled, the only way I had even seen him was on TV.  

Mana:  Who is on the list of people you’d like to lock up with one day?  

Quack:  Christopher Daniels is always on that list. I would love to have a singles match with him. I think it would be a lot of fun to wrestle  Ultimo Guerrero, or Averno from CMLL as well.  

Mana:  You’ve held the NWA Junior Heavyweight Championship for over two years, who in the NWA would you like to defend it against?

Quack:  Anyone. Bring ’em on. I’d love to be out there defending that title every month, if they could line up the challengers for me.

Mana:  In the past couple of years, you have taken CHIKARA to many different states in America, as well as Germany and Japan, where else do you see CHIKARA in the near future?

Quack:  It would be great to play Mexico, since that is where our stylistic roots are, but really, those kinds of things represent great risk.  

Mana:  Is there a possibility of Mike Quackenbush coming to Western Australia in the foreseeable future?

Quack:  There is talk of a trip to Perth, I am pleased to report. I would love to play Australia before I hang up the boots. The birthplace of tag team wrestling! It would be a lot of fun.  Any last words?  Please check us out online, we have a free weekly podcast you can watch on iTunes under the name “CHIKARA Podcast-A-Go-Go”.  

Mana:  Thanks for your time – hope you check out some of Mike’s matches they are amazing and he is sure to be hitting our shores in 2010.

New Number 1 contender to the NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Championship

In a weekend where NWA National Champion Phil Shatter has his 12th successful defense against Caprice Coleman and Mike Posey successfully defended his NWA Tennessee Jr. championhip against Corey Hollis, The NWA in Charlotte had another defying moment in their first offering, crowning a new Number One Contender to Mike Quackenbush’s World Jr. Heavyweight Championship.

Quackenbush first won the title in controversial fashion when he took liberties with the mask of New Japan wrestler, Tiger Mask IV.  Quack defeated the former champion, who prior to this event had faced the likes of Jason Dukes, Low-Ki, and Black Tiger Mask IV.  Since winning the crown, Lightning Mike has had defenses in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Nevada, Georgia, and Italy.  Mike Quackenbush has held the title for nearly 3 years.  He has a schedule title defense against former champion Tony Kozina for NWA Michigan on Feb. 20th.

This won’t be Sal’s first shot at Mike Quackenbush.  Back in October, Rinauro had a shot at the title in the Quackenbush-friendly Chikara Pro.  Championships are not an unfamiliar concept to Rinauro.  With tag team championships in ROH, NWA Anarchy, Deep South Wrestling and Full Impact Pro.  Rinauro has also held a handful of singles championships including a Jr. Heavyweight Championships in NWA Wildside.  In a NWA ring, could Rinauro defeat the man who’s held the belt for nearly three years?  What do you think?  Leave a comment below. 

NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Champion Speaks

The good people at Westside Pro Wrestling are bringing the goods, our affiliate recently conducted an interview with the NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Champion.  And with the consent of our friends at Westside Pro, here are a few excerpts from the interview.

“Quack has been one of the premier wrestlers on the circuit for over ten years now as well as publishing his own books. He is one of the forefathers to a style that can only be described as Lucha / Japanese and X Division all combined into one. I am proud to put together this interview with one of my good friends and one of the best cruisers in the American Independent scene as well as the world – “Lightning” Mike Quackenbush…”

WPW: Who is on the list of people you’d like to lock up with one day?

Quack: Christopher Daniels is always on that list. I would love to have a singles match with him. I think it would be a lot of fun to wrestle Ultimo Guerrero, or Averno from CMLL as well.

WPW: You’ve held the NWA Junior Heavyweight Championship for over two years, who in the NWA would you like to defend it against?

Quack: Anyone. Bring ’em on. I’d love to be out there defending that title every month, if they could line up the challengers for me.

You can read the rest of the interview in Issue #6 of Westside Pro Wrestling. You can subscribe to their newsletter by emailing Tez at westsideprowrestling@hotmail.com

A disputed NWA World Champion or a typo?

White Tiger, Mr. Paws and Claws of NWA Main Event will be competing for former NWA affiliate Great Championship Wrestling. Some well known names will be appearing at the event like former NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Champion: Jimmy Rave, former WWE Star Bull Buchanan, Johnny Swinger, and Tiger’s opponent and former WWE Referee Mike Posey.

But the confusion comes in regards to the match up between Posey and White Tiger. GCW is billing this match as a NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship match, however its pretty well known that Mike Quackenbush is the reigning NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion. Tiger is the reigning NWA Top Rope (NWA Main Event Affiliate) Jr. Heavyweight Champion. So perhaps it is a misunderstanding.

Regardless, White Tiger has been gaining momentum in the Tennessee area and perhaps this branching out is what it will take for him to get a show at Mike Quackenbush. We all remember Quack’s propensity of ripping masks of wrestlers who resemble Tigers. Could it be long before Tiger challenges Quack? Do you think White Tiger should get a NWA World Title shot at Mike Quackenbush?

NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Title defended in Michigan

Fresh off the presser, a huge match up announced for NWA Michigan, of epic elemental proportion. On Februrary 20th, 2010, NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Champion, “Lightning” Mike Quackenbush will take on the former NWA Jr. Heavyweight Champion, the “Tornado” Tony Kozina. The mach is scheduled to take place in Hamtramck, Michigan.

Kozina, a veritable challenger to every title on the Indys has wrestled on just about every corner of North America. The Tornado is one of the most fundamentally sound wrestlers not only in this country, but in the World. However, his opponent is no slouch either. “Lightning” Mike Quackenbush defeated Tiger Mask IV to win the prestigious championship. Quackenbush has defended his championship against stars from New Japan, IWA Puerto Rico, AAA, and the NWA, along with International defenses in Italy. This match has all the makings to not only capture the Match of the Month honors, but perhaps, Match of the Year.

For more information check out NWA Northern Championship Wrestling

NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Title to be defended in Chikara Pro Wrestling

Credit: Anthony Perillo & Wrestling.Insidepulse.com

This upcoming weekend, CHIKARA will present their third and fourth final shows of the season, “An Optimistic View of a Pessimistic World” and “Cibernetico Increible”. One more match is set to be announced for “Cibernetico Increible” in Philadelphia, but other than that, both shows’ cards have been pretty much finalized. As far as I am concerned, both events look like they are definitely going to be something special and will most likely be worthy of DVD purchases.

In a backstage promo on the “Hiding in Plain Sight” DVD, Sal Rinauro of all people made an appearance and laid out a challenge to “Lightning” Mike Quackenbush for his NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship. National Wrestling Alliance heard Rinauro’s words and have made the match official for “An Optimistic View of a Pessimistic View” in Easton. Quack has hung onto the NWA belt for nearly three years now, but has not made a title defense since December of 2008. Will Rinauro be able to take advantage of Quackenbush’s recent back injury and capture the prestigious NWA belt or will “LMQ” manage to rack up his tenth defense?

Truth be known, the NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Championship has gone pretty much unnoticed in the realm of the NWA. And as the writer mentions, Quackenbush hasn’t defended his championship in nearly a year. Quackenbush has focused most of his attention to the Dragon Gate USA promotion, in addition to his Chikara promotion. And over coming his injured back, Quack will be facing Sal Rinauro. Rinauro who has been competing in NWA Anarchy, FIP, and even ROH. Its great to see the NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Championship to being defended again

Discuss this match on our message board, its free to sign up.