I just send out this standard questionnaire. These are the unedited responses.


The Sheriff Johnny Emerald

Basics:
1) How long have you been into wrestling?
A) Since the age of 4. My father was manager of the Dykman Hotel in Downtown Mpls and I met all the wrestlers and got their autographs there. Wally Karbos AWA promoters office was there. Never missed a TV show at the WTCN studios in the Calhoun Beach Hotel or a match at the Mpls Auditorium, Mpls Armory or St. Paul Armory in 15 years.

2) How long have you been wrestling?
A) 4 years

3) Where did you train? With who?
A) Trained by Ken Patera. Trained with Shifty. Two of the best trainers in the country. I have visited 10 pro training camps and met dozens of trainers throughout the country.

4) What was your first match?
A) Against Shifty at the Burnsville High School, a benefit for the Jaycees.

5) Whats the worst injury you've suffered?
A) Broken nose

6) Where all have you wrestled?
A) Several promotions in MN & WI, ND, IA, OK, PA, IN, OH, Toronto

7) How did you get your current gimmick?
A) Channel surfing and heard theme from Cops and said that will work, thats me.

Favorites:
8) Match you've had?
A) Any match with Shifty. Mondo & Horace.

9) Match you've seen?
A) Seen so many great matches.

10) Person to work with?
A) Tag with Horace was great.

11) Person to work against?
A) Shifty, he THINKS he is Simply the Best

12) Promotion to work for?
A) MPW. Can not say enough about the guys we have. Many say our guys are to small, to young and don't look like pro wrestlers. The days of only big guys in pro wrestling are gone forever. We pride ourselves on giving everyone a chance to live their dream, get trained and be the best they can be in pro wrestling. Many promotions will not use "green" guys or guys that are under 200lbs. We have some of the best talent and many of the current talent in the area trained with MPW. Our guys kick ass in the ring and give 100% in every match. We learn from one another and have raised the bar on the local indy scene. The growing number of MPW fans are showing their approval, support and appreciation which is encouraging us to do better and better every week. We have tried this and that, listened to fans, learned from other promotions and focused on doing what is best for MPW, its talent and our fans. We are no longer distracted or concerned with what the others are doing or saying. We have made our plans, focused on our goals, charted our course and we are moving full speed ahead. Those on board are with us totally. Those that got off will not benefit from the voyage or the destination. Those that climb aboard will find enthusiasm and a great team effort. We are not turning back and we are not slowing down. We have the best captain in charge of the ship (and its not me).

13) Match style? (technical, hardcore, high flying, ect)
A) Working on all of them. Did you see what I did to the Anarchist at our TV taping? Seen the chair shot from Dino Bambino I took? Seen what Mondo did to me? Seen my drop kick. Air Emerald is coming soon.

14) Wrestler to watch?
A) Shawn Michaels. I remember his pro wrestling debut at the Sportatorium in Dallas. Impressed from the first day he stepped in the ring. He lost the match of course but the fans were in awe of his charisma and his ring performance.

15) Manager to watch?
A) Bobby Heenan

16) Promotion to watch?
A) Liked WCW until towards the end when they screwed around with the talent. Watch wrestling to study it now rather than as entertainment. Its my homework now. I am a full time student of pro wrestling: watching, reading, listening, traveling and interviewing promoters throughout the country.

Hypiteticals:
17) One promotion, anywhere, which one would you wrestle for and why?
A) Today it would be WWF since it is the only game nationally. Yesterday would have been WCW. Years ago it would have been AWA. Checking out FWA in UK in the spring.

18) One worker, anywhere, anytime, who would you work a match with and why?
A) Can you imagine what would happen if I got in the ring with The Heartbreak Kid? He needed an attitude adjustment. Anybody in MPW remind you of him?

Promotions:
19) Thoughts on WWE?
A) Unfortunately faltering badly but fortunate for the best indys in the country. Wrestling will go back to territories as it was for 40+ years. Terrirtories will not be as big since TV is cost prohibitive but there will be one promotion per territory that makes it successfully. The promotion that has the money, talent and investors when Vince goes back to his fathers territory will get AWAs new territory. MPW is positioning to be the major player in the upper midwest. I have met with 7 promoters from around the country recently in Oklohoma City to discuss this very issue and to form an alliance to share information and talent.

20) Thoughts on ECW?
A) Never really followed it, but they had some great talent and if they had concentrated on a territory instead of trying to compete with WWF they would still be around today. Valueable lesson there.

21) Thoughts on WCW?
A) Had it all and was the best thing going. They blew it at the top and never recovered. Again, instead of trying to compete with WWF, should have just done their own thing and listened to their fans. Another valueable lesson.

22) Thoughts on WWF?
A) Turned off to many fans. Revolutionized wrestling but then made and is making some major mistakes. Arrogance and egos will cost them everything they have made and some of the best wrestling talent in history will be bankrupt. And a third lesson is apparent.

23) Thoughts on XPW?
A) Never seen it but will check it out when time permits.

24) Thoughts on NWA-TNA?
A) Never seen it and need to check it out as well.

25) Thoughts on Japan's Promotions (AJPW, BJW, FMW)
A) Have seen a couple of tapes. Japanese wrestling is a different world as is Brit Pro Wrestling in UK. Fans are different and want different things in pro wrestling for various reasons throughout the world. Talent can not lose site of that.

26) Thoughts on other various indy promotions?
A) Worked for them all. Would have stayed with them all if they had concentrated on running them like a business and putting on the best shows possible. The put on anything, take the money and run, who cares if we go back, who care how it looks and who cares what the fans paid for and want has killed indy wrestling and turned so many fans away in so many areas. Its not just a local problem, it is a national problem as well. The indy workers have not helped the situation with their attitude of work anywhere, anytime, anyplace and only thinking about gas money rather than experience, building a promotion and having some pride in themselves, their wrestling career and the promotions that put entertianing fans first and foremost and not in putting themselves over.

Strange:
27) Boxers vs. Briefs vs. Whatever?
A) Emerald Green briefs

28) Whats your take on the internet and pro-wrestling? With all the internet rumors and various mark message boards, just general thoughts.
A) Internet has changed wrestling. It is good for marketing and feedback. It is also a big problem in that anybody can say anything to build or destroy a promotion or an individual. Some of the information is rumor, dishonest, and meant to harm rather than help. Unfortunately the great escape pro wrestling matches and shows should be, just like going to a movie, is gone because of the internet. Unfortuantely many people think anything they read is fact. Censorship and government regulation will be forthcoming as more businesses and individuals are ruined due to false internet communications throughout the business world. This government regulation is already in the making. Makes one wonder just how smart the human being really is.

29) How do you reacte fans & marks? Do they get on your nerves? Have any fan horror stories or just weird tales?
A) Fans are who we entertain. They make us or break us. I love entertaining. I even love Xeno. I despise personal attacks on anyone and posts that are just plain lies and obvioulsy meant to make the one posting feel important and in the know. Sad that people are that insecure and hopeless.

30) Got anything you want to plug?
A) MPW training, talent, support staff and fans. Living out our dreams, having fun, entertaining the fans and working as a team and being part of the new era in indy wrestling.