CRAVEN - DOUBLE PLATINUM
**Interview from Issue 7 of Westside Pro Wrestling - March 2010**
All Action Wrestling's Craven is one of the current Platinum Heavyweight Champions and a four year pro of the WA scene. Craven has wrestled throughout Australia and the United States. Westside Pro Wrestling's Tez had the opportunity to speak to the Australian Sensation.
WPW: How did you get your start in wrestling and who did you train with?
CRAVEN: WOW, this goes back a while. I started wrestling in 2006 when All Action Wrestling started, Andrew "The Shark" Carter gave me my first shot in a squared circle and I haven't stopped since.
WPW: Next month will mark the fourth year of your wrestling career (Debuted March 4, 2006 at AAW Action 1). What have been some of your favourite matches over the past four years?
CRAVEN: Okay my top 3 would be against Erico at AAW Aftermath 2009, versus The Shark at AAW Superclash 2008 and against Jimmy Jacobs in Michigan City, IN, USA.
WPW: You made your US debut in 2009. Do You have any interesting/funny stories from your first trip to the States?
CRAVEN: Yes, but I’m sure I can’t talk about them in the issue (Laughs)
WPW: The knee injury you suffered back in October came at such a bad time, as you had just won your first World Title. It must have been a rollercoaster of highs and lows for you. How did the injury came about?
CRAVEN: I tore my PCL in my left knee in my World Title match and had to cut my US tour short. It killed me. I remember telling Erico on the phone I had to go home for surgery. I was crying like a bitch because I was on top of the world, and at my best, but shit happens you can only go up right?
WPW: Can you tell us about the therapy and recovery you had to go through to get back in the ring?
CRAVEN: Lots of Physio and surgery. I was not meant to get back in the ring for 12 weeks but I sort of jumped the gun a bit, "Which I don't advise!". But I feel at about 90% now and hopefully 100% before I hit the states again in April and Anniversary 4!
WPW: In January you were re-awarded the Platinum Heavyweight Championship. Now there are two Platinum Heavyweight Champions, the other being Brutus Dylan in the US.
I guess there will be a unification match somewhere down the line between yourself and either Brutus Dylan or Erico depending on the outcome of the First Blood Match at Platinum's Sweet Sacrifice show in February. You have wrestled both men before, do you have a preference to who you would prefer to wrestle if this is the case?
CRAVEN: Not really they are two very strong and amazing. They’re both gonna be tough but hey, Aussie muscle over American.
WPW: You have got a big match coming up in AAW, since you put the challenge for a Title vs. Title match with Wayne "The Maniac" Mattei. The battle of the Platinum champions will be taking place at Anniversary IV.
Mattei is undefeated in AAW singles competition. Are you confident you can be the first to defeat the big man and claim both titles?
CRAVEN: Damn straight! I have a lot of respect for Wayne and we are good friends, but the tension between us right now you could cut with a knife!
WPW: Who would you like to wrestle in the future, either in Australia or the US?
CRAVEN: Every wrestler’s dream is to get to "the Fed" if you don’t inspire to be Vince McMahon’s champion, get out of the business…sorry. But, I would love Aussie wrestling to grow and be a part of it!
WPW: You are heading back to the States sometime in 2010. How long are you planning to stay over there this visit?
CRAVEN: Unsure, but I am leaving April 18th.
WPW: Thank you for taking the time to speak to Westside Pro Wrestling, Craven
CRAVEN: No worries mate!
All Action Wrestling's Craven is one of the current Platinum Heavyweight Champions and a four year pro of the WA scene. Craven has wrestled throughout Australia and the United States. Westside Pro Wrestling's Tez had the opportunity to speak to the Australian Sensation.
WPW: How did you get your start in wrestling and who did you train with?
CRAVEN: WOW, this goes back a while. I started wrestling in 2006 when All Action Wrestling started, Andrew "The Shark" Carter gave me my first shot in a squared circle and I haven't stopped since.
WPW: Next month will mark the fourth year of your wrestling career (Debuted March 4, 2006 at AAW Action 1). What have been some of your favourite matches over the past four years?
CRAVEN: Okay my top 3 would be against Erico at AAW Aftermath 2009, versus The Shark at AAW Superclash 2008 and against Jimmy Jacobs in Michigan City, IN, USA.
WPW: You made your US debut in 2009. Do You have any interesting/funny stories from your first trip to the States?
CRAVEN: Yes, but I’m sure I can’t talk about them in the issue (Laughs)
WPW: The knee injury you suffered back in October came at such a bad time, as you had just won your first World Title. It must have been a rollercoaster of highs and lows for you. How did the injury came about?
CRAVEN: I tore my PCL in my left knee in my World Title match and had to cut my US tour short. It killed me. I remember telling Erico on the phone I had to go home for surgery. I was crying like a bitch because I was on top of the world, and at my best, but shit happens you can only go up right?
WPW: Can you tell us about the therapy and recovery you had to go through to get back in the ring?
CRAVEN: Lots of Physio and surgery. I was not meant to get back in the ring for 12 weeks but I sort of jumped the gun a bit, "Which I don't advise!". But I feel at about 90% now and hopefully 100% before I hit the states again in April and Anniversary 4!
WPW: In January you were re-awarded the Platinum Heavyweight Championship. Now there are two Platinum Heavyweight Champions, the other being Brutus Dylan in the US.
I guess there will be a unification match somewhere down the line between yourself and either Brutus Dylan or Erico depending on the outcome of the First Blood Match at Platinum's Sweet Sacrifice show in February. You have wrestled both men before, do you have a preference to who you would prefer to wrestle if this is the case?
CRAVEN: Not really they are two very strong and amazing. They’re both gonna be tough but hey, Aussie muscle over American.
WPW: You have got a big match coming up in AAW, since you put the challenge for a Title vs. Title match with Wayne "The Maniac" Mattei. The battle of the Platinum champions will be taking place at Anniversary IV.
Mattei is undefeated in AAW singles competition. Are you confident you can be the first to defeat the big man and claim both titles?
CRAVEN: Damn straight! I have a lot of respect for Wayne and we are good friends, but the tension between us right now you could cut with a knife!
WPW: Who would you like to wrestle in the future, either in Australia or the US?
CRAVEN: Every wrestler’s dream is to get to "the Fed" if you don’t inspire to be Vince McMahon’s champion, get out of the business…sorry. But, I would love Aussie wrestling to grow and be a part of it!
WPW: You are heading back to the States sometime in 2010. How long are you planning to stay over there this visit?
CRAVEN: Unsure, but I am leaving April 18th.
WPW: Thank you for taking the time to speak to Westside Pro Wrestling, Craven
CRAVEN: No worries mate!