DAN STEEL
*This interview was conducted in the week leading up to the last SHWA event "Locks, Chops and Two Title Bouts"*
Dan Steel has only been wrestling for just over two years and in that short time has been quite successful culminating with his SHWA Championship victory at Ascension III last December. Currently part of the Shadows of Alastor stable with former SHWA Champion, Jarrad Slate and Sylance, Steel is looking to continue that success against the Wraith at SHWA’s Locks, Chops and Two Title Bouts event at the Swan Park Leisure Centre in Midvale on April 21.
WPW: Did you grow up watching wrestling and was it something you always had wanted to give a go?
STEEL: I started watching wrestling when I was about seven years old. The first event I ever watched was WrestleMania 9 on VHS. I was hooked from then on and started to dream of becoming a wrestler as soon as I had watched it.
WH: You debuted in a "Dark Match" against Jack Lariat at SHWA’s “When Mountains Collide” in February 2010. Do you have any recollections of your first match?
STEEL: I recall that I was absolutely nervous yet focused because I was finally able to start living my dream of being a professional wrestler, and even though the match wasn't part on the main show, it was the biggest moment in my life at the time.
WH: Only eight months into your career you had main evented and by the end of 2010 had been voted as WPW’s Rookie of the Year. Were you personally satisfied with your first year in the business?
STEEL: Personally, I think my first year of wrestling was amazing and to be put in the main event so early in my career was a big chance to prove that I could stick with the main eventers and show them what I was capable of being a big name in SHWA. Being voted Rookie of the Year was a goal I had set for myself since debuting and to become WPW Rookie of the Year was a huge achievement for me. So yes, I was really satisfied.
WPW: In late 2010 you joined with Jimmy Jamal Jenkins to form the Steel Kings and feuded with the main faction in SHWA at the time, the Muscle Militia. Did you enjoy teaming with Jimmy and do you think the feud with the Militia helped your career go upwards?
STEEL: Being one half of the Steel Kings and feuding with the Muscle Militia was one of the best times of SHWA. The Wraith and Pain always kept us on our toes and made us try new moves and tactics to try and bring them down, but in doing that, I found myself growing more confident inside and outside the ring. I believe that the kings would have done more if we didn't start to walk our own paths.
WPW: July 2011 saw you become the third ever winner of the annual Midyear Rumble. It was the biggest rumble in SHWA history featuring names such as Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls. What was that night like for you having three matches in the one night after having to qualify for the rumble in a Four Way, then going on to win the rumble, then competing in a SHWA Championship Triple Threat King of the Mountain match straight after that?
STEEL: Midyear Mayhem was the event I had to prove that I was a wrestler that wanted to be the best. I had one target that night and that was to win the rumble and capture the SHWA Championship, and I was going to use everything I had in my power to achieve it. To be in the Rumble with most of SHWA talent and TMDK was great, but I was too focused on winning to really worry. The moment I won, it was a dream come true and I was in a full adrenaline rush which I think made me cash in my SHWA title shot too quickly. Having three matches in one night is not easy, but to come so close to becoming the champ I would have wrestled all night just to reach my dream.
WPW: You are the current SHWA Champion, winning the title in December 2011. Did you ever think you’d hold the main title after less than two years in the company?
STEEL: Well becoming SHWA Champion was the biggest moment in my career and ever since winning the Rumble but missing out on becoming SHWA Champion that night it was all I focused on. It didn't matter who it was or what type of match it was and to walk in to Ascension III as the number one contender, there was no way in hell I was going to walk out empty handed. It was a goal I didn't think I would achieve so early in my career but I was focused and wasn't gonna let the chance to be at the top of the mountain pass me by .
WPW: Earlier this year you started working for NHPW, taking part in the Headshrinker Samu Legacy Tournament (teaming with Jarrad Slate) and being involved in a Three Way #1 Contenders match for the NHPW Hi-Fi Championship. Are you enjoying getting the opportunity to work more and against different opponents?
STEEL: Working for NHPW was a big learning curve for and is a great experience to be able to work with wrestlers that aren’t in my home promotion. I will continue to work for NHPW and hope to work for more companies in the future. Being a being a part of the Headshrinker Samu Legacy cup was a huge honor.
WH: Coming up at Locks, Chops and Two Title Bouts event on April 21, the Wraith gets a shot at the gold after going through several roadblocks, including defeating your Shadows of Alastor team mate Jarrad Slate at iWrestle 4.0. You have faced Wraith three times before in one-on-one matches and you lead 2-1, including including your first defence of the title. What are your thoughts going into the match?
STEEL: My thoughts going in to this match against the Wraith are that it’s going to be one of the hardest matches in my career, as it always is when I face him. However, just as it was at Uprising, history will repeat and I will walk out champion. I know he is going to come at me 100%, but I will fight back the same to make sure that the SHWA Championship remains around my waist.
WPW: Are there any wrestlers you would like the opportunity to face but haven’t done so yet?
STEEL: Richter, The Warship, Percy T, Barry Schmidt, Bobby Marshall and even though he has retired Tyler Jacobs, just to name a few.
WPW: What have been some of your favourite matches so far?
STEEL: Some of my favorite matches would include taking on Snakepit’s Big Mike at SHWA Midyear Mayhem 2010, Shadows of Alastor vs. Chris Vice & "The Don" Michael Morleone at NHPW Battle of Honor (Night 1) and the Monster’s Ball match at SHWA Collateral Damage.
WH: What goals does Dan Steel hope to achieve in the business over the next five years?
STEEL: I would love to wrestle Interstate and of course internationally. I would also love to be one of the few that has wrestled for every company in Western Australia and become the best wrestler I can be.
From the Westside Pro Wrestling Facebook page, April 2012.
Dan Steel has only been wrestling for just over two years and in that short time has been quite successful culminating with his SHWA Championship victory at Ascension III last December. Currently part of the Shadows of Alastor stable with former SHWA Champion, Jarrad Slate and Sylance, Steel is looking to continue that success against the Wraith at SHWA’s Locks, Chops and Two Title Bouts event at the Swan Park Leisure Centre in Midvale on April 21.
WPW: Did you grow up watching wrestling and was it something you always had wanted to give a go?
STEEL: I started watching wrestling when I was about seven years old. The first event I ever watched was WrestleMania 9 on VHS. I was hooked from then on and started to dream of becoming a wrestler as soon as I had watched it.
WH: You debuted in a "Dark Match" against Jack Lariat at SHWA’s “When Mountains Collide” in February 2010. Do you have any recollections of your first match?
STEEL: I recall that I was absolutely nervous yet focused because I was finally able to start living my dream of being a professional wrestler, and even though the match wasn't part on the main show, it was the biggest moment in my life at the time.
WH: Only eight months into your career you had main evented and by the end of 2010 had been voted as WPW’s Rookie of the Year. Were you personally satisfied with your first year in the business?
STEEL: Personally, I think my first year of wrestling was amazing and to be put in the main event so early in my career was a big chance to prove that I could stick with the main eventers and show them what I was capable of being a big name in SHWA. Being voted Rookie of the Year was a goal I had set for myself since debuting and to become WPW Rookie of the Year was a huge achievement for me. So yes, I was really satisfied.
WPW: In late 2010 you joined with Jimmy Jamal Jenkins to form the Steel Kings and feuded with the main faction in SHWA at the time, the Muscle Militia. Did you enjoy teaming with Jimmy and do you think the feud with the Militia helped your career go upwards?
STEEL: Being one half of the Steel Kings and feuding with the Muscle Militia was one of the best times of SHWA. The Wraith and Pain always kept us on our toes and made us try new moves and tactics to try and bring them down, but in doing that, I found myself growing more confident inside and outside the ring. I believe that the kings would have done more if we didn't start to walk our own paths.
WPW: July 2011 saw you become the third ever winner of the annual Midyear Rumble. It was the biggest rumble in SHWA history featuring names such as Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls. What was that night like for you having three matches in the one night after having to qualify for the rumble in a Four Way, then going on to win the rumble, then competing in a SHWA Championship Triple Threat King of the Mountain match straight after that?
STEEL: Midyear Mayhem was the event I had to prove that I was a wrestler that wanted to be the best. I had one target that night and that was to win the rumble and capture the SHWA Championship, and I was going to use everything I had in my power to achieve it. To be in the Rumble with most of SHWA talent and TMDK was great, but I was too focused on winning to really worry. The moment I won, it was a dream come true and I was in a full adrenaline rush which I think made me cash in my SHWA title shot too quickly. Having three matches in one night is not easy, but to come so close to becoming the champ I would have wrestled all night just to reach my dream.
WPW: You are the current SHWA Champion, winning the title in December 2011. Did you ever think you’d hold the main title after less than two years in the company?
STEEL: Well becoming SHWA Champion was the biggest moment in my career and ever since winning the Rumble but missing out on becoming SHWA Champion that night it was all I focused on. It didn't matter who it was or what type of match it was and to walk in to Ascension III as the number one contender, there was no way in hell I was going to walk out empty handed. It was a goal I didn't think I would achieve so early in my career but I was focused and wasn't gonna let the chance to be at the top of the mountain pass me by .
WPW: Earlier this year you started working for NHPW, taking part in the Headshrinker Samu Legacy Tournament (teaming with Jarrad Slate) and being involved in a Three Way #1 Contenders match for the NHPW Hi-Fi Championship. Are you enjoying getting the opportunity to work more and against different opponents?
STEEL: Working for NHPW was a big learning curve for and is a great experience to be able to work with wrestlers that aren’t in my home promotion. I will continue to work for NHPW and hope to work for more companies in the future. Being a being a part of the Headshrinker Samu Legacy cup was a huge honor.
WH: Coming up at Locks, Chops and Two Title Bouts event on April 21, the Wraith gets a shot at the gold after going through several roadblocks, including defeating your Shadows of Alastor team mate Jarrad Slate at iWrestle 4.0. You have faced Wraith three times before in one-on-one matches and you lead 2-1, including including your first defence of the title. What are your thoughts going into the match?
STEEL: My thoughts going in to this match against the Wraith are that it’s going to be one of the hardest matches in my career, as it always is when I face him. However, just as it was at Uprising, history will repeat and I will walk out champion. I know he is going to come at me 100%, but I will fight back the same to make sure that the SHWA Championship remains around my waist.
WPW: Are there any wrestlers you would like the opportunity to face but haven’t done so yet?
STEEL: Richter, The Warship, Percy T, Barry Schmidt, Bobby Marshall and even though he has retired Tyler Jacobs, just to name a few.
WPW: What have been some of your favourite matches so far?
STEEL: Some of my favorite matches would include taking on Snakepit’s Big Mike at SHWA Midyear Mayhem 2010, Shadows of Alastor vs. Chris Vice & "The Don" Michael Morleone at NHPW Battle of Honor (Night 1) and the Monster’s Ball match at SHWA Collateral Damage.
WH: What goals does Dan Steel hope to achieve in the business over the next five years?
STEEL: I would love to wrestle Interstate and of course internationally. I would also love to be one of the few that has wrestled for every company in Western Australia and become the best wrestler I can be.
From the Westside Pro Wrestling Facebook page, April 2012.