THE SHARK - A SHARK'S TALE
**Interview from Issue 2 of Westside Pro Wrestling Newsletter - October 2009**
Andrew Carter is the Platinum Australian Champion and one of the biggest stars in WA’s second longest running promotion, All Action Wrestling.
In this interview we try to find out more about man and the character from the Deep Blue Sea.
Hi Andrew, Welcome to Westside Pro Wrestling.
WPW: Tell us a little about yourself and how you first got into following Wrestling?
SHARK: Well I’ve always been an athlete since High School and Wrestling was something I always wanted to get into. Dad didn’t really want me in the wrestling business but promised me if I won a WA State gold medal in Amateur Wrestling he would let me train, and sure enough I won that medal.
WPW: Who were your heroes?
SHARK: There is so many. Rock was the main reason I wanted to get into wrestling but workers like Ricky Steamboat were who I wanted to be like.
WPW: How and when did you first come up with the Shark character?
SHARK: Sharky was actually my dad’s nickname when he was young and when I started wrestling I wanted a strong name that would help me build my character and who I was as a person and dad suggested The Shark and I went for it.
WPW: You did some training at Lance Storm’s Academy, can you elaborate on what the experience was like working with him?
SHARK: I look at it as completing my training as I was already a trained wrestler here but I wanted more experience. The stuff I did with Lance was amazing and he really polished me into the worker I am today and I can’t thank him enough for it.
WPW: Are there any funny stories you care to share from your time at the Academy?
(Laughs) There is always funny stories from that place. The thing that I always loved was how Slate got mad when me and Garry Schmidt used to eat steak all the time and he wanted something different.
That and all of Lances old WCW stories.
WPW: All Action Wrestling become an affiliate of Dale Gagner’s American Wrestling Association in 2007. Do you believe becoming part of the AWA brand helped AAW get more attention within the Australian Pro Wrestling Community?
SHARK: Not at all. It did nothing in Australia as Australian fans are not that familiar with our past in Pro-Wrestling. It helped open the doors overseas for some of our workers but the Platinum Affiliation has done a lot more.
WPW: Next March will see the Fourth Anniversary of All Action Wrestling. Did you ever think the company would become known enough to feature International and National talent?
SHARK: I did. All Action Wrestling was always built to offer fans the best of local, national and international talent and I think so far it has done that.
WPW: You have wrestled throughout the United States and Canada, what was the experience like for you and what were some of your favorite matches you competed in over there?
SHARK: I would never trade it for the world. Learning more about the business from legends like Larry Zbyszko, Honky Tonk Man, Nick Bockwinkel and the local guys, like Erico and everyone I worked with. I had a lot of fun matches while over there but my best one was probably against Erico in Indiana for an NWA promotion.
AAW: Erico, the International Wrestling Superstar came out to Australia for a few months to wrestle for All Action Wrestling and sign up affiliates for Platinum Worldwide Wrestling. Did Erico’s experience and time here help AAW in a significant way?
SHARK: It sure had! Erico was here for 4 months and trained with the AAW boys and girls every single night. Erico has been in the business almost 10 years and the information he passed on to our crew is irreplaceable.
AAW: Does AAW ever plan to hold shows away from Warnbro/Rockingham region to a more central area in the near future or are you happy to stay in that area?
SHARK: The Rockingham area is the home of AAW and we will primarily run shows here but you never know later on you might see AAW closer to the city.
WPW: What are your plans and hopes for the future of All Action Wrestling?
SHARK: To continually produce high quality show using the best local and national workers and to provide a great night of Sports Entertainment to families.
Thank you for taking the time to chat to Westside Pro Wrestling, Andrew.
Andrew Carter is the Platinum Australian Champion and one of the biggest stars in WA’s second longest running promotion, All Action Wrestling.
In this interview we try to find out more about man and the character from the Deep Blue Sea.
Hi Andrew, Welcome to Westside Pro Wrestling.
WPW: Tell us a little about yourself and how you first got into following Wrestling?
SHARK: Well I’ve always been an athlete since High School and Wrestling was something I always wanted to get into. Dad didn’t really want me in the wrestling business but promised me if I won a WA State gold medal in Amateur Wrestling he would let me train, and sure enough I won that medal.
WPW: Who were your heroes?
SHARK: There is so many. Rock was the main reason I wanted to get into wrestling but workers like Ricky Steamboat were who I wanted to be like.
WPW: How and when did you first come up with the Shark character?
SHARK: Sharky was actually my dad’s nickname when he was young and when I started wrestling I wanted a strong name that would help me build my character and who I was as a person and dad suggested The Shark and I went for it.
WPW: You did some training at Lance Storm’s Academy, can you elaborate on what the experience was like working with him?
SHARK: I look at it as completing my training as I was already a trained wrestler here but I wanted more experience. The stuff I did with Lance was amazing and he really polished me into the worker I am today and I can’t thank him enough for it.
WPW: Are there any funny stories you care to share from your time at the Academy?
(Laughs) There is always funny stories from that place. The thing that I always loved was how Slate got mad when me and Garry Schmidt used to eat steak all the time and he wanted something different.
That and all of Lances old WCW stories.
WPW: All Action Wrestling become an affiliate of Dale Gagner’s American Wrestling Association in 2007. Do you believe becoming part of the AWA brand helped AAW get more attention within the Australian Pro Wrestling Community?
SHARK: Not at all. It did nothing in Australia as Australian fans are not that familiar with our past in Pro-Wrestling. It helped open the doors overseas for some of our workers but the Platinum Affiliation has done a lot more.
WPW: Next March will see the Fourth Anniversary of All Action Wrestling. Did you ever think the company would become known enough to feature International and National talent?
SHARK: I did. All Action Wrestling was always built to offer fans the best of local, national and international talent and I think so far it has done that.
WPW: You have wrestled throughout the United States and Canada, what was the experience like for you and what were some of your favorite matches you competed in over there?
SHARK: I would never trade it for the world. Learning more about the business from legends like Larry Zbyszko, Honky Tonk Man, Nick Bockwinkel and the local guys, like Erico and everyone I worked with. I had a lot of fun matches while over there but my best one was probably against Erico in Indiana for an NWA promotion.
AAW: Erico, the International Wrestling Superstar came out to Australia for a few months to wrestle for All Action Wrestling and sign up affiliates for Platinum Worldwide Wrestling. Did Erico’s experience and time here help AAW in a significant way?
SHARK: It sure had! Erico was here for 4 months and trained with the AAW boys and girls every single night. Erico has been in the business almost 10 years and the information he passed on to our crew is irreplaceable.
AAW: Does AAW ever plan to hold shows away from Warnbro/Rockingham region to a more central area in the near future or are you happy to stay in that area?
SHARK: The Rockingham area is the home of AAW and we will primarily run shows here but you never know later on you might see AAW closer to the city.
WPW: What are your plans and hopes for the future of All Action Wrestling?
SHARK: To continually produce high quality show using the best local and national workers and to provide a great night of Sports Entertainment to families.
Thank you for taking the time to chat to Westside Pro Wrestling, Andrew.