Courtesy of Alan J. Wojcik and http://alanwojcik.com
In May 2003 IPW Hardcore promoters created the JEFF PETERSON MEMORIAL CUP in tribute to the fallen cruiserweight star who passed in 2001 after a long battle with cancer. Since then the event has garnered a list of international stars who supported the event and honored Jeff’s memory by putting on five star caliber bouts. The previous winners were “Reckless Youth” Tom Carter, Justice, Chris Sabin, Milano Collection AT, Chris Hero & Erick Stevens. On November 20-21 sixteen men will come to Brooksville & Crystal River, Florida to try and join those names. Could this year’s winner be:
Egotistico Fantastico
Height:6 Ft 3 In
Weight: 220 (CZW lists him at 3,333 Lbs)
Hometown: Chicago, IL (CZW lists Mexico City, Philly)
Pro Debut: November, 2001
Website/Myspace/Facebook: www.myspace.com/ego12
Tournament History: Winner 2009 Best of the Best, 2008 Ted Petty Invitational (lost to Drake Younger in semi-finals)
Where you have seen him: DSW/FCW (WWE Developmental, )Combat Zone Wrestling, 3XW, Mercury-1, AAW, Ring of Honor, Pro Championship Wrestling, NWA Midwest.
Championships held: Three time 3XW Heavyweight champion, Mercury-1 Heavyweight champion, CZW Jr. Heavyweight champion, CZW New Horror (Former Ironman) champion, AAW Heavyweight champion, PCW Heavyweight champion, PCW Cruiserweight champion, NWA Midwest X Division champion.
Alan Wojcik: All sixteen men involved will be asked this question: what were your feelings when you were told you’re going to be part of the Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup?
Egotistico Fantastico: My first thought was awesome this should be a good time. I first heard about JPC in 2003. I was a huge fan of Reckless Youth, and I followed anything he did and this is kinda following in the footsteps of him. Then my second thought was that I heard I was traveling with Scotty Vortex and everyone knows that Scotty smells like cigarette butts and jalapeño dip! NOT COOL!!
Alan Wojcik: Was it during your training with Sonny Rogers & John Burke that Egotistico was born and if not what led to his creation? Your Wikipedia page also lists training under former NWA World Heavyweight champion Harley Race, can you elaborate on this?
Egotistico Fantastico: Well my dad is a big scary Mexican guy, he kind of looks like this (http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d139/AAWego/dad.
jpg) Growing up I always wanted to become an awesome luchadora pro wrestler, so I went out and got the Ego mask made and I used to cut weird and funny promos out in public with my friends to freak people out. Now at this time Ego did have the name Ego until my friend Gilbert Lewis said you have the biggest Ego I know you, should call the Gimmick Egotistico Fantastico, and boom Ego was born. I met Harley at the end of 2005 and started working with WLW. During that time Harley shaped who I am and how I think about Pro-wrestling, it was also Harley who helped me get signed to WWE in 2006 from the Pro Wrestling Noah Camp. On a side note my heart goes to Harley right now for the lost of his wife BJ. She was an amazing lady and did a lot of us when we stayed in Eldon.
Alan Wojcik: Checking out the 3XW website listed you working with some top stars like Shark Boy & Frankie Kazarian during three championship reigns. Talk about the 3XW experience and how it shaped you as a performer?
Egotistico Fantastico: Working with those guys was really fun but the thing that shaped me as a performer, and prepared me to work guys of that caliber was all the help and advice from Colt Cabana. Colt has become a mentor of such and had done more for me than anyone else I know. If it wasn’t for Colt I would not have become the performer I am, nor have the outlook on wrestling that I do now.
Alan Wojcik: To coin a phrase “Ego Mania” was put on hold when you were signed to a WWE developmental deal. This could lead to an entire interview on its own. Instead I will ask you to summarize your time in Deep South/Florida Championship Wrestling and what led to your release.
Egotistico Fantastico: Summarize 2 and half years in WWE…. Moved to Georgia, Moved to Tampa , then got Fired lol Just joking, working for WWE was amazing, I got to meet a lot of great people and learn from the best. I wouldn’t take back my experience for anything in the world except a million dollars J not to mention I got to beat Kofi Kingston at every video game known to man!!!
Alan Wojcik: Last year was a major step for you competing in the now defunct IWA Mid-South Ted Petty Invitational where you defeated Prince Mustafa Ali and Josh Raymond before falling to Drake Younger. Talk about that weekend and the apparent demise of IWA-MS.
Egotistico Fantastico: Going into that weekend I knew it would make or break me. TPI was the second best selling DVD for IWA next to KOTDM, and I was just coming back to the scene from being let go from WWE and I wasn’t getting that many bookings. On that night I knew I had to tear it up and get my name out there once again and I with Ali first round I knew it was going to be something special. Ali was just coming up and making his name as well, and we both had the mind set to have the match of the weekend and make everyone else work to top us. We went out there and gave everything we had and it paid off. That match was one of my best of 2008 and put me and Ali out there as guys that can carry the ball. At the end of the weekend I had 3 amazing matches and it gave me such confidence of my ability to work with anyone and put on an amazing show.
Alan Wojcik: What led you to join the promotion proud to call itself “Ultra Violent”, Combat Zone Wrestling, because you sir don’t seem to be a Cage of Death or Tournament of Death personality.
Egostistico Fantastico: CZW has more to offer fans than death matches, as you will see in November at the JPC. It was Cage of Death time in 2008 and I got a call from CZW because they were looking for guys to fill spots for the Jr. title ladder match. I have been a fan of CZW since I was in high school and I jump at the chance to work for them so I said yes and put on a great performance with the other guys in the match and was asked back in January. In January I had a match with Quick Carter Gray, as a result of that match we were both asked back for the rest of the year.
Alan Wojcik: The CZW site lists some interesting stuff about you. Let’s start with signature wrestling moves..what the hell is the “I Owe Marc Mero $5 Sault?”
Egotistico Fantastico: LOL well the story goes like this. I name all my moves after Mexican food or cool things I think sound awesome. Like the Taco Pizza because I love Taco Pizzas from TacoBell, or the Taco Burrito King (TBK) cause I love that restaurant, (I suggest you go to it next time you visit Chicago) and Finally the move in question… I do the Merosault and 2 Tough Tony goes “hey man you stole Marc Mero’s move you owe him $5.00” I could not stop laughing I think its up to like $200.00 now, so please don’t tell him cause he might come looking for me.
Alan Wojcik: Your recent tournament history includes winning the CZW Best of the Best defeating current Jr. Heavyweight champion Drew Blood, Devon Moore, Shiima Xion & then Sami Calilhan. Talk about being in that event and do you think it gives you an advantage over the other 15 JPC competitors?
Egotistico Fantastico: My record shows that tournaments are my thing; it’s the time that I shine the most, and for this whole year I can call myself the Best of the Best. At JPC it will be no different! CZW gave me the best they have to offer and I came out on top and in November being new comes to the Florida scene the CZW crew will show everyone why we are the best and proud to call ourselves Ultraviolent!
For full event info, VIP ticket packages and profiles of other competitors log onto www.JPC2009.com