Name: MARIUS
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 195 LBS
Hometown: Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Manitoba
When did you break into the wrestling business? Were you a fan growing up?
I broke into wrestling in 2004 with the Canadian Wrestling Federation. As far back as I can remember, I’ve always been a wrestling fan, I’m the youngest of three boys so we always watched together on Saturday and Sunday mornings and afternoons.
Who inspired you to become a wrestler? Who are your major influences as a wrestler?
As a young Canadian I was always a fan of Bret Hart. I absolutely loved when they created the Hart Foundation stable in 1997. That’s when I really started to want to be a wrestler and not just watch it on TV. Undertaker was always at the top of the list too. When I first got into wrestling some major influences were Ric Flair and most Canadians like Bret and Owen Hart, Jericho
Who trained you? Tell me about your first wrestling match?
I was trained by Rob Stardom at the CWF Training Academy Winnipeg
What do you consider your wrestling style? What type of offence do you use most? What’s your finishing move?
If I had to pick a style it would be a mix of brawling and technical wrestling. During the course of a match you’ll see me use a few different suplexes, a Fisherman suplex being my favourite, leg drops, STO’s, curb stomps, a few different holds and submissions, forearms smashes, stomps and kicks. Over the years I’ve used the Piledriver as an impact finisher, a Top Rope Leg Drop for an aerial finisher and an Ankle Lock for a submission finisher.
Which promoters/promotions have you worked for? What other territories have you wrestled in?
I’ve worked for a number of promotions throughout Canada and parts of the United States Manitoba for Steeltown Pro Wrestling and in Newfoundland Canada United States working for Minnesota Independent Wrestling and in Boston Canada and much of the US
Have you ever appeared on television/PPV or in a documentary/movie?
I’ve been fortunate to have opportunities presented to me. I appeared on AWE’s Large than Life PPV in 2005 that aired in Canada Manitoba
Have you wrestled any WWE/WCW/WCW/TNA/RoH wrestlers? If so, who and what was your experience like?
Wrestling legends from the past can be surreal at times because I think back to watching them as a child or teenager on TV during their peaks in popularity. I equate it to a young actor having the chance to work with a Robert De Niro or Al Pacino, working with someone you grew up wanting to be. Not many people get to live that. I’ve worked with a few legends like Rick Martel, Bushwhacker Luke and Honky Tonk Man.
What do you consider your best match so far? Who have been your favourite opponents and your favourite tag team partners?
In my formative years my favourite matches were always against AJ Sanchez and Kevy Chevy. In the last few years I’ve had good matches with Matt Fairlane, Rob Stardom, La Sombra and most recently Mike Mission. I don’t know that I can pinpoint a single match because I always feel they could have been better and hope that they do get better. As for tag team partners, I’ve had two and I enjoyed working with both. In my formative years it was Joey Blitz, RIP, and later on Rob Stardom who went from trainer/mentor to best friend and confidant.
What would you consider your 3 biggest accomplishments so far in your career?
I’m proud of the TV appearances that I’ve done. Coming from a small town, not everyone gets to be seen on national TV. Getting to wrestle legends and people I watched in my youth for the reasons I mentioned, that it’s not everyday someone gets to work with their idols, to be their peers. I’d say my third accomplishment that I’m proud of is that I haven’t stopped growing as a wrestler; I continue to improve and travel to new places and to learn from my environment and peers. That attitude will lead me to more accomplishments down the road that I can be proud of.
If you could choose a dream opponent who would you choose from the 1980’s, 1990’s and the last decade?
The 1980’s would be a no brainer, that’s Ric Flair, he was just so good and I’m sure he’d make me look like a million bucks, like he did for everyone he worked. From the 1990’s I’d say either Bret Hart or Shawn Michaels, growing up they were the 1990’s WWF. From the last decade I’d say Kurt Angle. If you asked me to pick someone from this year I’d say Bobby Roode, everyone that I’ve talked to that knows him always puts him over as the real deal and at the moment it certainly seems that way. His work is just getting better and better.
What is your end goal as a wrestler? What would you need to accomplish in order to consider your career a success?
My end goal is to never stop learning, keep chipping away at my bucket list, to travel throughout North America and abroad and keep having fun doing it. In my mind, travelling internationally needs to happen for me to consider it all a success. Countries like Mexico , Puerto Rico , Japan , the UK and parts of Europe are all on my radar before I hang up my boots. For the sake of saying I tried, I’d also like to do one WWE tryout when they host development camps in Florida
What would you do differently if you could go back to your first day in the wrestling business and start over?
The first thing I’d do differently is not listen to people who said that I’d never make it, that I’d never get anywhere. I was deterred early from people that were my peers and I believed a lot of what was said which resulted in a slow start and lack of confidence. Secondly I would have hit the gym harder and gone down to every OVW and FCW camp I could to get a look. That seems to be the way to go these days.
What is your take on the current state of the wrestling business? What do you think needs to change/evolve in order for wrestling to hit the same peaks as the “Rock ‘n Wrestling Connection” or the “Monday Night Wars”?
I think people are a little too critical on the current state of wrestling. People criticize TNA’s rating when they are still one of the top rated shows on Spike, same with WWE on USA Network and SyFy. While PPV buys are down, I agree that it is a reflection of the product but that it’s also a representation of a changing market place. The bulk of revenues now come from TV contracts and merchandise, not PPVs. Like everyone else I think the changes that need to be made is a dedication to developing and establishing new main event talent and more long term planning and consistency in the story telling. They are so worried with what is happening week to week they forget about where they will be a few months down the road.
Where do you see yourself a year from now? Five years from now?
A year from now I hope to travel more in the United States , specifically the south like the Carolinas . I’m told it’s a beautiful part of the country. Five years from now, travel overseas and experience the different styles of wrestling that are out there. And before I’m “too old” attend a WWE Development camp in Florida
Any last words you’d like to share with the wrestling world?
Just to follow your dreams and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. What gives them the right? And to the fans, to support independent wrestling and enjoy the shows; it’s easy to be negative or critical, but remember that you’re there to have fun so go out there, make some noise, cat call, whatever, and have a good time. Also, visit http://ProjectMARIUS.com!
