Read our brand new interview with Marty Jannetty here, or click here to read our exclusive AWR interview with Scotty The Hotty!

AWRwrestling.com: Marty, how does it feel to be returning to Europe and how do fans in Europe differ to those in the United States?

MJ: I'm without a doubt very excited about this return. This is my first extended tour in Europe in a few years. The last time I was over there for a long stay you guys almost got stuck with me permanently. I didnt want to come back home. I was there for about 4 months. Now that isnt to say I don't love my American fans every bit as much, it's just that I am addicted to change. New things. And things there were new as far as a lifestyle.

AWR: Who were some of your inspirations growing up watching professional wrestling?

MJ: Bob Armstrong may have been my very favorite. He was so full of charisma, and tons of energy.

AWR: You've been a massive star since the mid 1980s Marty... can you share with us, some your favourite matches in which you have been involved in?

MJ: First let me say thank you, for the compliment of being a "massive star". One of my favorite matches of all time was a match against Shawn Michaels in Denver Colorado. I think it was the night before the Royal Rumble "93" match we had. Denver was special to Shawn and I since they sort of watched us grow up. We started our time together in AWA days as "The Midnight Rockers" doing Denver once a month. I guess maybe that's why they had sort of considered us "their" kids. They always were extra good to us. And, on this particular night, we were going to show our appreciation. The match we had been having in house shows generally lasted between 15 and 20 minutes. That's an easy night especially working with Shawn. But on this night, we both were "feeling it". We just attacked on the start of the match, and never slowed down the entire time. They say because Denver is right at 1 mile high in altitude that you need to pace yourself in athletics so you dont run out of oxygen so fast. Shawn and I always laughed about that as it NEVER had effected us before. But, on this night, it did. just as the announcer alerted the crowd it had been 15 minutes in with 45 minutes remaining time limit, I remember thinking "holy shiznit we been going 15 minutes full speed, no wonder my lungs feel on fire". But it had only felt like 2 or 3 minutes, like time must have slowed to damn near a stop. I looked over at Shawn just in time as he said, "MJ I'm gassed dude but lets keep going". I remember saying something like, "just feed off the crowd's energy"..and to this day, I cant tell you what we did for the next 5 to 10 minutes.

All I know is somehow we did it and when the match was over, as BOTH of us left the ring and headed to the dressing room, the crowd gave us a standing ovation. And Shawn was the bad guy right? But they appreciated what they saw so much they gave both of us the standing O. It was a great feeling. But, I just wanted to get behind the curtains and drop. But, the moment I come through the curtains (Shawn had gone thru already) the boys and agent Blackjack Lanza were all standing there clapping and high fiving us. To me, there is no higher honor in this industry than that. Shawn and I had gotten a few of those as a team but this was the first time as singles. Lanza was so ecstatic he ran right to the phone and called Vince telling him that he just saw the best match he's ever seen in his life, and that we were going to steal the show at the Rumble. I heard every word he said to Vince because I had collapsed to the floor right there.. I rolled under a nearby table as I didnt want everyone to know I was dead azz tired.

I've seen many guys lay on the floor when they came back from their match, but neither Shawn nor I would EVER do that. mainy because we knew we couldn't. We were the big partiers on tour, and if we laid down after a match, it would show we needed to slow our party lifestyle down or at least that is what everyone would say. Funny though, I looked across the hallway and there was Shawn laying on the floor too.
It's weird but at that moment I realized we did something special that night. We had connected in some paranormal way as "one" with that crowd. Neither of us remember the last few minutes of the match. Nor where the energy came from to do it. There is a saying in sports, "leave all you got out on the field". At that moment I understood that saying.

And..the next day at the Rumble, the build up was monstrous as Vince and everyone of the entire crew of boyz, including ones that were on other tours and hadnt seen any of our matches, were looking to see the match they had all heard about.But, we got a strange twist at the last moment. They interjected Scary Sherrie into our match. For the life of us, with the interferences Sherrie brought, we just could not get that rhythm we
had the night before. I dont think our match was bad by no means, but both Shawn and I were very disappointed. While that is a very memorable match in Denver, I must say, The Rocker Reunion match is my sentimental favorite, and the very next night with Kurt Angle is right there too. Top 3 matches ever for me. I will have a book coming out soon and I'll give you all the details of the 48 hours build up to the Rockers Reunion..a match that is the favorite memory of mine, almost never happened due to just plain bad luck occurrences one right after another one after another. In a way, I felt like nature was fighting against me making it, yet I still did. and did well enough to earn myself a 3 year contractfrom it.(which of course disasters still struck right after that) BUT, If ever anyone could beat nature, that Reunion was the ONE TIME ONLY that I might have!!

AWR: Marty, The AWR roster has some promising up and coming talent. As a ring veteran, what advice could you give these youngsters looking to make a name for themselves?

MJ: There is a thing I tell my students whenever I do run schools over here called the 4 P's; PRACTICE, PATIENCE, PERSISTANCE AND PERSEVERANCE...LIVE THEM!! And most of all, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!!

AWR: Is there anything you would like to say to your fans across Europe as you set to compete with American Wrestling Rampage?

MJ: I'm coming for two things, to take care of business and to have a good time!!! and by taking care of business, it means getting down and dirty in the ring, kickin major azz..and..by having a good time..simply means I'll be getting up with my fans there and looking to party down the towns..legally of course!! Ha. Check me out on Myspace, as me Mustafa, Gator and the MJ Misfitz of the world will keep up with one another...also I will have info for you soon on the new MJ DVD coming out, and the book to come within the next year. Thanx to you all, I cant wait to meet you!!

Our brand new section, "Interviews and Articles" offers you the chance to read exclusive interviews with AWR stars and thought provoking columns and articles. We kick off this brand new section with the first in a series of "quick interviews". The first installment is with Scotty The Hotty...

AWRwrestling.com: Scotty, you've been a major star in the WWE for years. How different is it competing in front of European fans under the AWR Banner?

Scotty: I have always enjoyed performing in front of the European fans. They are always very appreciative of us and the fact that we come to their country. The AWR has given the American wrestlers a chance to go back to some of these great European countries and it has given the European fans a chance to see some of their favorite stars, which they didn't know if they would ever get a chance to see again after leaving the WWE. Also with the AWR you get the chance to meet some of your favorite stars at the event.

AWR: You've been a professional wrestler through two decades. Do you have a favourite match you've competed in over the past 20 years?

Scotty: My favorite match would have to be the ten man tag team match from Raw in 2000. It was myself, Grandmaster Sexay, Rikishi, Cactus Jack, and The Rock vs. Triple H, X-Pac, Chris Benoit, Perry Saturn, and Dean Malenko. It was a magical night where everything just clicked.

AWR: That's your favourite match that YOU have competed in... what about a
favourite match you haven't competed in?

Scotty: Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage from WrestleMania 3. That was the match that made me want to be a wrestler.

AWR: What is your take on some of the younger up-and-coming talent in AWR such as Shawn Maxer, Dunkan Disorderly, Joey Cabray and The Suicide Machine?

Scotty: Since leaving the WWE, I have had the opportunity to wrestle around the world. I have had a chance to see some of the up and coming wrestlers that are out there today. These four guys mentioned are by far some of the best young prospects out there. That is one of the great things about AWR. You get to see both the stars of tomorrow and the stars that have been a part of companies like the WWE.

AWR: Scotty, all wrestlers are asked this question... past or present, who would your dream match be against?

Scotty: The one guy that I have never had the chance to wrestle or even just be in the ring with that I wish I did is Hulk Hogan. Though I wasn't really a fan of his as a kid, I have come to appreciate and respect him now that I am a part of this business and understand it more.

AWR: It would seem you're a fan favourite pretty much everywhere you go! Would you
like to take this opportunity to say anything to your fans in Europe?

Scotty: Yes, I would like to thank the European fans for supporting me throughout my career. Thank you for letting me perform for you over the years and thank you for coming out to support me and the rest of AWR. With your continued support AWR could be a major player in the wrestling industry in the future.

Keep it here on www.AWRWRESTLING.com for exclusive interviews with AWR stars and thought provoking columns and articles!