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Wrestlezone UK Interview
Via Email By Kris Griffin

He is without a doubt the best wrestler you may never have heard of, he is following the same path of fellow breakthrough stars AJ Styles, Lo Ki and Christopher Daniels and many industry insiders expect him to eventually make the transition to WWE. At 6'2" and 235lbs he has the size, he certainly looks the part and most importantly he is currently head trainer at the Killer Kowalski school - so he can wrestle! Travelling the globe with April Hunter as part of Team SWB, hard work and dedication are the order of the day for this amazing 23 year old. Introducing "Slyk" Wagner Brown...

You were born in Kingston, Jamaica. How did you end up in Boston and do you ever return to Kingston, if so what's it like for you going back?
My parents decided to come to America when I was 10 years old. I haven't been back since, but I plan on visiting real soon.

How did you get introduced to Killer Kowalski and involved in the school and how did you become head trainer?
I was looking to become a pro wrestler, but didn't know how to go about it. So a friend of mine told me about Kowalski's. After attending his classes for a year and a half, because I wasn't old enough to join, I began my training in July of 1997. While the head trainer at the time was away on the weekends, Walter would ask me to help out with the training. And after the head trainer decided to train elsewhere, Walter approached me about training his guys full time.

Why do you think Kowalski's made you head trainer and what did they see in you to offer that job?
Walter and I have a good relationship, and he likes the fact that I teach the guys the basics and how to stand out. I'm not too sure as to what exactly made him choose me, but I can only guess that's because I was helping out on the weekends to begin with, and I've already earnt the guys respect.

What is your relationship with Killer Kowalski like?
It's a friendly/working type relationship. We're not like father and son type, but if something is bothering me, I can easily approach him for some answers.

Chyna was pretty disparaging about Killer Kowalski and his training methods - what are your views on her comments?
I didn't read her book, nor do I know much about their relationship. But it's very hard to find someone with the knowledge of Killer Kowalski. His school has been in business for over 20 years, that alone says he knows what he's doing.

As a relatively young wrestler - do you feel you command the respect of wrestlers, especially students, as much, than if you were an "old-hand"?
That's a good question. I would like to think so. Because I'm not the type of person that preaches, but doesn't follow what I preach. I'm the guy that's working every weekend trying to make a name for myself, and that's what I tell my guys to do. When the time is right, you have to get in the car and do what needs to be done. No one is going to knock on your door, and tell you to grab your bags, we're going to the WWE. I know some people dislike me, but I don't care, respect is all I care about!

Were you ever tempted to go into more mainstream sports - track and field, football?
I'm glad you asked that question. In high school, I played all the above including amateur wrestling. As a matter a fact, I was offered an amateur wrestling scholarship, but turned it down to pursue pro wrestling instead. At the moment, I wish I didn't, but everything happens for a reason.

You have worked for over 20 different promotions - what do you get from all the different aspects and why not stick to one?
I get the opportunity to work with different people. If you work with just one promotion, you tend to become stagnant after a while. But when you're working with a different person every week, you have the chance to learn something new and work different styles. I've had the experience of just working with one federation in the past, and it was the sh*ts!

You have worked small parts with WWE now. What feedback have you been getting from them? If they signed you how would you like them to progress your character?
The feedback they have given me has basically been, keep working, we're watching you. If they signed me today, I would like them to produce some video packages for me hyping my debut. And showing the fans who SWB is, and what SWB can and will do once he's in the WWE.

There is a feeling in the industry that one of the reasons you may have not been signed by WWE is that they already hold a wrestler very similar to yourself in Shelton Benjamin - what are your views on this and how do you feel that you differ from Shelton?
I've heard this as well. But I've seen Shelton perform on numerous occasions, and I don't think we're similar at all. He's more of a mat wrestler. I'm a technical high flyer, who adds gymnastics to the equation. Besides the fact that we're both black males, I think we're very different. And we may even make a great team, remember Doom?

What is your relationship with April Hunter - how, why and when did you guys get together and what does the future hold?
April and I are close friends. When April joined the school last year, she pulled me aside and told me something that I'll never forget. She's the only person in the wrestling business that I truly trust, and one of the few that believes in me 100%. She's helped me out tremendously, and for that I'm extremely grateful. I don't know what the future holds for us, but I hope it's something we'll both enjoy!

If you split with April in the future, would you have any problems fighting her one-on-one?
It depends on what's at stake. If it's a retirement match or acquiring her services, it would be my pleasure! And I'm pretty confident that I would win.

What is it about Shawn Michaels that you admire so much and what did you think of his decision to get back in the ring and risk his health?
I liked the fact that Shawn went out and proved to the world that you don't have to be the biggest dog in the yard to run it. In a time when big guys ran wild in the WWF/now WWE he worked his ass off and got himself recognized by the WWE and it's fans for being the absolute best. I saw his match with HHH at SummerSlam and I didn't think it was that bad. It definitely was the Shawn Michaels I'm use to watching, but I thought he did pretty good for being out so long. And for him to get back in the ring and risk his health, just proves to me how much he still loves the business.

Your negative viewpoint on hardcore wrestling and the importance of giving the crowd a storyline and psychology in a match is a very mature stance to take - where did these views form and what made you undertake them?
Two words, Killer Kowalski. Walter always drills it in our heads, you should only do what comes naturally and make sense. If it doesn't make sense, then what's the point? I was watching a show, and one match went out there and pretty much killed themselves and barely got a reaction. Then another match went out there and used psychology and did some creative things as well, and got a great reaction. So that's why I believe storyline and psychology is better than just killing yourself in the ring. Plus if you stick to using psychology, your career will last much longer.

You credit Chris Benoit with speed and energy - two important ingredients that help getting over with the fans - how about mike skills - are you comfortable with the mike and do you feel that poor mike skills will ever stop people like Benoit reaching their full potential?
I'm pretty comfortable talking on the mic. I'm no Rock, but I'm still learning. I think mic skills are very important, but I don't agree with anyone that says they're more important than wrestling. Today is very different than wrestling was in the 70's, I know that. But I still think the people want to see actual wrestling. And if you can provide that along with good/great mic skills, then the sky is the limit. So to answer your question. Yes, I do think mic skills are very important. And I do believe it would help people like Benoit reach their full potential. But ultimately, wrestling is what the people paid to see!

The cocky, arrogant, confident and smart persona could be likened to the Rock of current day stars - what are your views of the Rock, his persona and his current situation of splitting film with wrestling?
That's a tough one. I think the Rock is doing good for himself, and I bet he does too. But, I think the time will come when he has to choose between wrestling and Hollywood. And that won't be easy. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes, actually I would, but not on the day that he has to make that decision.

HHH lives, eats and breathes wrestling. After reading about you online it seems you share similar traits with him - considering his current dressing-room popularity do you think that is a good thing? Is it a good thing to be THAT focused?
Absolutely. If you're going to do something, then do it well. And the only way to be the best in this business, is to live, eat, sleep, and breathe it.

Dedication, perseverance, attention to detail, ever-present willingness to learn and an open mind combined with excellent judgment - an online quote about you, it makes you sound like the perfect wrestler, however what do you feel that you have got left to learn and where do you want to go fromhere?
That's a lot to live up to, but it really doesn't bother me. I've got lots to learn, and I know that. But I think if the opportunity was given to me today, I would make the best of it. I've given the last 5 years of my life to this business, and I'm looking forward to that ball being handed off to me.

You have recently visited the UK - what you did over here and how did you enjoy it? Will you be coming back and when?
April and I wrestled for IWW and Big Time Wrestling. I enjoyed both shows very much, and was blown away by the popularity of wrestling in the UK and Ireland. The fans are great, they appreciate what we do in the ring, and that's cool. We will be back sometime next year, maybe late February or mid March. Sign up for my newsletter to keep yourself posted.