James Dylan started out like every wrestler. A young adult with a passion for the business. He had to learn the ropes and pay his dues. With the help of his mentor, Diamond Dallas Page, he’s been able to condition himself and live out his dream. He’s even been able to open up his own wrestling company, Central PA Wrestling (CPW).
I talked to this man about his life, his passion, his highs and lows and his goals for the future.
1) How long have you been a professional wrestler?
I have been wrestling since April 2008. Going in to my 5th year.
2) What made you want to become a wrestler?
Wrestling has been a huge part of my life since I was three years old. By the age of 5, I knew that’s all I ever wanted to do. Inspired by many wrestlers, most importantly Shawn Michaels and the guys who surrounded him, Marty Jannetty, “Big Daddy Cool” Diesel, Razor Ramon and the 123 Kid. Those were some of my guys back in the day. Growing up I dealt with parents fighting a lot and what got me through those days? Wrestling. Heading in to school, I just moved to a new town and didn’t know anybody. Was kind of an outcast. What got me through those days? Wrestling. Same with junior high and high school. Always dealt with weight issues and wrestling got me through days as well. Its never turned it’s back on me and has always been there for me.
3) Describe your character.
I’m the Bulldog James Dylan. Self explanatory; I’m a bigger guy, got that bulldog type build and that Dog-Faced Gremlin type mentality. My character is based towards the kids more than anything. Always trying to get them involved barking and things like that.
4) What is your finisher and signature moves?
Through my short career I have tried different things as my finisher. Started with the Diamond Cutter that DDP personally told me to use. Now I am using a spinning neck breaker from the center top rope. I call it the Dawg Bite from Hell. I set them up like a suplex, place their legs on the top rope and follow underneath with a neck breaker.
5) What company (or companies) do you work for?
I have worked for World Professional Wrestling, Atomic Championship Wrestling, Classic Championship Wrestling, World Wide Wrestling Alliance, and many more in between. I also now run my own fed in Lewistown Pa, Central PA Wrestling (CPW). I’m very proud of this accomplishment because it was one of my goals 4 years ago breaking into the biz.
6) What was your best match?
This is a hard question to answer. There are two that stick out in my head and they might not be my best matches but two of my favorites.
The first one was a few months ago against an Indy star named Chase Helms. He was my first opponent ever in the biz and on this particular night we met at Classic Championship Wrestling in Marysville PA and had a very solid match with the crowd eating out of our hands. It may not have been a main event type match but one that stands out in my head.
The other match that stands out in my head is my match with “The Franchise” Shane Douglas. I learned a lot that night and may not have been the best match but is one of my favorites.
7) What was your worst match?
I’m sure there are many of these. Depends who you ask for any wrestler. I try to get better every match, try to out perform myself every show and become better everyday. And I thank Rob Noxious for that advice.
8)
If you could wrestle any wrestler, past or present, who would it be and why?
It would be easy to say HBK, Eddie Guerrero, Arn Anderson or Mr. Perfect because they can make anybody look like a superstar. But, if I had to choose one superstar, I would have to go with Diamond Dallas Page. He has giving me so much with his DDPYOGA program without going in to much details. When I was 16, I was 300lbs. At the age of 17, I was 198lbs and I lost that weight in 10 months because of DDP and his program. Now I have gained the weight back through a hard time in life but DDP and I are working together again. It would be an honor to wrestle my mentor, because if it weren’t for DDPYOGA I would never have even thought about stepping in to the ring.
9) What are your current goals?
My current goal is to continue to build CPW into an honorable Indy fed. I also want to continue to change lives and to help others in and out of the ring, to train harder, to become better in the ring and learn.
10) Any words of inspiration for aspiring wrestlers?
The best advice I live by is keep your mouth shut and be a sponge. I have learned so much from veterans like Rockin Rebel, Rob Noxious, Mark Mest, Jason Havok, Flexx Wheeler and so many more by following this advice.
These two quotes are also really good advice that I have referred back to through out my career.
Al Snow: ” Wrestling has to come from the heart, from real emotion, Not from your brain, not from remembering your match in the back.”
Anthony Robbins: “You’re in the midst of a war: a battle between the limits of a crowd seeking the surrender of your dreams, and the power of your true vision to create and contribute. It is a fight between those who will tell you what you cannot do, and that part of you that knows / and has always known / that we are more than our environment; and that a dream, backed by an unrelenting will to attain it, is truly a reality with an imminent arrival.”
I’d like to thank James for taking the time out of his schedule to conduct this interview. Be sure to head over to Facebook and like CPW (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Central-PA-Wrestling-CPW-Pro-Wrestling/292949080752517). Also follow his career and attend some shows if you can.