So... "next week" turned out to be 4 months. Shoot me. This time, I sat down with 3 time World Champion: Michael Trey!

(Note: This interview took place 2 weeks ago, due to the scheduled 16th date it was held off.)

CHaZ: Michael, you've been one of the HWF's biggest players. Some say, the best of all time. Whether that be the case, there is no denying you are simply a great wrestler. In the FWF's "Last Man Standing" tournamnent, you had entered, tell us a little about that.

Michael: Well, Chaz, I'm not going to sit here and try to say I'm the best in HWF's history, but I think it's obvious that I've got a lot of talent and, as you said, there is no denying that I'm a good wrestler. Now, I heard about FWF's tournament from none other than Johnny Drake. I didn't know much about it, so I got on the phones and ended up as one of the last entrants and probably one of the biggest unknowns in the whole damn thing. As it turned out, my training for the first couple rounds wasn't that great. I got beat by a guy named Jimmy Harmon, who frankly... sucks. But I got lucky and ended up somehow with a wildcard birth into next round. My next opponent didn't even bother to show up.

CHaZ: So, do you feel you were screwed in the fight with Jimmy Harmon or was it a fair loss?

Michael: It's tough to say. There's no doubt in my mind that Jimmy Harmon doesn't have NEAR the talent I do, but I just dropped the ball mentally and am just lucky I got to advance. Like I said, Brett Michaels was no where to be seen in the next round. After that... well, I ran into the guy who probably would be considered to BE the FWF, Jimmy. I thought it was a bit odd that there were so many Jimmy's in this thing, but make no mistake: JIMMY is the real deal, whereas Jimmy Harmon isn't even close. Jimmy is the FWF Champion, or at least he was until about halfway through the week of our match. We went through probably the toughest battle I've ever had, probably even tougher than Lance Sterling! This guy really impresses me but at the same time, I think he's very beatable.... with time I think I could compete very well with him. Hell, I already have!

CHaZ: With such success in the FWF, I'm sure you were talked to by many FWF executives... Anything brewing there in towards the future?

Michael: Actually, it turned out to be JIMMY of all people who got the talk going. He dropped my name to Kellen Crumb, the head recruiter, and that was about it. There are some definite plans there, but don't worry. HWF is my home and I'd never let another federation interfere with what I do here for these fans...

CHaZ: That's great that the HWF is branching out to other feds and spreading the word... Switching directions, I'm sure everyone's dying to know: Where is Espionage and Blake Frost?

Michael: I figured you'd get around to that sooner or later, Chaz... well, they're around. As people watching Last Man Standing saw, they were at my house about 2 weeks ago. They're just having some problems right now, trying to figure out what they want in HWF. I have a feeling you'll see them soon though, in some capacity... I think they're all just trying to figure out who they're most upset with!

CHaZ: *laughs* Well, I may have a forgetful night making he the pay checks until they show up...

Michael: *laughs in return* Yeah, I'm usually the one on the sore end of the deal there... they don't show up, they don't get paid, so they come mooch food off of me!

CHaZ: Now, how do you feel about losing the HWF World title to Jayson Starr-- a man who is DEFINITELY not your best of friend.

Michael: How should I feel? If you're asking, "Am I pissed off?"... I guess. The truth is that I've kind of grown a little stale here in HWF from time to time, and right now is one of them. I wasn't paying attention and Starr came in, on top of his game. You are right, he certainly isn't anything close to a FRIEND, but right now I see the problem as being more me than it is him. Don't worry though, he'll get burned soon enough...

CHaZ: Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds as though you aren't going to give Jayson credit for the win.

Michael: I'd suppose that's one way to look at it. I'm not saying he isn't talented; he is. But this wasn't a case of him beating me... I beat myself by thinking I didn't even have to pay attention to him, that I just had to show up. Right now, the HWF is thriving with talent, but those tag titles and the world title are NOT in the hands that they belong in, and that is the truth, plain and simple. I don't see anything less in the future than a goddamn war between Jayson and I, and just imagine the ratings for that one...

CHaZ: Believe me I can.. and the money, but that's beside the point.. Moving on. One last question before we get to the name association. Do you think the Forgotten Souls wouldn't have been forgotten if there were more stables? I mean, for a long time you guys were the only faction and that's when Espionage and Blake Frost began to disappear. Any thoughts?

Michael: I think that's a good point and I think it's a big reason that we've been forgotten. No one really was FIGHTING us after Sterling and Storm left. Why would anyone care about the faction? I don't know whether the factions were good for HWF or not. I can remember how shocked I was when Rykopathe formed the Hardcore Revolution back at Holiday Hangover and I think we're just now returning to the old school, one-on-one mentality. That's not to say that the Forgotten Souls needed to help each other, and it's not to say that we're done just yet... it just means that things are changing. That's how it goes in this game.

NAME ASSOCIATION

Lance Sterling:

I think... well, I think... Lance sucks cock... *laughs* Sorry, had to say it, just for old times sake. Lance Sterling is a guy that I can't take much away from. We had our differences many times behind the scenes, and of course everyone knows just how heated our fueds became at times. The one thing I can say is that if I had to choose guys who I'd want to be on my side in a fight, Sterling would definetely be in the top three... if I could trust him. Maybe someday Sterling will want to come back and do his career the RIGHT way, instead of the backstabbing and arrogant way he began. It'd be interesting to see just what would happen between us then...

DRE, aka The Criminal:

DRE... that guy is a story gone bad, for sure. Back in February, I thought he had a ton of potential, but between his gimmick changes and massive injuries which culminated in my friend, "Relentless" Rob Blackwell actually PARALYZING the guy, he's pretty well disappeared for good. For such an up-and-comer, he really never did much better than #1 Contender for the Hardcore title. We always had our differences after the old Extreme Forces breakup, so I'd say he's a guy I don't miss whatsoever.

Forgotten Souls:

The best stable in HWF history that never really got recognized for what it was: a family. You take a look back, what has happened to ALL the factions? Hardcore Revolution died off and no one from it are allies... most of them disappeared. Perfect Alliance aka the HWF's Finest? Hell, all that group was comprised of was a bunch of guys paid to protect Sterling. Extreme Forces didn't last more than a month, and the X-tremists showed up together all of twice I'd bet. This new faction of Old School HWF will be interesting, but what my point was is that the Forgotten Souls isn't a temporary alliance... we're really best friends inside and outside the ring. Even once a few of us have quit, we'll still be around together. Maybe that's the point; we stick together because no one ELSE would ever back us up...

Phoenix:

Phoenix is perhaps the only wrestler to come through HWF that I can honestly say reminds me of a better version of myself as a fresh wrestler. He's got his shit together... for a rookie. Of course, with experience will come a ton of knowledge, but once he's gone through the entire federation and what it has to offer, he will be one of the few men that I actually think could beat me on my best day.... he'll be a challenger for sure, if he keeps the desire.

Jayson Starr:

Jayson is a guy who has some history, definetely. When he first came in, he badmouthed me and I verbally smacked him down for it. He came to his senses and started to go places by "knowing his role" and doing what was supposed to be done. Hell, he was a contender, a legitamate contender, for the World Title back at King of Violence. But then he got messed up in some drugs or something, because ever since he's been part bad guy, part good guy... he loves the fans, he hates the fans, or at least hates who the fan favorite is. The truth is that he needs to stop worrying about who he's aligned with and what the fans think about him and start worrying about becoming BETTER. Sure, he beat me, but on my best day and his best day, he wouldn't stand a chance right now. Maybe if he got his shit together, he could be "the man"... but not right now. That's a problem in HWF that'll be rectified damn quickly.

HWF Management:

Hard to the f'n core. Us wrestlers take a lot of credit sometimes, but if it wasn't for these guys, Drake and Chaz, we wouldn't even be able to put on this show for the fans. They're the ones who put together the card, who work the fueds into ratings, the ones who get the fans out to the arena to see the magic happen. I don't think we could ask for a better management team... well, maybe except the Commish. Damn Canadian... what's that all aboot?!

Gavin Coens:

He's a wannabe, I know that much. Gavin claims that he beat me, but we both know that it was on a goddamn bad call, and my brother whipped his ass too. Not to take away from Coens' skills, it's just that he thinks he is so much better than he IS. Some days he can get on fire, but other days he just wouldn't stand a chance against the lowliest of jobbers. Once he gets in a groove, he'll be another talent that will compete, IF he doesn't let his ego in the way. Hell, he could very well be the next Lance Sterling....

Malice:

A guy that I still have some scores to settle with. I wonder just where he disappeared to, but most of all I wonder if he'd ever come back. He was the first punk to fued with me and I really wonder... where would he be if he was still in HWF? Maybe we'd still be the two top guys... or maybe he'd stay at the level we were at back then and I would have adapted. Who knows.

Jimmy:

One hell of a wrestler. As much as some of the HWF roster enjoys badmouthing the FWF, he is one guy that is undisputably talented. I can easily say he was the biggest challenge of my career and the fact is that I'm better for going against him. I love HWF, but I think it's good to go out of the fed for some competition every now and then, just to get a taste of what else is going on.

Bisc Limpkit:

One of the coolest men in wrestling. A little odd at times... after all, you'd have to be to have the name "Bisc Limpkit", but one amazing guy. He's got some incredible ideas and the time to get them to happen, so now that he's a part of HWF management, I wouldn't be surprised to see ANYTHING happen in this place....