Words with a Backyard Wrestler

WWF, WCW, ECW...we've all heard of these professional wrestling federations. And some of us even attend indy federation events, well we're digging even deeper than that, we're going straight through to a fan's federation. Sometimes they're called Backyard Wrestlers, but the CFWA is much more than that. CFWA (Cedar Falls Wrestling Alliance) has monthly events in a gym on the University of Northern Iowa campus in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Four of us from gyeah.com set out to CFWA's December event, Hardcore Holi-Daze, and it was interesting to say the least. When we arrived that night, we didn't know what to expect. When we walked through the door to see the padded trampoline acting as a ring, our hopes fell some, but as soon as the show kicked off everything changed. The CFWA is a very well organized federation with many interesting characters. Sure they had some things that were a little too much like we see on TV every Monday Night (ala NWO type groups and hardcore icons), but we were still very impressed. Two of our favorite characters were: Mr. Classic (a throw-back style wrestler in a singlet) and a hillbilly with a mentally deficient sidekick who hugged a teddy bear in the crowd and screamed whenever his other half was in trouble. You won't see guys like that on RAW and Nitro, but you damn well should. They'd be alot more entertaining than guys like Steve Austin and The Big Show. You know I'm right....don't you?

After attending the event, we knew we had to interview the man behind CFWA to get some info on what it was like to be a "backyard wrestler." And we did just that, here is our interview with the CFWA's Ed Murphy:

WORDS WITH A BACKYARD WRESTLER:

Q - First, for those that don't know about CFWA, Describe the federation in a sentence.

A - 45 minutes to 1 hour of pure wrestling entertainment and humor.

Q - What's your title/duties in the CFWA?

A - My official title in the CFWA is that of "Ian McMurphy, The Irish
Assassin." My duties are, pretty much, just to show up and put on the best match possible. I do help out a little with character development and storylines.

Q - How does the CFWA pay its bills?

A - As far as bills go we really don't have any. We are recognized as a student organization so we get to use the building for free. Our sound equipment and microphones are all provided by our wrestlers. Our only expenses really are chairs, garbage cans, etc.

Q - What made you want to start your own wrestling federation?

A - Actually the CFWA was started around 3 years ago in the basement of Bartlett Hall by a guy named Gabe Thompson. Back then they used to wrestle on mattresses. But after one year they were able to move into the East Gym, and that is where we have been there ever since.

Q - Can you tell us briefly about some of the personalities in the CFWA?

A - Some of the more dominant personalities in CFWA right now would most definitely be Flex Appeal. Flex Appeal is a "heel", or bad guy, clique consisting of 5 guys. I am in this group right now as well as Brick, Adam Kage, Commissioner Ryan Dowell, and the CFWA Champion The Real Deal Dean Collins, we all are totally full of ourselves and make fun of everyone in the audience. We call them names and do pretty much anything we can to make them hate us. And believe me, they do. On the flip side, the #1 "face", or good guy, would be Tortuous Tony Sly, "The punk rock hunk with the biggest junk." He is joined by The Diabolical Chuck Taylor, together these guys make a hell of a team and take on Flex Appeal in numerous matches.Some other personalities in the CFWA are: Squawking Fury, who can't talk but can squawk. Wilomite, the Super Pimp, which is exactly what it sounds like, he comes to the ring with to guys dressed up as women and people seem to eat that up.

Q - What are the goals of the CFWA? World dominance?

A -Our goals are pretty much to put on the best show possible and to get some decent sized crowds. And to someday save up enough money for a ring.

Q - What federation do you liken yourself to the most? WWF? WCW? ECW?

A - I would most liken us to ECW.

Q - What's the most embarrassing thing to happen in a CFWA ring?

A - One time Tony Sly was setting up an opponent for a "super kick" to the face, with a chair in front of the opponents face. He took a running start and went for the kick and totally missed the guy, and a chant of: "You F**ked up!" echoed through the gym.

Q - What are your most memorable CFWA happenings? Funniest? Scariest? Other?

A - My most memorable moment would be a match I had with Beautiful Brent Filmore, who has now gone on to wrestle in an indy federation in Wisconsin. Anyway, I was down on the mat and he proceeded to climb a ladder up to a balcony that surrounds the entire gym and attempt a senton bomb. He leaped off and performed his senton perfectly but I wasn't there when he landed. I rolled over and pinned him and won the match.

Q - Before we let you go, If you booked it, who would win? The Rock vs. Mick Foley vs. Steve Austin vs. RVD vs. Goldberg - in a Fatal 5 Way?

A - RVD all the way.

Q - Who puts out a better product? WWF? ECW? WCW?

A - WWF, without question.

Q - What do you think about the recent explosion in wrestling popularity? Is it good or bad for wrestling?

A - I like the fact that wrestling is popular and all but the one thing that does concern me is the fact that with the Internet around now every wrestling fan knows pretty much everything there is to know about the business, and that makes it very hard for the feds to stay a step ahead. It seems as if every fan is an expert.

-In closing if you're a wrestling fan and are in the Iowa area, check out a CFWA event for a refreshing take on prowrestling, by the fans...for the fans.

-Now that you've read something, he's written. Wouldn't you like to find out more about The Goc? Here you go.