The Joe Storm Interview

When he's not smacking marks in the front row or winning championships, "Iceman" Joe Storm is one of the driving forces behind East Coast Pro Wrestling in front of and behind the curtain. Storm is also one of the top performers in Ringside Championship Wrestling and Alternative Championship Wrestling and throughout his career, has competed in some now-legendary hardcore matches. On June 2nd, shortly after winning his first ECPW Heavyweight Championship, the "Iceman" sat down for a candid interview, discussing the new working relationship between ECPW and the CWF, his career, thoughts on the business in general, and a ton more topics.

BS: Firstly, how did you get started in the business?

JS: I was a mark for the old NWA growing up and marked out like everybody else, loved Flair, Rude, Mulligan, Steamboat, all of them.

BS: How did you come about teaming with Damien and forming the Storm Brothers? Was that an intention from day one?

JS: It just came about, Damien had actually been in the business a few years longer than I had. He was originally trained by (the Italian) Stallion, and then came to Winston Salem to Ken Spence's School of Pro Wrestling and we hooked up there. He actually started under the name J.T. Storm and we ran into a little conflict with that name so we re-named him Damien and started the Storm Brothers.

BS: What do you feel made you such an effective team?

JS: Lots of practice. We traveled a lot together, we were close outside of the business and still are, and in the end we truly knew where we were going in the match together.

BS: Any favorite matches or memories from your run as a team?

JS: Some of our better matches were a very good run with LA Wild One and Pat Friday as the New Heartbreak Express. We had a real good series with the Terminators that was very stiff, about three-quarters shoot, and then later on developed the hardcore style. Wrestled a lot of people and always had a great time.

BS: Describe your feelings going into October 21st of last year, knowing that you and your partner of several years were about to go out there for the last time, knowing Damian's plans of retirement (or more accurately sabbatical) and your preparations for the match.

JS: Very sad time. It was a very stressful time. As far as preparing for the match, I really didn't. We decided to go out doing the tacks, the barbed wire and some of the other things that we'd become known for and just give 110% and beat the hell out of each other.

BS: The wrestling community in this area heaped praise on that match and rightfully so, what did you personally feel about how it turned out?

JS: I thought it could have been better, it went a little long, but it was fitting for what it was, which was our farewell to each other at the time.

BS: You've been involved with ECPW since its start, and now for the first time you are its champion, what would you personally like to see the company accomplish?

JS: I would like to see the company expand its shows again and run a lot more. They have a working relationship with FWA now and possibly merging with them and giving some international exposure. I'd like to see ECPW remain known for what it was originally known for, which is quality wrestling, rather than the "Crash" style of promoting.

BS: You've also been a big part of negotiations between ECPW and CWF out of Graham, acting essentially as a representative for ECPW in an "ambassador" type role. What can you enlighten us about in regards to those negotiations?

JS: There is a working relationship in place between ECPW and CWF, which is the promotion currently under the FWA Carolinas banner. There are some opportunities for international tours with a lot of the talent that we are really looking forward to. It opens up a great possibility. There have been discussions of TV in the next couple of months. The sky is the limit, especially with international exposure, all in all, I think if we can join the two fanbases, we'll be able to get some good houses and be able to do a lot of great things.

BS: For those unfamiliar, what exactly is the FWA and what role would ECPW and CWF play into it?

JS: The FWA is the Frontier Wrestling Alliance, based out of the UK in England. It's basically an offshoot promotion of the European version of the NWA. The European FWA is made up of five promotions. There is FWA Texas, which I am not really familiar with if that is one promotion or multiples. CWF was the base federation for FWA Carolinas and its expansion. Jeff Rudd owns the franchise rights and also owns the Carolina Wrestling Federation. Right now we are kind of rubbing each other with advertising and such, with some joint shows planned in the future. If everything goes as planned right now the two organizations will merge as FWA Carolinas, ECPW and CWF merging into one larger promotion.

BS: The business as a whole domestically has changed drastically in the last few months. With essentially one major wrestling company now, where do you personally see the business heading?

JS: It's a downward spiral. Like the late 80's, the WWF product for all the talent they have has become very stale. One promotion is not good for the business, the "names" come down to the independent level and while that may give us some name recognition, most of the companies can't afford the high price tag they're charging. I think things will help if they re-launch WCW and do it in the correct way, they create their own competition, it will be good overall for the business but right now it sucks.

BS: Throughout your career, favorite match.

JS: October 21st, 2000, Fans Bring the Weapons match. I did enjoy burning Rob the Bull McBride with the fireball in the cage in Roxboro. I really enjoyed the October 21st match, ending as we started. Unfortunately, Wendell Smooth could not be a part of that one. The first weapons match we did was in Arcadia with (at the time) Seek and Destroy, Tommy Steel and Wendall Smooth, that was the first Fans Bring the Weapons match we did. Then we took it to Pikeville, KY for the second Weapons match it was better than the first. I think the third Weapons match (Oct. 21st) was better for overall violence but there is a lot more action when you're involved in the tag environment.

BS: Favorite opponent?

JS: Too many to list. For the four or five times I have worked him, I enjoyed working Rick Link. The stuff I did with my brother was pretty fun. I always loved working Rob McBride. I would have loved one more run with the Storms against Steele and Smooth, but that's not possible.

BS: With the return of Damien Storm tonight, is the Storm Brothers vs Psychos for Hire a possibility somewhere down the line? JS: It's a possibility, the foundation has been laid for "Big Daddy" Sebastian Kane and I as a team in RCW, there are a lot of possibilities for singles and six-man tags. I wouldn't say the Storm Brothers will never wrestle together again, but right now it is unlikely that it would be exclusively, but we may do some special appearances together.

BS: When all is said and done, how does Joe Storm want to be remembered by those who saw him compete?

JS: Loved the business, always gave more than I got out of it, but that is the case with most people in independent wrestling. No matter what I say out there I love the fans. They make what we do possible. Whether a promotion makes money or loses money, if it was not for the fans in whatever numbers coming out, it'd all be pointless.

BS: Any parting words for those who have supported Iceman Joe Storm and the Storm Brothers over the years?

JS: Keep coming to the shows, support your local independents, these guys bust their ass for you for a lot of times no pay. Pick what is quality, understand what is good about the business and its talent and what is not. Appreciate what the guys go through for you to enjoy that show and also chose who to support and who not to. Mainly, just keep coming to the shows.