"This business is without a doubt one of the most intense, grewling and hardest thing I have ever been involved with. Both physically and mentally. But if you can handle it can be one of the most gratifying exciting things you can experience."

When Independent wrestler Blare Rogers was sidetracked with a knee injury he found other way in the buisness to keep him busy. Blare started to help backstage with promoting, but his roots of wrestling are still there. Blare hopes to get back in the ring down in Florida. In this interview Kym Maivia goes indepth, unedited and  uncut, about, not only Blare's wrestling career, but also his views of the backstage. It's time to sit down with Blare Rogers.

Kym Maivia:  Hey Blare. Thanks a lot for taking the time out to sit down and chat with me. How have you been?

Blare Rogers:  Hey no prob... been doin pretty good. Slowly getting myself and my knee back in shape to return to the ring.

Kym Maivia:  We'll definitly talk a little bit more about you knee lately, if yur comfortable with that. But, to starts to right off, for those readers who aren't exactly sure who you are, can you describe to them what you do as a wrestler? And then, how do you describe Blare Rogers, the man behind the wrestler?

Blare Rogers:  Well... I've been called The Legacy because of the Buddy Rogers connection. Some may say I tend to be a little obnoxious in the ring... but I think its more a confidence level. In the ring I always did what it takes to get the job done. Well... Blare doesnt stop being Blare just cause he's at home or out getting something to eat.... but I think outside the ring I am alot more laid back.

Kym Maivia:  When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Blare Rogers:  Ya know... I havnt had that question worded that way... usually I get did you always want to be a wrestler?? Ya know... as long as I can remember there is nothing more I really wanted to do than to be involved in professional wrestling. Ever since the first time I seen it... I was like THAT that right there ... thats what I want to do!!! But what will I do when I grow up.... hmmm I'll figure it out later on.... but I dont plan on growin up... I'm having too much damn fun!

Kym Maivia:  So do you consider yourself a kid at heart?

Blare Rogers:  You mean I'm getting OLD?

Kym Maivia:  Not really.......But then again your not 5 anymore....do you still have that childish instict in you?

Blare Rogers:  hehe... well.. I think ya gotta be.... always try to stay young... be happy

Kym Maivia:  Who were your influences/role models growing up? Who are your influences/role models today?

Blare Rogers:  Role models... as a kid... I'd have to say there was a wide aray. There was probably always sometime to come along catch my fascination. Today I dont know if I have any "role models" but am influenced by almost anyone I come in contact with in one way or another. Always pick up the good I find in the people I meet along the way... or try to anyway... guess you cant help but pick a few bad habits here and there. But I would definitly have to say that Buddy Rogers made a huge influence on my life

Kym Maivia:  Which federations have you worked for during your career?

Blare Rogers:  Well where I live in Florida more indy promotions have come and gone than you can count. And I have worked for most of them at some point or another. One of my favorites have been Wide World of Wrestling (WWW) out of Jacksonville, FL I held thier Bahamas belt for over a year and got to go to a few countries I had never been before. And without a doubt the best indy promtion I have ever been involved with Future of Wrestling (FOW)

Kym Maivia:  Do you remember what your first match as a pro-wrestler was?

Blare Rogers:  Yes I do... although I have tried to block it from my mind. It was Feb 21, 1992 outside in front of maybe 50 people. Even though my brother Bobby and I won the tag titles that night. I pretty much consider my debut the following day when we moved to a venue right across the street from there in front of at least 1500 people we defended those belts. I remember that like it was yesterday.

Kym Maivia:  Small crowds, big crowds, loud crowds, not so loud......do factors the crowd plays make a difference in your peformance?

Blare Rogers:  Well you know.. you try not to let if affect you... but I guarantee you any wrestler ho says it doesnt is a damn liar or doesnt know the difference. I feel the energy from the crowd every time I am out there. I love it!!!

Kym Maivia:  Thats a good way to leave into this next question... At a show, when your music starts playing and you come out, what are you thinking and feeling?

Blare Rogers:  DONT f' it UP! LOL no just kidding. Ya know I dont think too much right before I go out... I walk out there and everything just happens. Its so cool!

Kym Maivia:  What do you feel? is you adrenain pumping? are you nervious? excited? calm? aNYTHING? lol

Blare Rogers:  depends on my mood at the time... but probably it could be desribed as a little bit of all of the above.

Kym Maivia:  This next one was sent in by Kelly Claus, who asks "Who would you most like to work with in the future?"

Blare Rogers:  Vince McMahon.

Kym Maivia:  Do you have interest in going to one of the "BIG 3" Federations? If so which federation do you have the most interest in?

Blare Rogers:  Well... in line with the answer to the last question. if I were to ever go to one of the "Big 3" in any capacity my first choice would without a doubt be the World Wrestling Federation. But to be perfectly honest I am enjoying what we are doing here in the Future of Wrestling. And I cant wait to see where the FUTURE takes us.... or is it the other way around.

Kym Maivia:  This next question was sent in by Trish. She asks, "What advice would you have for people who are thinking of getting into the wrestling business?"

Blare Rogers:  Well first and formost... If this is something you are just thinking of doing... maybe it isnt for you. This business is without a doubt one of the most intense, grewling and hardest thing I have ever been involved with. Both physically and mentally. But if you can handle it can be one of the most gratifying exciting things you can experience. As far as my advice. First off find a good wrestling school. Do your homework on this. It can be one of the most important decisions you can make. Name, recognition doesnt neccesarily make it good. Check it out top to bottom. Who are the trainers... who are some of its graduates... do the students there enjoy it!!?!? But this is probably the biggest peice of advice I can give. Once you decide which school you are going to go to. Remember that you are there to LEARN. Everything you think you know... keep it to yourself. If you knew it all you wouldnt be there. Be humble... have respect ... LOOK LISTEN AND LEARN!

Kym Maivia:  What are your thoughts on backyard federations these days? Do you think they are becoming too "hardcore"?

Blare Rogers:  Well I think its a fact that any modern day wrestler who watched this sport as a kid and was enamored with it didnt mimic what they saw on TV. As a kid my younger brother and I used to have our matches on a daily basis. But we always new our bounds and we never did anything that put ourselves to much at risk... From what I have seen some of these "backyard promotions" have gone a bit over the edge. When they are seriously risking the health and lives of themselves and others. Thats when it has gone to far. What I mean is any wrestler today who loved wrestling as a kid DID mimic what they say.

Kym Maivia:  All right...well before you referred to your knee,do you mind going into a bit more detail on that subject?

Blare Rogers:  WEll.. my knee was actually injured in a car accident a couple years ago. My knees crashed into the dashboard and I tore my ACL. A major ligament in the knee. Also in that accident I herniated a disk in my neck. Even though I tried to fight it... I ended up having surgery to replace the ligament little over a year ago... and another surgery back in November. That combined with the neck thing has really slowedmy return time.

Kym Maivia:  When do you expect to be able to return to wrestling, and would that date differ from when you will actually return? (in other words, will u take some more time out than u have to?)

Blare Rogers:  I kinda have already... I wanted this to heal right and 100% before I rushed right out and got hurt again. Believe me its HARD to NOT do it... but it was a decision I made. In the mean time I have enjoyed being on the other side... behind the scenes. Its opened my eyes alot and I do enjoy the promotional side of the biz. Although I have to say its ALOT harder than most people think. hehe... Now that I think of it... thats what most people say about WRESTLING till they try it. promoting is no walk in the park.

Kym Maivia:  Since you've gotten this "new awakening" with behind the scenes things, can we see you in a future of doing moreof an active role with that?

Blare Rogers:  Oh certainly. The FOW is taking off like a rocket. I love the entire promotion. The latter part of last year I spent as the "Owner of the Company" and the last few months been doing other stuff. I go where it takes me. Whether I am in front of the crowds or behind the scenes I'm always having a ball.

Kym Maivia:  Now that everyone's kinda got a feel for who you are as a wrestler and feeling toward wrestling, how bout we ge tot know the man behind the wrestler a bit more. First off, what's your favorite color and favorite food?

Blare Rogers:  Hmm... I tend to be a little bit scitzo... so it changes by the day.... today... Green and a nice steak!

Kym Maivia:  Are you scitzo when it comes to music too? Do you have a favorite band or type of music?

Blare Rogers:  Oh man... thats even WORSE... I'll listen to just about anything... execept RAP MUSIC... Thats where I gotta draw the friggin line!!! ahh but now that I think of it... I like some of that too now UGGH! Eminem cracks me up.

Kym Maivia:  How about your favorite movie and television shows and actor, actress?

Blare Rogers:  Again depends on my mood. I like movies with deep storylines... and maybe a little demoic twist here or there... stuff along the lines of Devil's Advocate. Imagine this... my three favorite TV shows are RAW... Smackdown... (suprised??) and The Sapranos.

Kym Maivia:  This next one comes from Dali, who simply asks "Boxers or briefs?"

Blare Rogers:  Boxer-briefs.

Kym Maivia:  Well that one was simple. :) What do you like to do in your spare time?

Blare Rogers:  Well... dont laugh... but I like to go to karaoke.

Kym Maivia:  Hey, no joke, I think we all like to sing...even if we can't.... Have you had any memorable fan encounters in any of your days as a wrestler?

Blare Rogers:  YES! This was back in my first year wrestling. My partner and I Bobby Rogers both had bleach blonde hair and we wore identical clothes. At a show in Miami we had some crazy woman come up to us telling us that we had got her drunk and left her at the hotel. We had no idea who the hell she was. And our families were there. Kinda embarassing... We figured it out a few months later what had happend. Wayne Bloom and Mike Enos at the time were in the WWF as Beau and Blake Beverly... we looked alot like them. A few months later we had gone to see a friend of ours in the fed Chris Chavis (Tatanka) and we mentioned it to them. They laughed there asses off they remembered the woman!

Kym Maivia:  A big case of mistaken identity? Any idea if the stroy the women were claiming was true?

Blare Rogers:  I believe it may have been LOL

Kym Maivia:  Well that about wraps everything up. I want to thank you for taking the time out to do this. Maybe down the line we can get another one of of you. To end with, is there anything you'd like to say to the readers as well your fans?

Blare Rogers:  Yes... thanks for reading. And check out www.futureofwrestling.com June 10th we are planning on having our first ever LIVE webcast of our show eminating from the brand new Palladium in Davie, FL This will go out LIVE from the event all over the world.

Kym Maivia:  Definitly a big accomplishment. Alright, well thank you Blare. Have a good one.

Blare Rogers:  Thank you Kym.... I had fun.

Check out Blare Roger's Official Site at http://members.aol.com/BlareRoger/.

Before you go remeber to leave a message in the message board about the interview, or for Blare himself:
AN INTERVIEW WITH BLARE ROGERS MESSAGE BOARD