A Sitdown With "The Champ" Part 2

by Jon Harder

ACE Pro Wrestling's own Jon Harder was granted a rare sitdown interview with ACE Heavyweight Champion Dan Maff before the December 17th Worlds Collide event. The champ was very candid in Part 2 of this ACE Pro Wrestling Exclusive.

Jon Harder: Mr. Maff, thank you very much for letting me conduct another interview with you. I really appreciate that, especially after the way the last one abruptly ended.

Dan Maff: Again, the pleasure is all mine.

JH: Unlike the last time, this interview will be a little more in-depth and personal. I will start with a moment I saw up-close at ACE’s biggest show to date, Crossroads VI. Before the show kicked off, JL Chico, a man who is very familiar to you, handed you a few pictures that, as I understood, truly touched you. Can you explain what the pictures were of and what the meaning was behind them? Furthermore, what has JL Chico meant to you and your career?

DM: JL Chico is a man who is the original “Mr. Wonderful” in professional wrestling. I’ve known him since he was two years old. Chico taught me to take my first bump at 3 years old. I used to carry his bags, lace his boots and just hang around him. He was my favorite wrestler as a kid. At Crossroads, he handed me a few framed pictures of my father. My dad was a referee in the business and those were photos of my dad in action that I’ve never seen before. They touched me deeply.

You know, I’ve been blessed. I’ve been in locker rooms since I was 3 years old.  I’ve seen the business change again…and again…and again…AND AGAIN. I’m not going to tell you how old I am (laughs), but I’ve seen it evolve a lot. And just to get those pictures of my father, I just truly feel blessed. They are timeless. They sit on the wall of my bedroom. It’s just amazing.

JH: Speaking of locker rooms, currently in ACE, you are considered by some to be one of ACE’s locker room leaders. How does it feel to be considered one of them by your peers?

DM: When your own peers consider you and call you a locker-room leader, it is an HONOR. You can’t go straight in and call yourself a leader; you lead by example. You are the first one there and the last one to leave. To have the guys like Mike Donovan, Killa S, the Midnight Sensations, amongst others, and be able to help develop their psychology, their promos, their facials, it’s a thrill. I want to teach them that it’s not all in the moves and the 450s; it’s all in the character. Less is more. In such a young locker room, I just want to develop the next generation of talent.

When it comes to this locker room, one moment in particular comes to mind. After Destined for Greatness, after that match with Mo Sexton, I came back behind that curtain and the locker room gave me a standing ovation. It literally brought me to tears. To call me a locker room leader in the ACE locker room is, again, an HONOR. Not many people know this, but it gets me off. It’s my high. It’s my thrill. There’s no feeling like it.

JH: Speaking of the locker room, to you, what guys on the young ACE roster strike you as the most promising?

DM: Two men that immediately come to mind are Mo Sexton and Azrieal. Mo has an incredible work ethic and his psychology is second-to-none. Azrieal, I met when he was training at the Doghouse in Brooklyn. I truly got to know Azrieal when we both were in Ring of Honor. Some of the best matches I ever had, Azrieal has been a big part of. One match in particular that comes to mind was when myself, Monsta Mack and Low Ki faced Special K in ROH. Az was a big part of that. Both Mo and Az mean as much to ACE as Jay Lethal when he was here. You see where he’s gone and where he will ultimately go.

Amongst other guys, the Midnight Sensations, Chris Rockwell and Sam Shields. When they figure it out, they will literally be something to watch. Killa S, he is a joy to teach. He comes to me and listens. No matter how hard I am on him, he keeps coming back for more. I like that. Tom Scanlon…

JH: The ACE of Hearts.

DM: That’s right. The kid is a monster. When it’s all said and done, we will be watching Tom on Monday nights. He’s a big guy who’s light on his feet. He’s so teachable.

Those guys stand out. They work hard and don’t take mediocrity as a path. They keep working harder and harder at their craft.

JH: I’m going to take the focus off the ACE locker room for a moment and put it on ACE as a whole. Of course, ACE has its positive feedback, but also its haters as well. What are your feelings on that topic? What are your takes on the positive and maybe more so, the negative that this company receives from its critics?

DM: It’s the business. One way or the other, everybody has their critics. The New York Yankees have won 27 World Series championships and people still get on them. “They should sign Jeter to what they want.” “Jeter is asking for too much, just let him go.” “They should have never disrespected Bernie Williams the way they did.” Everyone is going to get criticized. For Christ’s sake, the WWE gets it. They are a billion dollar monster and people say they aren’t doing anything right. Everyone gets it. Do you ever hear Rex Ryan compliment the Ravens for molding him into the coach he is for the New York Jets? Without the competition or camaraderie, there is no wrestling business. There just isn’t. You’ve got to develop a thick skin. Is Mike Morgan going to mark out to another promotion? NO. Is another fed going to mark out for Morgan and ACE? NO. It’s the belly of the beast. It’s the business.

JH: With that said, you’ve personally had your fair share of critics and haters over the past few years. Is there anything you’d like to state to your critics right now?

DM: Keep criticizing…but be smart when you do it. Criticize with an open mind. For all the haters, keep hating, because without hate, there would be no boos. And if there are no boos, there would be a boring show. For all the Maff haters that personally hate me, keep hating. It only makes me stronger. It only motivates me that much more.

JH: Back to ACE for one moment, sir. In your mind, what is truly the next step for not only the ACES, but American Championship Entertainment itself?

DM: ACE needs to grow more in other video companies and like other businesses, sponsors. That would be a major shot in the arm. Without money, the company is limited in its options. A bigger company means bigger talent. It means a bigger budget. It means the cosmetic look of the company becomes bigger and better. The next step is definitely sponsors.

Also, ACE needs to start networking more in other regions. Places like Northern and Southern New Jersey. Places like Ohio. Places like Florida. ACE needs more exposure. The ACES need to network more too, and that’s something we are working on.

JH: Well Mr. Maff, thank you again for another interview, but I have to leave you with one more question. From all that happened within your personal and professional life these past few years, is there anyone you’d like to thank for getting you to this point in time? And more importantly, what is left for Dan Maff to do in this industry?

DM: I’ve been blessed. I’ve had the opportunity to work with guys like Batista, CM Punk, the Samoans, Rikishi Phatu, Samu, the Undertaker, Kane, the APA, Christopher Daniels, the Great Muta, Ricky Steamboat, Dusty Rhodes and Terry Funk. It’s been an unbelievable ride. I’ve truly been blessed. So what is there left to do?

I want to go back to Puerto Rico which, in my mind, is the single greatest territory left where the fans truly believe in wrestling. I want to keep developing young talent into something special. I want to give back to the business for what it has given me.  I want to do this as long as I can and stay healthy as long as I can so I can treat the fans like crap or show them love.

One thing about the fans I have to bring up. I love every fan. I never turn down any picture or autograph.  Through the good and definitely the bad, they’ve always been there. My connection with the fans is something I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. When it’s time to hate me, they hate me. When it’s time to love me, boy, do they love me. I love each and every fan that keeps supporting, not only me, but independent wrestling in general. Without the fans, there is no show.

I’ve also made a lot of mistakes, some stupid, some justified. We all make mistakes. Did I do it? Yeah I did. All I can do is dust myself off and keep moving forward.

When it comes to thanking people, the amount is endless. I have to first thank Fat Frank for the opportunity to get back into the game. I have to thank Mike Morgan for all that he’s done for me over the past few years. Steve “Monsta” Mack is another one I thank, for being so patient with me. I was so green and he showed me a way which brought us to where we are today. Homicide, as well, for sticking with me, taking time with a young kid in myself and just showing me the way. Just showing me the way.

I thank guys like Low Ki and Savio Vega, for sharing their knowledge and showing me psychology; guys like Ricky Steamboat and Mick Foley as well. I remember sitting down with Steamboat and he broke down the business to me in a way that I didn’t think it could be broken down into. Mick too. I worked with Mick close to 8 months in ROH and he went in depth with the business in a totally different way and broke it down to where I could understand it. Amazing stuff.

Gabe Sapolsky is another one I have to thank, for giving me the ball when he did and letting me just run with it. I cannot thank BJ Whitmer enough as well. BJ and I were on the wildest roller coaster ride I’ve ever been on in the business and there is no way I can ever forget him. Even Mo Sexton, for having the chemistry we had and going out there and doing the things we did in the squared circle.

Last, but not least, the fans for just being there. Overall, I just want to keep doing this as long as I can. I want to keep helping as long as I can. I’m just blessed. I can’t say it enough. I’m truly blessed.