1. Can you tell us a little bit about how you got into professional wrestling and what it was like for you when you first started in the business?

During my junior year of high school I was introduced to "indy" wrestling by two of my friends from high school getting involved in a "backyard" fed of untrained but hungry atheletes who were putting on shows at a local roller rink. Through going to these shows and watching my friends wrestle I made a few contacts with legitimately trained wrestlers and began seriously thinking about making my dreams of wrestling into a reality. By this point I was a senior in high school and coming back from a serious injury sustained during my amateur wrestling season. One of my assistant wrestling coaches was named Denis Marconi, and he put me into contact with his brother "Beef Stew" Lou Marconi who had recently begun training a group of local kids who were trying to break into the business. I trained with Lou and tried to learn everything that he had to offer. He helped me get my foot in the door with a few promoters and he is the sole reason that I am where I am as a wrestler today.

2. You’ve wrestled for tons of great independent organizations such as IWC, CAPW, UNION, FIRESTORM PRO and many more. Where has been your favorite place to wrestle so far, and why?

My favorite places to wrestle thus far in my career have been CAPW, IWC, and FIRESTORM PRO. I debuted as a professional wrestler in CAPW for JT Lightning in a six man tag match. I also held my first title there, the Cleveland All-Pro World Heavyweight Title at the age of 19. I met alot of friends, had some really good matches and truly enjoyed my time there, and I'm looking forward to the relaunch of the company. I feel that I have matured alot as a wrestler in the IWC in a large part thanks to my now former tag team partner J-Rocc's guidance and promoter Norm Conners showing faith in me to not only give me the time to showcase my talents but the opportunity to work with other great talent allowing me to compete in some great matches. FIRESTOM PRO is a brand new company running out of Cleveland. The roster is full of young, hungry, talented wrestlers and the sky is literally the limit for the company. As long as they stay consistent they will be something that people remember for a really long time. They put on fast paced, fun shows and the crowds head home happy. When their legacy is written I will be proud to look back and say that I was there for the birth of the company.

3. Tell us a little bit about the Cleveland Mafia and how that group came together?

I had known J-Rocc for a long time through various companies. And had been friends with him for a while. The opportunity came for us to start working and training together in the IWC and I feel that I benefited greatly from his veteran mentoring. HOWEVER, as I became more popular with the crowds in PA J-Rocc started becoming increasingly jealous and he turned his back on me when I trusted him most right as I was exiting a steel cage to win the IWC Heavyweight Title. He slammed the cage door closed on my head with such force that he literally broke it from its hinges. He blamed me for betraying me but I believe that the fans of IWC see right through that lie and will be fully behind me when I get my hands on him February 16th for the IWC.

4. An obviously huge part of your life is your straight edge lifestyle. Tell us about being straight edge, what the X means to you, and any pitfalls in the business that come with being drug and alcohol free?

I chose my path for me and me alone. People make choices every day. I choose to live free from chemical influences.

5. You may have some of the most interesting, original, and devastating finishers on the indy scene right now. Can you run through your finishers and how you came up with them and their names?

I use a few finishing maneuvers, one is called the "Chaos Theory" German Suplex, it was named that by English wrestler Doug Williams, and it is a back rolling German Suplex that ends in a bridging pin. Another finishing move that I use is the "Drive-By" Dragon Suplex, it's a Full Nelson Suplex that ends in a bridging pin. I also use a running flying double knee strike that I haven't named yet, and finally a Dragon Stretch that is a Full Nelson hold applied when an opponent is laying on their front and I pull their upper body back and the torque applied by the hold and my downward pressure causes them to tap out.

6. In recent memory you were featured on WWE television. Can you tell us a little bit about your WWE experience, in the ring and behind the curtain?

Appearing for the WWE was a great experience for me. It showed me a whole new side of the business and kind of opened my eyes to alot of the backstage things that are essential to producing a dynamic product. It was a great opportunity to meet some of the men that I have watched and idolized while growing up. In the ring, I fell to a series of attacks from Mark Henry. I'd love another shot at the big man, I think the outcome would be different this time around.

7. What do you see as being the positives and negatives of being a professional wrestler?

Wow. That's quite a question. Instead of writing a book on the subject I'm going to quickly summarize two positives and two negatives. The first positive thing is having the opportunity to meet and interact with some of the best and most honorable men that I have ever met in my life. On the negative aspect of that is meeting some of the shadiest and dishonest people whom inhabit the same business. Another positive is the respect for the business that I have learned. I was always a fan growing up but never realized the amount of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears that go into being professional wrestler. Another negative is the amount of people both in and out of the business who have literally NO respect for this sport that I love. They refuse to learn, or even try to understand anything at all about the preparation, dedication, and sacrifices needed in this most challenging art.

8. You’ve been in the ring with quite a few great names and great wrestlers. Who do you think has been the best that you’ve wrestled, and who would you really like to work against?

Haha, thats another big question. I have had the privilege to work with some amazing wrestlers in my career thus far, (Samoa Joe, Steve Corino, Low-Ki, Ricky Reyes, Matt Stryker, Colt Cabana, Chad Collyer, and Mark Henry just to name a few) and I look forward to working with many more before I am done. I'm looking forward to eventual rematches between myself and Joe, Ki, and Reyes... but if there was one wrestler whom I haven't wrestled that I could pick to work in a singles match it would probably be AJ Styles.

9. You have tattoo’s across your stomach, arms and chest. Tell us about your tattoo’s, and what they mean to you?

Well first things first, I don't have enough tattoos. I plan to be covered from fingertips to shoulders, across my chest and neck, and I've got plans for some other tattoos as well. My stomach reads A.M.D.G. which is a Latin phrase "Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam" and translates to "For the Greater Glory of God." I have Danzig skulls tattooed across the backs of my calves. I have 216 tattooed over my heart because that is where my family stays. My right arm has the Latin word "Aequitas" (Justice) and is filling up with devils defeating angels and my left arm has the Latin word "Veritas" (Truth) and is filling up with angels defeating devils. Read into that what you will...

10. Weight training is an essential part of any athletes regimen. What kind of workout do you have and can you walk us through a typical day in the gym?

Training my body is fast becoming my number one priority in life. I just switched training routines thanks largely to advice from a few personal trainers that I know and two pro wrestlers (Ricky Reyes, and The Deviant Michael Hutter). I'm now weight training 5 days a week and using elements of the training to failure philosophy as well as more traditional strength training and body building principles. So keep on the lookout for a new and improved Raymond Rowe.

11. Besides pro wrestling, you are also an accomplished amateur wrestler. Can you tell us about the differences between the two, other than the obvious booked versus shoot, and does any of your amateur style carry over to your pro style?

My amateur wrestling background laid the groundwork for my career in professional wrestling. I use alot of the techniques that I developed in amateur wrestling in my professional mat-game. The suplex based attack that I bring is directly traceable to my amateur wrestling days as I was almost exclusively an upper body wrestler who relied heavily upon Greco-Roman throws and suplexes in my matches. I also learned an amazing amount about leverage and strength application while amateur wrestling and those things are clearly evident in my professional wrestling attack as I rarely have to back down from an opponent regardless of his size.

12. Where would you like to see yourself 5 years from now?

I want to be happily married to the love of my life, financially secure, and wrestling in increasingly more important matches both nationally and internationally.

13. As always is the 13th question, if you wanted wrestling fans to only know one thing for certain about you, what would that be?

That although I was not born into money, or opportunity, or fame I pulled myself up from the bottom and fought my way to the top.