Five Questions With... Unorthodox Levi Shapiro

After last week's interview with 4 Corners Radio co-host Martin Dixon, this weeks it's time for Five Questions With... American indy talent Unorthodox Levi Shapiro.

Ring Name: Unorthodox Levi Shapiro
Age: 22
Hometown: Richmond, California, USA. (Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA for the gimmick)
Height: 6'0
Weight: 196lbs

Promotions Competed For:

North American Wrestling
All Pro Wrestling
Piledriver Pro Wrestling
Don't Own Anyone Pro Wrestling
Sacramento Wrestling Federation
Big Time Wrestling
Northeast Championship Wrestling
Vendetta Pro Wrestling

Championships Won: DMW Pacific Coast Champion (current), BPW Ring Warrior Champion (Current), Pacific Northwest Heritage Champion (5 Time), DMW Tag Team Champion, 2009 DMW Rookie of the Year


1. When did you first get into wrestling and what was the drew you to the sport?

Well my earliest memory of pro wrestling would be seeing the Bushwackers march to the ring during a entrance on Sunday Morning Superstars. I loved the wild, larger than life characters and have been hooked ever since.

2. If you could face or team with anyone in the world, who would it be? 

I would LOVE to be able to tag with RAY STEVENS, the legend that made the San Francisco territory what it was. As for opponents that list would consist of: Dick  Murdoch, The Funks, Curt Henning, Rikidozan, Buddy Rogers. just to name a few.

3. Which wrestling shows do you currently watch and what do you think of each? 

    Well honestly I watch all the top Indy feds and WWE to stay in the loop on what's going on in the biz. but I watch old Mid-South, Memphis, San Francisco, and WWWF tapes from back in the day to study the true ART form of PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING. I feel this "strong style" that is so popular on the Indy scene (at least over here it is) is a mix of American and Japanese styles, which doesn't translate well over here in America. As Japanese physiology is completely different than American physiology and it doesn't attract me as the classic American pro wrestling does. I have no problem with the "strong style", just not my forte.

4. What are your Top Three matches of all time?

Well I just had one successful title defense against Former WWF superstar GANGREL,
My match with So-Cals RAY ROSAS (@RayRosas) was extremely fun and our chemistry is always amazing. keep your eyes out for him. And last but not least any match me and my tag partner THE RIV (@ratkingriv) any match we had with the Suburban Commandos (@subcommandos). Those two are hands down one of the greatest tag teams on the west coast, and deserve a break at any moment.

5. Where can our readers catch you in action next and will you be making your way across the pond anytime soon?

You can catch me all over California on All Pro Wrestling YouTube, Devil Mountain Wrestling YouTube. as well on Twitter @Levishapiro. I do have some plans on trying to come over the pond to hopefully work for PRESTON CITY WRESTLING and to visit a close personal friend Kay Jutler.
I'd like to close by saying thanks to James Marston and Across The Pond for reaching out to me for the.interview and hope to see you across the pond soon!

Stay Unorthodox people!

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We'd like to thank you to, Levi, for the interview.

Next week: Will Jackson

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter (@ATPWrestling) and like us on Facebook (Across The Pond Wrestling)

Five Questions With...Kevin Michael Johnson

After last weeks great interview with British Wrestler, Josh Alden, it's time to head Stateside and speak to Kevin Michael Johnson.

Ring name: Kevin Michael Johnson (formerly Mikey Jay)
Age: 25
Hometown: Fredericksburg, Virginia, United States of America. 
Height: 6 feet 2 inches
Weight: 190lbs
Promotions worked for: All Pro Wrestling (Hayward, California), HOODSLAM (Oakland, California), Pro Championship Wrestling (Chico, California), Supreme Pro Wrestling (Sacramento, California), Pro Wrestling Bushido (Modesto, California), Devil Mountain Wrestling (Martinez, California), Big Time Wrestling (Newark, California), Reno Wrestle Factory (Reno, Nevada), and a promotion called Wrestling for Charity which runs in various locations around the San Francisco Bay Area.
 Championships won: None

1. When did you first get into wrestling and what was the drew you to the sport?

Like most people in this sport, I became a fan of pro wrestling at a young age. It was the 90's and the Kane/Undertaker feud had me glued to my TV. I later became a huge fan of Mick Foley and his story of what he went through to become a pro wrestler. I knew I wanted to be a wrestler since I was about thirteen years old. In 2009 I started training at All Pro Wrestling in Hayward California. It is a long running school and many say the best in the country. Top talent has come out of that school and I hope I am one of them.

2. Who's been your favorite person to work with in your career so far?

My favorite person to have wrestled in my career so far is the Pro Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Champion, and one half of the All Pro Wrestling/Vendetta Pro Unified Tag Team Champions, Matt Carlos. I have been up and down the west coast with that guy, and we have beat the hell out of each other along the way. He is a stand up human being and one hell of a professional wrestler.

3. Where do you see the wrestling business heading in the next five to ten years?

Hopefully in the next five to ten years, pro wrestling will remain a constant source of entertainment, no matter how the audience perceives it. As long as it stays fresh and exciting, I'll be along for the ride. Take one of the promotions I work for, HOODSLAM in Oakland, Ca. This is an adult themed wrestling show with off the wall gimmicks and characters from video games. If that sounds absurd, you should also know its one of the highest drawing promotions in California. My character is a drug addicted rabbit named Drugs Bunny. Its new, its different, and its getting a lot of attention. Also, it is so much fun for me and other wrestlers to break the norm once a month. If HOODSLAM can grow to be as popular as it is, then in five to ten years the wrestling you watch on TV might be extremely different.

4. What are your Top Three matches of all time and why?

My top three matches weren't easy to choose. My third favorite match is myself against a man named Daniel Torch. It was the second round of All Pro Wrestling's Young Lion's Cup Tournament.  The match itself was pretty short, but both went full throttle the entire time. I have a lot of respect for Daniel Torch and as a result of our chemistry in the ring, we ended up teaming together on several occasions.  

My second favorite match is a four way ladder match for the X-fest Title at a Pro Wrestling Bushido event. Myself, Daniel Torch, an extreme high flyer named Virgil Flynn III, and a very violent/ kind of crazy CJ Kurz were all involved. This match is one of my favorites because it was my first ladder match. You gain quite a bit of respect for a man after you bash each other with ladders for half an hour. A lot of risks were taken in that match and I earned a great deal of experience from it. 

The match I consider to be my best match is ironically one of my early ones. It is a fatal four way elimination match for the All Pro Wrestling World Wide Internet Championship. Myself, Matt Carlos, Shane West, and a well respected veteran Rik Luxury. This match was on APW's biggest show of the year, Halloween Hell. Being in a championship match at my home promotions biggest show while in my first year as a wrestler was quite an honor. The chemistry in that match was indescribable. Everything was on point and the crowd was hot the entire time. I'll always remember that match.

5. Where can our reader catch you next and will you be heading across the pond anytime soon? 

The next time I am wrestling is at All Pro Wrestling Gym Wars in Hayward, ca on Saturday June 1st! www.allprowrestling.com for more info! Also, on June 7th, HOODSLAM in Oakland, ca. Find out what all the buzz is about at www.birdwillfall.com
As for wrestling across the pond goes, it would be a privilege  For booking email me at mikey_dla6604@yahoo.com or @mikeyjayapw on Twitter

Across The Pond Wrestling would like to thanks Kevin Michael Johnson for his time. This interview was conducted by James Marston (@IAmNotAlanDale on Twitter) and you can find us at @ATPWrestling on Twitter also.

Next Week: Five Questions with... OSW Review Host, Jay Hunter.