GW: How did you get started? Was it a slow pace or did you try to jump as high as you can as fast as you could?

 

DT: I got started in professional wrestling by accident, actually. One half of The Psychos brother worked with me at the bakery and was selling tickets to one of their shows. A group of us went to see what it was all about. They had the show in the basement of one of the local churches, and we had seats four rows from the ring. They had former WWF jobber Chico Rodueguez, who's brother also works at the bakery, plus lots of local talent. The Psychos hit the ring and totally demolished their opponents, even throwing them into our section and taking out four rows of chairs (remember, I'm in the fourth row). Everyone bailed out except me, I just sat there enjoying the spectacle.

 

A few months later, The Psycho, who's name is Wilfredo, started working at the bakery, and we hit it off really well. He asked me if I'd like to be The Psychos' manager, I jumped at the opportunity. Who wouldn't? I made my debut in February '88 at a high school in Medina, NY. The Psychos and the locker room worked with me, giving me pointers on what to do while outside the ring. I got hooked and became their manager from then on.

 

Later down the road, we were doing a farewell show for Henry Greco, aka Victor Valentino (another one of our wrestlers). Chisled physique, movie star looks, every women's fantasy. His girlfriend wasn't bad, either. One of the wrestlers from Buffalo couldn't make the show due to lousy driving conditions, so we needed an emergency reserve backup. Wilfredo suggested me. So The Dustytaker debuted that night, only as Mathias at the time, facing off against Freddy Nightmare, a Freddy Kruegar wannabe complete with claw glove he built himself (with real blades). Personally, I thought the match tanked, but the fans and the boys thought it was good and I began my run as a wrestler, facing gents the like of The Puppetmaster, Mike Myers, Farmer Bill, Crazy Angel, Big Tex, and Blue Demon. I would still manage on occasion, not only The Psychos, but my good friend The Enforcer and Spazman Simmons, even leading them to tag team gold and heavyweight championships.

 

We were doing a show in Geneva at a bar when we didn't have a referee for the show. Yep, you got it, let's get Dusty to ref. They loved the way I reffed the matches, so I continued on as a referee, usually doing entire shows by myself at times.

 

I continued reffing matches with Barry Hardy's group, NEWF, when I was contacted by Todd Costner about reffing for him and his fed ICW. It tanked before it really got going. In the course of working with Barry, I met up with Hellcat, who saw one of our shows when we traveled to Ashtabula. After Barry's fed folded, they had started up what was the beginning of true Rochester wrestling with NWM, or New Millennium Wrestling. This was the first actual legit fed I worked for, and it was a blast. Some of the guys that started with that fed are still around today: Hellcat, Chip Stetson, Eric Everlast, JC Money, Dunn and Marcos. It was also where our future superstars would come to watch the shows: Brodie Lee, Freddy Midnight, Sweet Lou, Superstar Rob Schultz. That was where they got the itch to get it on in the ring.

 

While doing NWM, I would venture out east on occasion to work with Chip Stetson's crew in Schenectady with 24/7 wrestling to referee. Wasn't bad, but apparently a lot of the crew wasn't happy working with some of the talent there. This was where Brodie Lee, Charisma, Kid Justice, and a couple others would get there start in professional wrestling before starting up Roc City Wrestling.

 

After NMW shut down, I worked with Ian Decay and Rochester Pro Wrestling (RPW) and Hellcat's Kayfabe Dojo Wrestling (KDW). Eventually, a turf war began between the two. I chose not to choose sides in this one because both of them I consider my friends. Eventually they made peace and joined forces to become RPW with the training school known as Kayfabe Dojo. Soon, RPW received a charter membership to join the NWA, and NWA Upstate was born.

 

All this time, I was still refereeing, but was soon getting that old familiar itch to mix it up once again. When Hellcat was planning on coming out of retirement to team with Chip Stetson against ESW's Johnny Kayfabe and Gabe Saint, I figured it was time that The Dustytaker make his return after a lengthy hiatus. At the  2nd anniversary show, I made my return against The Upstate Phantom. This match was completely hush hush, no one knew about it except for Hellcat and the Phantom. When it came time for my match, I was getting quite nervous, but sucked it up and went out. Turns out that during my match, the entire locker room was poking holes in the paper surrounding the glass to watch the match. Not just the local talent, but all the names, too. Doring. April Hunter. Backseat Men. Chris Hamrick. JD Michaels. The match went well, but the response I got from the crowd was totally unexpected. For the first time, I was getting cheered and actually had fans backing me. After the match, I get to the back was greeted by the locker room, telling me that was f***ing awesome, etc. The rest is history.

 

I occasionally head to Buffalo for the Empire shows, and make an occasional appearance there.

 

 

GW: What's it like now, compared to twenty years ago? Are the fans different? Do you try different things to rile them up when you were in your 3rd year or wrestling rather than now?

 

DT: Twenty years ago, the fans were into it, but not as much as they are today. There were a few guys that had huge fan bases and were very popular in their hometowns, but now, with the Internet and all, the fans are really into the product and storylines. They pretty much know who to cheer for and who to boo. The wrestlers still have their hometown fans, but they're also getting some out of town fans, too.

 

GW: Where did you expect your professional wrestling career to take you? Did you want to go to the big stage?

 

DT: I wasn't really expecting my wrestling career to go far. Back then, I never knew how to get into the WWF or NWA. We just did shows for the hell of it. I really didn't see myself going to the big show, even though I did have a couple opportunities to do so when they were looking for referees. I'm not all that keen on flying, so I think that would've eliminated me right there.

 

GW: Was there a point in time where you thought... That's it. I'm through?

 

DT: Quite a few times, mostly when I would leave the ring a battered mess. Cracked ribs, concussions, it was getting to the point I was asking myself "Why do I do this?" Then I hear the crowds and then realize that's why I do it. It's not about the money, God knows there really isn't that much to be made in the indies unless you really get good. For me, it was the fans that gave me the motivation to keep going.

 

GW: When did you retire the Dusty Taker in the first place?

 

DT: The Dustytaker was never really retired, because he hadn't existed yet. I was last wrestling as The Sandman when I learned there was already one, same music and all. Eventually, I started reffing and put the wrestling on the back burner for a while.

 

The Dustytaker was born courtesy of the monster Abyss and JP Playa. At the NWA Upstate Christmas Chaos '04, I was reffing the Abyss- Scott Cardinal matchup. During the course of the match, I was crushed in the corner by Abyss' freight train maneuver and went down like a sack of potatoes. The commentators, Scotty Bender, Dan Murphy, and JT Playa, were making a big to do about the move, claiming I might be suffering from internal injuries and bleeding, to which JT commented "There's no blood in them veins, there's nothing but dust. He's The Dustytaker." And so, The Dustytaker was born. Now, some people are claiming that Wrestlevision was responsible for coming up with the name, but I've been doing the deadman gimmick long before Wrestelvision was around, I just never had the name for it. It was JT Playa, not Wrestlevision. Although, Wrestlevision did give me the exposure to WNY, which is appreciated. But it was Playa who gets the credit for coming up with the name and Abyss for the assist.

 

GW: What have you learned about the front office work? Do you help out behind the scenes?

 

DT:I try to help out as much as I can when I can. Once I finally retire from wrestling, and it won't be long when I do, I'd like to work in back and with the front office if they'd have me. I really don't know much about what goes on as far as booking and going about putting a show together, but I'd be willing to learn. I would consider myself as someone who will work with the newer talent to help them get their feet wet, so matches with Venice, Jones, and some of the Young Lions are a possibility. An occasional match against some current talent is also a possibility. I'll take on anyone from Upstate, Empire, or outside organizations.

 

GW: What's the biggest mistake you think kids are making when they get into this business?

 

DT: Jumping into it too fast, thinking they know everything about the business when they don't know jack. This business is continued learning, no one knows everything in this sport. Barry Hardy even admitted that. I'm sure Triple H and The Undertaker, established icons in the profession today, will say the same thing. They continue to add to their repertoire and improve themselves every day. Undertaker is using mixed martial arts and submissions to his game (Devil's Gate triangle choke).

 

A lot of these kids think that doing backyard wrestling is the way to go. WRONG!!! Backyard wrestling is perhaps the worst thing they can do, and I think it gives wrestling a black eye whenever they go about setting up makeshift rings in their parents' backyard and practically killing themselves to impress their friends. I want to know where the parents are the whole time this is going on. Don't they wonder why little Johnny has to go to the hospital to get broken glass removed from his scalp because he was hit over the head by one of his friends? It's just plain stupid. If they want to learn how to become a wrestler, go to a real wrestling school that will teach you everything there is to know about the sport. Bumps. Maneuvers. Cutting promos. The psychological aspects of the game. Practice. And then practice some more. Even the established veterans are up at the school sparring and working on new moves that they can add to their character. It takes time, but eventually you'll get to the promised land.