(Vanessa): Welcome one and all to this special sit-down interview, exclusive to the HWA YouTube channel. This is Part 2 of the build up to our first PPV in eight years, ‘Art of War’, coming to you from the Amway Center in sunny Florida on August 19th! Across from me now is a man that has quickly become one of the most recognized faces in professional wrestling…Jeremy Branson. Jeremy, thank you for joining us.
(Jeremy): It’s my pleasure Vanessa.
(Vanessa): Art of War is now weeks away and you’ve been booked in a match…Jeremy Branson vs. Hans von Richtoven, who you just heard from. What’s going through your mind as we approach this monumental event?
(Jeremy): I think the first thing is…Wow! It’s my first ppv, a first for the company in close to a decade which is amazing. I’m also thinking that this was certainly not the match I was expecting, but it’s better than the match I imagined.
(Vanessa): Meaning?
(Jeremy): Meaning two months ago back in May, Bryan Deas jumped me from behind like a coward and I’ve been chasing him since. I finally got him in tag match but lost, and I guess he feels validated by that little victory because we haven’t seen him since. Hell, we didn’t even know if he was going to show for the match. I imagined locking him down in a singles match, and Art of War could have certainly been that battleground but like I said…this match with Hans is better than I imagined my lineup being.
(Vanessa): Tell us what makes it better for you.
Jeremy leans back in his chair, exhaling as the file cabinets in his mind open and close pulling out bits of mental notes and information he’s tucked away.
(Jeremy): I’m what you call a forever student. I embrace being a nerd, and whether its stargazing or spending hours on end going through the massive HWA library I know there is always something to learn. I’ve been watching wrestling since I was a kid, but as a lot of people I think have experience…as you get older you get wiser, and you see things differently. That perspective is amplified when you’re someone like me who is fortunate enough to step in-between those ropes. I guess the best way to describe it is, if you’ve ever seen Last Call With Scott Hall…one of his episodes he and Larry Zabyzco were rewatching the Hogan vs Warrior match from Wrestlemania VI.
Vanessa smiles and nods knowingly.
(Jeremy): I mean, how cool was that? I wasn’t even born yet and had decades to catch up on even then. I used to spend entire winter and summer breaks from school in front of the tv, popping in old VHS tapes and DVD’s my family had recorded over the years. But I digress…the point is….I’ve watched a lot of wrestling, and since becoming one myself I’ve watch that much more and my perspective is different than just being a fan. Like Hall and Zabyzco you really see what’s happening in the ring from facial expressions, to the cadence of the match, to noticing when someone is injured and pushing on, when someone botches a move ever so slightly but a fan won’t notice…those kinds of things. Watching as much as I have…one of the men in HWA that I gained a huge appreciation and respect for is Hans von Richtoven.
(Vanessa): He’s definitely one of the best in my book, but what is it for you about him and that has garnered this appreciation and respect?
(Jeremy): Gosh, ummmm…go back to his debut, he came in early 2004?… Hell’s Guardian came in at the same time…the guy was an intimidating baddass then too…he was pissed of because management didn’t give him a contract and passed him over for Hans. Hans comes out and he just starts throwing down with him. HG’s got a good foot on most people, but here was Hans…bright-eyed and fearless in his on screen debut. Over the years he’s done it all, all the titles, all the big matches and big name opponents. He’s probably the most well-rounded competitor to ever get in the ring.
Vanessa is smiling, nodding as Jeremy continues to explain his appreciation and respect for Hans.
(Jeremy): As I got into wrestling, training at the Academy it was his matches that I returned to time and time again more than most, because I admired his work. He’s got this swag, this finesse in the ring, this unpretentious drive about him and I feel in a lot of ways that’s who I imagined myself to be, and at least hope others do. A few months back when he came on, I was totally stoked and in person he’s just the greatest guy…an instant asset to all of us and this company.
(Vanessa): I think some of that respect goes both ways as he mentioned about you and others carrying the torch these past years, but let’s jump to some of the questions we have from our fanbase.
Jeremy nods as Vanessa looks at her tablet and notes.
(Vanessa): Okay…so, Cynthia from Rhode Island asks…There’s a 15-year age difference between you and Hans, do you think he can keep up with you or will his experience get the best of you?
(Jeremy): Oh boy….like they say in the dating world, age is just a number, and that’s especially true in this business. Hulk Hogan was in his 40’s when the NWO kicked off and had some of the most memorable matches of his career so age doesn’t factor into this to me in the way you might think. Hans’ experience is definitely going to be a factor and look at him…they guy is fit…I have no doubt he can keep up with me. I can’t replicate his experience, but I’m not going to let it get the best of me. I respect him more than just about anyone in this company and I want to win, but I know he’s not going to hand it to me. This is one of the biggest matches I could have in my career and I’m going to give it everything I have and then some.
(Vanessa): From, Peter in Syndey, Australia…At Havoc you got a chance to get your hands on Fallen but let Draconis take the wheel…what’s the story there?
(Jeremy): You know Peter…when Fallen did what he did to Michelle we all said we’d be looking for him. He had the nerve to show up at Havoc and I had a night off, so I wasn’t distracted or occupied and had an eye on things going on. When I went to go after him, and William Draconis jumped into the mix…it gave me pause. We all know they have this big history, so I wasn’t swayed by anything he said. What made me take a step back was it was an opportunity for me to see him live up to his word. I’m not on his bandwagon, and people can say I hold a grudge or whatever but….
Jeremy adjusts his positioning in his seat, sitting up a bit and is more expressive with his hand gestures.
(Jeremy): It’s like…you know how sometimes in wrestling…outside of HWA of course because it doesn’t happen here…you get some jackass heel doing all kinds heinous of crap, maybe he gets injured…goes to film a tv show or whatever…he’s gone for a bit. He comes back and suddenly he’s in the ring coming to the aid of the guy he terrorized and they’re now supposed to be friends and the fans are cheering like they forgot all about everything he did? Hell No! That’s what’s great about HWA, we all are who we are…this isn’t some scripted junk being shoved down fans throats…they’re smarter than that. I’m smarter than that. I’m still keenly aware of Draconis leaving me high and dry when he had the opportunity to help, and I’m not going to pretend it didn’t happen. I’m not going to pretend it still doesn’t piss me off at times, and I’m not going to pretend that I suddenly trust the guy and we get along. I stepped aside at Havoc because in good faith I’ve pocketed his apology instead of throwing it away outright….it was my first opportunity to see him put his money where his mouth is, but he’s still got a long way to go in my book before his passport gets my stamp of approval.
(Vanessa): Alright then, next question is from Amber in Baltimore, MA. she asks…What’s going on with you and Matt Miller, any chance we get a Craig and Tweek thing going?
Vanessa looks confused at the question, as Jeremy has a little chuckle.
(Vanessa): What or who is a Craig and Tweek?
(Jeremy): It’s a South Park thing, but to answer the question…which I feel like I already have before but will say again…Matt and I are friends, we’re coworkers and professionals besides that…whatever happened with Erica and that stupid mess happened and it’s over. I respect our friendship and I’ve moved on from that bit of drama, that’s really all there is to it.
(Vanessa): Next question then comes from…Sam in Billings, Montana who asks, or says rather…I’m “Team Vets” and really glad to see guys like Draconis, Stu-E Price, even Deas, Fallen and Maniac get back to business versus this New Blood stuff going on. You haven’t had much success yet. What makes you think you can beat a guy like Hans von Richtoven?
Jeremy has a slight smile and is nodding, stroking his chin.
(Jeremy): Ouch…not everyone’s a fan…I get it Sam, folks have seen these guys for years, grew up watching them just like I did, you get used to people like that and here comes the newbies into the mix and it doesn’t feel the same to you. Look, I know I’ve had a tough go and you’re right…our “veteran” talent are formidable athletes who anyone should question their ability to face. I never said I could beat Hans, but what gives me confidence going into this match is when I look in the mirror, I see the same look in my eyes that I saw in his back in 2004, the same fearlessness, the same determination. Six months in and he was already Intercontinental Champion, I have that same drive. I’m ready mentally, I’m ready physically and as I said…he’s got the experience advantage in the ring, but in a way I have a similar advantage. I’ve studied him, I’ve clocked a 1,000 times more hours on him than he’s got to see me. I’m not saying I know what to expect, but I feel that my advantage may very well be knowing him more in the ring than he knows me.
A little parched, Jeremy takes a sip of water as Vanessa shifts her notes.
(Vanessa): Next we have a question from Celina, Sacramento, California…she asks…Do you play video games? I follow Sean Parker’s Twitch…have you ever considered doing one?
Jeremy smiles at the question, before answering.
(Jeremy): I love video games Celina, I don’t play as often as I like though so I don’t think I’ll be doing any streaming, but maybe someday I might pop up on Sean’s.
(Vanessa): Alright, I think we have time for one more…Griffin from New York is asking….Oh…Oh my…I think we’ll skip that one but I’ll pass this ummm….revealing photo you’ve attached along.
Vanessa has turned red and is trying to hold back a laugh as she goes to the next question.
(Vanessa): Cooper, from Concord, New Hampshire is asking…how does it feel going from Youtube to prime time television, was it a hard transition?
(Jeremy): Great question Coop….I have to admit it was a huge transition. For the past few years we wrestled very small shows, in very small spaces sometimes a few hundred people, and most times a couple thousand, it varied. And to be clear, that wasn’t just because of the situation of the company…that was Butch and Wisdom’s vision. We got out there amongst the really die-hard fans that wouldn’t have cared if the ring was made of mattresses, they just wanted to see pure HWA wrestling. It was grassroots as they say, but it felt great. I felt like we had stepped back in time to the early 80’s, dim arenas, sometimes there was music, sometimes not, it was us, the ring, and the fans and it was great.
With Youtube that fanbase grew with returning fans and there was little bit of pressure knowing folks were watching, and then going back and seeing yourself in recordings, but nothing compared to when we got the announcement of this CBS deal. I remember having to force myself to eat dinner, because I was so nervous and couldn’t tell if I was hungry or my stomach had butterflies. Being on television is a whole new level, Matt, Sean, they both have experience with it but it was new to me, I think I said once before. There’s all the new camera angles, the massive crowds, the big bright lights, all the merchandise stuff and everything that comes with a full on production. So yeah it was a major adjustment, but I got a lot of advice and a lot of support and right now…I’m looking ahead at Art of War and those butterflies have returned. This is a ppv. People are paying above and beyond clicking on Youtube and watching Havoc to see us on this grand stage do what we do. I couldn’t be more honored to be in the ring with Hans. Wisdom said at Havoc that hes and I epitomize their vision. That’s a humbling statement and it raises the bar for sure. It’s a far cry from Youtube, and even television alone, but I’m ready for it.
(Vanessa): That’s going to do it for our questions…Jeremey thank you so much for joining me and perhaps before all is said and done, or even after we’ll get a Part 3 or 4 with you two.
(Jeremy): I’d definitely like that.
Hans who has just as patiently watched is silence stands from his seat as Jeremy does. The two shake hands smiling as the scene fades to black.
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