HWA Message Board: Fielding Questions

The scene opens out onto one of the interview rooms set up for media and private use at the HWA Academy.

In the room, already sat is Hans ‘The Baron’ von Richtoven, comfortably lounging in one of the two leather chairs sat in the camera’s gaze.

It’s media day today ahead of the PPV ‘Road to Ruin’.

Across from his sits Roderick Sterling.

At a sign from off camera, he turns and faces the camera.

(Roderick): Hello HWA Fanverse!

Welcome back to another HWA.com exclusive interview. Across from me is Hans ‘The Baron’ von Richtoven who at ‘Road to Ruin’ faces off in a three way match up for the World title against incumbent Stu-E Price and of course, ‘The Sky Assassin’ Sean Parker.

Hans, hello again.

(Hans): Hallo Roderick.

(Roderick): It wasn’t that long ago that we last did one of these, was it?

(Hans): Nein mein freund.

Tilting his head to the left, he signals where in the previous interview another chair had been placed.

(Hans): I don’t have Matthew to help this time though.

A comfortable smile flits across his face, as he settles back into his chair and gets comfy, one leg crossing over the other.

(Roderick): Well I’ll try not to go too hard on you Hans.

They share a polite laugh together, while Roderick lifts his cue cards onto the arm of his own chair for easy reach.

(Roderick): Speaking of Matthew, or Red Dragon as we all know him, you were the last to face him as part of his retirement series, at ‘Road to Ruin’ he faces HWA co-owner and good friend of yours Butch Parker. Are you excited?

(Hans): Ja natürlich.

His eyes go distant for a moment, clearly going over memories past.

(Hans): I’d be ringside if I could Roderick… but ja, das ist about Matthew. A chance to see both mein freunds compete again? Wunderbar.

(Roderick): Who do you think will win?

(Hans): Scheiße…

He blows air loudly through his pursed lips, cheeks puffing out as he does so.

Eyebrows arching upwards, he mulls the question briefly.

(Hans): Matthew trains every day in das ring, Butch not so much these days. But then we all saw how he devoted himself to beating Cody, ja? Scheiße…I give it to Matthew.

(Roderick): You don’t sound sure there.

(Hans): Ja, ask me in five und I’ll change my mind.

(Roderick): But I think we can all agree it’ll be a hell of a match?

(Hans): Definitely. Neither wants to let the other down, they’ll go for it. Same as Matthew und I did, may the best man on the night win.

(Roderick): Moving neatly on to your own match. Last time out you said to me that there was only so much preparation you can do and if you’re still preparing in the minutes leading up to the match that you’d deserve to lose. Ring any bells?

(Hans): Does sound like me Roderick, ja.

(Roderick): How is training going?

(Hans): Sehr gut, danke. As prepared as I can be. I know how to structure my weeks between events to allow for recovery, teaching und then preparation for the next match.

A tip of the head towards Roderick and a smile forms.

(Hans): I’m here, ja. I wouldn’t if I had mein doubts.

(Roderick): Both Stu-E and Sean have been going back and forth in the media over the last week or so. You’ve stayed out of it, why?

(Hans):

(Roderick): Have you heard what Stu-E has had to say, especially towards yourself?

(Hans): Ja, und I’ll shake his hand at the end of the match because I respect him too.

A more reflective tone enters his voice, coating his words like honey as he lets slip what he’d not said until now.

(Hans): Partly why I have remained out… or above this, is that the last time Herr Price und I fought, just about a year ago actually, was when I was completely sidetracked by the situation I found myself in at the time. I didn’t give him my best effort. I mean to correct that this time.

Choice of dinner venue und… ‘entertainment’ aside before the last Havoc, I too bear no ill will to him and like Herr Price, I’m excited to test myself against two of the very best HWA has to offer.

(Roderick): I know you and Sean have had some… some ‘antagonism’ towards one another of late, albeit nothing on the scale of what he has with Price just now.

(Hans): Hmm, ja… but we’ve come to blows und they’ve not, so…

Shrugging his shoulders gently, his hands go outwards, no malice or ill intent in his words, merely a statement of fact.

(Hans): I think we see more eye to eye than we did. Growing pains perhaps, as we both adjust to a new dynamic between us.

(Roderick): What did you make of his statement where he claimed, and I quote, “you and Stu-E are going to be facing someone who would eat broken glass, who would crawl through a river of shit to just have even a one-in-thousand chance to pin either of your shoulders to the mat… because I know I am not just on your level… I’m beyond it!”

(Hans): I’ve faced many like that… Verdammter scheiß, I’ve been that person many times over. It motivates him, ja.

I’ve seen locker rooms where one will sit with headphones on, blocking out das world until it is time. I’ve seen others where one will burn a line in das carpet as they go up und down, pacing, psyching themselves up. I’ve seen pictures of who they’re facing with darts, knives und all other manner of things thrown at them.

Another gentle shrug of the shoulders occurs.

(Hans): It is what it is Roderick. If Herr Price und Sean wish to jab verbally back und forth und draw attention, I’ve played the game long enough to be content as the dark horse in the eyes of others.

I’ve been there. I’m HWA’s only quintuple Champion. I didn’t become that by accident. As Herr Chaos found to his detriment when he decided to go swimming, I’m no slouch. I’m the Baron.

The confidence he exudes at this time brooks no argument to be made in this regard.

(Roderick): Well thank you for being so candid there Hans.

A shuffle of the cue cards occur, several being discarded to one side.

Hans take the opportunity to sip at the glass of water sat on the small table besides his chair.

(Roderick): One final thing before we move onto the next segment, and this touches upon what you mentioned earlier of the situation you found yourself in that led to that explosive matchup at Havoc with Erica Martinez.

A small stiffening of Hans’s posture is all that gives the game away.

(Roderick): Did you hear the news covering the remains of the biker gang that troubled your home being found?

(Hans): Ja, I did.

A dismissive noise escapes him, while the cogs in his brain turns over seeking something more substantial to offer up.

(Hans): I find it… ja, I find it disconcerting… that this has happened. Is it linked? Perhaps, perhaps not. I’ll leave that to the police, ja.

(Roderick): Quite, I’m in no doubt it’s in everyone's interest that whoever the person or persons responsible are brought to justice before more harm is done.

(Hans): Ja, exactly.

(Roderick): Now, for our final set of questions Hans, we went out a few days ago to the wider HWA Fanverse and asked them to submit in their questions for the chance to have them put to you. They went into a draw and I’ve got the ones that got pulled out here. So, first up…

He lifts up the next cue card.

(Roderick): Hans, do you have a preference to what the gender of the baby is? And do you and Vanessa have names picked out for either gender?

(Hans): Nein, no preference… well, from my side at any rate…

(Roderick): You’ve got your younger brother Heinrich of course, Vanessa’s an only child, yes?

(Hans): Ja, so she’s seen me around mein bruder…

A wry smile forms.

(Hans): I’m not sure she wants a younger version to deal with… but as far as names, ja, we have names settled on.

(Roderick): Not going to give us a hint?

Shaking his head as he takes another sip of water, Hans declines the offer.

Not taking any offense, Roderick carries on.

(Roderick): This one leads in nicely… Hans, when your baby grows up, do you hope to see them follow in your footsteps?

(Hans): A second generation wrestler? If das stars align Roderick, so be it. I only wish that their career will be filled with das success I’ve had, und less of the negative, ja.

(Roderick):Hans, if you were retiring today and could face any number of the HWA roster, who would you face? Would you want a specific match with any of them?

(Hans): Mein freund Butch. He’s had the better of me twice now, but that last bout goes back to my first stint in das HWA… und jah, a lot of time has passed. If given the chance, I’d not pass up a chance for a final test.

(Roderick): Going the other way now. Can you tell us about your first match and how you felt stepping into the ring for the first time?

(Hans): Terrified. Ja, I was a bag of nerves. A local federation doing shows throughout Germany had come through, they wanted an undercard, und my gym had been preparing us for such an opportunity. I’d been training, what, 6 months at that point… scheiße, now you’re asking me…

His cheeks puff out again as one hand runs through his hair from front to back.

(Hans): Sure, I’d had matches in mein gym, but first time with entrance music? That was new. Lot of critique after, but ja, we made good on it.

(Roderick): How do you prepare mentally and physically for a big match? If you don’t pace up and down or lock yourself away with earphones that is?

(Hans): Hah, not anymore Roderick. Nerves und butterflies, ja of course I still get them. But I have my routines I do. On the day, arrive early, eat well as I hate feeling bloated like ein whale if I eat later… I stretch, I jog, I call mein schatz und just… I don’t make a deal out of it if I can help it.

(Roderick): I guess that partly answers the next one then. What’s a typical day like for you when you’re on the road? Anything else you can share?

(Hans): Interviews, media, meet und greets ja. Meetings with management perhaps. Sometimes the arena’s can’t fit all of the pyro from mein entrance in safely, so speaking to the crew to confirm what needs changed.

(Roderick): Speaking of that, with this being the first title match, rumour has it that both Stu-E Price and Sean Parker are planning changes to their usual entrances to celebrate this event. Do you plan on doing the same Hans?

(Hans): Like I said just there Roderick, I don’t make a deal out of it if I can help it. Perhaps more pyro, but nein, I want mein head in das game, not occupied elsewhere with something new going on. No golden carriage to take me down das ramp, look at it that way.

Another shuffle of the remaining cue cards.

(Roderick): How do you balance your personal life with the demanding schedule of a professional wrestler?

(Hans): If I did not have mein schatz being as wonderful und caring as she is, I couldn’t. That simple Roderick. Es ist much much harder now that she is not commentating with Jason, but we make it work.

(Roderick): Well I can speak for us all here at HWA when I say that we too miss her every day when coming to work Hans.

(Hans): Danke, I’ll pass that on.

A slight pause follows, as the two men allow an appropriate time to pass before continuing on with the questioning.

(Roderick): Outside of wrestling, what are some of your hobbies or interests? Sean Parker for example is a well known gamer. Jeremy Branson is into his astrology. What takes your interest?

(Hans): Well, I… I do like gaming. But your older machines, ja. Dere ist ein arcade a short way from where we live und they do some food und drinks. It’s nice ja. Besides, I like to read und live music is sehr gut. Football…

A tug of the mouth occurs as a smile blossoms.

(Hans): Real football, ja I enjoy watching und das motorsports. I can sometimes get away und attend, like I managed Road America earlier this year at last. I think that sums it up.

(Roderick): If you weren’t a wrestler, what career path do you think you would have pursued?

(Hans): My heart says motorsports. Mein talent at that? Ja, that may have something else to say.

(Roderick): Two final questions then Hans. Firstly, what advice would you give to aspiring wrestlers?

(Hans): I say to the trainees every day, aim to be a little better than you were the day before. If the time comes when you can’t push anymore, don’t beat yourself up. We all have our limitations und I have strengths und weaknesses. Find yours, adjust, learn to use what you have.

(Roderick): Good words to live by there. And last but not least, who are your biggest inspirations in and out of the wrestling world?

(Hans): Mein schatz, Vanessa. My rock. Mein bruder und mutti. Mein freunds Matthew, Butch und Wisdom. Everyone of them people that have accomplished so much but you don’t always see the full story behind the effort they’ve put in. Its very inspiring to me, und I work to emulate them in many ways.

With that last question answered, the final cue card drops.

(Roderick): And with that, we come to an end. Hans, thank you again for your time. Good luck against Stu-E and Sean at ‘Road to Ruin’!

(Hans): Vielen dank Roderick, anytime.

Leaning across the small gap between them, they shake hands.

Panning out slowly, the scene fades to black.