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Interview with “The Pride of Paulsboro” Anthony Bennett
By Joseph Feeney III
Name: Anthony Bennett
Height: 5”9 to the top of his highlight fade!
Weight: 168 lbs
Experience: 2 years
Career Highlights: Winning the Monster Factory Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Championship
My interview today is with a fiery young wrestler named Anthony Bennett. I have seen him compete a few times, and he is just high energy and excitement from the moment he walks through the curtain, to the moment he exits the ring. He is an extremely naturally athletic young man, and the sky is the limit for him.
JF: We will start out with the easy, usual first question. Were you a wrestling fan growing up?
AB: Most definitely! That’s the reason I pursued amateur wrestling.
JF: And who were your favorites while you were growing up and watching?
AB: K-Kwik (R-Truth,) Too Cool, Rikishi, and Kane were my guys.
JF: Truth, Too Cool, Rikishi…seems like you really liked the more entertaining, dancing type babyfaces on the roster.
So from looking into your background, and from what you just mentioned, you were a pretty successful athlete in high school. Would you like to tell the readers what sports you played, and some of your accomplishments?
AB: I wrestled amateur from the time I was very young. I'm no All-American, but I do have a pretty decent amount of first place trophies from the time I was 4 until the time I graduated. I helped lead Paulsboro's 2010-2011 wrestling team to a Group 1 State Championship. I also played football for Paulsboro. We weren't able to capture any titles. However, I was awarded The Coaches Award.
JF: None of those things are anything to sneeze at! So you entered amateur wrestling because you were a fan of the pro stuff. I take it you wanted to be a pro wrestler from the word go, then?
AB: Yes, I did. I remember the first match that I wrestled. I lost because I thought when you're down, it’s a 3-count. Was I wrong?! From then on, my back barely touched the mat.
JF: Haha, very nice. So being a local guy, were you always aware of the Monster Factory?
AB: Not always. My dad however remembered when The Big Show trained here, how he was on one knee and was taller than a Paulsboro State Champ.
JF: So then what finally led you to the Monster Factory School, and what were your first impressions?
AB: I was working out in the gym one day, and a buddy of mine asked to roll around on the mat. When I arrived and opened the door, there was a ring on the left mat. From that moment on, from the moment I first saw it, I knew I'd be in that ring one day.
JF: What are your thoughts on the training system in place today at the Monster Factory, and on the trainers, Owner Danny Cage, Bill Wiles, and The Blue Meanie?
AB: I honestly think it's one of the best out there today. Danny Cage will go over moves and point out how to do them properly. Meanie will give us scenarios and spots for the moves. Bill teaches us drills with the moves and like Meanie, he'll help tell us when to use them, and why.
JF: In your time there, from your fellow students to guys who have come in for shows, etc., who would you say is the most naturally talented wrestler you have seen so far?
AB: I'd have to say both members of AC Roc (Marc Cruz & Shaheem Ali.) Both of those guys know how to get the crowd involved with their entrance, they have great promo skills, and they are both very great, very entertaining wrestlers. They're very talented to me.
JF: Other than your trainers, who would you say you have learned the most from? It can be a fellow student, a seminar, another wrestler who worked a show, anyone...
AB: Joe Gibson. Joe has shown me things he's learned from down south, so it's like I'm learning how to wrestle in front of two different types of crowds. I wrestle in front of tri state crowds, and Joe prepares me to work in front of southern, old school style crowds
JF: If you had to describe your character to a first time fan coming to see you, how would you do so?
AB: I'd say I’m “The High Top Fading, Hip-Hop Parading Superstar!” I defy gravity, and dance heavily.
JF: So the word is Monster Factory TV on Roku will become available this coming fall/winter. How do you feel this opportunity will help the Monster Factory, and what type of programming would you like to see?
AB: I think this would help us get that proper, extensive exposure. I think the way the program and the shows are going now would be just fine.
JF: What do you feel has been your biggest accomplishment as a pro wrestler so far?
AB: I think my biggest accomplishment was finding my character. It feels good that I can now be comfortable in the ring.
JF: So who would you say are your current favorite wrestlers to watch? It can be WWE, international, Indies, anything...
AB: I’d say R-Truth. I think both his in ring skills and his mic skills are just phenomenal.
JF: So, in a perfect world, this Saturday night, you'll be main eventing Madison Square Garden in front of a sold out crowd...and you can pick your opponent. Who would it be?
AB: Kurt Angle. The pleasure it would be to wrestle an Olympic Gold Medalist, there are just no words I could use to describe it.
JF: So what do you feel are the next steps for Anthony Bennett in the near future?
AB: The next step I'd say, is to get myself down to Orlando and NXT for a WWE tryout. That alone will make me feel that I'm one step closer to my dream. Even if I don't pass their tryout, I would learn from the experience, and improve based on that.
JF: Outside of your trainers, who would you say is the biggest connection you've made so far, to get you closer to your goal of a tryout?
AB: Gerald Brisco. He told me that he liked my amateur style, but warned me that I was too small to be in WWE. That conversation with him on those two topics were enough for me, to get me motivated to hit the gym every single day, eat right, and keep practicing amateur. We still keep in contact, just to let him know how I am progressing, and how I'm doing.
JF: On Saturday September 20th, Monster Factory Pro Wrestling has another exciting show planned. What can you tell the fans to expect from the show in general, but more importantly, from Anthony Bennett?
AB: As always they should expect PRO WRESTLING! And from me, expect the Hair to be HIGHER from the “High Top High Flyer!”
