GALLO INTERVIEW WITH PURORESU FAN.COM

http://hustle.puroresufan.com/interviews/gallo.php

GQ Gallo is a seasoned veteran of the independent scene in the United States, where he help runs Impact Zone Wrestling out of Tempe, Arizona. But in Japan, he is known by many names, including Ghostwalker, and the infamous Native American warriors, KATAKARI and HIZAKARI (Yes, he was both!) In 2004, KATAKARI was brought into Hustle as the Monster Army's personal assassin for Shinya Hashimoto. As Gallo will explain, his purpose was to literally EAT Hashimoto's injured shoulder! Later, Gallo returned to Hustle as KATAKARI's brother, HIZAKARI to dispose of Toshiaki Kawada's injured knee!

Please check out GQ Gallo at his website, or hit him up on his MySpace. In addition, You can watch Gallo online on IZW's Internet show, IMPULSE!

Stevie: "First of all, you've done a couple of tours in Japan. I believe your first tour was in 2002 working as the Ghostwalker, teaming with Navajo Warrior as Native Blood. How did you end up in Japan?"

Gallo: "At that time we were both working for Rick Bassman's Ultimate Pro Wrestling out of California. He had a working partnership going with ZERO-ONE to bring in his talent. One day, Hashimoto was there and saw us work against the Urban Outlaws (Mike Knox and Marshall Knox) and had us booked that night."

Stevie: "Were you a fan of Japanese pro-wrestling prior to going to Japan? Did it influence the way you worked here in the United States?"

Gallo: "I was a fan of Japanese pro wrestling, but more in the sense that I liked to watch it and wanted to go there; but at the same time felt intimidated because the tapes I saw always made Japanese pro wrestling out to be WAY tougher than here in the states."

Stevie: "When ZERO-ONE was created in 2001, it was a very straight laced organization, blending traditional pro-wrestling with mixed martial arts. In 2002, you began to see more of an Americanized influence. You guys came in a few months into 2002. How exactly did the fans react to your characters?"

Gallo: "They loved us! We got streamers in our first match, and the fans (who I was always told stayed respectively quiet) were loud and rowdy! they started doing our drumbeat and doing our war cry back at us! It was amazing; and I think even Ohtani and Tanaka were surprised by the reaction that we received."

Stevie: "Your first match in ZERO-ONE was against Shinjiro Otani and Masato Tanaka for the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team titles. What were your memories of this match? How were Otani and Tanaka to work with?"

Gallo: "I was so nervous! My first time out of the country, for titles, sold out Korakuen Hall pay per view, and against two of the best wrestlers in the world. Then the fans started screaming and we got going and it was like world war 3. It still is the most hard hitting, grueling match I've ever had; and still is one of my favorites to this day."

Stevie: "After a couple of years outside of Japan, you were brought back in 2004 for Hustle House Vol. 1 on 6/28/04. You were given the "KATAKARI" character. First of all, who came up with the gimmick? How exactly was it explained to you?"

Gallo: "It was given to me by DSE/HUSTLE!. They just told me that it was going to be a native-esque character. I had no idea what was really going on; I actually was told to bring my Ghostwalker gear. When I arrived in Tokyo I was taken to the PRIDE home office and given the outfit to try on. I was told that "KATAKARI" meant shoulder hunter and I was there to "EAT" Hashimoto's shoulder, which he was about to go to the states for surgery."

Stevie: "You worked the legendary Shinya Hashimoto in that match. Depending on who you ask, Hashimoto is either the nicest man you'll ever mean or completely unapproachable. What were your opinions of Hashimoto before and after the match?"

Gallo: "The Boss was always nice to me. Hashimoto always had a hug and a story or rib for me. That match is one of my favorites as well, and I felt privileged to be able to wrestle him in such a high profile show in one of his last matches. He was so easy to work, and the match was so much fun."

Stevie: "Kind of related to an earlier question, but what exactly were your thoughts on Hustle and the style it portrayed?"

Gallo: "I loved it! Some people said it was corny; but to me it was something Japanese pro wrestling was lacking. HUSTLE took straight laced wrestling, combined it with outrageous gimmicks and angles, and brought a new sense of FUN into Japanese arenas."

Stevie: "A couple of months after the match against Hashimoto, you were brought back to Hustle under the "HIZAKARI" character. How exactly did this differ from the KATAKARI character? Were you at all confused as to why they were bringing you back under a different character?"

Gallo: "HIZAKARI meant "knee hunter", and was supposed to be the twin brother to Chief KATAKARI. I was brought in this time to attack Kawada's injured knee. I didn't think it weird, only that KATAKARI was so much more over than his yellow-haired brother!"

Stevie: "In your second match, you teamed with The Monster C (Who may or may not be Steve Corino...) against Toshiaki Kawada and Taichi Ishikari. Months earlier, you were in the ring against Hashimoto, and now you were in the ring against Kawada. What were your memories of the match?"

Gallo: "Not as intimidating as wrestling Hashimoto; but still very nerve-wracking. I had watched a lot of Kawada's matches; and I thought he was going to kick the crap out of me! Ha ha! he was so easy to work. I had a lot of fun against him."

Stevie: "How did Hashimoto and Kawada differ in the ring?"

Gallo: "Kawada did a lot more kicks and was more of a newer-school type approach to his wrestling. Hashimoto was very old-school and deliberate in his matches."

Stevie: "You haven't been back to Japan since September of 2004. Is there a specific reason why you haven't come back to Japan? Would you like to return in the future, be it ZERO-ONE, Hustle or otherwise?

Gallo: "I actually was in Japan and Korea earlier this year for the USO; and I got to see a lot of Japanese workers I haven't seen since 2004. I haven't been back with ZERO-ONE since Hashimoto died. The company went through a lot of changes around that time, and a lot of us gaijin got left on the wayside. I love wrestling in Japan; and would go back at anytime without a seconds notice."

Stevie: "What's going on in your career right now? You're working a lot of out IZW in Arizona. Where else can we see GQ Gallo live?"

Gallo: "I wrestle for IZW (a company that Navajo and I both founded, along with American Gladiators Hollywood "Wolf" Yates) and train a lot of the guys there. I also work with the AWA, primarily in there Oregon territory, West Coast Wrestling Connection. I also work in Mexico and the surrounding areas around Arizona."

Stevie: "Finally, are there any other plugs you would like to give out?"

Gallo: "Don't forget to go to my website, www.gqgallo.net, my myspace, www.myspace.com/gqgallo, and don't forget to watch IZW IMPULSE!, our online show at www.impactzonewrestling.com."