Scotts Wrestling World

Scott Hubert: Growing up,did you want to be in the business,or had you planned on something else?

Eric Gargiulo: I definitely wanted to be in the wrestling business. I wanted to be a wrestler. I loved wrestling growing up. It was my life. I spent any money I would get on magazines. I spent my Saturdays watching wrestling. I would eventually get into tape trading, etc. I can tell you that I never had any ambitions to be a broadcaster/announcer. That just all kind of happened by an accident, but a good accident.

Scott Hubert: Did you prefer any promotion in particular(as a fan),prior to your career in wrestling?

Eric Gargiulo: The UWF, Bill Watts’ Mid South. UWF came on Philadelphia television and it was like nothing else I had ever seen. The shows were so fast paced, the interviews were great, and the angles were brutal and exciting. The UWF was definitely my favorite. I really liked the NWA also once Philadelphia started to get World Wide Wrestling on Saturday afternoons. I could now watch all of the guys I only read about in magazines. The interviews were great and the angles were real intense. It wasn’t as cartoonish as the WWF was turning out to be. I was definitely an ECW fan before I started technically working there.

S.H.: Who is your all-time favorite wrestler?

E.G.: I would have to say Ric Flair. I watched him a lot every month at the Philadelphia Civic Center and every match was great. His promos in his prime were the best of all time. Even today he can cut a hell of a promo. I think wrestling as evolved a lot since Ric Flair’s era, but he would definitely be it.

S.H.: You’ve interveiwed legends such as Bruno Sammartino,and “Cowboy” Bill Watts,is their someone you’ve not interveiwed,that you would like to?

E.G.: Well for sure Ric Flair. I think Vince McMahon would have to be at the top of any wish list. For the longest time I had wanted to interview Bill Watts, so finally having him on was quite an accomplishment for me.

S.H.: You started your career in ECW;How did you get there?

E.G: It really was a case of being in the right place at the right time. I had been hanging around ECW for awhile and was working at the time for RF Video. I had gotten friendly with Paul Heyman who used to call our hotline. We had a wrestling news hotline. One day he told me to hone in on my announcing skills. I had no idea what he meant. Then a few months later I was at a show just hanging out in Staten Island, NY. Paul sent one of his runners over to the table and said, “Paul says you’re ring announcing tonight.” It was surreal to say the least. After the show he told me to bring a suit the following night in Middletown, NY. So I split announcing the show with Joey Styles. Every weekend thereafter I would just show up prepared and dressed and ready to go. I never actually asked to be a part of ECW, nor was I actually officially asked. This just went on for a few months. So one weekend as I was walking out to the ring with Paul (Heyman) I asked him, “Can I be your road announcer?” Even though I was, I just wanted to ask and he said I could and that was that. Looking back I was just so incredibly lucky and blessed that I can’t even believe how it worked out. I think I earned Paul’s trust prior because I never made a scene in the locker room, I was always respectful, I did whatever he asked such as pull-apart brawls, driving guys, whatever. To be honest with you, if he never saw my potential in broadcasting/announcing I don’t know if I would have. For that and everything else I will be forever grateful.

S.H.: How are things going for your promotion,CZW (Combat Zone Wrestling)?

E.G.: Things are going really well. The ROH feud has really garnered us some great publicity. The shows are still kicking butt and drawing decent houses. Zandig lets me do whatever I want on commentary, which is nice because there is no pressure at all going into a show. I do put pressure on myself though. It amazes me how many people watch the CZW DVDs. I get emails all of the time from people that watch and are fans and it is very humbling.

S.H.: CZW is currently in a fued with another promotion,ROH (Ring Of Honor). How did this fued begin?

E.G: Basically at our Cage of Death show, Chris Hero grabbed the microphone and answered their champion’s (Bryan Danielson) open challenge. It was really that simple. From there it has exploded into an all out war.

S.H.: Could you name some top moments in your career as a whole?

E.G.: Without question it would be calling last year’s Hardcore Homecoming show. While it wasn’t ECW, it was the closest thing to ECW in its purest form that I will likely ever have the chance of announcing. It was just such an honor to call a show with so many of my mentors and heroes on it and in such a classic place like the ECW Arena. Calling the first Ring of Honor show was special to me because the entire roster was handpicked as the future of the business and the best available. It was a great experience to be a part of that. Announcing on pay per view and television has been a real experience. I never would have dreamed that I would do anything like this. There are hundreds of indy announcers in the business and none of them will have the great opportunities at exposure like I have had. I am now going on 10 years in the business and I am just starting to really appreciate all of the great experiences I have been able to have in pro wrestling. Hosting my radio show in my eighth year is definitely something I am extremely proud of. Being paid to go on tour in Italy for CZW was something I will never forget. That whole trip was maybe the most fun I have had in my adult life in a long, long time. I am also really proud of the fact that I get a lot of calls and emails from companies that are starting up, etc. It is really nice to know that so many people think that highly of me as to consider me for a new venture. I could go on and on, and it may seem like I am bragging but honestly there are so many things I forget about that all of the sudden come back to me and I am like, “Wow, I did that?”

S.H.: Do you think the return of ECW will affect CZW? If so,why?

E.G.: Originally I thought it would, but now I don’t think so. I thought they would be hitting the ECW Arena monthly but looking at their schedule they are barely in the area. If they decide to make the area a monthly stop than we could be in a bit of trouble, otherwise I don’t think it will help or hurt us in any way.

S.H.: If ECW were to offer you an exclusive contract to return to their promotion,would you take it,and why?