🎤🤼 Inside the Ring: Interview with Rex Lyons of Capital Pro Wrestling New Zealand
🔥 Behind the Action Inside the Ring
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Q. To start, can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your life as a wrestling referee?
Rex Lyons: Hi I am Rex Lyons and I have been a referee since Feb 29th 2020 for CPW, I have also reffed for Unified Wrestling and Reaper Pro.
Q. What first drew you to the world of wrestling, and how did you end up becoming a referee specifically?
Rex Lyons: I first got drawn into the wonderful world of wrestling in the 90's watching WCW, watching superstars like Eddie Gurrero, Rey Misterio, Rey Mysterio Jr, Sting and more. I got into wrestling training on and off in 2009, but due to living far away I couldn't make the commitment, plus I was dealing with severe depression. By 2018 I had gotten back into it and I was the voice for Boris (A possessed doll) who was the manager of Circus of Tragedy. I let the Promoter know that if he needed another ref at any point I was interested in doing it as I had done some ref training in the past.
Q. For people who may not know, what does a wrestling referee actually do beyond what we see on TV?
Rex Lyons: So on top of what you see a ref do, we are also keeping time, we also make sure that both competitors are safe and relay any messages that need to be relayed, If a wrestler is injured it is our job to assess and if the injury is serious to let backstage know so First aid can be administered and/or emergency services contacted.
Rex Lyons reffing a match between Just Jack (red shirt) vs El Pistola (blue mask)
Screen shot from YouTube Video uploaded by CPW NZ
Q. What is the process like on show days? Can you give an example of "day in a life"? How do you prepare before stepping into the ring?
Rex Lyons: So on show day for me the process is get up, shower, pack my bag (if not packed from night before), recheck my bag 5 times|wait for my ride or go catch a train, then arrive at the arena. Once at the arena say hello to all the workers and shake their hands. Find out what I am doing that night and then go and see the wrestlers in the matches I am reffing to see what they need from me. I then usually find somewhere to sit as I go over everything in my head, and clear up anything with whoever I need to. Then backstage I will grab a water have a few sips and watch wrestling clips to amp me till show starts.
Q. Who is your all time favorite wrestler and why?
Rex Lyons: My all time fave wrestlers are Sting and Jeff Hardy. Sting because of his takedown of NWO in WCW and how he would drop from the rafters and Jeff Hardy because of all the crazy stuff he does in the ring.
Q. What are some of the biggest challenges or pressures that come with being a wrestling referee? What are some perks or benefits of being a referee?
Rex Lyons: Some of the biggest challenges are cardio, making sure you can get up and down counting multiple pinfalls, staying out of the way of the wrestlers so you don't get hit accidentally, and remembering spots.
Perks of being a ref are getting to be out in the ring connecting with the crowd, not taking as many bumps as the wrestlers, and getting to travel the country.
Wrestler Ray Gunn got into Rex Lyons face. Screenshot from CPW NZ Facebook.
Q. Have you ever had to handle unexpected situations in the ring? How do you stay composed when things don’t go as planned?
Rex Lyons: There have been unexpected situations, Like one wrestler severely injured his knee and the remainder of the show had to be called off, luckily it was the second to last match of the night. I wasn't reffing that match but I was at ringside, other time I was ref in the match, one of our wrestlers was meant to wrestle for a title but the champ wasn't there, GM came out and said he had given the champ the night off and attacked the other wrestler. Guy who got injured, I couldn't even tell, till he had people help him get backstage (he's that tough, it wasn't till he couldn't put pressure on it I noticed) Ring Announcer went and checked and told me "He's broken his ankle" He was also meant to be in the main event, but one of his teammates took his place. Not sure how I stayed composed, think it was a case of "I have to get through this show."
Q. What’s the wrestling scene like in New Zealand? How does it compare from other wrestling scenes in other countries?
Rex Lyons: The wrestling scene in NZ is great, there are multiple companies such as Capital Pro Wrestling, Impact Pro Wrestling, Unified Championship Wrestling, Heathen Combat, Legacy Pro Wrestling, Reaper Pro, Southern Pro Wrestling, River City Pro Wrestling and More. Not sure how it differs from other countries as I don't know their indy scene too well, but a lot of people wrestle for multiple companies.
Q. What are some behind the scenes things that fans rarely ever get to see or do not know about, but would find fascinating?
Rex Lyons: I would say some behind the scenes things fans rarely get to see is the comradery, it really is like a family. There are inside jokes, some pranks, and just all around good heartedness. One of my fave pranks was when one of the wrestlers gear went missing, he was looking everywhere for it. Someone had hidden it in the fridge.
Q. During your referee career, what are some memorable moments that you would like to share?
Rex Lyons: During my referee career some memorable moments I would like to share are when I reffed my first CPW Championship Match, which was Horus(c) vs ACJ, First time I reffed Jitters The Clown when he faced Harry Williams and grabbed a cream pie and pied Harry in the face, I also got hit with the cream, taking my first superkick after Ray Gunn ducked causing Luke Starr to connect with me instead, Reffing down south, a place I hadn't been since I was a baby, and last but not least, reffing my first ever deathmatch at Reaper Pro's 2 Ready 2 Die.
Q. Looking ahead, what goals do you have for yourself as referee? Where do you see your journey going next?
Rex Lyons: My goals next as a referee are to ref for an international company, as for where I see myself going next, only time will tell I am bad at thinking of things to add on, but I do hope that everyone enjoyed this interview and it shed some light on Referee's and Wrestling.Rex Lyons pinfalls (or Three counts) Freddy Forde (white trunks) vs John Henry (red singlet)
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*Originally posted on Twitch Team Happy People Discord Server
It was a pleasure to be interviewed by you. I see you done your research and looked up more information on CPW, that is amazing. Little fact for the Ray Gunn pic, this was moments before I took a bump, his opponent Dusty Bridges went to charge at him full speed and he move causing Dusty to sandwich me between himself and the turnbuckle
ReplyDeleteYes, thank you for such an insightful interview. It gives a good inside look at what it is like in the Indie wrestling world scene in New Zealand and life as a referee. And thanks for the fun fact. Hope you were okay and not seriously injured. I enjoyed searching through the social media posts of Capital Pro Wrestling NZ. You have reffed so many shows. :D
DeleteI was a bit sore the next day but no serious injuries. I have a list of all the matches I have reffed but haven't counted them for a while. Think I am over 100 now
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