Interview with "Uptown" Frankie Capone & Double Deuce Inc

Frankie Capone: I didnt become a fan until my family moved to Florida in 1984. I saw my first match in the Eddie Graham Sports Stadium, Wahoo McDaniel against Lex Luger. That was my first introduction to the sport.

FC: I was walking around the mall in Orlando (where I currently reside) and saw a guy wearing a Southern Championship Wrestling and he physically looked like a wrestler. I asked him about it and he directed me to a school run by a guy who I now know to be the crook of all crooks named Jerry Gray.

AW: You had an experience to attend the WCW Power Plant. Was it as tough as it was publicized to be?

FC: It was pure hell for three days. That was back when they would bring guys in and tried to kill them quick. To make a long story short, we squatted from 9am to lunch time. A sandwich truck would come and then back to squats again for another 1 ½ to 2 hours. Then we would get in the ring for some work on spots. We had NCAA basketball and football players with us, real big guys. The group went from 15 down to me and another guy on the third day.

FC: I ended up on the third day in the ring with Kurasawa. I called the third day the cake day, simply because that was the day they began to evaluate you. From the last two days of squatting, my knees were all but gone, spaghetti style. I went to run a spot where Kurasawa dropped down and I stepped over and my knee blew out. I didnt tear all the ligaments but through liability purposes, the Sarge and Pez Whatley decided I couldnt finish the day. If you couldnt physically walk out of the Power Plant or even finish the day out, you couldnt come back. For all intensive purposes I was proud to have made it to three days, especially with athletes dropping out within the first couple of hours on day one.

FC: I had been training with Adrian before the Power Plant. After getting screwed by Jerry Gray, who stole a $1,000, I met one of his other students named Rocking Randy. Randy had a ring out in Lake County and I would go there and train about three or four times a week. I wasnt getting anywhere and I wanted to get in with someone who had a name in the business. So I met Adrian and went to his school for three months and he took care of me. He gave me a low rate and put me up in his apartment complex. I had known the basics, but Adrian taught me the business side of things like characterization. He helped me get to the level I am at today.

FC: That piece of #$%& Jerry Gray gave me a mobster gimmick, The Hitman Frankie Capone. I didnt find that cool, because of Bret Hitman Hart already out there. I changed it to Untouchable Frankie Capone after the TV show and movie. I found it too much to say in the ring and getting tongue-tied cutting promos. Sitting around one day I began to think. I wanted to keep the Frankie Capone persona and since I liked to dress nice and shooting things around Uptown Frankie Capone was born.

AW: For people who might be reading this and never seeing your current attire, you have an outlandish ring wardrobe.

FC: The flashy stuff came when I joined IPW. I kept the mafia gimmick for the first three years. I found it wasnt as over as I thought it could have been. The state of the business today, I found you if you cant give the fan something to remember you by, youll be a flash in the pan and another guy on the card. Coming out wearing a fedora with a black tuxedo and a briefcase just wasnt getting me over. I needed to do something fun and get back the flair I had. So the feather boas and zebra striped jackets and goofy hats cam out of the closet.

AW: You have a virtual alphabet of organizations on your resume, (IPW, ECW, USWA, WWC, SCW, NWA-FL, EEW/FWA of England, Music City Wrestling, FCW, CCW/Jacksonville, FL, CCW/Melbourne, FL) so well touch on some of the high points. How did get involved with USWA?

FC: I did two squash matches for them. I was working some shows in Alabama and was asked to come up by so I made a couple of bucks. But it was good experience for me, to be in a building where so many stars I have patterned my career have worked.

FC: Getting the chance was rocky. I sent my tape there and even though they werent looking for talent Bert gave me a chance. I began by wrestling Flash Flannigan and Wolfie-D. I did two matches on my first night for their nationally syndicated TV show. That was cool to be on national TV and I worked there for five months. My last match was with the Colorado Kid Mike Rapada as shortly after it they shut down.

AW: For many who have not seen it, the Mid-South region is very different. Did you have to alter your style or character?

FC: Not necessarily my style because I love to work the old-school style that focuses on strictly wrestling. The workers situation threw me totally off. The babyfaces and heels were in separate locker rooms and had no interaction of any kind. We had to call everything in the ring. But like any situation you learn to adapt to it.

FC: Right before I got married in 2000, I had received a call from a personal friend, (NWA-TNA star) Tony Mamaluke of the FBI. I was down in the dumps and thinking of giving up. I hit a crossroads in life. Mamaluke said let me make some calls. Two weeks later he called back and told me if I could get to New Hampshire he could get me a couple of tryout matches. So off to New Hampshire I went. I traveled with Tony, Johnny Swinger and James Vandenburg and they got me through the tryout matches. I met Tommy Dreamer who helped me out as well.

FC: If things had worked the right way there was a chance. I heard Dreamer liked what I was doing. I had done some work in front of Paul Heyman. But thanks to Mamaluke I was glad to have gotten the shot. In this business it is definitely not what you know, its who you know.

AW: You have the chance to travel to Puerto Rico. Did you have apprehensions going there after Bruiser Brodys murder?

FC: To be honest I did. I heard horror stories of guys getting stiffed on pay and workers being stiff. But I can say from the bottom of my heart, I was taken care of the whole time from the moment I came off the plane. Carlos Colon and Ricky Santana, who is the WWC road agent, made sure I got TV matches and promo time. I got invited back for their anniversary show and would go back any time.

FC: No. The person who I worked for over there named Stewart Allen, known as the Dominator, trained with Adrian Street. It was Americanized from him training with Adrian. He flew me to

England

in 1999 and from that point on I went back for their big shows.

AW: You joined IPW in 1999, what were your first impressions of the company and its co-owner Ron Neimi?

FC: Ron and I joke about it often; we knew each other by name. I was working for CCW in Melbourne and he came by with Jet Jaguar. Everyone whispered, Ron Neimi is here, hell drink all the beer, screw these guys. I got after him for about six months to get work. Out of the blue he called me to come down, June 10^th I think, and I had my first match against Jeremy Lopez. The first impression was this is great. The crowds were huge in Crystal River. Ron and his crew were cool. It has been a BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP ever since (laughs.)

AW: You started in a tag team with (current Vicious & Delicious member) Python. Do you prefer singles work or tag team?

FC: I can go with either style. It was a thing where we were on the same level and lets see where this goes. Turns out we worked better separately. Sometimes styles click and sometimes they dont. Thats not a knock on Python. Hes a tremendous athlete, a former offensive lineman for UCF. I am an outgoing, flashy type of character and he didnt fit it. He is doing better with his current thing.

AW: You wrestled in the light heavyweight division, what was it like to be in the ring with guys like Scoot Andrews and Jet Jaguar?

FC: Those guys can take you to another level. Jet Jaguar is a former WCW development talent. Scoot has tons of dark matches with the WWE and its a sin that he isnt under contract with them. When youre in the ring with them you cant help but to learn and go to that next level. If you have a bad match with those guys you dont belong in the ring.

FC: It a funny story. I met Cannon and his former partner, Barney Rumble about five years ago at a show in Daytona Beach. I liked their attitude as all they wanted to do is work. I got them some bookings and we took to each other. I saw a lot of me in them. I brought Cannon down to an IPW show and he began to just come and hang out. He didnt break balls and after a few weeks, Ron came to me and asked if Cannon would be a good hardcore worker. Cannon is a legitimate tough guy, which is not a work. So Cannon did the hardcore thing. I came up with this idea of the double deuce, which was supposed to be a Rat Pack type of group that ended up being the two of us. We click so well. I am the big mouth and he cleans up the messes I create.

AW: You are currently the former IPW Television champion. Did you like the way the match went down? From a one-on-one match with Pat Powers to a three way dance with his former partner Pat McGroin.

FC: Actually I never questioned the way it went down. Pat Powers was a pleasure to drop the belt to and I have never questioned the decisions IPW makes. Im happy to help elevate any of the talent here in IPW. Which we dont see a lot with everyone afraid of losing their spot and giving someone a rub so to speak. Pat Powers is a great talent and to have worked with him and Pat McGroin, it made me look like a million bucks.

FC: Sometimes. Honestly, the fans arent too smart to understand the things we are doing. Im sorry if that offends people, but I tell it like it is. The marquee says sports entertainment. Not flip, flip out to the floor from the top rope and get back in the ring. Its about bringing the crowd into the match. Unfortunately too many fans are into Lucha Libre and trading the Japanese tapes. When you get down to it, things will come full circle and this is entertainment. I am an entertainer and what I went to school for. I try to change my style for the fans but I am not going to compromise my character or integrity for anyone.

FC: The one I am doing currently where Cannon is getting on me for spending more time at (local strip club) Diamond Dolls and other IPW sponsors instead of climbing the ladder of success. By far that is my favorite angle.

FC: Unbelievable talent. Someone I respected growing up and working on shows with.

FC: Loved the guy. Someone I had the honor of being in the ring with several times. I couldnt give you just a few words on him. To know we lost a talent like Jeff is hard to believe.

FC: If I have my say, Rod steel wont be wearing suits anymore or that IPW World title. You see IPW is about entertainment, the fortitude and intestinal guts of indy workers that bleed and sweat for this business.

FC: In all honesty you can see Frankie Capone doing the same thing he always does just making more money doing it.

DOUBLE DEUCE INC. is a faction in IPW Hardcore that consists of Uptown Frankie Capone, Pat Powers, Cannon and Pat McGroin (due to a business trip to the south of France, Mr. McGroin was not available for this interview.) Capone, Powers and McGroin are all former IPW TV champions, with Powers beating Capone for the belt then McGroin winning it from Powers (confused??) Capone and Cannon are never at a loss for words while Powers is usually telling fans to, Shut your mouth!! This interview was conducted in the confines of a luxurious Volvo S90 owned by Cannon on our way towell Im not sure where but we ended up somewhere eventually.

Alan Wojcik: What led to you getting into the wrestling business?

Pat Powers: I was a big fan growing up. Ive always been drawn to the combination of show business and athleticism. Ive been an athlete all my life. I was trained by Angelo Poffo, who is the father of Lanny Poffo and Macho Man Randy Savage.

Cannon: I also was a huge fan as a kid. I was glued to the TV on Saturdays watching the NWA and Florida wrestling with Ric Flair and Gordon Solie. I was a huge Four Horseman mark. I dreamed that I could do it. The kids in the neighborhood would hang around and do what you could call backyard wrestling. I went and trained in martial arts and also got a career in the private sector. One day it hit me that I really could get into wrestling. I looked up a school where Stormy Granzig (sic) trained me for a few months. He told me after a few months to go find work and I joined ICW out of Daytona and met Frankie there. We have been friends since then.

(Frankies answer to this question can be seen in his solo interview also on this site.)

AW: How did you come to work for IPW Hardcore and what were your initial impressions of Ron Niemi?

Powers: Ive known Ron going back to around 1990 and he has been a good friend throughout those years. Cuban Assassin Navy Seal and I were I believe to be the first guys to work for Ron. I came down to his old training school and liked his idea of hardcore mixed in with the traditional wrestling

Cannon: I hooked up with Frank and he took me under his wing when he came to IPW shows. I came to just meet the guys and get known. One thing led to another and Frank got me into some hardcore matches. My first IPW match was with Chaos who kicked my ass and left me bleeding. I love the guys and dont want to work anywhere else.

Capone: I met Ron when I was working for CCW in Orlando under a hood as the character of Psycho Sexy. I came up in the ranks with Jamie Noble, Jeremy Lopez and Tony Mamaluke. Ron and I had known each other by name and I busted his balls for a few months about getting work. I will never for get the date of June 10, 2000, right before I got married and he asked me to work for him against Jeremy Lopez. I brought him a twelve pack and Ive been booked ever since (laughs.)

AW: Both Frankie and Pat are veterans of the business. What is it like to be in a WWE, WCW, ECW or NWA:TNA ring? Is it the biggest adrenaline rush of your life?

Powers: Actually I get bigger rushes working in front of smaller crowds. Ive been rings of the old WWF, WCW and IWF. WWF was a big rush and it was an honor to be able to be in their ring. You work your whole wrestling career to get there. To get into a ring at any level is an honor and the younger kids in the business need to learn that fact.

Capone: My dark match on TNA is owed to Ron and Tony Mamaluke. Tony got me into ECW for a short stint before they shut down. Ron has gotten the guys he feels have busted their asses off shots with NWA:TNA and WWE. For my TNA match I had the honor to work Erik Watts and afterwards I got good notes from Raven and D-Lo Brown. Their staff treated Cannon and me with the up most respect. I got onto the PPV helping break up a fight between Jeff Jarrett and Glen Gilberti, which was great to be on the PPV even for a moment. Ron and the IPW office has done wonders for the boys and gotten us opportunities we wouldnt have gotten on our own.

AW: This question goes to Frankie. Is Pat Powers the hardest chest chopper in wrestling?

Capone: Jesus H. Christ, I have ever been chopped harder in my life. We had a feud about a year ago and Ive never been hit harder by anyone. Everyone forgets this isnt just sports entertainment. Its about giving 110%, giving all that you can and making it look as real as you can without killing each other. Its not about who can flip the highest. The bottom line is that we have to get up the next day and work. Anyone that knows anything about professional wrestling knows that unless youre in WWE or Japan or IWA in Puerto Rico, you are not making the living at this. Pat and I beat each other up and we are better friends for it and now here we are together in Double Deuce.

AW: Before joining Double Deuce, Pat you were part of the Professionals with Rod Steel, Pat McGroin and Jeff Bradley. How did that union come to begin and eventually end?

Powers: It came about one day we were working out together and thought what the hell we need to beat some people up (Frankie and Cannon laugh.) In my view, Jeff is the modern day Bruiser Brody. We kicked some asses and it was good for a while. I blame the break up on Rod Steel, his ego got too big. I couldnt stand him anymore so I had to kick his ass and then I let Pat and Jeff Bradley have a turn with him. Frankie and I got tired of beating each other up and thats what led to our joining up.

AW: At one point you and McGroin were managed by the buxom Vanessa Harding. How did she come to be your manager and what did she being to the team?

Powers: Vanessa was mostly eye candy and many distractions to our opponents. She had some issues with the IPW office and she is no longer around. She is a nice person and I wish her well.

AW: Pat, you were the first person to be mimicked by Superfan Mark Zout when he wrestled Pat McGroin. What was your reaction when you saw the videotape?

Powers: Actually I wasnt at that event nor have I seen the tape. He hasnt had the balls to mimic me since and to this day he denies ever doing it.

AW: Frankie and Cannon were next to be mimicked as Mark became Uptown Frankie Zout while Job Zout became Job Cannon. What did you think when they came through the curtain to the ring?

Cannon: Theyre a couple of clowns and thats the only way they can get over is to rip off Double Deuce. They thought it would be a way to the top instead they found that it is the way to an ass kicking.

Capone: You know what is funny is imitation is the biggest form of flattery. Zout doesnt have the creativity to come up with his own gimmick; he has to bite off guys like me, Pat and Cannon. Also stars like Hulk Hogan, Undertaker and whats that other idiots name.

Cannon: Randy Savage??

Capone: That guy. Right dig it, yeah!! The bottom line Zouts is I kicked your asses along with the Cash Money Crew. We have beaten you up for the last six months and I am begging the IPW office to stop putting them in the ring with us so they can stop getting their chests chopped by Pat Powers and getting beaten down by Pat McGroin, Cannon and Frankie Capone.

AW: At the IPW 5^th anniversary show, Double Deuce met up with D-Generation Zout. During that match Comic Book Guy..sorry Brian the Stretcher Anderson turned on his team and help you win the match. Is Brain Anderson a member of Double Deuce Inc?

Capone: Not as of yet, Brian hasnt proved himself worthy of joining Double Deuce. I can say Brian is the best student to come out of the Florida Wrestleplex. Not Rod the goldenboy Steel, not Bruce I beat up my lady Steele. Brian is of the famed Anderson blood. He has the best sidewalk slam this side of the Mississippi but no he isnt a member of the Double Deuce.

AW: Pat you have a hand in the training of the students at the Florida Wrestleplex. If someone is reading this, why should they learn at the Wrestleplex?

Powers: You have many different teachers that can teach all the different styles out there in the world of wrestling. Its hard knocks training. Anyone thinks that it is sugar coated is blind. It is hard business to get into. The easier it looks on TV the harder it is to do. Navy Seal is the head trainer and he does a tremendous job with the students.

(Cannon pulls into the parking lot of the Florida Wrestleplex)

AW: Time to pass the recorder around the car. Who is your toughest opponent in your career?

Powers: My toughest opponent was my first ever, Mike McCloskey. He was trained by Angelo Poffo and Randy Savage. It was my toughest night because I was so scared and overwhelmed by all that was happening. He took it to me that night and it was a great wake up call and introduction to the wrestling business.

Capone: One of my toughest matches was with a best friend of mine named Stu Allen who wrestles as the Dominator in London, England in 1999. Both of us came out of Adrian Streets wrestling school, Skull Crushers Wrestling Academy. I was flown over to England by Extreme World Warfare who we worked for. We worked in a cage match and then soon we became part of the Dead Souls. Stu is an underrated wrestler in Europe. He beat me from one end of that cage to another, but I came out on top only as Frankie Capone can. In Europe you wrestle three rounds and have a point system. The fact is he beat me all over the place but as I said I came out on top.

Cannon: My toughest match had more to do with the outside factor than my opponent. It was a chain match with Python and his then-partner Frankie Capone walking the floor. When Python dumped me to the floor, Frankie didnt just hit me with a chair he THREW A CHAIR AT MY SKULL, splitting me wide open and costing me two pints of blood. He then tossed me in to get finished off by Python. It had nothing to do with Python it was this a$$ next to me Frankie Capone (Frankie was laughing throughout Cannons comment.)

AW: Who was your favorite opponent?

Powers: My favorite opponent was the late Curt Hennig. It was an overwhelming experience as well as a learning one.

Capone: There is a couple. I was in the ring many times with the late Jeff Peterson who all of us came to know and I miss very much. God bless you wherever you are. I guess of the IPW guys I hate to say this, but its Rod Steel and Jet Jaguar who I would like to take credit for retiring since in our match he broke his hip, like anyone cares (laughs.) I beat both of them for the IPW TV title. Those guys worked a flawless match with me at the same time beating the living tar out of each other and then we went to a local strip joint and drink beers together.

AW: If you could wrestle one person, past or present, who would it be with?

Powers: Ive thought about it often and hands down my dream match would be with Ric Flair. He is the best in the business and one of the reasons I am in wrestling. Growing up watching and match after match of his.

Capone: My dream match would be with George Hackenschmidt, the world champion from 1905, I am kidding!! My real dream opponent would be Hulk Hogan. Im a hulkamaniac for life. I cried when he lost the title to the Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania 6 and I vowed to gain revenge on the Warrior, but the WWE doesnt take guys 5 ft 8 inches tall (Cannon laughs.) Hogan is a tremendous entertainer and if it wasnt form him and Vince McMahon we wouldnt have careers. Hogan is the greatest of the great. Cannons dream opponent is Barney Rumble (laughs.)

Cannon: Without a doubt Ric Flair. He is the best and he inspired me to become a wrestler and be an a#$hole everywhere we go.

AW: How much of Pat Powers the person is Pat Powers the wrestler?

Powers: Totally different. When I am in the ring I am Pat Powers and the gloves come off. Out of the ring I am very quiet and respectful guy.

AW: Likewise how much of real Cannon and Frankie Capone come out in the ring?

Capone: You know what Alan. Unlike Pat Powers who is very reserved, I maybe an asshole in the ring but I am a bigger asshole out of the ring. Cannon and I have gotten into more $%it in the last six months. We have to go to court in November from some guy that ran me down with his pickup truck after he tried to talk $#it. People mistake the wrestling business for something thats real. Eminem says in his songs, You think you know me, you dont know me!! Frankie Capone and Cannon are two of the baddest, most volatile people in the business. Well kick you in the groin and than ask questions later. Bottom line Pat is the calm guy that keeps us grounded. In the locker room hell smack me in my face and tell me to watch my mouth. But were doing a shoot interview. Ill say what ever the f#&k I want. You think for one second I wont slap you in the face and tell you what is going on. We are the real deal. In the end, Frank (real last name deleted) is the same person as Uptown Frankie Capone.

Cannon: Ive had a#$holes come from behind and hit me with bottles, Ive had a$#holes hit me from the front and hit me with bats. I dont give a sh&#. We have each others back. People want to start stuff with us. You start with us and you go home in a body bag.

(IPW student Amy Love walks by the car)

Cannon and Capone: Wow Hot Ass Amy walking by. Come here honey and sit in our car.

AW: Down boys!! Take a moment to calm down. Cannon and Frankie you were at a recent MLW show in St Petersburg. What were your thoughts of MLW Hybrid Wrestling?

Capone: I would like to sh$% all over MLW but I cant. All kidding aside the guys on the show, including my friend Tony Mamaluke, put on a hell of a show. I found out that weekend Tony got engaged even though he is married, sorry Tony. Sonjay Dutt and B-Boy are a few of the great cruiserweights MLW had on that show. To be fair to other promotions including IPW, all MLW had on that show were cruiserweights. It seemed like there were no story lines and nothing made any sense. They have a money mark running things. I hope things work out for them. The bottom line is that it takes more than money and cruiserweights to build a company. In IPW you have two jacked up Sonnys you bet boys in the Shane twins, veterans like Pat Powers, Cuban Assassin, Pat Powers, Cannon, Frankie Capone and also younger guys like Roderick Strong. IPW has a variety of wrestlers. You cant blame the MLW talent roster for the bad writing. I respect each and every one of them.

AW: Pat you mentioned watching WWE growing up. What do you think of the current product they put on TV and in the arenas for house shows?

Powers: Vince McMahon has the midas touch. I am still a big fan of the WWE. I enjoy the tremendous athletes they have and I wouldnt disrespect them by saying anything different.

AW: Have you seen NWA:TNA and would you work for them?

Powers: Absolutely. It is a good show where they are mixing the old school with some new school. It would be an honor to work for them.

AW: Where do you hope Double Deuce will go to next?

Capone: I hope we go to Japan or Europe. Bottom line is we go where we want, say what we want and do what we want anytime of the day. Weve got a ring veteran in Pat Powers, the attitude of Frankie Capone, the bad ass legitimate tough guy in Cannon and the best dressed wrestler in the business in Pat McGroin. We spend the money like we want as you know from sitting in this $42,000 dollar Volvo with us. Double Deuce Inc. is going public in the next six months. Weve got the attitude and drive to succeed. People want to talk about the AOD but we are keeping the airing up on UPN-44 and making IPW famous. We have what it takes to be the best in wrestling and we show it night in and night out.

Many thanks to Frankie, Pat and Cannon for driving me around.