In preparation for Beyond Wrestling’s “Tournament 4 Tomorrow”, PWP’s Tim Bell continues his series of interviews. This time around, indy wrestling veteran Carlos “Pinkie” Sanchez.
Beyond Wrestling is running, “Tournament 4 Tomorrow,” a two night, two tournament event this month, November 28th & 29th from Fete Music in Providence, RI. With two nights, pitting both singles competitors and tag teams in four way matches within a tournament format, there are a lot of strategies and perspectives heading into this event.
Following up on my chat with the M1nute Men from Crusade For Change, I had a chance to catch up with 10+ year veteran Carlos “Pinkie” Sanchez. Pinkie’s competed all around the world against some of the greatest and most highly respected names in the business, and will be competing in this month’s Tournament 4 Tomorrow. As you’ll see below, while Pinkie’s proud to represent Team Pazuzu in his efforts, while members of CFC are looking to win one for the group, Pinkie pulls no punches about how important a win would be to his career.
Tim Bell: “Beyond fans last saw you at the Powder Keg event in Somerville, MA. You were victorious on that night, along with EYFBO, however you were injured that night and sidelined for the past couple months. How’s the recovery been, and is it safe to assume you’ll be back at 100% for TFT4?”
Pinkie: “For the past 6 weeks all I waited for was to be able to walk on my own two feet. Once I knew that I could hold myself up on my own accord, I knew that I would be able to get in that ring and kick some ass. 100% ain’t nothing to me. I have not been 100% in years. Life is pain and a sprained ankle, no matter how severe, is just a passing ache that I’ll get over it and move on. TFT4 is going to be my best Beyond Wrestling performance to date.”
Tim Bell: “All five members of Team Pazuzu will be competing at TFT4, however, you’ll be the only individual representative, as the rest of the Pazuzu members will be competing in the tag tournament. Is there added pressure knowing you’re Pazuzu’s only member in the singles event, or is just competing in TFT4 pressure enough?”
Pinkie: “I came into this business alone. I never had a tag partner to deal with. I am a lone-wolf if there ever was one. I was feeling pressure before I even joined Pazuzu. The pressure I feel is that which I give myself to go out there and be the best Sanchez I believe I can be. No wrestler on earth or in Beyond Wrestling is going to make me fold under the pressure. I’m the damn pressure!”
Tim Bell: “Do you view TFT4 as an opportunity to potentially step out of the Pazuzu shadow to some degree, and show the Beyond audience everything you’re capable of on your own?”
Pinkie: “Absolutely. Before Pazuzu was running Beyond Wrestling, management did not believe in me due to personal issues. No one believed in me except the fans who supported Beyond Wrestling with their hard-earned cash. After years of disappointment with the company, I can stand tall and say I finally got that opportunity to step up. I’m finally getting my due and I owe it to my brothers in Pazuzu who always believed in me, and I in them. I don’t feel a shadow when I’m with Pazuzu, I feel love. Love from my brothers and love from the paying fans. Pazuzu doesn’t shadow the past 11 years of rock n roll I have provided, it just makes Pazuzu that much more illustrious because I’m bringing over a decade of experience to the team and sharing a ring with talent like Chris Dickinson, Jaka, Larry Legend, Heidi Lovelace, and EYFBO.”
Tim Bell: “Currently in Beyond Wrestling, the two main factions, Team Pazuzu and the Crusade For Change have been running somewhat parallel to each other, without much interaction or conflict. However, both groups have proclaimed their goals for supremacy within Beyond Wrestling. Is it only a matter of time before those two powerful alliances need to clash, and do you have any thoughts on that potential battle?”
Pinkie: “We would destroy the Crusade. While they’re crying on the social media and crying about Beyond not giving them there proper chances, we’re in the gym, we’re perfecting our craft, we’re on the road, and we’re main-eventing OTHER COMPANIES BASED ON OUR HARD WORK AND TALENT IN THAT RING. We have brought Pazuzu to the main-event in every company we all have collectively worked for. We make promotions money and get paid well in return. We are also a real family and every single member has nothing but love for one another. We never had to take on any new members because we couldn’t get the job done, we never added members so we can politic our gimmick onto other shows, and we never had to take a promoter out to an amusement park to get our dream matches booked. We also don’t have to go on the internet and cry about how “dominant” we are to feel a sense of accomplishment and value. Comparing any other group to Pazuzu is a disservice to real professional wrestling. Anyone reading this who doesn’t know Beyond Wrestling may think the Crusade is an actual thing to care about in professional sports. Let Crusade get in our face and we’ll bitch slap them back to reality.”
Tim Bell: “Some of the newer Beyond fans may not realize that you’ve been wrestling for over 10 years, between companies like CZW, IWA, Pro Wrestling Syndicate, as well as a lengthy run in CHIKARA, and obviously, Beyond Wrestling. Do you have any specific moments or matches you look back on as being the greatest of your career?”
Pinkie: “I have wrestled against the best in the world. For promotions I never thought I would. My singles match against Dan Maff/Mafia when I was just a boy was a great moment for me. Working El Generico at Chikara was an amazing night. My series of matches with Sabu have been surreal. Working Christopher Daniels for 30 minutes straight in my hometown was a learning experience. My CZW run was fun for a few got to work in The Arena many times against other young hungry talent. A true moment was working Ultimo Dragon in Ottawa this past summer for C*4. There is tons more I can say but it feels like I’m gloating.”
Tim Bell: “Do you have a dream match/opponent you’d like to step inside the ring against?”
Pinkie: “Homicide. He’s the OG of the generation before me. He’s the most influential pro wrestler in my world and I won’t rest till I’m standing across a ring from him. If I have to break into his crib with a ref and get my match I will, but I’m sure we would both rather make money killing each other.”
Tim Bell: “Any final thoughts you’d like to leave for the fans coming to Fete Music in Providence, RI for TFT4?”
Pinkie: “Thank you for making it all possible and giving me another day to live my dream. You fans are the real MVP’s and I hope anyone who buys a ticket gets their monies worth five times over. To the diehard Sanchez supporters, I am ready to keep doing what I always do. As always stay true, no compromise and Pinkie for da children. Team Pazuzu absolutely owes you all for everything we have accomplished together in just one year’s time. Let’s keep that energy going into 2016, because we have some treats for you in store.”