"I just thought of the most outlandish thing to make me feel like I'm living life fully"
Like music, wrestling is an art form. It is an undeniable, marketable, physical and mental form of entertainment that isn't for the weak at heart. And fresh off a big weekend highlighted by World Wrestling Entertainment's Wrestlemania, it seems the world is ready for something new. For the superstars of New York-based Imperial World Wrestling, it's more than being ready, its about making a statement. One of those talented men looking to make a big statement is none other than the effervescent and charismatic Rembrandt Lewis.
Mainstream: Rembrandt Lewis, what's going on man? Before I start I want
to say congratulations on joining Imperial World Wrestling and the vision me
and Tom has for the company
Lewis: I appreciate you fellas for having me. Looking forward to
making some noise with you guys.
Which I’m sure you will. So everyone has an origin story.
For me, especially with wrestling, I started on the tape trading days. I had
‘Big Cat’ Ernie Ladd & Andre before WWF w/ blue trunks and the soul glow
afro lol… which was weird. How did you get the wrestling bug?
Lol oh man. So I definitely didn’t catch those guys. I
believe my first time was 98, I was laying with my mom flipping through tv
channels and eventually I caught a glimpse of ministry Undertaker. I’d never
seen anything like it before. I was hooked. And of course, my mom changed the
channel. I was tight lol. So fast forward a year to 99, my uncle would watch in
our apartment. I’d sneak him downstairs even though it was a school night and
we’d try to sneak watch but then we’d end up play fighting until my mom heard
and kicked him out. Those are my earliest memories. My uncle passed away two
years later but he’s very much the reason I became a wrestling fan.
Sorry for your loss man and what an awesome story. Dude…
Ministry Taker. I remember when I first saw that badass goatee and I was like
yeah this man is the f’n devil lol. I think the Attitude Era birthed a lot of
us as fans, but you took it to the next level and decided to jump in the ring.
Where did the motivation to do that come from?
So truthfully I always wanted to do this. But I’m a
skinny kid from Brooklyn. I had my doubts. So I joined the army. Got
discharged. Went to college. Hated it. So I felt stuck. I just thought of the
most outlandish thing to make me feel like I’m living life fully. So I stumbled
onto House of Glory Wrestling School. I was nervous as all hell. But it looked
so cool. My trainer, The Amazing Red asked me if I wanted to try a top rope
cross body since that’s what he was teaching at the time, I tried it and I fell
in love. I just knew I could do this. My first ever in-person encounter with
the squared circle and I was hooked.
Sounds like love at first sight. I gotta say I admire you
cause I don’t think I can do it. I did backyard one time, got hit with a
clothesline, said nope, put my ass in commentary and stayed there until we
closed lol. But I’ll admit its dope to see Amazing Red as a trainer. This is
the dude I saw pull off some crazy shit in TNA and now to see him be a trainer
to future stars is dope. But what’s crazy from hearing your story is a lot of
these decisions seem to come on your own. How did your parents or family feel
about leaving the army or even now wrestling?
My father just said whatever I do, be the best at it. But
it’s easy for him, I’m his youngest of four kids. My mom, on the other hand, I’m
her only one. And it’s always been just her & I. So when I went to the
army, she cried. Begged me not to go. Cried the entire time. When I joined
wrestling. I don’t think she thought I was serious. Until my first match came
along. She couldn’t sit through it. Almost had a panic attack lol. But now
she’s okay with it. She’s so invested in everything that goes on. As long as I
hide my aches and pains well enough when I see her, she’s good.
Your mom is awesome. I met her at the last HOG show I was
at last year. Stood up the whole time while you wrestled, cheered, booed, took
pictures... I always felt in any form of entertainment, the value of having
family support is such a major key. Same goes for the family that you've
probably gained on that roster. Was it rough the first year being around a
bunch of guys all looking to make it big like you?
Yeah it was. The first couple of years it was. Especially
because I’m naturally to myself. So seeing guys do their thing and maybe you
don’t catch on as fast is a bit disheartening. Especially when you’re like 21.
You’re still pretty dumb and impressionable at that age. But I stuck by my
guns. Believed in me. And while a lot of guys fell completely out the
business, I’m still here working hard and having faith that my time is gonna
come.
Which you are definitely on your way. You got the
tutelage of Amazing Red, and storyline or not, Anthony Gangone who since 2013
has been a staple in New York wrestling. However, I’m sure you want more.
What’s the goal mentally for you?
I want the world. It’s cliche to say I know, but I want
the titles. I want the money. I want recognition. I don’t have to say I’m
the best, I already know that. No one has to tell me something I already know.
I want what comes with being the best. I want to work everywhere, travel the
world, win titles, and get paid enough so when I feel like I’ve left my legacy,
and I pay it forward, I’ll ride off into the sunset and quietly live on my farm
for the rest of my time.
The American professional wrestling dream. Bro, I’m not
mad at it and you deserve it, every bit of it. Ok, I always wanted to ask a pro
wrestler on the independent scene this… what’s that one dream match you’ve
always wanted? And I’ll add in there that you can set the stipulation.
Hmmm. That’s honestly something I never thought of. I try
and think of myself as peers with everyone, so the Dream aspect has left me as
far as anyone that’s still competing. But if we go off of whoever comes to my
mind first, it’d be Shawn Michaels in his prime. He was on a level most won’t
even sniff.
You and HBK? For that, I’m in there! The mark in me just
wants to catch one Sweet Chin from him. But that’s just me. Ok, so this is a
music blog so I feel I’m tempted to ask at least one music question… I’ll make
it two. Favorite song of all time? Favorite artist of all time?
(Laughs) this ain’t fair. My tastes change every year. I legit
listen to everything. But if I have to, Lady by Modjo is my favorite song of
all time. (Shrugs)️
Don’t judge. As far as my favorite artist of all time, I’d have to say, Michael
Jackson. But J Cole has been really climbing up there in the past few years.
Listen, I won’t judge. Kiss From A Rose by Seal is still
my shit. And J. Cole is fire trust me, he’s gonna be a legend when it’s all
said and done. So as we close up, we got IWW Breakthrough is coming up. The big event for the company, the first one. Any expectancy from us over here? Any
plans you wanna set in motion? Anyone, you wanna call out? Yes, I know I am in
typical promoter mode, don’t judge me.
Lol no judgement from this side. The plan is to be a star.
I wanna be one of the faces of this company and start leaving my legacy. I want
every title that’s gonna be available here. When people think of IWW, they’re
gonna think of me. That’s my plan. As far as calling anyone out, they’re all
gonna end up the same way. On the mat for that three count. The only person
that kind of has my attention is Darius Carter.
With him being the driving
force behind the Crusade for Change, and me being a member of the House of
Gangone, I feel there might be an interesting dynamic there... but we’ll have to
wait and see how that one plays out.
Carter vs. Lewis sounds like money! Hmm, I think me and
Tom need to have a convo. Any shoutouts before you go?
Hmmmm. Let’s give a shoutout to me. A shoutout to Rembrandt Lewis for the noise myself and IWW are gonna bring in the very near future.
Awesome. And if I ain't say it already, welcome to
Imperial World Wrestling! Thank you for the interview, appreciate it.
It’s a pleasure my brother. Thank you for having me.
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