“Lowlife” Louie Ramos has been a staple in the New York/New Jersey independent wrestling scene for decades. The above image shows Louie with his son after his OPW Survival of the Sickest tournament win. Photo by Chris Grasso.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lowlife.ramos
Particle Don: Do you remember what initially got you interested in wrestling? Did you watch as a kid?
Louie: My brother, I have been watching and living wrestling since I was about a year old. My mom tells me the story I that I would cry when my parents changed the channel during wrestling. They watched WWWF and wrestling from the Olympic auditorium in L.A. You can say I’m a life long fan.
Particle Don: Early on, who were a few of your favorite wrestlers?
Louie: I have been a Hulkamaniac since I first saw him. Hogan was more than just a hero on TV for me. He was an inspiration. My father abandoned my brother and I at a young age. Hogan, with his commandments and good guy ways, won my heart. He inspired me to do the right thing.
Years later I would watch WWC wrestling from Puerto Rico. One man in particular caught my eye: Abdullah the Butcher. I looked more like a mini Abby than I did the Hulk, so I identified with Abby and became obsessed with blood in wrestling. Later on I would read about Cactus Jack and all the madness going on at FMW in Japan. That was it!
Particle Don: At what point did you decide to become a wrestler?
Louie: When I first watched ECW, specifically the barbed wire bat match between Ian and Axl Rotten. I was totally captivated by the madness and vowed to one day do the same.
Particle Don: When and where did you begin training? What was it like training with Homicide? Did you train with anybody else?
Louie: After I graduated high school I had a one track mind. I needed to find a place where I could learn how to wrestle. I gave up various college scholarships and other opportunities to follow the wrestling dream.
I ran into two guys at a Savio Vega autograph signing. They said they were training to be pro wrestlers, so I hooked up with them. Eventually, I saw they weren’t too serious, but I was. Thanks to those guys I found Arena Puerto Rico, owned by former wrestler Pedro Martinez. I would then bring my friends (who would go on to become Mace and Buff-E, the Christopher St. Connection, Steve “Monsta” Mack and Low Ki) to the Arena Puerto Rico.
There we would meet Homicide, Laython the Tower of Torture, Bobby Lombardi, J. Lover, Shao Lin, J. Train, Manslaughter and others who would help us along in our early years. However, Homicide and Laython are the ones who saw something in us and pushed us. It was intense but awesome to learn wrestling the right way.
Particle Don: Everybody says that your wrestling nickname, “Lowlife”, is the absolute opposite of the person that you are in real life. Is there an origin story behind this nickname?
Louie: It’s funny. The name came from a TV news broadcast. The newscaster was interviewing someone in my old Sunset Park, Brooklyn neighborhood. The guy on the news said “This low life out here is ruining the neighborhood”. Since the name started with L, and my real name is Louie, I said “Why not?”, lol.
Particle Don: What’s your finishing move? Why did you choose it?
Louie: I have used a few finishers in my career. The leg drop is an obvious nod to Hulk Hogan. I’ve used the Death Valley Driver. Before Cena did it, I was the first guy to stack two people on my shoulders and hit the move. I use the Oklahoma Stampede as an ode to one of my favorites, “Dr. Death” Steve Williams, who does not get nearly enough credit for how great he was.
Particle Don: Did you know right off the bat that you wanted to get into hardcore wrestling, or was this something you decided a little bit later on?
Louie: I always loved hardcore wrestling. It’s what made me decide I wanted to bleed when I wrestle. However, upon beginning my training, I learned that I needed to be properly taught and have some experience under my belt before I did any hardcore. I didn’t do a real full blown deathmatch (a no rope barbed wire match) for almost 3 years after I started.
Particle Don: Who did you wrestle in your first deathmatch? In what promotion did this take place?
Louie: My first hardcore match was against Homicide under the old IWW “Insane World Wrestling” banner. It was an all weapons legal street fight. I did a triple barbed wire dog collar match against J. Lover and Homicide. I wrestled a steel cage match against New Jack and Jason Knight.
All of those matches took place under the Jersey All-Pro wrestling banner. I’d like to take a second to thank “Fat” Frank Iadevaia for all he did for me. Rest in peace, Frank.
Particle Don: Do you have a favorite deathmatch weapon?
Louie: I think I have become one with the dildo. I used it back in ’03 for the first time and have used it ever since. I love the barbed wire bat and thumb tack bat. Lately, I have grown fond of gusset plates.
Particle Don: What’s your least favorite deathmatch weapon?
Louie: As a deathmatch guy, glass and light tubes are like pencils and crayons in school. A necessity. However, I’m not a fan of the dust that comes from light tubes. And glass itself is unpredictable, but I’m down to use it.
The one thing I won’t do at this point is anything that involves heights. Anyone that knows my personal story knows my brother passed away from a fall at a great height, so I’m very against it.
Particle Don: You competed in the inaugural Nick Gage Invitational tournament against Nate Hatred in a brutal contest. Looking back at this match, what are your thoughts?
Louie: I was supposed to be a special guest referee in the match between Kyle the Beast and Jeff Cannonball. These were two guys making their first forays into a deathmatch tournament. GCW added me to their match.
The day of the event I find out that due to some issues, Nick Gage was not going to make it to the show. At that time I threw my name in the hat to replace him, and got my ass kicked for it.
Nate Hatred is a deathmatch legend and I’m honored to have worked with him. That match made me decide to make a comeback after I had been retired for most of the year. For this reason, that show will always be special to me.
Particle Don: You were victorious in this year’s OPW Survival of the Sickest tournament. How did it feel to finally win your first deathmatch tournament? Do you have any particular memories of this event?
Louie: Winning that tournament was dream come true. It was a culmination of 19 years of blood, sweat and tears. 19 years of never playing politics; always doing what is right for the business and the fans. It was an honor. And the fact that my son was there to witness it live meant even more. Eternal thanks to On Point Wrestling, Jeff Kane, Matt Tremont and the On Point fans.
Particle Don: You have an upcoming match against MASADA in On Point Wrestling. It’s your first time wrestling him. What are your thoughts going into this match?
Louie: Masada is a deathmatch icon and legend. He’s the greatest hybrid wrestler alive; a man who has done it all in the game. It will be an immense honor and privilege to be given this opportunity. I will do my best to deliver a performance worthy of the opponent and the moment.
Particle Don: What was it like wrestling the legend Terry Funk? How did this match come about? Are there any interesting stories involved with this contest?
Louie: Haha, Terry Funk was a class act. The word “legend” does not begin to encompass how great he is. He’s probably the most famous and well-known wrestler I have ever battled.
After the match, he apologized for knocking half of my front tooth out with a steel chair. Because of this, I decided to rib him and chase him around the locker room with a dildo when he was going into the shower, hahaha.
Particle Don: You teamed up with Dusty Rhodes in an ROH 5-on-5 match in 2003. What was it like meeting and teaming up with Dusty? Did he give you any advice that stuck with you for the rest of your career?
Louie: Dusty gave me a great complement. He said I reminded him of himself in his younger days. Dusty was great to be around and another legend that was awesome to work with.
Particle Don: You made it three rounds into King of the Deathmatches 2004, only one match shy of the finals. This tournament included names such as Tank, JC Bailey, Toby Klein and Necro Butcher. You defeated Homicide on night one and Ryan Boz on night two. Is there anything that stands out in your mind about this tournament? Was this the only time you competed in IWA Mid-South?
Louie: I wish I would have been invited back for more. You’d have to ask Ian Rotten why I wasn’t asked back. That show was a great memory. I loved every second of it. It was an amazing honor working with the man who trained me, Boz (who was a beast) and battling Corp. I’ll never forget that opportunity.
Particle Don: You’ve wrestled countless legends throughout your career. However, is there anyone you have yet to wrestle that you’d like to square off against?
Louie: Well, I’m getting my dream match against Masada on September 24th. I don’t know if I’ll ever get to work with Jun Kasai, but him and Kobayashi would be two guys I’d like to fight. I’d also like to work with Danny Havoc and Devon Moore. And maybe a rematch with Jeff Cannonball. Another one is Danny Demanto, I haven’t forgotten we need to hook it up one more time.
Particle Don: Back in early 2015, you announced that you were retiring from in-ring competition due to contusions and scar tissue found in your brain during a CT scan. What compelled you to step back into the ring and continue doing hardcore matches?
Louie: That match with Nate Hatred encouraged me to return, as I had no I’ll effects afterwords. Will I suffer one day? Maybe. But thanks to that match, I got to wrestle Archadia, Brian Myers and do the Survival of the Sickest tourney where I battled Matt Tremont. I’d love the heck out of another match with him.
Particle Don: You are very respected for being a family-oriented type of guy. Do you ever see your son getting into pro wrestling, or would you rather him stay away from it and pursue a different path in life?
Louie: He loves wrestling, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Do I want him to do death matches? I don’t know. But I’d love to see him on the big stage one day if he works towards it.
Particle Don: Do you watch current WWE? If so, who are a few of your favorite modern-day superstars?
Louie: I’ll be a fan forever. Right now I cheer on guys with a similar upbringing like me, like Dean Ambrose, Sammy Zayn and Kevin Owens. They battled on the indies and did it the right way.
Particle Don: Do you have a favorite South Park episode?
Louie: Yes sir, The Butters Show. The one where Butters follows his dad, sees him getting banged and put in a gay bath house and movie theater. I laughed so hard I tattooed Butters onto my arm.
Particle Don: Who’s your favorite South Park character?
Louie: Butters. He’s so adorable, always picked on and made to do stupid shit by his friends. Reminds me of somebody…lol.
Particle Don: What are a few of your favorite movies?
Louie: I’m a horror movie guy, with Jason Vorhees and Friday the 13th being my favorite. I also enjoy Nightmare on Elm Street, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween, Saw and Child’s Play.
I also enjoy old 80’s action flicks, such as Rambo, Predator, Commando, Cobra, Die Hard and Rocky. However, my two all-time favorites are the 1986 animated Transformers movie and Training Day.
Particle Don: What’s your favorite beverage?
Louie: If it’s not ice cold water then I prefer something ice cold with alcohol in it. Once daily I drink hot water blended with lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, ginger and garlic for health.
Particle Don: Do you have any hobbies outside of wrestling?
Louie: Nope. I was into video games as a kid into my teenage years, but it’s been 13 years since I’ve been hard into video games. I like to sit at home and enjoy family time when I’m not working or wrestling.
Particle Don: What type of music do you like? Who are a few of your favorite bands?
Louie: I stopped listening to music years ago. I grew up on early ’90s hip-hop. I’m a Big Wu-Tang fan. I’m also a Nelly fan. I use his music as my theme song. My music app is filled mostly with wrestling theme songs guys use in the indies, lol.
Particle Don: Have you ever been to Cleveland for any reason?
Louie: No, but I’d like to to see where Bone Thugs-n-Harmony came from, lol.
Particle Don: Had you ever heard of Particle Don before this interview? If so, where?
Louie: I saw the interview of fellow deathmatch brother and close friend Jeff Cannonball. Before that, I can’t say that I did to be honest.
Particle Don: Do you have a favorite Particle Don song?
Louie: No, but if you put me on to some I’d love to listen.
Particle Don: Do you have any merchandise fans can buy online?
Louie: I never got into the merch end of things. Support my people Jeff Cannonball, Matt Tremont, Nation of Intoxication, Homicide and Masada…buy their merch.
Particle Don: If there’s anything else you’d like to say or plug, please do so!
Louie: On Point Wrestling has an upcoming show, A Beautiful Day 2 Die, on September 24th in Williamstown, New Jersey. There’s a great lineup capped off with my dream match as I go one on one in a deathmatch with the Ultraviolent Beast and the best hybrid wrestler alive, Masada.
Particle Don: Thanks again for the interview, Louie! It was an honor.
Louie: It was a real pleasure, man. I’m very appreciative that you took time out to bring up these great questions. I had a great time answering them!
