David Russell and Nick Gage at Tournament of Death 14
The first time I met David in person was when I entered the Tournament of Death 14 parking lot. He recognized me and said what’s up before I even found a spot to park!
David is from New Jersey and has met countless wrestlers over the years. He currently runs the Deathmatch Russell Podcast.
Particle Don: What initially got you into wrestling?
David: I’d watch WWF wrestling on Saturday mornings as a kid! When I really got into it I was 9 years old.
I was in attendance at WrestleMania 5 and was five seats away from Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura doing commentary!My dad took me. He was a big fan of wrestling back in the 80’s.
I grew up with wrestling. I was always aware of it because Iron Mike Sharpe ran a wrestling school in my New Jersey hometown.
Particle Don: Who was your favorite wrestler while growing up?
David: I always liked Hulk Hogan and Jake “The Snake” Roberts. As far as bad guys, I was a big fan of Rick Rude.
David Russell and Jake “The Snake” Roberts
Particle Don: What got you into deathmatch wrestling?
David: FMW. That stuff was brutal. I found it through YouTube.
Atsushi Onita in a FMW deathmatch
Particle Don: Who is your favorite deathmatch wrestler?
David: “Mr. Danger” Mitsuhiro Matsunaga.
Mr. Danger
Particle Don: How long have you been ging to CZW shows?
David: For a while. I’ve been to a few of them so far.
Particle Don: What was your first deathmatch show?
David: This year’s (2015) Tournament of Death will be my first deathmatch show.
Particle Don: What federation would you like to see live that you haven’t already?
David: IWA Mid-South. My friend Jeremy Nickerson goes to a lot of their shows.
It would be a far drive for me though, living in New Jersey. I might be able to catch one of their shows next summer.
David with wrestling announcer and Price is Right contestant Larry Legend
Particle Don: What’s your dream match?
David: Dusty Rhodes vs. Nick Gage.
Particle Don: Where did you hear about Particle Don?
Particle Don: What’s your favorite wrestling promotion?
David: Combat Zone Wrestling. I also follow Ring of Honor.
The first time I watched Jamie Noble and CM Punk was in ROH. It’s cool to see a lot of these former indy guys in WWE these days.
I like to read a lot of wrestling news and results online. Beyond Wrestling is another good federation out of Rhode Island.
Particle Don: What are you looking forward to with deathmatch wrestling in 2015?
David: On Point Wrestling is putting on a deathmatch tournament sometime in 2015, maybe in August. I think a few guys from IWA Mid-South are going to be there.
On Point also has a show coming up in June with Nate Hatred. I think Scot Summers is coming back in July or August to fight Nick Gage.
Scot Summers photo courtesy of ACW
My girl and I are going to camp in Delaware for a few days when we go to Tournament of Death, so that will be fun too!
Particle Don: Who is your pick to win TOD?
David: I predict that Nick Gage is going to go through everybody in TOD.
Hopefully. It could be Matt Tremont, though. He’s a tough guy and a pretty good wrestler. He’s got “it”!
I think Conor Claxton will have a breakout performance this year. He has come a long way.
Even though he’s not in the actual tournament, Devon Moore will have an outstanding showing as well.
Particle Don: Any closing comments?
David: Check out Game Changer Wrestling. They’re another great local promotion that I follow. Also, I’m friends with Chris Candito’s family!
David with Tim Donst Here he is with Rickey Shane Page
Thanks for the interview. It was nice meeting you at Tournament of Death!
Anthony Mossow with Nick Gage at IWA Mid-South King of the Deathmatches 2015
I briefly met long-time wrestling fan Anthony Mossow at IWA Deep South’s Carnage Cup 9 in 2013. However, it wasn’t until the next year at CZW’s Tournament of Death 13 that I found out he creates awesome-looking custom wrestling figures. While in the parking lot, he came up to the car and showed me his Jun Kasai and Jaki Numazawa figs.
Particle Don:I’d like to thank you for taking the time for this interview. Please, tell the ParticleDon.net readers a little bit about yourself. What are some of your hobbies?
Anthony: Hello, my name is Anthony Mossow. I make custom deathmatch figures as well as old school territory figures. I’m also into boxing, MMA, and lacrosse.
Freakshow
Particle Don: What got you into wrestling?
Anthony: My father had received free tickets to a show at the Syracuse War Memorial. The main even was B. Brian Blair vs. Swede Hanson.
FMW deathmatch legends Atsushi Onita and Megumi Kudo
Particle Don: What got you into deathmatch wrestling? Around what time did this happen?
Anthony: To be honest, I always look at the WWC as the first deathmatch promotion. The barbed wire and fire matches, were to me, the originals. Don’t get me wrong, there were no light tubes or toothpick jumbo bats, but what they were doing paved the way for today’s athletes. I’d say the late 80’s is the time when deathmatch wrestling originated.
Mitsuhiro Matsunaga custom fig, complete with packaging and alligator from the infamous alligator deathmatch
Particle Don: Who are some of your favorite deathmatch wrestlers, and why?
Anthony: I have so many favorites of the deathmatch style. I’m afraid that if I start naming them, I would leave out too many. I’ll say anyone that’s willing to put their body on the line for us is my favorite. I’d like to thank them for doing so.
Rory Mondo
Particle Don: You create highly-detailed custom action figures for independent wrestlers. First off, I’d like to personally thank you for doing this. I understand it takes many hours and lots of work to make just one custom figure.
Anthony: Yes, as we all know, I enjoy making deathmatch figures. I’d like to thank all of you that like them, and even the ones that don’t! Hahahahaha.
Matt Tremont
Particle Don: Can you take us through your process of creation? Obviously, you start off with some sort of store-bought figure, and customize from there. How do you choose the right figure for a given wrestler?
Anthony: It’s funny, sometimes I can look at a head of a given figure and think “Yeah, if I carve the hair, sand it down and work with it, that’s the one…”
See, it’s funny. When I make these figures, you’re kind of getting a part of me. Whether it’s a good day or a bad day, you’re getting a part of my emotions with each creation.
I can’t say I have too many favorites, because they’re all like my kids. I mean, all the time I put into them…waking up in the middle of the night to fix them, or whatever the case may be…if you get a custom figure from me, you’re not just getting a custom, you’re getting a part of my emotions as well.
Kiki Rose custom figure complete with a dollar bill stapled to her face from Queen of the Deathmatches 2014
Particle Don: Do you use a certain type of paint? Are there different types of paint for different situations?
Anthony: I use all types of paint, what ever I can find. The figures are not meant to look “perfect”. They are like deathmatch wrestling…gritty, cutting edge, and off the wall. Just like the wrestlers themselves.
Corporal Robinson
Particle Don: Do you find it’s easier to customize certain brands of figures? For example, are Jakks figures easier to customize than Mattel?
Anthony: I like Jakks. I don’t like Mattel. I haven’t worked with Hasbro figures too much, either. I made a Hasbro Bill Alfonzo…it was a bit cartoonish.
“Mr. Insanity” Toby Klein
Particle Don: I bet you have an impressive figure collection. How many pieces are in it? What are a few of your precious gems?
Anthony: I have well over a thousand figures. I think I have over 300 just in customs. As far as gems? My Onita, Brody, Abdullah the Butcher, and Terry Funk. I have so many at my house. Some of my customs I consider gems, as well.
Dynamite Kid (Territory Days)
Particle Don: Other than figures, what are a few pieces of wrestling merchandise or memorabilia you’d like to share?
Anthony: If I was home, it would be much easier to send pics. Because of my job, I’m only home like 20 days out of the year. I have stuff like Jun Kasai’s goggles, Sabu’s pants from the ECW Terry Funk no rope barbed-wire match, Abdullah the Butcher’s boots, and some stuff from the Headhunters. On my Facebook page you can see quite a few pics with me and the wrestlers, and my figures as well.
MasadaMasada with his trademark skewers
Particle Don: What was the first deathmatch tournament you saw on film? How did you come across the footage?
Anthony: RF Video made it possible for my deathmatch video collection to come to fruition. IWA Japan and the Ian Rotten stuff was my first. Those years are a bit fuzzy for me from partying pretty hard, hahahahaha.
Anthony Mossow with Tiger Jeet SinghAnthony recreated each of the 8 combatants in the original 1995 IWA Japan King of the Deathmatches tournament – complete with Cactus Jack’s autographTiger Jeet Singh signed the collection as well!
Particle Don: What deathmatch shows have you seen live?
Anthony: I’ve been to IWA Mid-South’s King and Queen of the Deathmatches and CZW’s Tournament of Death. I always enjoy when Hyde brings over the Japanese fellas. I’ve also been to an IWA Deep South Carnage Cup.
Mickie Knuckles And Ludark Shaitan
Particle Don: Where did you find out about Particle Don?
Anthony: I remember meeting you at CZW’s Tournament of Death in 2014. We talked about figures, and I showed you a few of my customs. You hit me up with a CD.
John Moxley (Now known as Dean Ambrose in WWE)
Particle Don: What are a few of your favorite Particle Don songs?
Anthony: We love the Havoc jam! My son digs it as well. He always plays it on YouTube, hahahaha. I like the Kabuki Quantum Fighter song too (Binary Code mix, Scott O’ Conner mix). I love old school video games. Sometimes I still live in a time warp.
IWA legend Iceman
Particle Don: What wrestler would you like to hear Particle Don write words for?
Anthony: I think you should do a Josh Crane or a Bryant Woods jam. Hell, how about a Mitch Page song?
The Bruise Brothers
Particle Don: What would be your dream match?
Anthony: Jun Kasai vs. Jd Horror, Bryant Woods vs. Danny Havoc and Masada vs. Atsushi Onita.
“The Crazy Monkey” Jun Kasai
Particle Don: What are some of your favorite bands?
Anthony: Das EFX, The Doors, Van Halen, Pantera, Type O Negative, and a lot of 80’s stuff.
Whacks
Particle Don: What are you looking forward to with deathmatch wrestling in 2015? Do you plan on attending any shows?
Anthony: I will definitely be at King of the Deathmatches. I’ll also be at Queen of the Deathmatches. Ian is a genius for this concept. I mean, bitches and blood? Hahahaha. Also, Nick Gage is a free man!
Violento Jack
Particle Don: Anything else you’d like to say to the ParticleDon.net readers?
Anthony: Support deathmatch wrestling, and go to all of the shows you can. Just my opinion! Go to Tournament of Death and support those guys, they always put on one hell of a show.
I appreciate you giving me the chance to tell all and speak about my hobbies! To everybody, please support deathmatch wrestling, period. It was great to be interviewed. Thank you and God bless.
Particle Don: One of the things I like most about Anthony’s customs is the references to certain matches, gimmicks and time periods. For example, the JC Bailey figure has the syringe in his foot from the Thumbtack Jack match. He’s also holding a thumbtack bat, JC’s favorite weapon. Piper’s figure has the beer bottle that he broke over his head in Portland. Kiki Rose has a dollar bill stapled to her face, and her outfit is impressively detailed. John Moxley is wearing his Tournament of Death attire, complete with Masada’s skewers in his head.
Roddy Piper with Anthony Mossow’s figure in-hand
The Dynamite Kid figure is wearing attire from his territory days. The IWA-Japan King of the Deathmatch 1995 set is incredibly detailed, down to the trophy in Cactus Jack’s hand. Rory Mondo is wearing the gear and facepaint from his final match. Trent Acid has the robe from his JCW “Altar Boy” gimmick. The John Rare figure has a box cutter in his hand. Mitsuhiro Matsunaga has a barbed-wire halo, and the alligator from his Alligator Deathmatch with Shadow WX in 1998.
IWA Japan’s King of the Deathmatches 1995JC Bailey with a syringe in his foot from the infamous CZW deathmatch against Germany’s Thumbtack JackIWA Deep South’s John RareGordon Solie and Bruiser BrodiePampero FirpoTrent Acid’s Altar Boy gimmick from JCWChris YoungbloodRebecca PayneSami CallihanThe HeadhuntersDrake YoungerJD HorrorKouhiro Kanemura with flaming barbed-wire batPogo The ClownThe Original Sheik with snake and fireballMr. Pogo spitting fire while holding a sickleMad Man Pondo with razor saw batLufisto with light tubeAja KongTank with a bloody pane of glass
Over the years, I have seen this man many times on Smart Mark Video, going nuts during a “bar fight” (when the wrestlers set up 2 chairs facing each other and trade punches to the skull) with Necro Butcher and many other opponents.
He’s been to Carnage Cup (the fifth edition in 2009 comes to mind), Tournament of Death, and King of the Deathmatches, among many other shows.
One thing that impressed me about this fan was the distances he drove. I’m watching footage from Philly’s Arena…there is is! I’m watching Deep South footage from Calera, Alabama…there he is!
Another thing I appreciate is how nuts he goes when the wrestlers perform a spectacular maneuver! He truly enjoys himself while at the show. Watch the footage. You’ll see him jumping up and down, cheering during a bar fight or big spot!
Particle Don: If possible, give us a list or semi-list of all the deathmatch shows you’ve been to!
Robert: All CZW and IWA, 2002 – 2011.
Particle Don: What would be your dream match?
Robert: Necro Butcher vs. Hilary Clinton in a House of Pain Lumberjack match.
Particle Don: Any recommendations of specific wrestling shows or promotions we should check out? Where can we find it?
Particle Don: Any unique experiences or fan interactions you’ve had while attending a deathmatch show that you could never get at a normal wrestling show?
Robert: The time a fan “Hardcore Mike” had a chance to give a dumb fan a free unprotected chair shot to the head. He gave a wimpy chair shot.
I asked him why he didn’t lay him out. He said “I didn’t want to get sued”. He is now called “Corporate Mike the Soft-Core Punk Rocker”.
Particle Don: What are some of your favorite bands?
Robert: Anything before 1979.
Particle Don: Throughout wrestling history, what is your favorite entrance theme? Why?
Robert: Anything with AC/DC, as they are Australia’s greatest band.
Particle Don: Where did you first hear of Particle Don?
Robert: From Atom…ha ha
Particle Don: What is your favorite Particle Don song?
Robert: I like Don, but not music after 1979.
Particle Don: What entrance theme would you like to hear Particle Don write words for?
Robert: The Munsters.
Particle Don: What is the origin of your nickname Chris P. Lettuce?
Robert: Cactus Jack’s first book in 1999. One of the wrestlers used it as a name. I took it from the book.
Particle Don: What are you looking forward to with deathmatch wrestling in 2015? Do you plan on attending any shows?
Robert: Light tubes on fat bald guys who are not wearing shirts.
Particle Don: Do you have any side projects or creative endeavors you’d like to share?