Wrestling Post Exclusive: Interview with Kevin Dillion, Former Indy Circuit Referee

Kevin Dillon is a former professional wrestling referee. The Wrestling Post correspondent, Christopher Valleau, sat down with him recently:

Q: You were a wrestler, referee or promoter?
Kevin: I was trained to wrestle and referee years ago, but I'm not currently doing that now.

Q: Did you wrestle for any major promotions or Indy circuits?
Kevin: Yes, the HWA in Ohio.

Q: When did you realize you wanted to be a professional wrestler?
Kevin: I grew up a wrestling fan ever since the ages of the Rock-n-wrestling era and went to all the live events growing up and even traveled to see shows miles away. I grew up idolizing so many guys and when I left high school it seemed like a good thing to do.

Q: How did you get started in the business?
Kevin: I met a former pro wrestler named Les Thatcher in a grocery store. I recognized him from his days of commentating on the old Smoky Mt. Wrestling shows. and I talked to him for a few minutes. He gave me a business card and a year later I gave him a call. He got me started at his school.

Q: Which is your favorite Indy league or your most prized to work for?
Kevin: If I was wrestling now, I'd say the best Indy to work for would be ROH because of the great talent they have there. The HWA was always a good place, too and a lot of veterans would often come there to sharpen their skills.

Q: How long did you wrestle and why did you stop?
Kevin: I was a referee for the HWA for close to two years and took a leave of absence for personal reasons. I decided to give up the wrestling business because of the lifestyle. I decided to return to school an get an education and always kept it open to return afterwards, but I didn't because I don't want the lifestyle a Indy wrestler lives.

Q: What kind of life style is that?
Kevin: Traveling hundreds of miles and making little to no money; living on canned foods; hoping a promoter pays you enough to get to the next place. It's very hard on relationships.
Q: Did you ever get any offers from any major companies, such as WWE?
Kevin: No, it sometimes takes years for that and I'm not even sure it's all worth it.

Q: When did you first referee or wrestle your first professional match?
Kevin: I ref'd my first match at a armory in Hamilton, Ohio. I believe it was in October, 1998. A wrestler named Cody Hawk was wrestling his first match against GQ Masters 3. Cody still wrestles today and, from what I heard, he now operates the HWA training center.

Q: Do you have an amatuer wrestling background?
Kevin: No, actually the only sports backround I had was high school football. That stuff is very overrated. You don't have to be a superstar amatuer athlete to get into wrestling, but it does help if you want to impress someone big like those at WWE.

Q: Okay, who was your wrestling hero when you were a kid?
Kevin: As much as I hate to admit it now, I was a Hulkamaniac! But once I learned more about wrestling, I became a Arn Anderson fan.

Q: Do you any hints or suggestions for someone who wants to become a professional wrestler?
Kevin: The best thing to do is get an education first or learn a trade first, that way you have something to fall back on cause there's never a guarantee in wrestling. If you really want to impress someone, go in being in good physical shape.

Q: Would you say to start off big and contact somebody like WWE/TNA or even WWE's Indy circuit, OVW? Or start off small and contact a local indy circuit?
Kevin: You can try contacting somebody big, but it's very slim they'll talk to you. Unless you're related to someone big in wrestling or have a great sports background. Starting off small is usually best because they like for guys to pay their dues in the Indy's. Some will make it, while others won't.

Q: Such as Sabu with The Original Shiek or Randy Orton?
Kevin: Guys like Randy Orton and Harry Smith had been destined to be in WWE ever since they were kids. The guys with amatuer backgrounds like Brock Lesnar, and Shelton Benjamin are always highest on WWE's list too.

Chris Benoit is one guy who paid his dues for many years and finally made it big in the late 90's. It also seems today, if you're a hot model you definitely have a big shot in the WWE.

Q: Where do you see the wrestling brand of sports entertainment in the next 5, 10 and 20 years?
Kevin: WWE will always be on top as long as Vince McMahon is alive! And WWE RAW will always be there top show.

Q: Who do you want to take the business over when he is gone?
Kevin: It looks like it will be his kids, Shane and Stephanie. I think they both have their own ideas when the time comes. As good as health he's in at 61, it might be a long time before anything happens to him. Paul Levesque (Triple H) will be an authority figure someday too.