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.
