Posted by Red Axis on July 6, 2004, 9:35 pm

(Article taken from, ‘Wrestling Weekly Magazine’ issue # 242, page 27.) Chairs, Tables and Singapore Canes: My interview with a Russian Monster by Earle Shaw My office drew straws to see who would be forced to take this interview: they called it a contest. This ‘contest’ was reserved for those interviews no one would take, the worst of the worst, be it someone who scared the living hell out of every writer for the magazine or a person no one could make interesting on their best of days. We reserved the term, ‘career killers’ to describe these people, based either on their destructive nature or ability to make us look bad, by not being able to look good. In this contest everybody was winner, except one, this one unlucky person had the pleasure of interviewing a man notorious for attacking anyone who asked him the wrong questions, BWWa’s Russian Monster, Slava Yakolinov. I lost . . . Already infamous for attacking American interviewers backstage during shows, Slava has already been handed out two suspensions and countless warnings concerning his behaviour. Somehow this didn’t prevent the fiend from resuming to cut a torrent path through anyone who annoyed him, in the ring or not. Why was I surprised by the time the interview was was over? The magazine had the hair brained idea to send me from my home in Washington DC to a place my medical plan didn’t cover, the United Kingdom, but more specifically, Manchester England, the location of the latest IWA stop on their UK tour, maybe they knew something I didn’t. The UK was everything I expected it to be, friendly people I couldn’t understand, damp without a ray of sun in the sky, loads of historical sites I could care less about and the worst driving conditions I was subjected too since my trip through Western Canada, while I was covering the opening of the CRW. I soon found myself standing in the lobby of, ‘The hotel Del mar.’ asking for the Russian’s room number and tips in keeping all of my blood in my body and bruise free. The concierge was no help and directed me to the lobby desk. I found that Slava was being held up in room number ‘114’ odd choosing for a man who might have paparazzi following him. Ground floor, close to the lobby, it didn’t make sense. Either way, it was a quick walk down a hallway before I found myself in front of a hardwood door that read ‘114’ and wishing for twenty more minutes before I had to knock. Josh Peterman, manager of Jack Cross, was prompt in letting me in. The room itself was fairly small for man of Slava’s size and trashy for a man of Slava’s wealth. A few paintings hung on the wall; there were two separate bedrooms off to the right, a living room/kitchen/dining room, in the middle and a washroom off to the left. Much to my surprise, I was met with a handshake and smiles from the hulking Russian. He even had the courtesy to prepare some tea that was presented too me when we arrived at the small round table to begin the interview. So Vyacheslav, can I call you Vyacheslav? SY: I’d prefer it if you didn’t, you’re not pronouncing it correct. How do I pronounce it correctly then? SY: Just call me Slava. Great, the interview had just started and I had managed to insult the Russian already and I was uneasy to begin with. The only person who seemed to be calm was Joshua Peterman, who I guess, was sitting in for Svetlana Verevka. . . . So, Slava, your biography states that you grew up in the USSR, what prompted you to move to the USA? SY: . . . Lack of option really, I didn’t want to leave my homeland, but Yakov - - Yakov? SY: Jack! Don’t interrupt me! Anyways, I didn’t want to leave my homeland, but ‘Jack’ made me an offer I couldn’t refuse; a hefty two year contract to set up the electronics for the radio division of MITV as well as supervise production. Basically a production manager. SY: Correct. Speaking of Jack Cross, how do you feel being in his shadow? SY: His shadow? Well you’re considered to be an underling of his. He brought you into wrestling and he’s the leader of the stable you find yourself a member of. As a result, don’t you hold any animosity towards him? Slava, didn't answer, instead, opting to consult his manager. The beady eyed Peterman glared at Yakolinov, signally something. What I don't know. SY: . . . I don’t like to think of it like that. Yakov and I have known each other for a long time. - - JP (Interrupting Slava): Basically there’s no pecking order; this is just how the angle is working itself out. Speaking of angles, can you give the public any information into the kidnapping of your manager Svetlana Verevka? JP: Slava. I’ll field this one. The IWA and more importantly Danny Agrus have been carefully developing this angle for quite sometime now. Giving you any information at this point would just ruin the angle or spoil it and cause the public to lose interest. Just look for it to be dealt with in the upcoming month. Slava, what are your thoughts on Danny Argus? SY: I’d like to put him through the same pain I’ve been dealing with for the past half a year. Are you saying you’d like to kidnap his manager? SY: Worse. . . Worse? Kidnap his Mother? Sister? Daughter? SY: Something a little more physical. There are several types of pain. I’m feeling emotional pain as a result of his actions and I’d like him to feel physical pain as a result of mine. How about your upcoming CAL Tag title shot against Alternative 2.0? Are you going to carry your hate for Danny Argus into a match that he’s not present in? SY: Jack and I have plan for this match. What are your thoughts on your opponents? SY: To be honest, I don’t know much about this team. Obviously they’re CAL champions for a reason, so I won’t be taking them lightly, but don’t expect there to be much of a physiological edge going into this match for either team. We’ve heard rumours that the BWWa is considering giving up your contract for free agency after it expires in this September. Is there anything that you have to say to your fans that could exhaust these rumours? SY: Fans? Yes, you do have a small, but loyal fan base. We’ve received many letters from individuals looking for information about this. SY: Well this is news to me. I know we’ve started contract talks already, but everything seems to be looking up. It doesn’t matter though if it’s renewed or not, I’m employed by three CAL feds at the present time. Three? BWWa, IWA and? JP: You’ll find out. SY: Those talks aren’t fully settled yet, but another federation might be picking up the third option on my contract. That’s all I have to say on the manner. Are you worried that with your steady pace of violent out lashings you’ll be hard to employ in the world of wrestling in the upcoming years? SY: Not really. What about the looming danger that you’ll go too far and be criminally charged and deported back to Russia? SY: Somehow I don’t think this’ll be an issue. JP: Steps are being taken to prevent this from happening. Right well, in closing, what’s next for the Coalition of Affiliated League’s resident menace? JP: Ask that after the CAL title shot. By the end of the interview, I was shocked, shaken and thankfully not bruised. Slava’s complete change in character came as quite the surprise. Even though my body was spared from potential harm, I couldn’t help but wonder, ‘were there greater forces at work?’ - Earle Shaw, ‘Wrestling Weekly Magazine’ 2004.