Late in 2016, ACH compared his departure from Ring of Honor to a divorce from an unappreciative spouse. Since then, he’s gone back to his globetrotting ways, committing himself to elevating independent wrestling across the United States, Canada, and Europe. (There might have also been a stop in Japan, but we can neither confirm nor deny that.) This past weekend, he made his debut at EVOLVE in San Antonio, facing Matt Riddle and Fred Yehi on back-to-back days. We sat down with him before EVOLVE 76 to find out where he’s headed from here, and what it means to him to be a Texas wrestler.
First of all, let’s talk about Texas. You went to high school here in San Antonio, right?
Yeah, I went to Judson High School my freshman year, and then I graduated from Stony Point High School in Round Rock. So, my roots are deep down Interstate 35.
Do you consider it more special to be back in Texas, performing in front of Texas fans?
Oh, definitely. Because it’s home. And the best part of Texas is that I didn’t really get out until about five years into my career. So, to me, these people have watched me since I was a “child wrestler.” So whenever I’m home, it’s like the family’s watching. “Oh, look at our son, he’s all grown up, we’re so proud of him!”
Ever since the Leroy days, right?
Yeah, exactly! So, funny story about that. My wrestling name was never Leroy. I was going to make the transition over to “AC Leroy” for Chikara because Mike Quackenbush didn’t understand the name ACH. He was like, “I don’t get it. How do I advertise that? What do you want to do? Can you think of anything else?” So I was spitballing some ideas, and I remember at the time I had a really big fascination with The Last Dragon, and I thought, “Maybe I’ll just call myself AC Leroy.” But I was never introduced as AC Leroy. It’s just something that stuck, everyone takes it as a nickname I had. I believe it was on maybe one promo picture that someone made …
Was it that one where you’re doing the jump kick in the alley?
Yes, that was it. That was during the time where I thought I knew karate. There was a lot of that stuff, but those where just my poses at the time. I was trying to find myself, trying to figure out who I was, who I wanted to be … During that wave of ACW [Anarchy Championship Wrestling], it was myself, Robert Evans, Matthew Palmer, Portia Perez, Rachel Summerlyn, Jessica James, Athena, and the Submission Squad. The roster they have now is full of these young, hungry guys with a ton of potential, but that was the class back in the day. It was that X-Men first class, it doesn’t get any better than that!
You’ve been vocal with this message of “defending” Texas. Why is that your mission, and why is it important to you?
Because I feel like it’s our home. Recently, there’s been a lot of exposure for Texas [wrestling]. People have been coming here, and I love it. I think it’s fantastic. I want people within Texas to stand up for what we’ve done over the last few years of wrestling. For years, I remember people saying you couldn’t have success coming out of Texas. You could never break out, you had to leave. But now, you can stay home and be successful while still living here. I don’t want anyone bad-mouthing Texas anymore. So together, as wrestlers and fans, we will defend Texas. Know what I mean?
And is the future looking bright as far as the talent coming out of Texas?
Oh, absolutely. Guys like Ricky Starks, he’s been doing it for a while now, he’s starting to catch fire. Everyone’s in love with Sammy Guevara …
You take Sammy aside at a lot of these shows and talk to him.
He’s getting better! He still has some things that he can work on to really take the world by storm, but between him and Ricky … Watching them try to control the crowd and battle for the match of the night, it kind of reminds me of myself and [Matthew] Palmer. He and I had something of a competition, that’s how some people looked at it. I don’t think [Sammy and Ricky] are in competition, they may be. But you can tell that the crowd loves them both. Those are the next two guys to really take Texas by storm.
Let’s talk about your move to EVOLVE. What’s it like to be here, and what’s changed for you?
My mindset has changed. I’m in a completely different world now, as far as confidence goes. New game plan, new strategy when it comes to the wrestling world and things around me. And more importantly, I’m more mature. I know I’ve had a lot of run-ins with my immaturity at times, but I’m older now.
I’m 29 now, and when I got my first big contract in wrestling, I was 23 or 24. So, over time, when you’re not used to something and you’re exposed to it like I was with Ring of Honor, you don’t know how to handle things. Now I’m older and wiser, and I feel like it’s perfect timing right now. A lot of guys in the locker room here are around my same age, we’re all hungry, we all want the best. I kind of feel like I’m rambling at the moment …
Hey, ramble all you want. How long have we known each other, four years now? I want to say since late 2012, but I was just a fan in the crowd at that point.
Was it really? Holy shit. Was that when I wrestled Gregory Symonds in a Last Man Standing match? No, actually I think that was me versus Bolt Brady!
I think you’re right, yes. You and Bolt.
We were both rocking our Fantastic Four gear.
That’s right! So, returning to EVOLVE, what else do you like about it here?
This is my first time here, but what I’ve seen so far on the internet with the documentaries on each individual wrestler … that’s needed for a better crowd connection. Sometimes in wrestling, I feel like we get lost in the moves and we forget what’s most important — the people. I think when they do those documentaries and we learn what ticks the wrestlers off or what their goals are, I think that makes the people connect to them. Everybody has a story to tell, and I personally feel that my story of what I’ve been through over the course of 10 years of wrestling is important for people to know.
You’ve ended your business relationship with Ring of Honor. Looking back, what did you accomplish, and what ended up eluding you during your time there?
I would have loved to be a champion. I mean, if you’re not doing this to be the best or bring the best out of yourself, then it’s kind of a waste of your time, you know? I wish I could have been a champion there, but other than that, they blessed me with so much. I was a full-time wrestler for the first time in my entire life. I was able to stand on my own two feet and financially support myself. I remember my first big Ring of Honor check, I went crazy for Christmas and just bought all kinds of stuff for my family. That made me feel good about myself.
Lots of shoes and Funko Pops?
Not Funko Pops. I don’t actually buy those. The only ones I bought are the One Piece ones, and that’s just because I was like, “Well, I like One Piece, might as well just get ’em.” But every Funko Pop I have is because of Davey Vega. He’s bought ’em all for me. But the tennis shoes I buy for myself, yes.
What would you say your best pair of shoes is right now?
My best pair of shoes? Oh man. Uh … maybe my Space Jams. Space Jam 11, to be correct. I knew they came out at the beginning of the year, and I kept telling myself, “I’m gonna get them.” And I got them! They’re just nice looking shoes, black with white soles, just the perfect shoe. And it’s f*cking Space Jam!
[At this point, one of the wrestlers at the EVOLVE tryout seminar begins yelling to fire up the few dozen people in attendance.]
That guy actually hates me. He’s from Oklahoma, and he hates my f*cking guts.
[More yelling.]
He’s f*cking INTENSE! Yeah, he hates my guts though. I’ve only met him once, and he just kind of looked me up and down and was like, “F*ck you” or whatever. He shook my hand, but it was the most intense handshake I’ve ever endured in my entire life. I think I’m an approachable guy, though!
It’s funny, Andy Dalton told me something that’s really true. He was like, “A lot of people don’t understand you. You’re only an asshole around assholes.” And it’s true! We were talking about egos, and I was like, “I have an ego, but I hide it deep down inside, and it only comes out when I have to protect the world from other egos that are really bad.” It’s a messed-up way of looking at it, but that’s how I view it.
And speaking of the way people perceive you, you have a documentary coming out with Heel/Face Wrestling. What was the thought process behind that? Was it just a matter of telling your own story, controlling your own narrative?
Yeah, definitely. For years, I felt like there were things about me that I wanted people to know. I wanted a stage to open myself up to people, you know what I mean? I feel like that’s my thing, how personal I am with the fans. I feel like that’s helped me get over with audiences, whether it’s Ring of Honor, CZW, whatever.
When people see me in the ring, they’re like, “This guy’s having tons of fun.” I don’t really have a gimmick, I’m more of a slogan, a catchphrase, a motive. I’m just a human billboard of a good time, I want everyone to be happy and enjoy themselves.
What are your goals for 2017?
I want to stay healthy. Healthy and happy, honestly. Because coming out of what I came out of, I wasn’t happy. And usually when you’re not happy it leads to unhealthy decisions. I didn’t do drugs or anything, but I didn’t work out, I didn’t care to go to the gym. But as of lately, I found new motivation.
Towards the end of my time in Ring of Honor, I never felt like I was in control of my destiny. Once they allowed me to leave, I felt like I had control of everything around me. In life, people like to give or take blame for something, but I completely understand that a lot of the things I didn’t achieve were because of me. I want to change that. Because I left, I felt like I was in control of more things around me. I’m on a new level!
You told that to Dave Meltzer, too! For those who don’t know, can you talk about the conversation you had with him? This was at PWG Mystery Vortex in December.
After my match, I rolled to the apron and looked him dead in the eye. I extended my hand, because he’s one of the most well-respected guys in wrestling. I respect him, I have nothing bad to say about him. I shook his hand, and I told him, “Everything that has been told to you [regarding me] is a f*cking lie, and if you want to report anything, you can report this: ACH is on a new f*cking level.” And then I walked out. Dropped the invisible mic.
Aside from maintaining your health, is there anything else you’re shooting for this year?
I just want to take it all in, man. I want to do what I can to keep getting better, I want to achieve more and more. That’s all I want to do. I have goals, but I think if I aim for happiness, I’ll be able to achieve all those goals. And that’s the most important thing, just being happy. When you’re happy, it fuels your day-to-day life, everything you do. So that’s all I want to do, just be happy.
And that’s what success looks like to you – happiness in pro wrestling?
Exactly! That’s what I try to tell people, “Just be happy.” Be comfortable in your own skin, and everything else will fall into place.
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