Julio also worked in Big Japan Pro Wrestling. “I loved Japan; it was a great place to work. They were doing a lot of crazy matches at the time, barb wire matches and even explosive matches which were so dangerous.”
In America Julio wrestled a few matches for ECW and did some dark matches at WWE with his good friend, the late Tiger Khan and Crash Holly, who has also passed away. Additionally he has competed against big names including Jimmy Snuka, Goldust / Dustin Rhodes, Ken Patera and The Undertaker.
Whilst working in Puerto Rico, he fought The Bushwhackers, Public Enemy, Tatanka, Val Venis, King Kong Bundy and Bam Bam
Bigelow. In Europe he has worked alongside promoters such as Orig Williams, John Freemantle, Dale Martin and Scott Conway.
Travelling so much helped Julio refine his skills a lot, he said: “I believe wrestling worldwide makes you a complete wrestler, because it gives you all the different styles.
“England has its chain wrestling and specific moves that you wouldn’t find anywhere else in the world, Japan is very tenacious type of wrestling, they take it right to you and the best man wins.”
Julio learnt from the best from day one, training at Johnny Rodriguez’s Unpredictable School of Wrestling in New York. Johnny ‘The Unpred- ictable’ Rodz wrestled for the WWE for two decades and was inducted in to the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996.
Julio trained alongside other big players such as Taz, Big Vito and D’Von Dudley.
“Even back then they were all tough guys, I knew they had the potential to make it in this business.” But despite their subsequent rise to fame, Julio has seen many who were less fortunate.
“I’ve seen this job break some lives, I’ve seen people turn to drugs and drinking and run wild with a crazy life. If you can always
remember why you came into this business and keep your dream and focus in front of you, you will go a long way.”
The Brooklyn Brawler is still optimistic about his own future, having managed to avoid any serious injuries throughout his career, he added: “I’ve done 21 years and feel like I could do another 10. And there are a lot of other guys out there who can’t say that.”
In the ring, Julio works the American gimmick well, comfortably telling the English crowds that the town they live in is “a rat hole, in the middle of hell.” A brawler by name and by nature, the 230-pound grap- pler “takes the fight to you” comparing himself to Kane and the late Chris Benoit.
he has competed against
big names including jimmy snuka and the undertaker
Currently Julio has worked with All Star Wrestling for the last 10 years, since meeting his wife in England. “I have to give them credit, it is the biggest company in Europe and probably outside of the United States and Japan. Having such a heavy schedule and being on the road seven days a week, makes for a top notch company.”
Similarly to many, Julio thinks what British wrestling needs is television, to take it to the
next level. “The company can just elevate itself when you can reach the masses, you can create household names. I’m surprised All Star Wrestling is as big as it is without TV, but it could be so much bigger.”
When looking back at over two decades in the business and his defining moment, Julio simply said everyday. “Everyday I can win, leave and come home in one piece is definitely an achievement in this business. So many people end their careers in the ring; so many people have freak accidents. I just thank God I am able to go home in one piece.”
For booking enquiries:
juliot42@hotmail.co.uk
n Contact laurence at
laurencemozafari@hotmail.com
TWPWorldWide WresTling magazine 21
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