This week we travel up North and look at a tag team specialist. A year veteran of the wrestling business. I first encountered this man in North Carolina’s Premiere Wrestling Xperience but he is a mainstay with multiple tag team accomplishments in New Jersey. We’ll talk about the impact Extreme Championship Wrestling had on him becoming a Pro Wrestler and look at his toughest opponents, biggest allies and all his accomplishments to date. This week the Spotlight shines on……
Hometown: Red Bank, NJ
Height: 6’2”
Weight: “My weight varies from 220lbs to 240lbs, mostly depending on my beer consumption.”
Years Pro: “I debuted July 14th, 2006. You do the math.”
Wrestling Influences: “Pretty much all of ECW influenced me. I grew up on WWF and became a fan of WCW but it was not until I discovered ECW in 1995 that I decided I wanted to be a wrestler. The action was bold, the characters were raw and everything was so gritty and believable. I quickly became a huge fan of Tommy Dreamer as this was the time of the Dreamer and Terry Funk verses Raven, Cactus Jack and Raven’s Nest. It was also where I found my love of tag team wrestling as it was such a strong component of their product. My favorite team was the Public Enemy but there were other amazing teams like Pitbulls, Eliminators, Dudleys, and The Gangstas.”
Favorite Opponent(s): “It’s hard to pinpoint one favorite opponent. Nicky Oceans and I always clicked and had good matches. I worked with Damien Adams once and to this day he still stands out to me. Some of my other favorites would be Tom Brandi, Jeff Cannonball, and Myke Quest.”
Favorite Matches: “The match with Damien Adams will always standout as a favorite. I learned a lot from Damien who was been one of the best on the Indies for years. I had an awesome hardcore match against Judas Young for the NWS/NPWS Hardcore Title. It was a great match highlighted by a bathroom brawl and Judas putting a dirty plunger to my face. This was also special because it was the first match I had after my father had passed away from a 2 year battle with cancer. It was in the town I grew up so I had a lot of friends and family there, which made the night incredibly special to me. Another would be in May, two years ago I did a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match with guys who not only are favorite opponents but very good friends of mine; Nicky Oceans and Joey Janela. I loved the match because, though flawed, many things clicked and the crowd was so hot. Also, it had a finish so painful I’m STILL feeling it. Haha.”
Note: While Corey is notorious for being a “Rude Dude” he was kind enough to provide a link if you want to check out the TLC match he mentioned above.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=316A7wxv6y0 Part 1 TLC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhsKa91TiFc Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0kulVZupn8 Part 3 MUST SEE FINISH
“My final favorite match would be the first time Rampage and I won the NWS Tag Team titles as the 2 Rude Dudes. It was against Damien Darling and Nicky Oceans, aka Team Casanova. Again, the crowd was awesome and the two are good, solid workers.
Favorite Matches (Not involved in): “Tough question. I like watching a lot of the guys on the indies, whether it be good or bad. It’s nice to see guys who try to be different and I also have a guilty pleasure of gawking at the guys who are the cliché paint by numbers workers. Two of my personal favorites to watch, and not just because they are friends of mine, are Myke Quest and Nicky Oceans. Quest’s work so clean and fluid and he carries this intensity that you do not see too often. Nicky Oceans is very entertaining and not only is he great but he elevates everyone who is in the ring with him. He is easily one of the most underrated talents on the independent circuit right now.”
Promotions Worked: “I started with and still actively perform for National Pro Wrestling Superstars, formerly known as NWS. It has been a great experience for me as NPWS regularly runs 40-50 times a year and I am typically booked on a large portion of those shows.
I also currently work for BRAWL based out south Jersey. It is just starting to pick up steam and has a great group of guys behind it. Previously I have worked for Premiere Wrestling Xperience (Charlotte, NC), Devastation Wrestling Federation (Pennsauken, NJ), JWA-United (New Brunswick, NJ now defunct). There are too many others that were either one and done or spot shows I did. It would take all day to remember the names.”
Titles Held: “I’ve won several tag team titles, as I kind of view myself as a tag team specialist. I have held the IWA-NJ and JWA-United tag titles with Cameron Shaft and I am a 2x NPWS/NWS Tag Champion with Rampage Rogers as the 2 Rude Dudes. Also, we are currently slated for tag titles shots with 2 other promotions so we may be adding to that total. Also, as the Dudes, we are the 2012 Captain Lou Albano Memorial Cup winners after winning a 3-way final again Danny Demanto & Nicky Oceans and the team of Rhett Titus & Mike Dennis. As a singles wrestler I have won the NWS/NPWS Heavyweight Title as well as the NWS/NPWS Hardcore Champion.”
The 2 Rude Dudes Corey Havoc & 2 Rude Rodgers
Trained By: “I was broken into the business by a good friend Dan Petit who was already working on a regular basis. From there I kind of learned on the job from several of the NWS regulars, guys like Billy Reil, Nicky Oceans, and Hasheem Ali. I attended a few schools but it was not until I met and trained with Teddy Fine that I really learned how to work. Teddy corrected a lot of my bad habits and helped open my mind. He taught me to be more creative and less reserved. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to him and absolutely would not be where I am now if it was not for him helping me in my development.”
How did you get started in Wrestling? “I would come to the NWS(now NPWS) shows all over New Jersey, almost every weekend. At the time they were running 65+ shows a year, which is unheard of on a indy level. I would show up hours before the show and set up the ring. Once the ring was up anyone who helped would get in a get ring time with guys on the show. I’d help set up the ring, trained, then did security on the show and broke down the ring after and in return I got some form of training. The best part of this is the booker got to watch every practice, so he could see who was developing and if a spot opened up on the show he would plug one of us in.
Year In Review: Corey Havoc is indeed a tag team specialist having won several tag team titles over 6 years with a large part of that success coming in the first 10 months of 2012. I first met Corey on a great run he had with PWX here in Charlotte. Havoc & Joey Janela were “running buddies” of then PWX Champion Rhett Titus and provided some great storylines(and saved the title for Rhett on many occasions) Havoc also had some very good matches with Caleb Konley, Cedric Alexander, Chiva Kid, and other PWX mainstays. Havoc tells me his time working with Titus & Janela was “A blast and a great experience”. Havoc’s long time partner in the 2 Rude Dudes is “2 Rude” Rodgers. The Dudes entered 2012 as NWS/NPWS tag champs and have since lost and regained those titles for a second time. The 2 Rude Dudes also recently won the 2012 Capt. Lou Albano Tag Team Tournament, adding to their many accomplishments. If you have yet to see Corey Havoc and the 2 Rude Dudes in action I hope you’ll take a moment to check out some of the links provided.
Corey Is all over Social Networks and here are some of the ways you can get in touch, or even book he & Rogers at one of your shows:
2 Rude Dudes on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/2-Rude-Dudes/143220352430041?ref=hl
Corey Havoc on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CoreyHavoc
Twitter: www.twitter.com/coreyhavoc
For bookings of Corey Havoc or the 2 Rude Dudes: Email coreyhavoc@yahoo.com
Also if you enjoy a laugh & aren’t easily offended check out Corey Havoc on his weekly comedy/pop culture podcast for raunchy, despicable content www.AristocrastsRadio.com and visit and like The Aristocrats facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/thearistocratsradioshow#!/pages/The-Aristocrats-Radio-Show/179950798724496
Leave a comment about Corey’s spotlight or if you’re just learning about Havoc & The 2 Rude Dudes let us know what you think. You can also discuss the INDY Spotlight with me on twitter @The1andonlyJer And if you’re an Indy talent interested in being featured on PWPonderings message me on twitter or email JustJer17@aol.com
