In the PWPonderings latest exclusive interview, PWPonderings’ own Scott Mitchell (@scott44mitchell) sits down with Ricky Smokes (@smokeshow_ricky) to talk about his massive year in 2024. We discussed him winning the Wrestling Open Tag Team Championships with Brad Baylor, winning the Chaotic Wrestling Heavyweight Championship, getting his WWE ID contract, and so much more. Check it out in it’s entirety below.

You started 2024 by taking part in the Chaotic Wrestling Pandemonium match back in January. What was it like working with some of Chaotic Wrestling’s best in that match?

“That match was stacked. A lot of the people in it were some of my favorites to work with. Mortar, obviously. Richard Holliday is someone that I definitely look up to as another wrestler. I wrestled him a few times and always loved getting in the ring with him. Bear Bronson, we used to scrap back in the day at XWA sometimes, so that was one of the first times in a while that I wrestled him, and obviously Aaron Rourke and Danny Miles. That was a great way to start off the year.”

You and Aaron Rourke have worked together a ton. How has it been to work with him as much as you have?

“He’s one of my favorite opponents because I have wrestled him many times. I’ll remember our matches at Limitless forever. Even the ones where I lose. Ever since I’ve been a part of Limitless I’ve been associated with him and Ava Everett. I mean, some of my favorite work is definitely with him. Even though we have a heated rivalry I do appreciate the man. It’s not over. If you see me in Limitless again, which I bet you will, just remember I still hate him no matter how many good things I say about him.”

Earlier this year you got to compete on Beyond Wrestling’s Shamrock Slam show. What was that entire night like for you and competing on the biggest Beyond show in history?

“It was cool because I had some of my friends from home there. I didn’t even tell them about that, but in our group chat, they said let’s go to the venue after a night in town. Just with how many people there and how it was an event for bands and it had drinks too, then you go under this tent and there are a thousand people there, it was unreal. Now, if Swipe Right got a match, that would have been insane. But even though I was in a mix with a lot of people, it was insane to just look around and see a sea of drunk Boston fans. Absolutely insane. Absolute peak. Anytime I’m not the main event or showcased it pisses me off a little bit. Looking back on that night though I got some sweet pics, got to hang out in one of the coolest venues ever afterward, and I got nothing to complain about.”

In March, you also got to wrestle Ace Austin at Chaotic Wrestling Cold Fury. What was that match like for you, working with someone of Ace Austin’s caliber?

“I was so hyped. Obviously, Ace Austin came in before to wrestle, so I got to scout him slightly. I’m a big fan of TNA and if you watch TNA then you appreciate Ace Austin’s work and know how good he is. I definitely felt special wrestling for Chaotic, my home, and they brought in a big name to give me a good challenge. Whether I won or lost, going the distance with him and being in the ring with him means a lot. I don’t like to compliment people a ton, but it was an honor to be in the ring with Ace Austin.”

In June, you won the Chaotic Countdown Rumble for the second time. What was this match like for you?

“Cardio was on point that day. To be the first person to win that match twice I’m in the Chaotic Wrestling history books now. Just walking around with a chip on my shoulder, I knew that whenever I wanted to I was going to be able to go in and become the champion. That was the validation that I needed.”

In September, you got to square off with Richard Holliday for the Fight Life World Championship. How was it to work with Holliday and have this match?

“I do respect Richard Holliday a lot. I made sure to do my research on him. I know he was cheating constantly, and I definitely had to be on the lookout for that. I was ready for that. That match was a test for me to try and be smarter. I wanted to show that I wasn’t just an athlete but I could scrap too. I’m intelligent enough and I’m a student of the game. He tried so hard to cheat but I wasn’t going to let it happen. You should go back and watch it.”

Earlier this month, you and Brad Baylor, collectively known as Swipe Right, won the Wrestling Open Tag Team Championships. What was this moment like for you?

“It was a matter of time. We’ve competed with all the tag teams at Wrestling Open and we knew we were ready to be the faces at Wrestling Open. It’s a place we compete at a lot. I invest a lot of my time and energy over there, so it means a lot to be given the mantle as the top tag team over at Wrestling Open.”

The same night you won the Wrestling Open Tag Team Championships, Brad Baylor got the WWE ID contract. What was it like being there for that moment?

“It was only a matter of time. That kid is an absolute stud, an absolute missile. He’s only 20 years old which is insane. You look at Brad Baylor and you know he’s going places. You see him every week. You know how damn good he is, even though it pisses people off. Baylor on his own can go take over the wrestling world but both of us together are unstoppable.”

Two days later after your match with Seabass Finn, you got your own WWE ID contract. What was this moment like for you?

“It’s the biggest moment of my career to date. It was overwhelming being around a crowd of people who boo me every time I show my face there, to acknowledge how much that moment means to me and applaud me and chant I deserve it. It was very emotional. I knew they loved me. Them being able to see my true emotions without me having to put a guard up meant a lot. It was nice to get ID’d there specifically, it couldn’t be anywhere else. For Chase to be out there too, couldn’t replicate it. I had my family there as well. It was raw and real the moment I saw Chase there. It meant a lot that he was the one to present it to me since I stepped into the New England Pro Wrestling Academy. It was a very real and meaningful moment.”

Later that night, you cashed in your contract to become the Chaotic Wrestling Heavyweight Champion. What was that whole moment like for you?

“I’ve been waiting so long to become Chaotic Heavyweight Champion. I had to win the Chaotic Countdown Rumble twice to make it happen. Chaotic is the first place I ever wrestled for. I trained and worked with so many people there. It’s my home. When you’re working and around the same people all the time and take up that mantle as the guy, it’s a huge deal to me. It means more to me here than anywhere else. I have that hanging over my bed right now. It feels good.”

Your first title defense will be taking place on Friday night against Seabass Finn. What is your mindset heading into this match?

“He tried to make a good point that he tapped me out in that match, which submissions weren’t even part of the rules, so that’s irrelevant. However, he did pull my briefcase off the pole. Nobody’s been able to beat me in a seven-minute scrap. If you check seven minutes into our match I was whooping him. By the end of it, I agreed he should be the first to challenge me for my title. Not because I think he deserves it, but because I know I can beat him. So why not have Holiday Hangover’s main event be Ricky Smokes vs. Seabass Finn.”

Looking ahead for you in 2025, what are your future goals?

“I’m setting higher expectations for myself for sure. My goal is always to get out there in front of the biggest crowds I can, having high-pressure matches, winning high-pressure matches, and winning titles everywhere. I just want people to see my face more and go out there and win more titles. I don’t like putting anything in stone, I’m going to continue to do good work and it’s going to get even better than it is now. I’m going to be the longest-reigning Chaotic Wrestling Heavyweight Champion in history.”

Do you have any future opponents you’d like to square off with?

“When it comes to Chaotic, I want to beat every single member of the Chaotic Wrestling roster in a single match for my title. Miracle Generation I’ve wrestled a million times at Wrestling Open. I want to have an official title defense against them at Wrestling Open. I want Dustin Waller and Kylon King to come over to Chaotic Wrestling and lose to me, individually for my title. I want Big Boofa and Ichiban to come to Chaotic and lose to me for the title. Lio Rush, a match with us would go hard. KC Navarro, we are established bros after our Soul Survivor match at Fight Life. A match with us would go hard. Welcome to the Smoke Show, and welcome to the greatest title reign in Chaotic Wrestling history. You’re here to witness the start.”