In PWPonderings latest exclusive interview, Scott Mitchell (@Scott44Mitchell) sits down with “The Root of All Evil,” Charles Mason (@CharlesMas0n) to discuss his upcoming House Of Glory matches with The Amazing Red and Ricky Starks, his Steel Cage match with Richard Holliday at GCW, the Hammerstein Ballroom, and so much more. Check it out in its entirety below.

The Evolution of Charles Mason. What has the ride been like so far?

“It’s been a journey within myself more than anything. When I first started wrestling I was a part of The Mason’s. Me and Alex Mason, at the time, that’s a long time ago. It was a time when I was really trying to find myself. I knew this monster was inside me but it felt like I had to tame it for everyone else. I showed my wealth more than my sadism. Throughout the years I couldn’t hold it anymore and had to unleash it. It was a battle within myself every day to hide it from the world. I figured that when I embraced it, I’d be happier. I found joy in the pain of others.”

What can we expect from your match with The Amazing Red on Friday night for House Of Glory, and what statement will you be trying to make?

“I have a big 2025 already and it’s only a couple weeks in. I have a lot of time to make up for being in prison for a few months and ending 2024 on a sour note. As far as Amazing Red goes, this is years in the making. I went to Red almost nine years ago and presented him with more money than he’s ever seen in his life so that he could help me harness my skill. I know I was talented, but I also knew I had this beast in my body that I couldn’t hold back anymore and I needed somebody to help me harness this thing. He tried his best, he really did. I found that when I left him, I really discovered what I was capable of. Since I came back to House of Glory, he can’t help but protect people who I don’t believe would ever protect him. People like The Mane Event, and Santana. Santana has something that I want and something that I’m entitled to. I hold the Matt Travis contract, someone who was near and dear to both me and Amazing Red. That contract gives me a title shot anytime. As soon as I try to cash it in, Amazing Red comes to save the day, and save Santana. He never taught Santana. It’s because they’re from the same city, and their culture is the same, but Santana would never do that for Red. To be someone who is a former student, I take exception to that. He helped me throughout the first year of my career, teaching me his craft. I perfected it and I mastered it. For someone like Santana to come along, he has more of an allegiance to him than he does to me. So, Friday in Chicago, I’m going to show him, every new skill that I developed. I’m not going to pull any punches. I’m going to make him feel my wrath. I don’t think Amazing Red is coming back to New York.”

Next week, you will be going one-on-one with Ricky Starks when House Of Glory returns back to New York. What’s your mindset heading into that match, if Starks wins his match against Santana on Friday, will the House Of Glory  World Championship be on the line?

“Absolutely. I’m kind of hoping he isn’t champion by then, because if everything aligns right, maybe I cash in my contract after I beat Red on Friday night and I walk into NYC as champion and Ricky Starks tries to take that title from me. You know, Ricky Starks is a great talent and I’ve seen what he can do in the ring. But, he’s rusty, isn’t he? He hasn’t been used a lot lately. He hasn’t seen the ring a lot lately, has he? So, I think I have a leg up on him there. I’m going to have a great time destroying that pretty little face of his.”

You took Raheem Royal, Jay Armani, and Nolo Kitano under your wing to form CBK, the Cold-Blooded Killers. What has it been like watching these guys grow under your guidance?

“I can recall the first time I saw Raheem. This boy has incredible athleticism, much like Amazing Red. Amazing Red is good at that. He’ll teach you how to be an athlete. He’ll teach you how to run and flip and have extravagant maneuvers. Raheem had that for sure. But that could only get you so far. For the first year in House Of Glory, he was 1-8 in his matches. One win, only one. Since I took him under my wing, I believe he’s undefeated, he should be. More importantly, he’s the House Of Glory World Tag Team Champion, alongside Jay Armani. Now, Jay Armani, most people don’t know this, but he was a top 10 wrestler in New York State. I believe he was a collegiate wrestler as well. But sometimes the poor make bad decisions. He figured he could make more money in the street than going through college and being a wrestler, and I brought him back. I showed him just like I showed myself how to tame the beast and unleash him when need be. He’s one of the most ferocious people we have. Then, we have Nolo Kitano. He is one of the most talented cruiserweights not just in House Of Glory, but on the east coast. I won those tag titles with him by my side. Sometimes you need a little guidance to get to the violence, and that’s what I brought out of him. As long as I have them and more importantly as long as they have me, we will continue to be champions. Soon, more gold will be added to that collection.”

Is the House Of Glory World Championship your ultimate goal in House Of Glory right now?

“Absolutely. I want full control over House Of Glory. Then at any moments notice after that I want to burn that place to the ground. I was the longest-reigning House Of Glory Crown Jewel Champion, I defended it more times than anyone. I was the best. I was dominant. Then, they hired a GM, Solomon who had a personal vendetta against me. Maybe it’s cause I kidnapped him and locked him in the basement, but I don’t see what’s so wrong about that. He orchestrated a plan with Carlos Ramirez where he just needed me to lose .Since then, I have my sights on every piece of gold the company has. Once I have all of it, I have all the leverage. We have the tag titles right now, after I get the Heavyweight Championship, the Crown Jewel title is next. Maybe, we take the women’s title from Megan Bayne.”

Are there any women in House Of Glory or on the indie scene that you think would fit in well to CBK?

“There’s two that come to mind. The first one, her name is fitting. Killer Kelly. If I could convince her to come up here, be with me, show her everything I’m capable of, and what the reward will be for being with me, I think she’ll come and we’ll be very dangerous. The second one may surprise some people, but she’s shown me something recently in the last few months. I know this woman very well, we’ve encountered each other a lot, and I put her through hell. That woman is Allie Katch. She’s shown this enraged side of her, and I believe she already has an issue with Megan Bayne. She’s faced her at House Of Glory and elsewhere. I think I can further unlock something else that will help her capture that title if she wants to.”

What has it been like working with Mike Santana?

“You know, I’ve always looked at Santana as a selfish person. He’s someone who spent his entire career in a tag team. Now, I know what it’s like to be in a tag team that you don’t want any part of anymore. But, I saw him leave someone in the dust without any care for him. That’s truly who Santana is. Santana is a selfish person. I truly believe that if Santana didn’t have the Heavyweight Championship, he’d want nothing to do with House Of Glory. Every time he’s come to House Of Glory, it’s because he’s had the opportunity to elevate himself. I remember years ago, it was The Hardy Boyz vs. Private Party vs. The Dudley’s, I really felt like this was Private Party’s moment. Then, Santana and Ortiz were injected into this match, and they took the spotlight. Years later, here he is again. We have a roster full of people who are hungry, and who aren’t riding off the coattails of saying they were in AEW. He’s here to re-establish himself, but that’s the kind of person he is. We spent minimal time in the ring together. Whether it’s been a pleasure working with him? I don’t work with him. I’m after something he has. That will be a pleasure for me when I take that from him when I take everything from him. Understand that this man has lost so much in his life that this is all he has left. I’m going to take it, and I can’t wait for the day that I do.”

On Sunday, you will finally get your hands on Richard Holliday at Hammerstein Ballroom for GCW inside of a Steel Cage. What’s your mindset heading into that match?

“My mindset? My mindset is revenge. It’s the only thing I can think about. When I wake up in the morning, I see Richard Holliday. When I go to sleep, I see Richard Holliday. In my dreams, I see Richard Holliday. Every time I see him he’s covered in blood. I’m out for blood this Sunday. He took three months out of my life, and because of him, I couldn’t see the birth of my son. Three months I’m never going to be able to get back. I’m going to take his life in that cage. I knew beforehand he was going to challenge me at Hammerstein and have Parrow by his side. But, now. Now that there are four walls of steel surrounding us, there’s nobody that’s going to save him. This is the match of my life and this is the match for his life, and I can’t wait. After this one, you’re never going to see Richard Holliday ever again.”

What was the original goal supposed to be for “Rich and Powerful” and what changed along the way?

“Richard is a f**king piece of sh*t. He’s a f**king snake. When we had our first encounter, I brought a poor into the ring and I wanted him to strike him with the chair, and he refused, and we fought. That confused me, but I understand that confused him too at the time. He had just recovered from cancer. All these people that were by his side he felt like he had to do right by them. Along the way, I think he realized, or I thought he realized that we are above them. We are not like them. People like Hammerstone, who was his brother, he choked him out for me. So, I thought we were going to take over GCW, whether that meant championships or not. I just wanted to inflict pain on the entire roster and the wrestling world. But, it looks like maybe we had different ideas and different motives. The truth is, Richard Holliday is soft. I don’t want to compare myself to any of these people, but he’s not like us. When I say us, I mean like GCW. He’s not willing to do what it takes. He’s not willing to spill his own blood or others. He’s not willing to throw someone off the top of a cage like I am. He’s a soft little f**king b*tch. Worst of all, he’s a snitch. Nobody else would have ever done that to me. It’s the worst-kept secret of what I do to people. We all know, but we keep it to ourselves. It’s respect for what I do, but he doesn’t have that. He’s a snake, he’s a rat, he’s a Goddamn snitch.”

You recently tricked Parrow on New Year’s Eve at GCW when you sent out his husband to get attacked by him inadvertently. How satisfying was that scheme for you and show that you can outsmart them?

“I don’t think it’s ever been a question whether I’m more cerebral than those two. That’s always been clear. It’s how I escaped prison. To do what I did to Parrow, to go into his home and take his husband. I didn’t find as much pleasure in that as one may think. We all have our own personal lives that we separate and for me to have to bring his husband into this is a last resort. But, I had to do that to get Richard to myself. It was fun to watch him attack his own husband. It’s fun to watch him inflict pain on others. That’s why I brought him and had him as my right-hand man for so long. He’s good at that, he’s good at hurting others, and I like to watch that. But, it was more important to get Richard Holliday alone. He escaped my grasp, but this Sunday there’s nowhere to run and there’s nowhere to hide. It’s just me and him.”

What do you hope to accomplish in Hammerstein against Richard Holliday and end once and for all?

“I’ll keep this short and sweet. I want to take Richard Holliday’s life. I don’t care how I come out. If my life goes with him, so be it. But he’s not leaving Hammerstein breathing any air again. I’m going to take that from him. I’d love to hang his corpse in that ballroom for the entire world to see, and I hope it comes to fruition.”

What’s next for you in 2025 and what are your future goals? Is there anyone specific you’d like to share the ring with?

“As far as sharing the ring with, nobody specific. I want everyone. I want to be everywhere. 2025 for me, I want to take this sick addiction to pain that I have and broadcast it to the world. So, whoever wants to put me on their screen, that’s where I want to be. In 2025, I will be on national television. Choking people, putting bags over their heads, I can promise you. 2025, I rid the world of the poor.”