The dawn of the Great Emu War Games is upon us. DMDU will be the birthplace of Australian wrestling history as the feud between its deathmatch roster and the Anti-Deathmatch Party became so big that it required the double ring cage of destruction. But that wasn’t the only thing this feud brought to DMDU. It became so loud it brought back Australian Wrestling Legend, Lobo. A man spoke of so fondly by most in the company and a trailblazer for the scene back in the 2000s. He’s lacing up the boots again to put a hurting on the ADMP, and we here at SteelChair got the chance to talk to him about his return to DMDU, War Games, his impact on the scene, and so much more as he prepares to swing for the fence one final time. Enjoy.
First up, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
“My name’s Henry. I’ve wrestled as Lobo for many years on and off. There’s not much to say. From a wrestling perspective, I’ve been a lifelong fan. Probably my most consistent memory of any passion I can recall in my life has been wrestling-related. As far back as I can remember, it’s always been something I couldn’t exactly explain why I fell in love with it or put my finger on it, but it’s always been my one passion, my one driving force that motivates a lot of what I do in my life.”
What brought you into deathmatch wrestling?
“To be honest, I don’t consider myself in any way, shape, or form to be a deathmatch wrestler. I don’t mean that as any type of knock. I always thought as a wrestler/performer, you owe it to yourself from an experience perspective, to be able to say you’ve done a bit of everything. I always thought as a fan, the spectacle matches like ladder matches, cage matches, and falls count anywhere matches, they well all the ones that left an impression on me as a fan. When I started to get into wrestling, I gravitated toward the matches that left lasting impressions, like those matches that I just said. I was never specifically geared towards deathmatch or one thing or another. To me, if we as fans all think about wrestling, we all have moments that stick with us. For me, most of the moments that brought me into wrestling have certainly kept my passion alive and have mostly been something violence-based. A certain image, a certain moment, a particular situation in a match, it nearly always had something to do with, let’s call it, an extreme moment. When I got into wrestling, these were the things I wanted to try and do and duplicate. So, not exactly deathmatch wrestling perse, but certainly things that leave an impression.”
I get you. The first thing I ever saw was the Mick Foley/Undertaker Hell in a Cell match, that always stuck with me and I was always looking for things like that…
“It’s funny you mention Mick Foley because one match that left an incredibly lasting impression on me. We were in the early 90s, where coming across WCW PPVs was very difficult because it was before the internet and video. There used to be a pub here that would show WCW PPVs, and Beach Blast 92 was on the screen, which was Sting and Mick Foley in the falls count anywhere match. I remember watching it with a crowd of about 200 people there as they had it on a big screen. I’ll never forget the reaction of the people as we saw things we’d never seen before, certain bumps, certain things, and the impression on the crowd was like nothing I’d seen before. It sort of lit a fire in me so that from an in-ring performer standpoint, I’d try and give people what I’d experience from seeing that match. Something you haven’t seen before, something you can’t pick the holes out of or find the magic in. It’s a very heavy style of wrestling, and I don’t think there was a single drop of blood or table broken, but it was such a brutal environment for its time. There’s no doubt you want to try and duplicate it from the performer’s perspective. There were so many bumps on the concrete. The business has changed so much, and we get conditioned to different things, but that style of wrestling, that spectacle style, will always leave an impression. Does everyone like it, of course not. It’s not to every fan’s taste, but we can’t deny as wrestling fans that things that are truly memorable for all of us are usually these huge, impactful things. So, when you see bumps been taken on the floor, on straight concrete, how can you as a fan or performer not be influenced by that?”
Speaking of influence, when I was first learning about the Australian Wrestling scene, through Joel Bateman and DMDU, one of the first things Joel ever told me about was your match with Mad Dog. I’ve seen that match now and it’s incredible. Do you think that conveyed the message you wanted it to? It left an impression but became rather infamous…
“After 20 years, the fact it’s still being discussed, in some way shape, or form then it did. You do what you do for many reasons. One of them is to hopefully leave an impression. It’s a perfect example, that match, I did it because it had never been done in Australian wrestling before, and I wanted to experience that environment for myself and take the fans on that perpetual roller coaster ride. I will never apologise for under-promising and overdelivering. I would have hung my head in shame if we’d promised all of that, and we’d come out and half-assed it. If we’d cut every corner to take people’s money. That can be simple things like cutting barbs of the wire, squashing the thumbtacks, and believe me, these things had been done in matches like that beforehand that utilised these weapons as part of the story to tell. I’ve never believed in that. If you say you’re going to do something, then that’s the thing you should do, especially if you’re charging people money. There was controversy attached to it because there were children in the audience and some people who had an issue with the company at the time used it to ruffle some feathers and make a bit of noise. The truth is, it’s a match I was proud of. We put an incredible amount of effort and work and sacrifice into it. Truly blood, sweat, and tears. I wanted to be able to put it on the list and say I’d done one of those. One of the secrets to that style of wrestling is when you decide to go down that path, is to go all out or just don’t head in that direction. That was always my attitude. So, I think that everyone who came there that night looking for a memorable barbed-wire match, no one left disappointed in that regard.”
So, looking to the present, what brought you to DMDU?
“It was quite a few things. My daughter Rosie, my oldest, got talking to me about the possibility of, would I consider coming back for one last match. As a wrestler, there’s the old Terry Funk thing. You’re never really retired. You just stop for a period. I certainly wouldn’t say I wasn’t like that. With getting older and having different responsibilities, your mindset changes, and your priorities change, but once she planted that seed, it got the cogs turning. I started thinking if I was to come back, where would it be, what would be the situation. The environment and scenario at DMDU, the deathmatch group vs. the anti-deathmatch group War Games situation, that’s a story that’s embedded in reality. There’s truth to it, people in that match, I have the world of respect for on both sides. I get to be in the ring with people I truly respect. I said recently that as a performer you just love the opportunity to get a chance to swing for the fence. You might not hit a home run, if anything, you might strike out, but you love to be able to just swing anyway. I think it’s the perfect scenario where someone like me can get that last opportunity to swing at the fence. A lot of little happy accidents happened; certain things fell into place for DMDU to provide the stage for me. One more and maybe one last swing for that fence and to be part of something that is memorable, violent, and maybe with something special sprinkled amongst it.”
How’s it feel to know you’ll be making history on this last batting session?
“Whether people understand it or not or don’t like DMDU or are anti-hardcore, whatever it is, people need to be realistic about it that this type of match, in this type of environment and how it’s being presented has never been done in Australian wrestling before. It has the possibility to be one of, if not the biggest spectacle match the country has ever produced. So, whether you’re for hardcore wrestling or not, it’s something special in that regard. To be able to share that ring, share that moment with everybody, with the fans, and I understand the importance of that. I also understand you’re on borrowed time the older that you get in the wrestling world. It’s very special to be given a chance to be in the ring in this type of match. I’m absolutely excited for what I believe we can do, but more importantly, what I know we can produce on that night.”
Glad to hear it. It’s always good to go into things expecting to do the best…
“That’s the explanation for swinging for the fence. You might not hit the ball or anything, but why the fuck would you not swing like you were going for a home run. Y’know what I mean?”
No one goes into anything expecting to strike out…
“Absolutely. I don’t like being careful. Calculated, yes. In wrestling, the best risks are the calculated ones, but it’s not an environment you go into treading lightly. If I did have that mentality, with all due respect, I wouldn’t put myself or anyone in that situation by being too careful. That’s when you open yourself up to being hurt. I know the fans that night, regardless of anything, will absolutely get their money’s worth. Regardless of my own personal performance, good or bad, they will absolutely get their money’s worth. That feels good, knowing that. We would have to make an absolute effort to screw this up. I know that’s not gonna happen.”
I’ve heard some of Joel’s creative deathmatch ideas before so I am slightly scared of what he’s probably come up with for this…
“That makes two of us.”
It’ll be you, Mad Dog, Callen Butcher, Damian Rivers, and Joel Bateman against the Anti-Deathmatch Party. Do you have any personal feelings towards the Anti-Deathmatch Party and their message?
“It’s pretty simple, they believe what they’re saying, and that’s enough. My job isn’t to go out there and argue differently. My job is to go out there and make my point as loudly, violently, and viciously as possible. If they agree or disagree, it doesn’t matter at the end of the day. I’ve got a simple opinion when it comes to wrestling, there’s no right or wrong, only what works best. So, no one can tell me one thing is more right or wrong than another because for every one person that says it’s wrong, there may be ten more that say it’s right. They think they’re right. They think their perspective is the way wrestling should be. In my mind, everyone has a different opinion or a different image of hardcore. To me, it’s pretty simple. It’s a belief that the people deserve their money’s worth. How you deliver it and how you give it, that can differ across every wrestler, and that’s fine because we should all be different. If we’re all the same, wrestling stands for nothing. The whole point of wrestling has always been to be a human smorgasbord.
“Whether you choose scientific wrestling, you choose hardcore wrestling, you choose whatever, the main driving force should always be that we have paying customers out there that have paid to see, supposedly what we do. Sometimes on a cold, rainy night to spend their hard-earned cash on what we do. Do everything you can. Leave everything in that ring and pay back the business that gives us so much. When you’re on the independent level, and money’s not a factor and fame, and all these things aren’t part of the equation, what it comes down to is the greatest love and passion you can imagine. We get an opportunity as a weekend warrior to go out there and live a dream, sharing moments with fans, sharing moments with fellow wrestlers, and sharing a locker room with people you think the absolute world of. I think the way you honour that is that you make sure everyone you’re rubbing shoulders with, the fans, fellow wrestlers, and the referee, even are treated with respect and given every second of your time and understanding. You show everyone how much you love what you do. In your performance and what you leave in the ring. That’s what we owe wrestling because it’s given us so much and always will, so the least we can do is give everything we have back to it.”
I like those type of answers because it shows a deeper level of thought…
“To me, it’s classic wrestling story-telling. They think they’re right. We don’t think we’re more right, but we’ve got a difference of opinion, and we’re going to meet at an intersection. One car is going to hit the other car, one car is going to keep moving, and the other is not. I guarantee you one thing, absolute carnage. The one common factor amongst both groups is that you’re talking about people that have an absolute love and passion and respect for wrestling. We can disagree on certain elements of things, but what draws us all in is our love of wrestling. Whether you like yours coloured redder than others really doesn’t matter. It’s all art. Every individual has their own different taste, their own different likes. No problem. On that night, we’ll have a disagreement, and we’re going to sort it out. It’s going to be something special.”
Looking at DMDU as a whole, is there anyone who has really impressed you as you’ve been on the outside looking in?
“They’ve got some incredible hardcore wrestlers for sure. When you’re a deathmatch company, you’re going to have some incredible deathmatch performers. You’ve got people like Mad Dog, people like Callen Butcher who’re absolutely fantastic. Joel Bateman, in that world, is an absolute artist, and the pictures they paint and the way they use violence to make these pieces of art. The company also has fantastic up-and-coming talent. People like Kid Valiant. You can see when he’s in the ring the way that he moves, there’s a certain naturalness you can’t teach. You have it, or you don’t. He definitely does. Wrestlers like GORE, who I always refer to as Australian wrestling’s Brock Lesnar. Absolutely believable and why, because he’s legitimate. When he stands across from people, there is sometimes an absolute genuine fear. There are not a lot of people that can bring that out of their opponents. There’s so much there beyond the well-established and recognised blood and guts. So much passion and genuine wrestling skill and ability.
“I think when people look at their shows and watch them, really watch them and see a live show, they’ll see what you show always try and present when you put a wrestling show out there, a little bit for everyone. Of course, there’s going to be a bit more blood and guts because it’s Deathmatch Downunder, it’s in the name. But to think that’s all they offer is wrong. They offer that and more. I’ve seen some talent that I’d never seen before that has blown me away. Coming to mind now, is Edward Dusk, a fantastic in-ring performer and a wealth of incredible female talent. I think DMDU is extremely underrated, but they’re also new if you look at the lifespan of a wrestling company. I have 100% faith through consistency, they’ll become one of the most, let’s say, well-regarded promotions in Australian wrestling. Will everyone love it? No, but there is nothing out there in any country that’s wrestling related that every fan loves. That’s how it should be.”
With you and Mad Dog in the same company, is there the potential for another match?
“No. I can say that hand on heart. You asked me before about what brought me to DMDU, and I said many happy accidents and that type of thing. That’s absolutely true. The other truth is my physical state is not in any condition to have any kind of one-on-one match. The one thing I always remember is that we charge money for this, and if I had a one-on-one match, I’d be robbing the people’s money. Within the confines of a War Games environment where I have the back-up of some incredibly talented and violent in-ring performers, I think I can get by. But the truth is that I would probably embarrass myself, embarrass the promotion I’d be doing for and, Mad Dog too. I love wrestling and Australian wrestling too much to present myself in any way that would be a put down to everything I love and hold in such high regard. There is absolutely no chance, and I doubt anything will present itself in the way that this presented itself with DMDU and the War Games where I would consider another lacing up of the boots. I think some things are best left a memory. Yesterday isn’t the worst thing. I don’t think that one will happen. Unfortunately.”
Fair Play to you, you know when to stop. This War Games really is the last blaze of glory…
“It is. My kids are older now. They obviously weren’t old enough to be there at the peak of my wrestling. I’m nowhere near the peak of my wrestling, but being older now, they can actually share this moment with me, be in the crowd, and that’s probably enough. If you really love what you do, you’ve got to love it enough to know when to leave it. The mirror in my house doesn’t work any differently than anywhere else, so I know how my body is. How difficult things can get. I work a blue-collar job, and it’s difficult enough as it is with the old aches and pains from my wrestling career, so I don’t want to add to that already. You don’t have an infinite amount of time in wrestling, and the lesson in that is to enjoy every moment you have. It’s something special. It’s always been something special to me. When you’ve had you’re time in the sun, step aside because you’re taking up the space for someone else to experience what you did. That’s not fair. Everyone needs that opportunity to lace them up and get in front of the people. Honestly, the talent is at a level that was nowhere near what it was at the peak of my career. It’s on a whole new level now. That’s fantastic. That’s how it should be. The evolution of wrestling should be that. It should get better, it should improve.
“I feel so proud when I see how far it’s come. I know how hard it was during some periods. It’s in such a fantastic place, especially with promotions like DMDU. If you’re going to go out on your sword, it’s as best a way you can go out. War Games, the first time in Australian wrestling in a match with people you feel honoured to be in the ring with. It’s the perfect storm to close the book. I’ve always been, somewhat connected to wrestling, and that’ll never change. I’ll continue in some way, shape, or form to always be associated with Australian wrestling. I’ve given the majority of my adult life to it. The real difference you can make is when you can mentor and influence people so they go from a potential field to something special. That’s more rewarding than anything you could do in the ring. I’ll continue to be associated. I’ll continue to be the old wrestler in the crowd still watching the shows. But yeah, very excited and very honoured to be a part of War Games.”
It’s funny. You started off mentioning WCW in a pub and now are ending things in a match a lot of people were introduced to, through WCW…
“If anyone ever goes back up to the first-ever War Games, they’ll see it still holds up. The background noise from the crowd is just a wall of noise because they were so excited by what they were seeing. It was so different and foreign to see this spectacle that was being put in front of them. Over the years, there have been some incredible War Games matches. The one with Stinger Squad vs. Dangerous Alliance at WrestleWar 92 is a match that holds up today. It was a can’t-miss. How is it that matches 30 years later can still have an impression on us as fans? Because those are the type of matches that can stand the test of time. Just in my opinion. Am I saying that this is going to have the same impression on Australian wrestling that WrestleWar 92 had? Absolutely not. I know that the people there on the night that pay to see the show are going to see a fantastic undercard of talent showcasing the best of what they can do, and this main event, I think that it will be a match that’s talked about for years to come. I feel very lucky to be given this opportunity to share that moment. No one owes me anything to give me this chance or to give me that spot. I feel very blessed to get this, and I know I’m going to enjoy every second of the day and the night because when we’re in the middle of it, we don’t always take the time to appreciate things that happen every minute of that day. I’m going to let it all sink in until the moment I’m leaving that arena. Not selling anything or pushing anything, I’ve never been more excited for a match than I am for this Saturday night.”
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