An Interview with Johnny Concrete

You may remember that a few years ago we ran a feature called the Six-Step Process where we would ask a set six questions to an up and coming indie wrestler. We featured several notable guests, including T-Bone, Toni Storm, Keith Lee and more, but one name that we enjoyed talking to was Richard Healey aka Johnny Concrete [Which you can re-read here]. Following my colleague Sarah's write up of an Aspire Wrestling Alliance show last week, we reached out to Richard (who was a part of that show) for this exclusive follow-up interview to discuss what he's been up to in the last few of years.

Photo courtesy of Brett Hadly Photography

Team Venom: We last spoke to you in 2016, what's changed for you over the last 3 years?

Johnny Concrete: The past 3 years have been good to me. Last year I had a baby boy, it slowed down my ability to concentrate on my Wrestling and shows but the birth of my son was the best day of my life. I have been given prior to that, I was given the opportunity to appear for companies like PW4U and Southside. Southside Wrestling being the peak of my short career so far, having the opportunity to work with some of the UKs best talent including Robbie X, Kip Sabian, Blake and Damien Dunne. Also in the last 3 years some of my best friends have taken their opportunities to literally live their dreams becoming household names with WWE and World Of Sport in Joseph Conners and Gabriel Kidd. On the whole, the last 3 years has been fantastic for British Wrestling and I couldn't be more proud to be part of it, however small that part may be.

Team Venom: You previously told us that you were looking forward to working for DOA, HOPE and Megaslam - how did those experiences play out for you?

Johnny Concrete: Megaslam is a great company to work for. Great set up and always a good vocal crowd. I have had some of the most fun matches I've ever been involved in during my time at HOPE and LCW, namely the Twice In A Lifetime match with Jack Cave and a triple threat with Cave and Flex Buffington. It's always fun to get in the ring with those guys. I've been a huge fan of Flex Buffington ever since I first started training. Also, if anyone wants to book Thrice In A Lifetime with Cave, I'd be more than happy!

Team Venom: You've been one of the biggest names in Aspire Wrestling Alliance - a company that does quite a lot of community work and has a predominantly home-grown roster working with some regular established British Wrestlers such as Paul Malen, Barricade, DDA and yourself. What attracted you to working with them?

Johnny Concrete: Aspire is a company like no other. Always giving something back to the community, working closely with local projects and raising money for various funds. Largely down to Scarlet Page and Robert Shade amongst others. The attraction to some of the most well known guys probably comes down to the fact that its is community based and there is a fun, family type atmosphere, whether it's at the training facility, back stage at shows or doing community based projects. Aspire is a pleasure to be a part of and being there from the beginning and watching it grow is fantastic. There is also some top talent coming from that training facility including 'The Scourge Ronan', El Desvalido and Rourke to name a few, but credit to Paul Malen for the standard of their training and the shows. Paul is one of the best in and out of the ring. I love Aspire, long may it continue to grow and long may I be a part of it.

Team Venom: You previously cited Joseph Connors, The Alpha Brothers and Gabriel Kidd as some of your favourite people to work with. Has anyone else been added to that list since we last spoke?

Johnny Concrete: The list of wrestlers that I have enjoyed working with over the past 3 years is big! I've mentioned Cave and Flex, but you can also add to that list Visage, super talented, he's going to be a star, he's turning heads all over the country and has gained a lot of notoriety. Alton Thorne, does nothing but enhance a card. Alton Thorne should be on every promotion up and down the country in my opinion. Sam Spencer, need a big lad to beat up half your roster? He's your man, and he moves in a way that no one his size should be able. Lucas Archer, for my money the most underrated wrestler in the UK. Probably the most versatile guy I've ever seen. He oozes charisma and talent.

Team Venom: Finally, Are there any upcoming shows or projects that you would like to share with our readers?

Johnny Concrete: Paradox Pro wrestling. A relatively new Nottingham based company running out of Riley's Snooker club on St James Street. These shows are fantastic harnessing some of the best guys in the UK with a roster that has stars from WWE in Joseph Conners and Saxon Huxley and World of Sports Gabriel Kidd and CJ Banks. Anyone who is interested in seeing these shows can find tickets via the Facebook page.

You can find Johnny Concrete on Facebook over at https://www.facebook.com/jconcretebb and see more about Paradox Pro Wrestling at https://www.facebook.com/ParadoxProUKWrestling/