UPW Partners

Anthony Rosas interviews
Marty Rubalcaba on his signing
with WWE

How did you feel when you received word that you had achieved your dream in working for WWE?

Well actually it still feels like a dream. Everything kind of stood still. I was excited because time and time again through the years, you assume you’re going to have a certain reaction when it happens, but when it happens, for me, it really caught me off guard. Wow, finally its happening, it was great! It’s a great feeling because after all the blood, sweat, and tears that goes with wanting to be in the wrestling business, you go wow, it finally happened. So it was really exciting but at the same time it was surreal.

How did you get started in the business?

Actually, Jesse Hernandez and Bill Anderson gave me my start. I started training at the school in San Bernardino back in 1996. I started as a manager actually, but before I did that, I started training, setting up the chairs and such. Most of the time, the guys would have issues with the referees. Back in 1997, I went to New York thinking I was going to make it in WWE, I had a gimmick, I was a manager called Mr. Ruby. I went out there and quit my job and assumed I would make it, being green to the business, not knowing what it really took. So I quit my job and headed up there at my own expense and had a dark match and then didn’t hear anything for 6 months. I was pretty much unemployed at the time, and after that I thought, well the manager thing is not really going to happen. Then I heard back from WWE, from Jim Cornette, and he said nothing was going to happen. So I went back and got a normal job and started training with Jesse again at the school. I heard guys complain about the referees and so what I did was I looked in the mirror and said ok, you’re not 6 foot 8, 350 pounds, but you have a passion for the business, what do you want to do? I said lets be a referee or something in the business. What I did was ask Bill Anderson if I could referee, and he told me no. Jesse on the other hand said sure. So I went in and practiced for 3 weeks, and they were having a show coming up in Parker, AZ. Jesse said “Hey maybe we could put you on the show as a referee in Parker.” I said ok, great. Jesse said go ahead and get a referee shirt and meet us out there, but I’m not going to guarantee any pay. I went out with Rick Knox, showed up and Bill Anderson said “Hey, what are you doing here?” I showed up to referee, and they gave me 2 matches. The first match I ever did was Devon Willis and Pitbull Ricky Reyes. Looking at the tape, I look back and laugh and say what were you doing. It is very comical. But you live and you learn.

What have been your favorite moments in UPW and in SoCal?

There has been so many, its really hard to actually pinpoint, but I would have to say is March 2001, doing a dark match with Frankie Kazarian and Keiji Sakoda for WWE and the thrill of having my wife and my daughter in the audience, and that was my first real taste of WWE. There has been so many, meeting Rick Bassman was a blessing as well, getting the opportunities that Rick has provided for me, and it means so much because you always hear so much of peoples reputations and when you finally get the opportunity to meet them it is a real honor. Just doing that and working withy everyone I’ve been able to work with, it’s a blessing, everytime I step into the ring.

What have been your favorite matches of your career?

Not to say this as something, like oh he is just saying this because Eddie has passed, but my favorite match that I have worked, that brought me to another level was working with Eddie Guerrero and Chris Daniels in Alaska. That was a match itself that I could imagine myself working. Eddie Guerrero and Chris Daniels, when I tell you that guys like that bring you to a whole new level within yourself and your game, and you bring it up a notch, you go wow. It brought up my game that much further. It was unreal. I have to say Frankie Kazarian, B Boy and Spanky in a Lightweight Match a few years ago was a great match. When Frankie Kazarian and “Simon Dean” Nova were Evolution, they had great matches and it was phenomenal to be in the ring with those guys. But being in the ring with Eddie and Daniels was the most memorable.

Do you have any words for other aspiring workers on getting to WWE?

Don’t give up, follow your dreams. Whatever you put in is what you get out. Being in the business as long as I’ve been in, I still learn certain things. Be humble, count your blessings. JR says it all the time, count your blessings, but its true. Don’t be bitter at the business. This business is rough by itself so don’t make it worse and add more stress to yourself, and go out and do the best you can. Don’t look at others if you are not getting signed, look at yourself. There are people who can guide you but it is you and what you do with the ball. The most useful advice I can give somebody is don’t give up, keep trying, and don’t take no for an answer. Be persistent but don’t be a pain in the ass. Let your work speak for itself, if it is not coming along, look at yourself, look at tapes, get advice and listen to people. Do the right thing and keep your nose clean.

What does this mean to you?

It means a lot of different things. For me there are a whole lot of different emotions that come up. You have fulfilled your dream, everything you have gone through, it is a lifetime of hardships, financially, my marriage, a lot of things you have to go through. For me, I was a kid who was born and raised with out a father, it was my Mom and 7 kids. We grew up on welfare and food stamps, not knowing where your next meal was going to come from, dropping out of school when I was in 10th grade. Just pushing myself, and I look back and say if I could make it, anybody can do it. Believe in yourself, and your abilities. Don’t take no for an answer. There are going to be times when you get frustrated, get bitter, but don’t let that get the best of you. For me, I am grateful to have my wife as a foundation, who is there to stand by my side, and to have friends, like Frankie Kazarian, Ryan Sakoda, Rick Bassman, Todd Keneley, yourself, just to have that foundation to say go for it. So I just count my blessings.

Where do you go from here?

I am scheduled to go to Deep South Wrestling in Atlanta, and whatever plans WWE has for me, they have for me. My goal is to work WrestleMania. Another goal is to work with Shawn Michaels. To have a long career with WWE and to give them everything I have and to be there a long time, whether it be talent relations, referee, behind the scenes, whatever they want me to do, WWE has me for life. I am going to give 150%, because it took me so long to get there, I want to make sure I don’t let them down or myself.

Who would you like to work with at the next level?

Shawn Michaels. He is the man, that would be great. I am looking forward to working with everybody there, but if you point a gun at me and ask me if I had the opportunity, Shawn Michaels.

Who do you feel will be the next UPW alumni to join you in WWE?

There are so many new faces in UPW right now. I am not too familiar with some of new guys. But I see Todd Keneley getting there, his talent, the guys is a great guy personally and in the business, he is an all around great guy. There are so many guys with potential, there is one new kid that really impressed me with his etiquette, Rick Mathey. But you never know, and it is really hard to say this guy is going to be the next big star. It all depends on your work ethic, your passion and your love for the business. Mick Foley is a great example. Nobody ever gave him and ice cubes chance in hell, but he had the desire and was a WWE legend and former WWE champion.

What do you want people to think when they talk about you 20 years from now?

That I worked hard and had a passion for the business, that I always gave my best whether I was sick or ill. I just wanted to make sure I gave the best performance I could.

Any last words?

I have a thank you list if you don’t mind. I want to thank God, believe me prayers are answered because without prayers, Marty Rubalcaba wouldn’t be here. I want to thank my wife, Suzanne, for being the foundation, through the good and the bad, and I look forward to great things happening. I want to thank my daughter, Shandi, for being the best girl she could be and for being my pride and joy. I want to thank Rick Bassman, for the opportunity, to give me the stage to showcase my talents, so I want to make sure I thank him, I couldn’t thank him enough. I want to thank my family at UPW, Todd, Anthony and all of you guys, you have been so supportive. I want to thank Ryan Sakoda for being my friend outside the business and for giving me the knowledge, support, advice. Frankie Kazarian, the same thing. We’ve been there since day one. I want to thank Bill and Jesse for giving me my start in the business. I want to thank Joey Ryan for getting me motivated again. I had stopped and hadn’t don’t anything in 6 months, and Ryan called me up and said if I wanted to have fun again and said lets go. I want to thank my family, my Mom, Dad, Brothers and Sisters. I want to thank Tony and Emily Louis, for supporting me when the chips were down. I finally, I want to thank WWE, John Laurinaitis, and Tommy Dreamer for giving me the opportunity and I wont let you down!


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