The Backstage Pass: “Double D” Dave Dutra
Donovan Troi: Welcome APW Faithful to another exclusive edition of The Backstage Pass! Today, my guest was originally going to be a champion in All Pro Wrestling, but due to holidays and out of town excursions I was left without a champion on this installment. I went searching around the APW Locker Room and found a very suitable replacement, a former APW Worldwide Internet Champion, “Double D” Dave Dutra!
“Double D” Dave Dutra, thank you so much for meeting me in short notice after the holidays. I originally tried APW Worldwide Internet Champion “Out of Control” Matt Carlos first, since I did promise the APW Faithful a champion in the second installment, but since Matt was unavailable, I had to settle for a former champion. Thank you again for coming through at the last minute. Any idea where Matt Carlos could be? His agent said he was out of town?
Dave Dutra: (a little annoyed) Settle for a former champion? Ouch! I have no idea where Matt Carlos is. He’s the champion and it’s just after the holiday season so I’m sure he is busy doing something, somewhere, but none of that is important. What is important is at this time and place is this interview. I may have been your second choice Donovan, but believe me when say I’m the better choice.
(Photos by Paul Adams and Devin Chen)
Donovan Troi: I must say Dave, you had one of the most outstanding matches of your career with Matt Carlos at Kristmas Kaos for the APW Worldwide Internet Championship, but the match ended in a double-pin finish, leaving Matt Carlos still champion. How did you feel at the conclusion of that match? Do you believe Matt Carlos got the best of you?
Dave Dutra: How did Matt Carlos get the best of me? Did you actually see the match? Last time I checked, and I have watched the match numerous times now for studying purposes, the match was back and forth, 50/50, with it obviously ending in that “double pin”. In fact, if anyone got the best of the other, it was I. After watching the match over and over, I noticed that on the “double pin”, my left shoulder appears to be slightly raised off the canvas, but referee Toby Reynolds was out of position to see it. Therefore, I should be the Worldwide Internet Champion right now. But these sort of things happen and you can’t get every call to go your way. Regardless, I’m confident I can seal the deal January 8th.
Donovan Troi: Dave, ever since you lost the Internet Championship you seem to have fallen a few steps behind. You were unable to win back the championship at Kristmas Kaos, you were unable to win the Rumble Rules Match for a match of your choosing, and you even lost matches to Dylan Drake and Mr. Wrestling #4. Do you believe you have you lost your game?
Dave Dutra: You seem to focus quite a bit on the negative, Mr. Troi. Everybody goes through their peaks and valleys, but rather than point out what I was unable to do, let me refresh you on what I was ABLE to do. I was able to graduate from the APW Boot Camp faster than any prior student in the company’s 19-year history. I defeated Derek Sanders in my 2nd Gym Wars appearance. I was the 2009 APW Rookie of the Year. I ended Timothy Thatcher’s 54-week Internet Championship reign and proceeded to defend the belt every show for 7 months. Last but not least, I’ve not only held Matt Carlos at 2 stalemates, but I’ve also beat Matt Carlos in less than 6 minutes, mind you. Something he can’t say the same. So I may have had a few missteps, but I don’t believe I’ve lost my game.
(Photo by Devin Chen)
Donovan Troi: Even though you did not regain the Internet Championship at Kristmas Kaos, Acting Commissioner John LaRocca did sign a rematch between you and Matt Carlos for the championship at the January 8th Gym Wars. How are you going to prepare for Matt Carlos who is coming off a tremendous title defense not only against yourself, but “Wrestling Personified” Rik Luxury?
Dave Dutra: Matt is tricky. More specifically, Matt is unpredictable. His style, his game plan, changes constantly from match to match, making him hard to study. Luckily for me, I’ve tagged with Matt for well over a year and have been able to see how he thinks in a match setting. I’m going to bring something to the table, this time around, that no one has seen, not even Matt.
Donovan Troi: If you were able to go back in time Dave, how would you have dealt with Mr. Wrestling #4’s offense? It seemed that ever since that championship title loss, things have just being going completely down hill for you. How would you handle a second match-up with Mr. Wrestling #4 if you had the chance?
Dave Dutra: (annoyed) There you go again! Completely down hill? Did you forget that I quickly rebounded with a clean and clear pinfall over El Chupacabra the very next show after my title loss? As for Mr. Wrestling #4, what happened then, happened for a reason, and I wouldn’t go back in time to change anything. I obviously needed the wake up call that I was not unbeatable. The loss made me work harder and thus become even better than before. I’m sure Mr. Wrestling #4 and I will cross paths again, and when it happens, you’ll see first hand how I handle it.
Donovan Troi: Currently, Dylan Drake is the Universal Heavyweight Champion; he defeated “The Boss” Derek Sanders at Kristmas Kaos. Does a new champion mean newer opportunities for you Dave? Do you believe that you are able to rise to the top of APW and challenge the same man that defeated you a few months ago at Gym Wars?
Dave Dutra: Absolutely! Dylan is another great wrestler, one of the best. He’s established himself as a top competitor for over 3 years in APW, and it’s speaks volumes to the Championship Committee if you can defeat him. With that said, records will tell you that Dylan has been somewhat of my kryptonite since I started my career. Whether we meet in APW or another promotion, Dylan has got the best of me each and every time. But all the more sweet it will be when I do defeat him. Doesn’t Dutra versus Drake, title for title, sound like an awesome main event for February?
(Photo by Paul Adams)
Donovan Troi: It definitely would be a blockbuster event. Still on Dylan Drake, at the January 8th TV Taping of APW’s Gym Wars will be the return of the Pick the Winner Battle Royal, where the winner of that match will earn a shot at the Universal Heavyweight Championship at the February edition of Gym Wars. How do you prepare for such an unpredictable match, assuming you are in the match?
Dave Dutra: Well, outside of an unforeseeable injury, you bet I’ll be in that match! I said back in September that the Internet Championship was not the only goal in my future, as I still have my eyes set on that Universal Heavyweight Championship. As far as the Battle Royal is concerned, there’s not much you can do to prepare for such chaos. In my case, it definitely wouldn’t hurt to form an alliance and eliminate the larger competitors first. Us smaller guys have to fight twice as hard in those matches!
Donovan Troi: Who do you think is your biggest threat in that match come January 8th? Do you feel that you are able to walk into this match as the NEW Worldwide Internet Champion?
Dave Dutra: Matt is a tough fight, but he’s not my biggest threat. That would be myself. I’ve noticed that virtually every big loss I’ve had in the recent months, has been due to my own error or misjudgment. I need to stay focused and on the task at hand and not take any unnecessary risks. I’ve been preparing with this mindset all month so I believe you’ll see a clear winner this time around, and that person will be me!
Donovan Troi: It should be clear to all the APW Faithful that you and Matt Carlos have an incredible history with one another. You both graduated from the APW Boot Camp, both won Rookie of the Year, wrestled one another in the Lions Cup Tournament, wrestled as partners and opponents, but Matt Carlos is the current Internet Champion. What do you think Matt has done differently than you to be so successful? What have you’ve done that has changed your career since your debut?
Dave Dutra: Matt hasn’t done anything different than what I did to be successful. We both worked extremely hard, trained daily, studied tapes, fine tuned our in-ring styles, and so on and so forth. Why then is Matt champion now and not me? Because the champion he beat was Mr. Wrestling #4, not me. That’s not putting down Mr. Wrestling either, that’s simply saying that I know Matt better than anyone else here, and because of that, he can’t outwrestle me.
(Photo by Devin Chen)
Donovan Troi: I see. What does “Double D” Dave Dutra hope to accomplish in 2011? Any specific goals?
Dave Dutra: My goal is simple. Win the Internet & Universal Heavyweight Championships in the same year. In 2011, I will establish myself as the premiere wrestler in APW.
Donovan Troi: How about what you have to say to the APW Faithful and the APW Locker Room?
Dave Dutra: In this match, the APW Faithful is divided: Matt Carlos Movement and Double Deeziacs. Quite frankly, I have no idea as to whom the locker room is pulling for but what I do know, is that both the fans, and the wrestlers, will have quite the show to see once Matt and I step in the ring. If any of our prior encounters will show you, our battles are some for the ages and I expect this next one to be the greatest fight yet!
Donovan Troi: Anything else you want to say to your opponent, the current APW Worldwide Internet Champion, Matt Carlos?
Dave Dutra: In our past two matches Matt, I’ve said that we’re friends, but once the bell rings, we’re enemies. I’ve said that I hope you bring your A-Game and that we find out who the better man is, yada yada. I’m not sugar coating anything this time around. Bottomline, you’re a great wrestler Matt, but I’m better! There’s always been this whole underlying factor with tag-teams as to who will break away and become the bigger, brighter star. I’m going to prove to you, the Double Deeziacs, the Movement, the locker room, and anyone else watching, that I’m that man! I’ll see you in the ring!
(Photo by Devin Chen)
Donovan Troi: Thank you Dave. There you have it APW Faithful, “Double D” Dave Dutra has made his claim that he will regain the APW Worldwide Internet Championship come Gym Wars January 8th and honestly, with his current drive and determination, you all know that come January 8th, this match will be outstanding from bell to bell. I hope you all have enjoyed this installment of The Backstage Pass! Make sure to join us at the historic APW Garage for APW action and stick to allprowrestling.com for more exclusive interviews with your favorite APW Stars, only on The Backstage Pass!
