
Bruce Santee is known by many as the best wrestler in the state of Florida. He’s a no-brainer future TNA or WWE star. Personally, Bruce is one of my favorite indy workers. He possesses the athletic ability and the personality that makes him stand head and shoulders above his peers. Let’s see what he has to say in this interview.
Thanks for doing this interview with www.MarcusPitt.com. How are you doing today?
Fan- freakin – tastick there SnowMan.
Can you tell us a little about yourself? What is your name? Where do you wrestle? What basic height and weight or other stats would you like to share?
Well if you don’t know by now, I am “The Marquee” Bruce Santee. I am 6’4”, and currently weighing in at 255 lbs..
How can a promoter book you, and in what areas do you primarily wrestle?
I primarily try to stay local, Central Florida area. I work a very mentally draining job during the week, so I like to enjoy my weekends, and not have to travel. I may venture back out this upcoming year, if the price is right. I can be contacted for bookings via Facebook , or bruce.santee@yahoo.com
How did you break into wrestling? Who trained you, and what was your first year like? Maybe tell us a bit about Dudley Dudley.
I originally began training with the Bushwhackers back in 1999. I learned the basics from them, however, stopped training to become an officer of the law. I eventually got over that retarded a$$ cop kick, and resumed training in 2000. At that time I trained with LeRoy Howard (Navy Seal/ Rastaman) and Jeff Bradley (Original Dudley Dudley) , among others. Training was brutal… very old school. Drills, Hindu Squats, Pushups, more drills… I was pushed beyond my limits..
We would learn certain “moves”, what situations to apply them in, and how to tell a story with the said move. Jeff and Leroy were great at that.
LeRoy also took the time to show me and several others many “legit” submissions, striking, etc. When people hear you are a “wrestler”, they always want to “try you”. LeRoy always said if someone tries you, and then subsequently works you over, it will be embarrassing not only to yourself, but to the business as well. Never go out and look for trouble, but if the trouble finds you, you need to be able to take care of business. Having 7 years of Amateur wrestling experience, the “shooting” was my favorite part of training.
Most importantly, they taught us to RESPECT and PROTECT the business. When you are green, you should be the first one to arrive to the venue, and the last one to leave. You should help with set-up and tear down, even if you are not on the show. If you are in the locker room, and all the seats are taken, and a VET shows up, you should be the first one to give up your chair for them. They paved the way for you! That is how you get booked… You must earn your way in.
Unfortunately a lot of the young kids coming up never learned that. There isn’t much respect in this area anymore.
Who do you enjoy wrestling the most?
Guys that always bring the best out of me, in no particular order: Vordell Walker, Erick Stevens, Jon Davis, Kory Chavis, Francisco Ciatso, Eddie Taurus, Sedrick Strong, Sam Shaw, and I am sure there are a few more. All the aforementioned guys can take it and dish it right back. I would get in the ring with any of them on any given day.
What are the biggest names that you have wrestled?
It depends on what you consider a “name”? I guess if you want to go “Mainstream”, then Jerry Lawler, CM Punk, MVP, 75 percent of the current TNA Locker room, and Frankie Capone.
So can you tell us about any injuries you have had that are wrestling related?
Torn Rotator Cuff in both shoulders, meniscus tears in both knees, several concussions, bruised ribs, sprained MCL, herniated disks, tendonitis in every joint, and a broken pinky toe.
What wrestlers did you enjoy watching as a kid? Did you use them as role models in your career?
I know most guys in this business had a wrestler they looked up to as a kid, I honestly didn’t really. I guess I used to like Hercules Hernandez because he was a friend of my uncle’s.. Other than that, I just watched for the entertainment. Once I became older, I started becoming a fan of guys.
I would have to say one of my all time favorites is Booker T. He always looks like he is having fun in the ring, playing heel or face. That is what I try to radiate to the crowd. I am in the ring, sweating, in my underwear, beating up another sweaty man, in his underwear, in a totally HeteroSexual way, and having a good time doing it.
I like to compare my in-ring style to JBL, with a bit more athleticism. I like to brutalize people… Beat them down! When you see a Bruce Santee match, you KNOW you are watching a fight!
My current favorite (and I am probably the only male over the age of 12 to say this) is Cena. People can $hit on his “in ring” ability all they want, but the way he connects with the crowd is unreal. Love him or hate him, people want to watch him. I believe he is the ONLY ONE left that brings that “true emotion” back to the sport, which has been missing for way too long. He knows how to draw money, and I think, at this point, the WWE would be in a LOT OF TROUBLE without him.
Do you have any websites or upcoming events you would like to promote?
Check me out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/brucesantee.
I can be found locally (Tampa Bay Area) wrestling several times a month for FU Wrestling at Gasoline Alley Tuesday nights in Largo, Florida. In the Central Florida Area, Vintage Wrestling’s show of the year, WrestleBrawl II, January 15, 2011 at the Sanford Salvation Army in Sanford Florida. . I may be popping up again in South Florida and several other places here in the next few months…
We also run a website called www.Wrestling911.com. Have you been there? If so, what do you think about it?
Yes, I am sure I speak for most of the other workers in saying we appreciate what you do with the website in promoting Florida Wrestling.
Is there anything else you would like to talk about?
I would like to talk about all the naughty things I wanna do to that bitch KE$HA…….
Well, who wouldn’t. Thank you for your time.