New Hampshire’s Scott Reed was nice enough to take some time while on his tour of Japan and Dragon Gate to answer a few questions on what the experience has been like and what’s coming up in the future.

Early last month, Reed wrestled on Dragon Gate USA’s loop in the Northeast, including a stop in Everett, Mass. After that — and how’s this for a crazy schedule — he wrestled at the Sportatorium in Deer Park, New York. Just four days later, he was in the ring at the legendary Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

We’d like to thank Scott for taking some time out of a very busy schedule — he’s been wrestling practically every day — and we look forward to seeing him live again on Dec. 29 when he wrestles for the Millenium Wrestling Federation in Everett.

NEPW: First thing’s first … how’s the food over there? I’ve heard some horror stories from guys who head over to Japan and have a hard time getting the food they need to train, etc.
Scott Reed: “The food in Japan is very good, but much different then what people might be use to in America. Growing up I was never raised to turn down food just based on look and smell. I always had to “try it before I knocked it”. I think having been instilled that since birth gave me a advantage that some others may not have had, going over to Japan. I came to find out that there are a lot of foods that don’t look very edible, but they turn out to be amazing! They have these places called Yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) that are really cool. You sit down, and in front of you is this little grill heated by wood charcoals. They bring you out little plates of meat and vegetables and you cook it all yourself. The only big problem for me is that everything over here is carbohydrate based, and there is very few protein in the portions that your given, which makes it real difficult when your dieting on a budget.
“I’m real big into body building and the first thing I wanted to make sure I had was enough protein. I packed like 10 Lbs. and figured that would get me threw a seven week tour. HA! It got me about halfway threw, and I ended up having to get more, and let me just say for the record supplements in Japan are ridiculously expensive! Other then the supplement problem I ran into, I never had trouble finding the rest of the food I needed to keep my diet on track. I think as long as you can read a nutrition label your good to go. Even in America I am always looking at the nutritional label on everything I pick up, so Japan really was no different. They have convenience stores over here called Lawson’s, and Family Mart. You can find pretty much anything you need in there. Most of the things I buy are like low fat milk, eggs, fat free yogurts, imitation crab meat, tuna, salad packages, water, fruits, and I found these little pancakes that are 100% wheat and have almost no fat and have a good amount of protein and carbs (for when I have my two carb meals) in them…those my friend are amazing! So I guess if you don’t mind eating the same foods everyday it’s pretty easy to get all the right nutrition for your diet.”

Can you just quickly rundown what your schedule has been like? Where/who you’ve been wrestling and what’s up down the road while you’re over there?
“I left America November 6th. I got into Tokyo November 7th about, like, 9pm. My flight was over 15 hours, but I don’t think I even felt the jetlag at all. Once I checked into my room I went right out to find something to eat and just explore Tokyo. My first match was November 8th at Korakuen Hall teaming with Cyber Kong against Naruki Doi and Masato Yoshino in front of 1,800 fans. I’ve been on the road since with a maybe a day or two off here and there in between shows, going up and down Japan wrestling everyone on the Dragon Gate roster with of course the exception of Mad Blankey team members. A huge help while being on the road has been every hotel here in Japan has washers and dryers! Something you don’t find in America. Oh, and let’s not forget my awesome neck pillow!”

What was the toughest adjustment to wrestling in front of Japanese crowds. They obviously tend to appreciate the sport aspect of things. Is it a different feel?
“It’s vastly different then wrestling in front of an American crowd. The toughest adjustment for me was the fact that Japanese fans don’t heckle you like American ones do, But I think that’s just because they are just really enjoying every second of what’s going on in the ring. A big help for me in making the adjustment to Japanese fans really stems from being trained by Steve Bradley. I was taught a more hard hitting style which happens to be exactly what the Japanese fans love. Wrestling in front of a Japanese crowd is really indescribable. It’s more something you have to feel. And believe me you feel it!”

What part of home do you miss the most?
“Being able to walk down the street and actually read and understand things, and pick up my cell phone and make a call or send a text! Haha No, I’m just kidding. I love it over here, but I do miss my family, my girlfriend, and my two cats. I’m very lucky to have all of them (even the cats) support me fully in my career. I keep in contact with everyone as much I can while traveling.”

What are some things that you’ve picked up or learned over there that you think you might be able to apply long-term?
“Definitely the use of chopsticks! The trip to Japan alone has been a huge life experience in it’s self. Then you add the experience of being a professional wrestler in Japan. It’s really is (with out sounding corny) priceless. There is so much I have learned and yet still so much I have yet to learn. There are a lot of things that America should really grab hold of and incorporate into everyday life. I have never been in such a big city as Tokyo walking around at 1 am cutting threw a back ally and felt so safe. Try doing that in NYC or Boston.”

I know Gabe (Sapolsky) had said how impressed he was with you and your commitment and work ethic. How in just about a year, you went from an open tryout with DGUSA to now working over in Japan. There has to be a level of self-confidence, I’m sure, how has this last year or so really been a whirlwind?
“I have always had a really strong commitment and work ethic in every aspect of my life. I’m not one to quit or be slowed down just because I got discouraged. I mean lets face it, life is what you make it. It really is!
“The whole reasoning behind me doing the DGUSA tryout was simply because it was an opportunity to be involved with a company that has a tremendous amount of talent in it and on the bigger end it was an opportunity to go to Japan. I remember the tryout was in Philly. I drove down there with my good friend Tommaso Ciampa from Boston, MA. It is about six hours without traffic. We both ended up getting picked for IPPV spots that night. After that, with a little persistence I landed a regular spot on EVOLVE and DGUSA shows.
“I have done quite a bit in my career that I’m extremely grateful for and proud of since starting training in Oct 2002. In just 3 years I have had 350+ matches. And those matches were with guys like; Steve Bradley, Alex Arion, Tim Mcneany, Vince Vicallo, Fergal Devitt, Kevin Landry. Guys that are phenomenal wrestlers and really know there stuff. Then there are the numerous WWE TVs, and tryouts. A few tournaments. Wrestling some WWE and TNA stars. Then flash forward to today, being apart of DGUSA one of the top independent wrestling companies around, and then touring Japan with Dragon Gate. Both in the matter of a year or so. Japan has always been a big goal of mine. To be here right now, touring for a big wrestling company is nothing short of amazing!
I am very grateful for the opportunities that were opened up to me. I am vary confident in my abilities as a professional wrestler and very proud that I can honestly say nothing has ever been handed to me…nothing! Every single bit of success that I receive is from me busting my hump and making sacrifice after sacrifice. Success is always earned never given.”

What’s the plan for when you get back (and when do you get back?) After being on the road like that for a while and being away is the plan to take a few weeks off, especially if you get back around the holidays, or are you jumping right back into things?
“Many people don’t know this but in the last DGUSA show in Long Island, NY I suffered a real bad shoulder injury. I was in a tag match with my partner Caleb we were facing Papadon and Tony Nese. It was right towards the end of the match, and I’m in there with Papadon and he gave me a Tbone Suplex…..right on the top of my shoulder! To say I was pissed was an understatement. Here I am legit two days away from starting my tour in Japan and I get injured. As my Dad would say “That’s just your luck”.
The first three weeks of the tour I hardly slept. The only position I could get into that didn’t hurt my shoulder was laying on my back …and that’s not exactly comfortable. Then every time I was able to fall asleep I’d wake up in pain because apparently I would try to roll over on the injured side in my sleep. Not to mention I’m gorilla pressing and tackling 220lb men! Not exactly the best thing for a injured shoulder lol. On a high side it is feeling better with every workout I do. I’d say I’m probably about a week or two away from being 100% again.
“I am scheduled to be home December 24th. Just in time for all my holiday traveling hahah. As long as I’m not injured I don’t plan on taking any time off when I get back. I’m never one to really slow down and rest, That’s the first thing my family and girlfriend will say about me. I’m always on the go, I feel that if I slow down I’m only loosing the momentum that I’ve gained. And that goes for everything in life.”

Coming up here, where can fans see you? Any shows locally in NE?
“When I get back I have a local show for a company called MWF in Everett, Ma on December 29th. Then I have been in talks with a couple others that run around my area regularly. The best way to see my schedule in to follow me on Face book and Twitter.

Speaking of which, what about social media? websites? Where can fans go to find Scott Reed?
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/scottreed765
Twitter: http://twitter.com/oScottReedo

Lastly, and more in general, but I’ve seen a lot of your stuff at a lot of different shows around here and I really, really like your style. Who, if anyone, did you model yourself after? I’ll be honest, when I watch you I see a hybrid of guys like Shawn Michaels, Lance Storm .. guys that can work really any style of match you want.
“I grew up watching Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho. I think if you watch a lot of my matches you can really pick out different aspects of each of them. That from over the years of studying there matches I subconsciously picked up and incorporate in my style. Another big part of my style comes from my trainer Steve Bradley. I really pride myself on being able to get in that ring with a guy like Richochet or AR Fox and be able to deliver to the fans exactly what there expecting and then some. And on the flip side be in there with a guy like Kongo who is 300lbs (from my area) and still deliver a great match to the fans.”

We want to thank Scott again for taking time out of his tremendously busy schedule over there in Japan, and wish him the best of luck on the rest of the tour and when he returns Stateside later this month.

Before you go, if you haven’t seen Scott’s work, here is a 4-way match from EVOLE 6 that also included A.R. Fox, an incredible high-flyer, as well as Tony Nese and Rich Swann as well as some highlights from Chaotic Wrestling.