Eel Oneal has become one of the most unique and creative
wrestlers in independent wrestling in the past few years. He has been wrestling for 7 years but has
really made a name for himself recently.
He comes with a background in theater and athletics, so not only can he beat
you in the ring, but he will also tell you how he is going to do it. Eel is known as the African American Horror
Story and has a very intense style when he is in the ring. He is a regular on Camp Leapfrog, where is
part of The Goons, and is also part of the Better Business Bureau with Darius
Carter, Killian McMurphy, Molly McCoy and his tag team partner in Kings of the
District, Jordan Blade. Eel has had
amazing singles matches against Billy Dixon and Trish Adora at F1ght Club Pro
and more recently against Edith Surreal at The PolyAm Cult Party 3. I had the opportunity to ask Eel a few
questions about the stables that he is in, his love for Jean-Michel Basquiat,
the Grey Sweatpants Battle Royal and more.
Don: You are in multiple groups, The Goons, BBB, and the
Kings of the District. What is about
yourself that makes people want to be aligned with you?
Eel: I think I am the
type of talent who is a plug and play player. I'm highly versatile, a wicked
promo, an exceptional athlete, and a phenomenal technician. It becomes the kind
of thing where when people need to complete a picture, I'm typically the
finishing touch.
Don: I heard that you
are a big fan of Jean-Michel Basquiat.
What drew you to his work and are you an artist yourself?
Eel: I just think
that the idea of being this “instant” success with a much deeper work and
experience than your contemporaries understand rings really true to me. I've
been wrestling for 7 years, yet the first time a lot of these folks saw me was
at PrimeTime in 2019. I feel like I have a ticking clock and if I’m being
honest, I always have. Where I’m from people live fast die young or fizzle out
and turn to zombies, living an unexceptional and long life. If I HAVE to go…. I
want to go out in flames, bright and brilliant; And something about Basquiat’s
work speaks to that in me.
Don: I really like the mask that you come to the ring with. Is that something that you made, does it hold
special meaning, and did you ever consider being a masked wrestler?
Eel: The mask is a
physical manifestation of The One I Answer to. It grounds me to my heritage
(African Mysticism, and Ghanese mask history) while also invoking the deeper
darker story of what it means to be the African American Horror Story.
Don: A lot of people were talking about you after the grey
sweatpants battle royal. What was that
experience like and were you expecting the reaction that you got?
Eel: I think a lot of
folks think that because I’m very socially conscious or macabre or have a
“horror gimmick” (Whatever that means) that I’m not funny, and can’t have fun,
or can’t be a part of the frivolous things that other wrestlers get to do. They
forget I started my career smiling and pleading for their love using my looks,
and my humor.
The fact of the matter is, EVERY time someone sees me for
the first time, they ask “WHO IS THAT!?” and I’m a bit tired of it. You should
know what a talent I am. I’ve been doing this for 7 years now.
Don: In my opinion, The Kings of the District are one of the top
tag teams in independent wrestling, but it seems like you and Jordan have been
wrestling a lot more singles matches lately.
Would you like to team more often and what are some teams that you would
like to face?
Eel: J and I wrestle
together and train together and travel together. We’ve made a distinct effort
to be seen separately as well as together, because we want people to appreciate
how damn good we are as separate entities. I think people get in the ring with
me specifically, and think he’s a tag team guy, then the bell rings, and I'm
different from their tape study.
Don: You were part of the last 2 PolyAm Cult Party shows. On the first one you were in a scramble match
and this last one you had a one-on-one match with Edith Surreal. Can you tell us what the experiences were
like at these shows and about your match with Edith, as I feel she is at the
top of her game right now?
Eel: MV has done very well. He’s created a party atmosphere that’s
really conducive to story driven matches while including the spectacle the
casual audience is so enthralled by.
As for Edith: I
should have been more aggressive. I tried to have a competitive grappling
match. I wanted to show that I belonged in the ring with her, but I realized
too quickly that they love her and their perception of me was never going to be
positive. That's why I lost. Next time I won’t make the same mistake.
She's who I thought she was. I’m not who they think I AM.
Don: Is there anything else you would like us to know about you
or what you have coming up?
Eel: You’re going to see me everywhere. Your indie darlings are
in my dms complimenting my work and my presence. Go and buy my t shirts and
become part of a movement, because I will not be stopped.
You can find Eel on Twitter at @eelonealaahs
On Instagram at afamhorrorstory
And you can buy his shirts at Eel O'neal Official Store | What a Maneuver!