Everything about Brett Ison is nasty. From the moment he steps out from behind the current, sneering at his opponent, holding up middle fingers to the crowd, to the moment he elbows his opponents with concussive force, Ison is very clearly not a man to take lightly. He boasts one of the most dangerous finishing moves in the region, Street Justice, and he wields that sword liberally.
He’s been a mainstay of Southern Underground Pro (SUP) from the jump, but in 2018, Ison has taken his game to a new level. He defeated Righteous Jesse back in February at SUP’s Achy Breaky Heart, and then proceeded to take on, and beat, every member of The Carnies, show by show. It’s August, and Ison finds himself boasting a SUP record of 4-0 in 2018.
To say he’s been achieving his success through excessively violent means, though, would be fair. But, at Sunday’s show, Not Problematic, Ison took things entirely too far.
In an event that has been dubbed the Music City Murders, Ison and O’Shay Edwards intervened when Kerry Awful and Nick Iggy hit the ring to save A.J. Gray from the relentless attack at the hands of Curt Stallion. It was obviously premeditated (though the extent of which we don’t really know), as the two followed The Carnies out almost immediately after they made their way to the ring. Ison and Edwards had no real reason to beat them down the way they did. Awful pinned Edwards fair and square earlier in the night, and Ison had already beaten all three of The Carnies over the course of the year. They really had no business getting involved in the Gray-Stallion match other than to lay waste to The Carnies.
There was nothing to prove. The score was settled.
But, they decided to make a statement. What that statement truly means, I don’t understand. Maybe we get an explanation through social media or at the next SUP show. I don’t know that I’ll ever understand senseless violence like this, even as often as it occurs in the professional wrestling world. And, maybe that’s why I felt compelled to reach out to Ison yesterday afternoon to ask him the question we’re all wondering: why?
Ison was generous enough to take time and answer my questions. I may not agree with his philosophy, but I’m happy to give him credit for being accountable for his actions (for better or for worse), and facing the media.
“Big Natural” Stoney Keeley Interviews Brett Ison
SK: Let’s start by talking about The Carnies. John Mosley has covered your matches against Kerry Awful, Nick Iggy, and Tripp Cassidy. But, why now? Why 2018 and where did things go wrong? Why the vitriolic hate for such a popular act that everyone else seems to love?
BI: If you remember correctly, Kerry interjected himself into mine and Jesse’s problem. Therefore, I became a problem for Kerry. I took him out in thirty 30 seconds… so Iggy and Tripp are by default. I knew that it’s all for one and one for all with them. It was only a matter of time before they came looking for trouble…they found it, didn’t they?
SK: Would you have attacked The Carnies if you didn’t have O’Shay Edwards on your side?
BI: I am a man that doesn’t give a fuck about how many people there is… I’ll fight…ask Righteous Jesse about the night I fought four people at once.
SK: I know our boy Mose is a big fan of your work, but I think it’s fair to hold you a little more accountable for your actions. Besides the explicit violence in between bells, why the cheap shots? Why the sneak attacks?
BI: This is chess, not checkers motherfucker…
SK: You’ve been apart of the backbone of SUP for over a year now. You’re 3-0 against The Carnies. You’re 4-0 on the year in SUP. Why isn’t that enough? Why do you feel the need to beat people while they’re already down?
BI: Yeah, 3-0. I’ve called my shot… add another nickname, “The Carnie Killer.” And that’s life, man…ever had a shit day and it just keeps piling up? It’s life…
SK: What does it feel like to have the SUP crowd chanting “fuck you Brett?” Doesn’t that bother you at all?
BI: The feeling is mutual.
SK: I mentioned earlier that you’re undefeated in SUP in 2018. Is there going to come a time when you set your sights on the Bonestorm Championship?
BI: This is chess, not checkers motherfucker…
SK: What’s next for Brett Ison? Where can people come see you next?
BI: I’ll continue to do me. And, August 10th at PWF in Jeffersonville, TN against Josh Bishop or “Slutty Kat” – whatever you wanna call him.
Thoughts
Well, I think it’s safe to say that ‘what you see is what you get’ with Ison, and I get the impression that he doesn’t like me very much. But, what journalist hasn’t been smacked around in their career before?
Ison certainly makes no apologies for his actions, as dastardly as they may be. And, really, deep down…I don’t know that I blame him – who can argue with a 4-0 record at one of the hottest promotions in the Southeast in 2018?
Still, the violence is excessive, and Ison comes across as a nasty bully. We’re talking about a guy who brutalized someone he considered a brother to kick off his year.
It is interesting to note that he realized quickly that if he were to mess with one of The Carnies, he’d have all three on his hands in a hurry. Ison was proactive in that regard, which demonstrates a clear calculated manner about the man. And, it worked. He beat and maimed all three of them. We may call him a bully, but we can’t underestimate his cunning.
And, full disclosure….I’m not too proud to admit that I likely would’ve had my ass beat had I asked Ison such questions in person. At first, I didn’t think he’d be open to my interview request. But, I quickly realized that Ison doesn’t give a shit. In his mind, he’s doing things the right way, the successful way, regardless of what we think of him. There’s nothing for him to answer to, because in his mind, he’s done nothing wrong. Call it evil, but you can’t say it’s not working for him. He is a monstrous force in SUP today.
Don’t expect that to change any time soon.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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