Richter: Get it over with already.

ECWPerth.com: Umm... okay then.. Richter, we have seen so many times in your short ECW career where we just want to know what was going on in your head, now we finally get the chance. I guess the question on everyone's lips is... how do you feel about the actions that transpired at Collision Course... Mikey joined the Uprising, you were cast out...

Richter: (interrupting)... Pretty pissed off. Right after Awakening, Azazal approached me for what was to initially have been a short-term business arrangement. After months of training we both gained a great understanding of one another's strengths and weaknesses - we were going to utterly destroy the tag ranks. Blade then made his appearance, offering us his directional services. It was then that we formed The Uprising.... From there... Blade kept interfering in my matches, but I can't be sure on who's side he really was. Because each time he offered 'help', I ended up taking the fall. A Kendo shot from Psychofett, a Payne Killer from Jimmy Payne. Each time, he'd blame me continuously and unrelentingly. Trusting either of them was possibly the most stupid mistake I've made in my career. Come Collision Course, aftermy defeat at the hands of Jimmy Payne, I finally took a stand, and it felt that damn good to have my hands around Blade's throat.. of course, Azazal was there to save him, or blade would no longer be with us. As for Mikey, I never saw that one coming.

ECWPerth.com: No one did!... How do you feel about The Uprising right now?

Richter: The Uprising today? They certainly have more of a name now, with Mikey joining the fold. I don't trust any of them. I won't say I fear them, as I now know more about Blade and Azazal than most in this company.. but Mikey is certainly a dark horse. What I know of him is extremely little, other than the fact he has a damn good super kick.

ECWPerth.com: Do you feel that beating Jimmy Payne to stay in the Uprising was an impossible task... Payne has only been pinned once in an ECW ring by the Champion Davis Storm?

Richter: Impossible? Or very near to it. I've never witnessed Payne be pinned by anyone. When Azazal said that the only way I could stay in the Uprising was by defeating him, I knew immediately they were both against me. Because they knew that I didn't have much of a chance. However I took it upon myself to prove them wrong.. and very nearly did.... Definitely the toughest match I've had to fight in my career so far.

ECWPerth.com: There has been some people who claim that Richter's departure from the evil trio was good for him... how do you respond to those claims?

Richter: I respond with a resounding yes. I think it is good for me. I will finally get to show that I'm not some useless puppet for others to manipulate. I have my own agendas to follow, and don't need other people hampering them. I work better alone.

ECWPerth.com: So... Is the Uprising stronger for leaving Richter or is Richter stronger for leaving the Uprising?

Richter: I think I am certainly now more of a threat that I am alone. No one knows what I have planned, and that's the way I prefer things. Believe me, in time you will all see what transpires.. but not until it is all over. The Uprising is weaker. You will all see that in time.

ECWPerth.com: Onto a differing subject... we saw you in an impressive showing against Mixer at Hell or Highwater... although 6'4", many people saw you as an underdog in that match! You proved alot of people wrong by destroying Mixer, finishing the match with a devastating chokeslam backbreaker... How did you feel after that bout?

Richter: I was indifferent. I don't care what the people think. I had a job to do, and that was to prove to MYSELF that I could beat any given man in ECW. And my 'new outlook' certainly worked. I will admit to being shocked and extremely angered when Mixer was able to kick out of the Aftershock. It was right then and there I decided to use the one move I had saved all this time for extreme emergency - the Chokeslam Backbreaker. It worked as I'd hoped, I got the win, and of course, reinstated the Chokeslam Backbreaker as my designated finisher.... Don't think it's the last.

ECWPerth.com: Also witnessing the events that unfolded in that match with Jamie Jurah distracting Mixer which lead to you getting the victory. Had you had an agreement with Jurah prior to this match?

Richter: Absolutely not. I didn't know anything about him being out there. He obviously had his own agenda - I remember seeing what appeared to be an ADD-affected dwarf wearing hypercolour and sunglasses trapsing around the outside during the match. I assume that's the kid.

ECWPerth.com: You talked earlier about your agenda... what is your 'agenda'?

Richter: My agendas will be kept to myself. I think the only one that won't stay hidden is my desire to defeat and dethrone the Champion. It's what everyone is here for, and if you don't want that belt, then why the hell are you here at all?

ECWPerth.com: Strong words... now looking at my sheet, I can see you have entered yourself in the Re-Awakening tournament to crown the second ever ECW Invitational Champion... how are you approaching the tournament?

Richter:With one mindset. I will defeat anyone who crosses my path! My shoulders won't stay on that mat. Last year I was unfairly dismissed in my match with Anda Nothica - it won't happen again. You can send anyone out to that ring with me.. just don't expect them to be the same if they make it back out again.

ECWPerth.com: Finally... what does Richter require to take himself to the next level.. the fans? People to watch his back?... what does he need?

Richter: He need no one but himself. The one thing I've learnt over these years in to not trust anyone. To give away even a part of yourself to another is foolish.. in the end you will always be the one on the ground bleeding, with the cold blade between your ribs and there will be no one left to save you but you.... My personal philosophy - You can't trust anyone until you trust yourself. And I damn sure don't trust myself, and neither should anyone else...

ECWPerth.com: Intense.. Now we attempt to get everyone who sits down with us to do a little word association. Can you tell us the first thing you think of when you hear:

Mikey: "An unknown factor"
Azazal: "Backstabber"
Blade: "Calculating"
The Uprising: "The past.. let's leave it there"
Jimmy Payne: "A true test"
F.N. Carnage: "Priorities straight"
Mixer: "Dead"
Jamie Jurah: "A nothing"
The ECW Invitational Tournament: "Mine"
ECW fans: "I've never noticed"
The future for Richter: "The future I have in store for ECW and it's
competitors can be summed up in three words. Calculating, Brutal, and
Unstoppable."

ECWPerth: Thanks for finally breaking your silence with ECWPerth.com...

Richter: Yeah.