OVWP Interview 31 Zachary D Pittman III: Shutter Fly

Greetings good citizens. This is Super Z and you're listening to the OVW podcast. The unofficial podcast of Ohio Valley Wrestling.

Welcome to the OVW Podcast, the unofficial podcast of Ohio Valley Wrestling. My name is Jack Winose. I'm joined today, as always, by my colleague, Brian Hines.

Hey, folks. Good to be here again.

It's a Thursday in the feed. You know what that means. We have an OVW, how should we describe you actually, Zachary d Pittman? An OVW journalist? An OVW, photographer? What how would you describe yourself?

First off, it's, Zachary d Pittman the 3rd.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Sorry.

I am a, freelance photographer for OVW. Yes. I take pictures. I I do promo pictures. I do, action shots.

Sure.

What whatever they need at OVW, I I'll do it. You

know? So I I ask this question to everybody. It's a great place to start. You you have this this passion for journalism, this passion for photography. What led you to OVW?

You know, I just I I seen that's the place that

that's the place to be right now. I mean,

that's the place that needs a photographer.

Sure. You

know what I'm saying? Like Yeah. They they need more photographers there, and I I was just I'm just glad I was there at the right time.

Well, and a lot of people on the wrestling side say the same thing. OVW is the place to be. OVW is the place I need to be at. OVW is the place to go. For you as a photographer, someone that's, you know, focused towards wrestling photography at the moment at least, it seems like it it's an obvious fit. Right? You someone needs to, document what's happening at OVW during this historic time.

Yeah. Yeah. It's, it's pretty cool. And and it got its perks. Like, this this week, Al Snow, he gave me a job. Mhmm. I I'm going to be, an investigative journalist.

Oh, cool.

He wants me to take a look at Omar and Luscious. So, hopefully, they don't listen to the show. Right.

I don't think they do.

I think they're

Yeah. They they probably don't.

They probably don't. They might. They we have a weird relationship with Luscious and Omar. Let's move on. Yeah. So whenever, you know, Al, he can be kind of intimidating guy, and you're not from the wrestling world. Right? You you get thrown into this this job. Right? This this, this beat of OVW. What is it like to work with Al? What is it like to have Al very intimidating man. Yes. We know from experience.

Very, very large. That that graspy voice is scary. Mhmm. So, yeah. I just I just I don't wanna upset him. I don't wanna disappoint him. I'm I'm scared about. So Sure. I'm I'm just trying to do the best I can.

Well, you know what helps with nerves a little bit is a drink. We have poured you a drink right here. My colleague has one as well. I have one. We always like to have guests no matter whether the wrestlers or freelance journalists or investigatory journalists, and you're sit and your, your example here. We always like to offer people a toast here, and we were wondering if if you would like to partake with us.

What kind of what kind of drink is this?

This is, this is, straight bourbon whiskey finished in army act barrels from rare character whiskey. Thank you, Chad and Pablo.

Yes. Thank you very much.

Okay. Okay.

So if you I mean, you can grab it. It's it's okay.

There's no pressure.

Yeah. No

pressure. If you feel so inclined to join us, you are more than welcome

to. Absolutely.

Alright. Well, cheers. Nostrovia. Oh gosh. Are you okay? Are you okay? Oh my gosh. Are you alright?

Is it can Malachi can you go get a a towel or something a glass of water please?

What is that?

And and Malachi, whenever you get that glass of water, can you please give it to our guest here?

Oh. It's, straight bourbon whiskey and apparently it is,

It's finished in Armagnac.

Yeah. It is finished in Armagnac.

I'm I I didn't mean to disrespect you guys. It's

No. We just went out. No. No. That's a yes that's a yes. We wanna make sure you're okay. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you, Malachi. Thank you, PS.

Thank thank you so much, sir. Oh, that just burned, guys.

It it has a tendency to do that a little bit.

So I'm gonna assume

Are you alright?

Yeah. I I'm good, guys. Thank you.

Okay.

Thank you, guys.

I don't want forgive me if, maybe I'm I'm stepping on your feet here a little bit, but I'm gonna assume Zachary d Pittman the third maybe not much of a partier here.

No. I'm I'm a bit of a a social outcast. I I stick to myself.

Sure.

I'd like Sure. I like to be behind the camera. This is the first time I'm really in front of a camera. It's kinda different, You know? I it's strange to me. And, yeah, I don't I don't really partake in the party scene. People give me anxiety.

And, again, I don't I don't mean to be disparaging here. Was that the first drink of alcohol you've ever

had in

your life? Oh, that was alcohol. Yes.

Yes. Yeah.

Alcohol. That's

what bourbon is. Yes.

Oh. Bourbon. We're in Kentucky. It's kind of a big deal here.

I have never drinking alcohol in my life. Yeah. That was my first drink.

Oh, wow. You're in I guess we should have,

maybe given that up. Is that gonna make me drunk?

Well, you spent most of it out.

So Probably not.

Okay. You guys sure?

Yeah.

Okay.

I hope I I'm I hesitate to tell you a 100% yes, but I have a feeling that you're gonna be okay, mister Zachary Pittman.

Yeah. I I think that you probably, got maybe 10% of that drink down. So, you'll probably be fine.

So I'll be alright?

I think I think so. I think so. We can

get you something to eat afterwards just to be sure. Hatch our beds.

Awesome. Thank you, guys.

Yeah. It was a great place

right before.

Sorry too. I I really didn't mean to

disrespect. No. No. No. No. No disrespect.

Trust us. We've been much

We're sorry that you you I mean, it was just not your thing.

We've been much more straightforwardly disrespected on this very program before. So you that trust us. That was not disrespect at all.

No. Not at all. It's just a natural reaction to something that you weren't expecting.

What is speaking of not expecting this no. No. No. I'll come back to that. What got you into photography, Zachary?

Well, believe it or not, my mother, she had me very young. And, she was a big fan

Same here.

Wrestling. Big fan. So, like, I naturally, I grew up watching the TV, you know, watching the WWF

and stuff right back in

the day. And and, back in the day, all the photographers would be around the ring. And when when I saw that, I just knew that, like, photography for wrestling was my calling. I I knew that's what I was gonna do with my life, and I seen all the flashes, and I just this is what I wanted. I wanted to take pictures for professional wrestling.

And you it never occurred to you to maybe wrestle instead of being a photographer?

Oh, I'm I'm way too, frail for that.

Sure.

Sure.

I can't I can't be getting thrown around. You know?

No. No. No.

I don't wanna get hurt.

Sure. Sure. Sure.

What else do you like to take pictures of besides, wrestling? Like, if if you were you know, it's a hobby as well. I mean, it's something that interests you. If you're not covering OVW, what sorts of things do you like to take pictures of? For example, I like to take pictures of people taking pictures. So if you're here taking a picture of something, I would like to take a picture of that because it's been my hobby going back to, like, 1st grade.

That's amazing. That's that's art. That's art.

Do you know, can you explain to us, like, what do you know what the rule of of thirds? Do you know what that is?

No. As a photographer I

know that you no. Listen. You do know what it is because all of these photographs that I've seen that you've taken at your time at OVW, it's been a short time, and it's it's ironic because there's this other guy that showed up, around the same time that you showed up. But I've seen your pictures. I've seen your pictures. When you're taking a picture,

what do you what

are you trying to gain? What are you trying to tell the viewer? Right?

That's a good question because every picture tells a a is a thousand words.

You know, I'm just, I'm trying to I'm trying to show the the true beauty and art of professional wrestling.

Sure.

And, yeah. That that's what I look for.

As Zachary d Pittman The third. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. As Zachary d Pittman the 3rd. I didn't wanna disrespect you at all. I'm No. You know. I'm so Okay.

We we have to get this straight. It's Zachary d Pittman the 3rd.

Yeah. Yes. The 3rd.

Yes. As Zachary d Pittman the third, you know, you you wanna tell a story. Right? You you wanna entertain the people. Right? So you get brought into professional wrestling. What is it about photography, professional wrestling photography, that makes you the best person for the job at OVW?

You you could say I'm always at the right place at the right time.

It's interesting that you mentioned that because the guy that I just alluded to, there's this cat running around super z everyone loves them everyone loves them everyone's in love with them kids adults, grandmas, grandpas

Podcast hosts.

Podcast hosts. Everyone's in love with the super z guy, but for some reason, as a photographer and this is your job. I understand. I understand.

Yeah.

You you manage to always take the best shots of of Super z. You always manage to be in the same place that Super z is at. How do you have that as a journalist? Is that natural to

you? Well,

the whiskey's getting to you a little bit. Yeah. Sorry. My throat.

We might need a refill on the water, Malachi. PS.

Please, Malachi.

What was your question again, sir? I'm sorry.

As a reporter, is it is it is it happenstance? Is it is it circumstance, or is it complete coincidence that you always manage to be in the same place that this new character's super z is at. This new this new character that has taken over the minds and imaginations of OVW, regardless of age, regardless of gender, regardless of of any of those other qualifiers.

Thank you.

Super z is has become very, very, very well loved character in a very short amount of time, and it seems like you were always in the right place to tell his story. Well, how it can is that journalistic? If if

you go back, to the, to the OVW, YouTube channel, you can watch the, episode of Overdrive Wrestling where they, Brian Kennison interviewed me. Mhmm. And, he asked me all sorts of questions about Superz too. I don't know why everybody keeps asking me questions about him.

But Well,

as a kid a lot. But, like I told Brian Kennison, me and Super z, we, we grew up together.

Okay.

And, Okay. Yeah. I used to get picked on a lot in school and, you know, he he was my friend that stuck up for me. He was there for me. He always showed me that no matter what, if you put your mind to it, you can always do it. He taught me that. And it was just valuable lessons like that. And I like he just he's helped me out so much that, you know, I'll I'll be there for him if he needs me. And if he needs good pictures, I'm the guy that will get him them good pictures.

It's just it, to be honest with you, man and I'm not trying to grill you. You are a really great guy, and we really appreciate you coming by. And it's very obvious you wear your heart on your sleeve. You're you're as as earnest as the day is long. But it seems like Zachary d Pittman,

the 3rd 3rd.

The 3rd has a different relationship with all of the other wrestlers in the locker room than he does with z d or with Super Z, and I guess I'm just kind of curious. You get treated like dirt by the Bad Girls Club. Right?

They still have not paid me.

You get relegated to That's why they're

bad girls.

You get pushed out of the way by everybody. You get bullied by everybody that you run into. But somehow, you have this relationship with Superz who seems to be, at this point, unstoppable and unbeatable. He's pretty good. How did you guys, like I guess I'm just curious. Why did he choose you?

Well, I guess You

said you were friends from from school. That's fine. That's

fine. Guys go way back.

Yeah. And and, you know, super z always does what's right. Mhmm. He sticks up for the little guys. Mhmm. And me, you know, just being a photographer at OVW.

Being a little guy?

Yeah. Like, he he helps me out, you know. Sure. And, yeah. Like, that, that creepy guy, Dimone. He

mister Salavino.

Yeah. He he was creeping on me and, like, I don't I don't know what that guy wants with me. I've I've never even shot photos for him.

He was, wasn't he?

He was smelling me and he called me out to the I'm not a wrestler.

Well, and I I

think photographer. I don't wrestle. And and and if you're trying to challenge me, that's unfair. I can't I can't stick up for myself.

Well, it's

Super z, he he steps in and he helps me.

It's a little ironic because I feel like, mister Salvino is the type of guy that if you take a picture of him much like a vampire in the mirror, he's not gonna show up. You know, he he is from this other world. He is from this other land.

He'd Tell you the truth. I'm I'm really just scared he'll break my camera.

Mhmm. That is a very nice Nikon.

He he does seem like the he he's very feral, very, you know, very much, like,

Unsafe work environments.

Yeah. Yeah.

You know? There was a guy that used to bite people, you know? He there that's a scary group of people.

Don't Yeah. You're not fooling.

Didn't he run did he he ran with the guy that used to bite people, he ran with the Nephilim for a little bit. Right? That That's right here. That was before you arrived.

Yeah. That was before your time.

But it was A few

months ago.

It was OVW. OVW has been in the topic of national conversation over the last year, most most of the last year because of the Netflix series, you know, stuff like that. So it's not like you were unaware. It's not like you you didn't know what kind of environment you were walking into. Was there anything about the Netflix series that kind of made you say, Zachary d Pittman the third, I need to be here?

Yeah. I just it's an amazing place, OVW, and Netflix told an amazing story. And I'm not I just knew I wanted to be a part of it.

Absolutely. And now you are. And now you are actually one of the biggest parts of it week in week out because you were telling that story to the viewers and listeners of of OVW, week in and week out through your photography.

Yeah. Yeah.

Absolutely. What's your favorite scenario? And, you know, feel free to get as wild with this as possible. Let's let's hear something that maybe we've never heard before on, podcast air. What's your favorite photograph that you've taken, and what's the story behind it?

There's this really good good shot of super z coming off the top rope Mhmm. At the at the double cross.

Mhmm. Oh, yeah. Yeah.

And, he was coming off the

top. Orion. Right?

Yeah. He's facing that Orion guy. Yes.

Yeah. That was a good match.

The guy wears

a mask too, so it kinda works out.

Yeah. And,

super z.

Super z.

Super z.

Yeah. Yeah. He looked at Orion.

He looked at Orion from the air, please?

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Orion's always telling people to look at him and Sure. Super z at the top of the ropes looked at him, and I I got the picture. And you can see the reflection of Orion's face. Utter fear as super z crashes down justice on Orion. It was beautiful. It was a beautiful picture.

In your yeah. Obviously, you have a great relationship with Super z here. And, I you know, sometimes I call Superz the wrong thing too. So it's okay. You obviously have a very special relationship with Superz. What are some of the other wrestlers in OVW that you love taking photographs of that maybe you have a special relationship with that you love looking forward to meeting?

Yeah. Absolutely. Well, first off, Cal Hero. You know? Cal Hero, what a great guy that Yeah. He's such a great guy.

After last night, I don't think I'm ever gonna be saying anything negative about Cal Hero on this podcast ever again. But, yes, I've I've been a big Cal fan for several years and I I he's he's an amazing wrestler. He's an amazing guy. He really truly is, but, my my character on this thing kind of trashes Cal sometimes and I think Oh

my goodness.

I think

not Cal Hero.

I think I got called out by Cal personally last night. So we'll we'll, we'll Cal hero is great. Well, Cal hero is great.

Yeah. Yeah. Cal hero is amazing. No nepotism.

No. No. No. He's amazing. No. Never again. No ever again.

Yeah. Cal Cal Hero, just terrific. That Luke Curtis, he was the former OVW champion. Yeah. Luke Curtis, solid fella.

Mhmm.

I've got some great shots of him too. Yeah. Gosh. Luke Curtis is great.

He is.

Who else is? Tony Gunn. Tony Gunn. Shotgun. Tony Gunn. Yeah. Oh, like, oh, it gets me going every time I hear the music. I just I love it. And he had that beautiful baby girl. He

sure did.

It's amazing. It's just

for him.

And those are just some of the people. Sure.

You

know, they're just they're they're good guys, you know.

Yeah. Absolutely. No. I mean

w has a good squad. There's a there's some there's some questionable fellas back there though. Let me tell you,

there's

there's some real mean people.

You're someone who's been bullied all across the backstage at this point.

I I

have. Zachary d Pittman the third.

I have. Dalton Mackenzie.

Yeah. Which was kind of a shock to us. You I learned this this past week. This man actually used to work with Dalton Mackenzie prior to Dalton McKenzie's professional wrestling career.

Oh, I

feel bad for you.

You probably had to

shove in your lockers,

didn't you? No. Actually, we worked in different departments and he was, he was out on the road quite a bit and I was, busy making phone calls. So I'd Well,

lucky you.

I would see him some, but I can I can see where, he can he can be a little rowdy sometimes as far as that goes?

He's a scary fellow. Yeah. Pretty big.

Yeah.

And you're such a little guy. Yeah. Like, and then, like, and and that's not me. This is something that you stated in this conversation. This is something you stated in this conversation. And then, a monster, a behemoth, a barn of a man, like, don't, like like

Dalton McKenzie.

Dalton McKenzie. I almost call him Donald Cecil. He's even bigger a barn man. A guy like Dalton McKenzie comes up and starts bullying you, but it seems like you have I don't wanna I'm sorry for implying anything. I'm but it seems like you have this guardian that comes around in the form of super z. And he he kind of corrects the situation between you and Dalton very quickly. Have you run into Dalton since he ran into super z?

I have not. I have not had any problems with Dalton McKenzie. I I haven't had any problems with the Donovan or, Dimon. Dimon, not Donovan.

Sure. Sure.

I had no problems with

See, it's an easy it's an easy mistake to make. It's like

a lot

of these.

Whenever, you know well, let me ask you this. What do you think about Orion? We just talked about him a little bit, but I wanna hear what you know, you said you said some nice things about him. What does Zachary d Pittman The 3rd. Think about Orion?

I just I think he's confused. I I think he's a I think he's a a man that doesn't know what he wants, so he lashes out in negative ways. And

Mhmm.

I I feel like that can come off harmful to people, like, it can come off rude and

Do you think that super z is a person who knows what he wants?

Yeah. Yeah. I feel like super z is a a man that knows exactly what he wants.

Maximo Suave, what do you have to say about him?

Just, I think he's another guy with a just he has a negative attitude.

Sure. I

feel like he's a guy that that's been doing this a long time and just doesn't feel like he gets the rub he's supposed to, and and he he lashes out against people that, you know, like, don't have nothing to do with it.

Sure.

And, like, for me, like yeah. I'm I'm lucky super z was there. Do you do you

think that super z ever feels like he's been doing this for a long time and he hasn't gotten the right rub? You know him better than anybody.

I think that super z just wants to do what's right for OVW.

Mhmm. And on the way out here, thank you for joining us.

Yes. Thank you so much.

Completely wonderful. We're glad

to have

had you. Absolutely. Thank you, guys.

So much. It's been a

Sorry about the drink, by the way.

Absolutely okay.

Do you mind to plug your social medias for

us? Say that again?

Do you mind to plug your social medias for us?

My social medias? If we were to want to see some of your photographs or, just keep up with you personally? Are are you on Facebook? Or,

you guys, actually, I I have to get out of my stomach's really bothered.

Hold

on one sec. I think the

because the whiskey I'll I'll be hold on. I gotta go, guys.

Oh, gosh. Oh, okay. Well, then okay. Thanks.

Well, that was an interview.

Oh, man.

I I I feel bad about that.

Yeah. We might have gotten him a little. This is this is not unsimilar to whenever we give PS whiskey that he's not supposed to have.

Yeah. He he he is of age.

So this has been the OVW podcast, the unofficial podcast for Hollywood wrestling. Love you guys.

Nice to see you soon.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it's Super C, and you can find me on social media, The Real Super