By: Thom Fain & Steven Jackson
If you haven’t heard the name Lee Moriarty by now, you deserve a round of applause for living off-grid and making it work. But if you’re attuned to the robust pool of pro-wrestling’s greatest next gen acts, Moriarty and his TAIGASTYLE brand needs no introduction.
At once nostalgic and cutting edge, Moriarty’s blend of flashy American wrestling and hard-hitting King’s Road is becoming unique as he climbs the ranks in All Elite Wrestling. Combined with that certain “it” factor, and you might agree it’s worth a look back at Moriarty’s ascent from a crowded indie circuit, to wrestling puroresu maven Bryan Danielson on AEW Dynamite.
It was a primetime matchup that delivered critical acclaim, one of many topics Moriarty chose to reflect on in our interview below.
Monthly Puroresu: Like us at MP, you really made the most of your 2021 — a pivotal year in the wrestling industry that established young stars, and rising promotions. Can you take me back through Lee Moriarty’s 2021 mindset? How were you able to capitalize and take that next step in your career?
Lee Moriarty: My mindset for 2021 was pretty much the same as every year. I always try to do better in the year that I’m in from the previous year. I set goals, write them down in my phone, and think every day how I can get closer to accomplishing each. A lot of things in wrestling are about timing and being around when an opportunity comes up. I made sure I did my best to be available for as many things as I could.
Monthly Puroresu: Let’s go way back in time. What are you earliest memories of pro wrestling?
Lee Moriarty: My earliest memory is Rikishi giving Booker T the stinkface! My grandfather was watching wrestling in the living room and I walked in and saw that. I didn’t become a fan yet and only started watching a few years later. I was channel surfing and came across The Boogeyman. From then on, I was a fan. Growing up my favorites were Rey Mysterio, Jeff Hardy, CM Punk and AJ Styles. As I got older and discovered more wrestling, I became a big fan of Tiger Mask (Sayama) who’s my all-time favorite, as well as Chris Hero, Bryan Danielson, Milano Collection AT, ACH and Masato Yoshino.
Monthly Puroresu: Once you started to get into the business, where did you train?
Lee Moriarty: I began training in February of 2015 under Brandon K and Dean Radford at a school called PWX in Pittsburgh PA.
Monthly Puroresu: I noted some of your main influences in wrestling are Chris Hero, Tiger Mask I, Chris Brookes and the amazing Shingo Takagi. Which matches of theirs stood out to you the most and have been used as a form of study?
Lee Moriarty: All of those guys have been influences on me because of their unique approach to wrestling. It was never one match that stood out and made me a fan, but seeing multiple things from them. I’m influenced by so many people and I think it comes out in my work and presentation.
Monthly Puroresu: You now share a locker room with Eddie Kingston, Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, Kenny Omega and many others so obviously influenced by PURORESU both in and out of the ring. Is there a camaraderie or backstage dynamic in place because of that tie? Do you have any favorite training partners?
Lee Moriarty: Something I never really thought about until “The Butcher” Andy Williams (@andycomplains) said it to me – and I’m paraphrasing – but, “We’re all a bunch of wrestling nerds and we wouldn’t be in this locker room if we weren’t.” So that camaraderie is pretty much the entire roster. One of my favorite things about being with AEW is how many people I can train with and learn with/from. Obviously I’ve trained with Matt Sydal a lot, but Top Flight, Darius and Dante Martin are two guys I’m in the ring with the most. Sitting around the ring is the best place to be before an event. I’ve been able to learn from Kingston, Malakai, O’Reilly and more just by being ringside. Ricky Starks is someone I’ve learned a lot from outside of the ring also.
.@andycomplains is the man.
— EVIL UNO of DARK ORDER (@EvilUno) March 19, 2022
Monthly Puroresu: Who has the biggest shoe collection in AEW?
Lee Moriarty: Probably The Young Bucks. I don’t think I’ve ever looked at their shoes and seen the same pair. They had a cool Complex Sneaker Shopping episode recently. Also, Alan Angels and Sonjay Dutt are two others I’ve noticed have a nice collection.
Monthly Puroresu: As was noted previously, you’re a huge fan of Tiger Mask I, Satoru Sayama. With this year being NJPW’s 50th Anniversary, are you keen to celebrate Sayama’s influential style through your matches?
Lee Moriarty: I take a lot of influence from his work in my style but it’s not necessarily from his moves. He was insanely fast but always remained smooth. I try to replicate his flowing style of wrestling and make what I do smooth as well. You may see some more direct references in my matches as time goes, but you’ll have to watch to find out haha.
Monthly Puroresu: Last year, AEW was blessed to briefly have Minoru Suzuki as part of the roster. He wrestled in several high-profile matches and travelled across the U.S.A. for various promotions. Why do you think his star power is so trans-continental, and what was your impression of his fit in AEW?
Lee Moriarty: Minoru Suzuki has an aura around him, both backstage and in that ring. That and the energy he brings are why I think he has this level of star power. I don’t think it’s something that can be taught, it’s something you find within yourself.
He fits into AEW perfectly for both who he is and what AEW is. He is such a well rounded wrestler and can work with any style. Then on the other side of the equation, AEW brings all these different techniques together, and lets wrestlers wrestle their style. Since they do that, there’s so many varieties of matches. This years Revolution PPV displays that perfectly in my opinion.
Monthly Puroresu: Wrestling the American Dragon “Bryan Danielson” had to have been a dream come true. Did he have a lot to teach you? What was going through your mind during that TV taping?
Lee Moriarty: The match with Danielson was certainly a dream match for me. I learned so much from being in the ring against him. The story of the match was Danielson looking to bring a more violent side out of me and I think he did that. I thought I was violent enough, but I learned about a new level from that one and I can’t wait to implement it into my matches. The only thing going through my mind during that match on tv was to hit him harder than he hit me. Now while the bruises on my body after the match let me know I didn’t accomplish that haha, I believe I fought well.
What an exchange between these two fighters!
It's @bryandanielson vs. @theleemoriarty LIVE on #AEWDynamite! Tune in to @TBSNetwork right now! pic.twitter.com/VZHXdcCG41
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) February 17, 2022
Monthly Puroresu: There’s a big crossover appeal between Japanese street style and wrestling fashion, does your brand TAIGASTYLE draw from any influences in particular? What can we expect for the full launch of your lifestyle brand?
Lee Moriarty: The brand of TAIGASTYLE when I would design shirts and such definitely had its influences. Most notably, The Hundreds, Market, BAPE, Ice Cream, and recently I’ve gotten heavily into NIGO’s newer brand “Human Made” and Tyler the Creators “Golf Le Fleur”. I did a Yellowbrick and Complex course called “Streetwear Essentials” a few years ago to learn more about how to do things. I think the certificate I got really helped me improve and learn new things I wouldn’t have found otherwise on my own. I do wish to one day start a full lifestyle brand, but there’s no set release.
Monthly Puroresu: I really love the brand, as I see it developing. Where did the idea originate?
Lee Moriarty: TAIGASTYLE came to me one day as I was listening to a Wu Tang Clan song. I’m a big fan of theirs. From there, I began to add other pieces. Originally, I wanted to be a masked wrestler, so I always had the idea to have some form of a tiger mask because of Tiger Mask. I decided to spell it in all caps like hip hop artist MF DOOM. Then when I explain what TAIGASTYLE is, I like to compare it to Bruce Lee’s ‘Jeet Kune Do’ because it’s my way of wrestling without an actual set style.
Monthly Puroresu: Alongside wrestling, your other main passion in life is graphic design. Have your two main passions in life ever crossed paths for you? What makes great graphic design?
Lee Moriarty: My design work definitely crosses over into wrestling a lot. Pretty much all of my gear, masks and merchandise have been designed by me. I think being an artist before an athlete helps me look at wrestling a bit differently than I would without that skill. It’s helped bring out my inner self. I don’t know that there’s a set rule or thing that makes a great graphic. Art is subjective so it’s kinda hard to be wrong when creating.
Monthly Puroresu: The early part of your career was primarily based in Pennsylvania and PWX (now known as Fight Society). Was that an exciting time during your formative years?
Lee Moriarty: Getting my start in my home in front of the Pittsburgh audience was really cool. Pittsburgh isn’t known as a major market for indie wrestling, but the talent and passion is here.
Monthly Puroresu: From wrestling in PWX, you then went onto wrestle for Ryse and had several standout matches involving the Ryse Grand Title. How did it feel being the holder of a newly established title?
Lee Moriarty: It was really humbling being the first Ryse Grand Champion. To go through a tournament and become the representative of a new company comes with a lot of pressure, but it made me a better wrestler. One of my proudest accomplishments.
Monthly Puroresu: It was during your time with Ryse that you also wrestled for several other independent promotions and faced a number of notable stars including Robbie E, Façade, Gregory Iron and a man whose career has been running parallel to yours, Tre Lamar. Did you ever feel daunted facing such established names at that time in your career?
Lee Moriarty: I definitely felt daunted! Since the beginning of my career, I’ve been put into high pressure situations and it never gets easier. I feel like those matchups you mentioned helped prepare me for more later on.
Monthly Puroresu: 2019 was a huge year for you professionally as you debuted in AIW: Absolute Intense Wrestling. What was that like?
Lee Moriarty: It’s hard to express through words what it meant to debut for AIW. AIW is one of the independents that was a bucket list goal to work for because I would watch some of their stuff while I was in high school. To earn a spot on an event and then eventually become a regular on the roster from a tryout is still really cool.”
Monthly Puroresu: Going into 2020, you really started picking up the pace with a fantastic trilogy of matches against one of the most important wrestlers of the last 15 years, Alex Shelley. How did it feel wrestling Alex, and concluding the trilogy with your amazing submission match?
Lee Moriarty: Wrestling Shelley is still one of the most surreal things for me. Watching him and Chris Sabin growing up, then being in the ring with someone as good as him is invaluable. The submission match is probably the match I’m proudest of in my career. Loved it. Having him take me under his wing from then on is even cooler.
Monthly Puroresu: Since then, you have debuted for even more great promotions including Black Label Pro and Game Changer Wrestling. How were you able to get these opportunities during such a tumultuous year?
Lee Moriarty: I think people getting to know me through AIW helped get me the opportunities for places like BLP. AJ Gray was a big supporter and the reason I received my opportunity in GCW. To be a part of the top promotions tells me I’m doing something right.”
Monthly Puroresu: Back at Joey Janela’s Spring Break 4, you faced “The Octopus” Jonathan Gresham. What did it feel like when you found out you were facing Gresham?
Lee Moriarty: Jonathan Gresham is easily one of the best wrestlers in the world. I woke up at about 5 a.m. the day before from a message telling me that’s who my opponent would be and I couldn’t believe it. Gresham is an influence of mine and I’m looking forward to gauging my skill level against his.
Date:
March 23, 2022
