WNS reporter Simon Mills recent spoke with Devon Nicholson, known in wrestling circles as Hannibal.

WNS: You are very well travelled around the wrestling world. You have worked for a number of promotions and also enjoyed a very successful amateur career. What was it that got you into wrestling initially?

HANNIBAL: When I was a baby my Mom stayed home with me and looked after an older kid after school who was a huge wrestling fan so pretty much from the time I was able to talk the kid was implanting wrestling into my brain as my first real friend. I also grew up in the 1980's when wrestling was at one of it's all time peaks in popularity and most kids watched it. The first angle I remember getting hooked on was the break up of the "Mega Powers" Hulk Hogan and Macho Man who were my two favorites at the time. I prayed for years that they would get back together but always remained loyal to Savage!

WNS: Yoou are a native Canadian, a country which has produced many fine talents. Obviously you have had history with WWE and TNA but before we go onto those companies, I have to get the elephant in the room out of the way - The Abdullah the Butcher incident. You contracted Hepatitis due to being cut with a blade Abdullah used on himself. How are you now that you are cured and looking back on the incident?

HANNIBAL: I underwent 2 chemotherapy-like medical treatments to rid my body of the Hepatitis C I contracted from Abdullah. The first 19 week treatment took place in late 2009 and early 2010 and was extremely hard on me physically. Although things were looking positive while I was on the treatment it failed and did not rid my body of the disease. I spent the next 2 years looking for a newer and better treatment and with the help of WWE Hall of Famer "Superstar" Billy Graham I was able to get an appointment with his liver specialist in Phoenix. Graham, who says he wrestled Abdullah about 9 times in his career had had a liver transplant due to Hep C in the early 2000's and was a huge help in my cure process. The doctor he put me in touch with arranged a series of tests and put me on a new treatment that was experimental for my Hep C Genotype called "Incivek Triple Threapy." I shared the US doctor's results with a liver specialist here in Canada who agreed to help get me on the treatment here. The treatment which ended up costing about 80k lasted 36 weeks and was absolutely torturous in many ways. There was constant, extreme itching, insomnia, psychological issues, skin problems and drastic weight loss among a huge list of other side effects I went though. Ultimately though the treatment was a success and I was declared "permanently cured" on December 18th 2013. The "Cure" was again confirmed in February 2015 and I was officially discharged from the care of my liver specialist. Looking back on the incident I do not understand how anyone with Hepatitis C could cut someone with a razor blade with their blood on it knowing that it is transmitted "blood to blood" and the dangers of that risk. Wrestling is a tough sport but it's also entertainment and you don't go into the match expecting to be cut multiple times without permission with a Hepatitis C infected blade and I hope nobody else ever has to go though what I did. Above causing me a lot of health and financial problems that incident also let to the loss of a WWE contract I was offered in 2009 which was my lifelong dream. Losing that contract has cause me a lot of emotional hardship over the years but I am keeping positive now and back working towards that goal.

WNS: Let's talk about Tough Enough. You submitted a video to take part in the show and you have over 87,000 hits and it can viewed at the end of this interview. Having been so close to the biggest stage in wrestling it must have been devastating to come so close and have it snatched away. If somebody from WWE was reading this right now, what would you say to convince them you are indeed Tough Enough?

HANNIBAL: The Tough Enough Video that I submitted now has over 100k hits and the fan reaction I've been getting to it from all over the world has been overwhelming. For whether I am "Tough Enough" for WWE I am a former Canadian Champion and Olympic Trials Silver Medalist in Amateur Wrestling, I am a Canadian Open Winner and Provincial Champion in Grappling. You can't compete in those sports at that level without belling tough! In wrestling am a graduate of the Dungeon which is probably the toughest wrestling training center both physically and mentally in history. I wrestled in Stamped Wrestling for 4 years sometimes driving 6 hours each way in snowstorms to set up the ring, wrestle, take it down and drive back for $20 which didn't even cover gas. I wrestled 4 years full time in Puerto Rico and Europe barely making enough money to scrape by. I then when on to get into the promoting game which led me to work with a long list of top names and gave me a lot of behind the scenes experience. I've lost thousands more than I have ever made promoting but I love it! I was looked at by WWE 14 times before they signed me in 2009 and I never once ever considered giving up! I then went through the horror of loosing the contract and having to go through a 4 year battle to save my health. Now that I am medically clear I am back, in better shape then ever, with more knowledge and a better wrestler than when I was signed in 2009. Finally at the camp I was signed form the legendary Pat Patterson told me that I was "by far the best wrestler in the camp" and "The best heel he had seen in years." I was good enough to be granted a contract then and I am in better shape now, more experienced and am a better wrestler so I truly believe I deserve a shot! If I fail fine but at least give me a chance to pick up where we left off in 2009 and let me show the WWE Universe what I am capable of! If I fail fine, fire me but at least give me the opportunity!

WNS: So lets talk about WWE. Chris Jericho is hosting this season's Tough Enough. What would it mean to you being able to take guidance off somebody like Y2J who has literally done it all in WWE?

HANNIBAL: I think he's hosting but don't think he's a trainer or wrestling expert from what I've read. I'd be more excited to learn from a guy like Hulk Hogan who is also on on the show. I've been fortunate enough to have some contact with Hogan in the past and I have a lot of respect for him.

WNS: Final question - If you do make it into tough enough and gain a career inside a WWE ring, who would be your dream opponent?

HANNIBAL: Brock Lesnar.

Devon can be followed on Twitter @DevonHannibal and on his official YouTube channel.

More information on events featuring Hannibal can be found at www.greatnorthwrestling.ca.