Interview Stories

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A multiple time WWE World Champion, and an acting role in the new movie out </B><B>Blade Trinity</B><B>. He without a doubt for many years has worked on the body building scene and with his new book </B><B>Making The Game Triple H's Approach to a Better Body</B><B> gives tips and workout help for any wrestling fan. </B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>First off how are you? </B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I am doing good."</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Your book </B><B>Making The Game Triple H's Approach to a Better Body</B><B> is not just a book about being fit, but it also is a book about your wrestling book and making it in the business. Tell me about how you were able to put both in the book. </B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"They kind of incorporate each other because I get asked by a lot of guys on the road about how to get in shape. I wanted to do that part of the book, but I also believed in my life that I started bodybuilding when I was 14. I believe that the things that you learn in the gym you can apply to other aspects of your life. I believe that I have used those things in my life to get me to where I am in the wrestling business, Hollywood, and all those things that I have accomplished. I have used all those things I have learned from the gym to get there you know."</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Tell me about how Gold's Gym helped both your bodybuilding and wrestling career?</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"It is not just Gold's Gym, but the gym in general. Getting in the gym and training with people that were the trainers and people that became my friends helped me with bodybuilding and improve my physique. In that you learn those disciplines, drive, and things that it takes. When you are looking at a career in something you are not sitting back and waiting for somebody to find you to make you a star. You are actually going out and accomplishing these things on your own, making them happen on your own, and not just waiting for them to become a reality."</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You stress in the book about how it's important to focus on basic workout exercises than extreme workout exercises all the time. For someone who might not workout numerous times a week like myself why is it important to focus on the basic workout exercises?</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Well, the basic exercises hit more body parts at once. As opposed to something that just isolates your chest. When you a regular bench press or an incline bench press it works your chest, your shoulders, your triceps, and it's an all over exercise that does more than one thing to your body, and that's going to get you in better shape faster because you are working your muscle and putting your body through intense demand so it will respond to it better."</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>In the book you give a good writing summary of eating on the road including fast food places like Subway, McDonald's, Denny's, and even on a plane. Tell me about the importance of this information, but how hard it can be sometimes to find the right good meal for a wrestler or athlete on the road a lot like yourself.</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I think it is very difficult to eat right on the road. It probably is the most difficult challenge that we have. The job we have of being on the road and finding places to eat to get the right food. You have to put a lot of thought into it. You have to think if you are going to a Wendy's or McDonald's you have to think about what are the best choices for me to have. Is it the chicken sandwich? Is it grilled? How is it made? Take the bun off to get rid of the carbohydrates. There are ways to do everything on the road. You just have to put more thought into it when you are at home and can eat whatever you want."</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You talk about your quad injury and the nine months of rehab in Birmingham, Alabama while you were away from WWE. How is the quad today and what do you remember most about the rehab?</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"My quad today is great. It feels fine. I would say it is close to 100 percent as I am ever going to get it. It was just a long process. I felt I was in Birmingham, Alabama for forever. I was there for a long time. I went through a lot of pain and days where I was in a wheel chair or still in crutches wondering if I was still going to be able to this. It was just such a long road back. I had to remember how to walk again. Eventfully over time it does get better and you just keep plugging away. The discipline and drive that I had in the gym helped me set the goals to come back from something like that."</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You talk about in your book how you left WCW after one year and went to the WWE and Ric Flair said to you that Vince McMahon would make you a star in WWE. You also said you were getting tears or choked up about leaving. Tell me about what that felt to your career coming from Ric Flair and how you are friends today. </B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"That meant a lot from Ric Flair at the time. At the time Ric Flair and I didn't each other that well. We just had a passing relationship. For him to give me his honest feedback meant a lot because I respected him as a performer. Obviously he know what he was talking about and meant the things that he was saying. For him to tell me against the company he was working for that I needed to go to WWE and let Vince McMahon make me a star meant a lot to me. I got to know Ric Flair when he came to work here. I got to know Ric Flair a lot better and we are good friends. He is just a great guy and would go out of his way to tell a guy the right thing to do or to give somebody advice. That's one of the things I admire about him."</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You say the attitude in the WWE locker room is one of the worst things in the business today. Why do you think that is?</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"When I say attitude I think it's the people's lack of drive. They are all just sitting back and waiting for someone to create them. They are all just sitting back waiting for someone to say all right we are using you today. It doesn't happen like that. Vince McMahon didn't look at Steve Austin one day when he was The Ringmaster and say I am going to make you a big star. Steve Austin did all that. He went from being The Ringmaster to create a new image, persona, and when it started to get over with the fans Vince McMahon said this guy is so over I got to do something with him. The same thing with The Rock they were chanting die Rocky die. He created himself and all those things. He got to a point where he was becoming so popular with the fans good guy or bad guy. Vince McMahon had to something with him because he made himself into something big. That's how it works. These guys sitting around and waiting for somebody to hand them the ball have to understand it doesn't happen that way."</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You talk openly in the book about how Vince McMahon didn't approve at first of your relationship with his daughter Stephanie McMahon, but after a while finally gave the green light. If you could tell me about how great of feeling was it to get acceptance from Vince than, but also when you finally married Stephanie your wife today. </B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"It was awesome. That's the greatest thing in the world when you find the right person. I think when he disapproved of it and we were away from each other for a while we knew that it wasn't good for us being apart. We wanted to be together. I think Vince McMahon's thing of having us apart from each other kept saying if it's meant to be it will be. Obviously it was because we got together, short time later we were engaged, and this past year we got married. Everything is great."</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>One of my close friends worked with you as a manager back in your days with Killer Kowalski. John Rodeo one of your independent wrestling managers told me to tell although he never made it, but every time he see's you on the TV he feels a small piece of him made it to the big time. What do you remember most about working with your manager John Rodeo back in your independent wrestling days?</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"It's funny because I look back on those days of my career because they were some of the most of my career. All of us were trying to live a dream. Some of the guys were living the dream at the moment and I was too. We weren't making any money and traveling all over the place trying to make a name for ourselves. You look back on the struggle they were fond times. John Rodeo was a great guy who was a huge fan of the business and had a part in it. He should be proud of the things he did in the business. When he looks at me on TV I am glad he sees part of him in me because every little thing that happens to you along the way is a part of your success and he was too."</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You got an acting role in the movie </B><B>Blade Trinity</B><B>. Do you think it will be tough to stay around WWE full time if you get more roles or offers in movies like what happened with The Rock?</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"You have the choice of what you want to do in life. While the movies are great wrestling is what I love to do. I am not planning on leaving it. I get offers to do movies all the time. The beautiful thing about the situation I am in is I can be selective and take the roles that are the best. I don't have to make another movie right away. I can do it when I want. The Rock has gone from making one movie to the next movie. That isn't what I want to do. If I make another movie this year that's great, but if it takes me two, three, or four months away that's ok. I will come back and wrestle for six months, ten months, or a year than I will make another movie. When the time is right I will make the movies and see how it goes. Physically I want to keep wrestling. That is what I love to do."</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>As someone who has trained his whole life and knows a lot about situations of this matter I will address with you now. What do you think about the steroid scandal in baseball and if the Government steps in then should they step in on other forms of entertainment where steroids have been used in the past like wrestling?</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I think in baseball or any other sport where somebody can gain an unfair advantage over somebody when the rules state you can't use a performance enhancing drug because someone can gain an unfair advantage in a legitimate competition because of those drugs. I think than they should be tested. I think there should be punishment for the guys who do them. I think they should be regulated. I am not a big believer in the government stepping into sports, but I think it needs to be taken care of within the sports themselves. In other forms of entertainment there is no benefit to be gained by using steroids. It is like saying well, if you take steroids are you going to be a better actor in the movie. It's entertainment. You aren't going to win the contest by improving your athletic performance by taking steroids. I don't see as how it would apply."</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>As someone who is married to the daughter of the boss, do you feel other wrestlers might get the opinion you get a little favoritism with Vince McMahon?</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"If any of the guys feel that way I don't know. Any of the guys I directly have worked with like Chris Benoit, Shawn Michaels, or any of them would tell you that I don't. I think I am hold to a higher standard a lot of times than other guys are. I have to be the example for everybody else not only because I represent myself, but I also represent Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, and the company in a lot of people's eyes. Instead of favoritism I actually get the wrath easier you know."</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>A reader of mine asked me to ask you just what was it like to work with Rick Rude?</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Rick Rude was a great guy. I didn't get to work with him for as long as I would have liked. Unfortunately he passed away, but I was a big fan of his as performer. As a ring talent I thought he was tremendous. As a guy I thought he was a great guy during the time we worked together in DX. We had a lot of fun."</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Finally, many people feel the wrestling business isn't at the strong point it once was in the past four or five years. Where do you think WWE could be headed in the next few years?</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Well, I think it wasn't quite as strong as a few years ago. Our business is cyclical and I am not saying that it just goes up and down. When you have certain stars within in the business people want to look at it when it is down now, but five years ago look at who was in the business. You have Steve Austin, The Rock, myself, Mick Foley, and The Undertaker. You had all these top guys in the business all at the same time. Those guys were household names. Today it is just me and The Undertaker out of all those guys I just named. Today The Undertaker even has a limited role to some degree. It takes a while to build new stars. We are rebuilding stars today. We are taking the young Steve</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><B>Austin's and The Rock's and replacing them with new stars like Randy Orton, Batista, and John Cena."</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >and John Cena that are up and coming. Hopefully they will take it to the next level."</FONT></div> <div>  </div> <div> <B>Interview with Paul Heyman</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The </B><B>Rise and Fall of ECW</B><B> DVD has been a success seller for WWE. The promoter and owner of ECW Paul Heyman talks with me below about many topics within ECW, but without a doubt is the man who made the company what it was. Paul Heyman holds nothing back in the interview below. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>First off how are you?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I am wonderful." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>How happy are you with the </B><B>Rise and Fall of ECW</B><B> DVD as a full complete project and the way WWE put it together? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I am as happy as I possibly could be with it. I had very low expectations going in bluntly. I didn't expect them to pull something off this complete and this accurate. I had my doubts going in that they were going to represent ECW in the light that I thought would be appropriate. I am more than pleasantly surprised by it because as of now it is the most accurate look at ECW and what we went through along the way."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>It has been well known that you put a lot of your own money into ECW. What was the main reason that you took a lot of your own money to keep this company going? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Because I believed in it. I loved it. I lived it. I have absolutely no regrets regarding it."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What was the main reason you closed the promotions doors besides financially if any others?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"That was the only reason. We had no network home. An executive at the time by the name of Dan York made the assessment without ECW on a network we could not sustain our self or stay alive. Giving us the money that was coming in from pay perviews would have been a bad business move on their part that they could negotiate, which they did the amount owed out with the bankruptcy court, which they did. Based on the fact that we had no network home and no way to promote our licenses or shows, and coupled with the fact we couldn't get our money out of the pay perviews company, which was seven million dollars and now you have no revenue stream or platform than you are out of business."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What do you think your relationship was like with WWE and WCW when they told you they wanted to sign one of your talents? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Well, it depends on which talent it was and how they went about it. WCW used to go about it by offering huge signing bonuses to our talent if they get it under rap and did what was called a jump. WWE was more up front with me. If there was a talent from our organization that was looking to go there or if they were looking to talk to talent, which didn't guarantee the talent would go to them, but they were very open about it. They called me up and said they were interested in talent or they were interested and they told me there was going to be a conversation. My relationship was different with both organizations as I resented how WCW did it and WWE had the attitude that business was business. We are gonna take what we think would benefit our company the most if we can take it from you."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>How important do you think the ECW Barley Legal pay perview in 1997 was to the company getting it's name known and established and where do you think ECW would have gone if it didn't do well? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I think if the pay perview didn't do well we were out of business immediately. There was nothing left or anyone else who would have done business with us after that. There would have been no network that would have talked to us. The talents would have lost hope. I think the carried angle in front of all of us is that we could blow away shows no one else would compete with in terms of style and appealing to different demographics. Without that success nobody else would have stayed. In terms of acceptance there wouldn't have been a licensee after ECW Barley Legal if it would’ve been a flop. Nothing would have happened. It would have been this was the little train that could but couldn't. It was like wow they really could."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Do you think that TNN didn't do a good job at trying to help promote the ECW TV show and that really hurt the company at the end?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Not only do I think it, but I know it. TNN is the main reason for the chain of the events that lead to the demise of ECW. We went on to the Nashville Network, which was being changed and what a brilliant marketing plan that was. We were supposed to have all these synergetic opportunities. It was owned by CBS and was promoted by Infinity Broadcasting. We were supposed to have commercials than ran throughout TNN. We were supposed to have press releases for every city that we went to with the local cable affiliates that they would run. Our lead in show usually did between a 0.3 to 0.6 rating. We always usually did between a 1.2 and a 1.5. Sometimes we would fall down to a 0.9, but that is when our lead in was doing a 0.2 rating. We were the highest rated show on the network and blew away everything they had. We were in a horrible time slot on Friday nights, but I have no complaints about because I agreed to it. Moments after we signed with TNN they were in negotiations with WWE. They cannibalized us. They never sent out our press releases. They never ran our commercials. They never helped us with any of these synergetic opportunities, which is why we went on the network to begin with. We increased our expenses by going on that network. It just ate us up alive. I think the best story I can tell is we had a deal to go to Japan at the end of December and they insisted we run a show in their home town of Nashville, Tennessee. We book Nashville, Tennessee and are expecting press releases, local affiliates, video spots, interviews, and newspaper talk and they did nothing. Not one thing for us going into Nashville, Tennessee. On the flip side you would watch the TV show and in between the TV show you would see the ads that say don't miss ECW on TNN. They are watching it. I called Brian Hughes the executive vice president of TNN at the time and said to Brian, 'Thanks for the advertisement. It's wonderful, but could we air it somewhere else besides our own show?' We already had these viewers. He said, 'Well, isn't that the target demographic?' So right there we had our answer. As soon as they put us on we were the guinea pig to see if wrestling could hold on TNN and to see if they wanted to invest 26 million dollars in WWE as TNN was being absorbed by Viacom. It started the chain of the events that lead to the death of the company."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>How influential was Terry Funk on the company and elevating guys?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"We wouldn't have had an ECW without Terry Funk. He made everybody on our roster."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What are your thoughts on the night Shane Douglas threw down the NWA Championship and how did it become a turning point in the company?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Well, my thoughts are we did the right thing. It was something we were very specific in doing because we wanted to make a statement that everything written in wrestling before that day was the old testament and we were going to write the new testament."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>There has been much talk that WWE might start up and ECW brand or promotion under their company. Do you think there is any possibility or truth to that?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I certainly hope not. I don't think it would succeed. Could we do it as a one time thing? Or a once in a while thing? I think people would be very interested to see a 2004-2005 version of an ECW show. To do ECW now as a promotion under the offices of being corporately owned would never work because that wasn't what ECW was about. If it were attempted it would prostitute what the brand truly was."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You have been on and off as a booker and part of creative for WWE. Tell me about what you have learned about working with other people as part of WWE creative. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Well, it depends on who we are speaking about. I try to learn from anybody. I use to get ideas from members of the ring crew in ECW. I use to get it fans and the guy at the local deli. If you pay attention to the theory behind what people are suggesting you can learn a lot of their perspective of what wrestling could be or should be. I have learned from everybody I have worked with in WWE because if someone cares enough to throw out an idea I care enough to listen to what is behind the idea."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Tell me about the story when you were on the road with Dutch Mantell and the Undertaker in the past in WCW and he thought you were driving to fast.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I think it was 1990 in WCW. We had a point between Chicago, Illinois and Cincinnati, Ohio and that was the town. We thought it was a night time show and we got in the car saying we would stop off and get something to eat, take a leisure drive as it is a 250 mile drive. We looked at the sheet and what a surprise it was a 2:00PM show and it was already 12:05PM in Chicago, Illinois. The Undertaker known as Mean Mark than said, 'I think we should phone in and let them know we are going to be late.' I just put on my seat belt and turned to Dutch Mantell and said well at least one thing we will get there by the opening bell. I put both feet on the gas petal and steered the car."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>There are many guys who I have interviewed in the past who have told me that you didn't pay them what you promised them in a full amount. Tell me is any of this statement true?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Well, it depends on what you mean by that. Me personally, that is like saying if the WWE closed their doors today does Vince McMahon owe anybody any money personally. I don't think he does. I think the corporation does. I ran a corporation. The corporation went out of business. There were a lot of people who didn't get paid at the end of the corporation. That is a blunt fact. Neither did I though. It's not like I was flirting all the cash and saying wow I am sorry I had a wonderful week, but yours is surely the shits. I filed for personal bankruptcy. It's not like I had private money hidden in the islands or something. I did feel like taking money out of a company for those seven years when it could be invested in the company. Especially when other people weren't being paid I wasn't being paid. I didn't give myself a paycheck and say to someone else sorry you didn't get paid. Nobody lost more money than I did. Nobody supplied more funds than I was. Nobody took a better beating than I did in terms of finances that I did in ECW. I am sorry that certain people didn't get paid or what they were hoping for or didn't get paid what they were promised. I went out of business. Where was the money going to come from?"</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What talents do you think were good in ECW that never got a real chance in WWE or WCW?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"It depends what you consider a shot. Public Enemy went to WCW, but I don't know if they were directed right or produced right. Could they have been big stars? I think so, but I don't know so. I don't think Rob Van Dam has gotten his fair shake in WWE. I wish some of the cruiserweights we had were more focused on. It's a case by case scenario. I think Raven could have been a huge star in this industry. I just don't know if that character worked outside of the ECW environment. Some characters were tailor made for the ECW environment and their characters wouldn't have worked elsewhere. Some characters just weren't given the chance."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Finally, where do you think the future of WWE is going as the business is not at it's highest point right now?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I think there comes a time when assessment needs to be made. If WWE wants to stay where they are it is a fourth generation family business. With Shane McMahon's son being born its a fifth family business. I think with all other changing times much like any other industry it needs to change. Just look at the TV industry today in the revolution in advertising. They are taking so much business away from broadcasts. With Tebo you are going to see more integrated advertising than 30 second commercials. Everybody is fast forwarding through the commercials. The wrestling business needs to accept change and adept to that change. We need to find a style that is more contemporary with today's audience. Than you will need a new style three or four years from now to attract those viewers."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Interview with WWE Superstar Edge</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Though I spend a lot of time in the NFL media world these days, I thought it was worth the time to do an interview with WWE Superstar Edge. His new </B><B>Adam Copeland On Edge</B><B> is not a gossip book, but it's a great story for anyone whoever starts with nothing and wants to learn what it takes to make it to the big time. </B></div> <div> <B>t story for anyone whoever starts with nothing and wants to learn what it takes to make it to the big time. </B></div> <div> <B>First off how are you? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Not to bad." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The first thing you get from reading your book is that you had a very supportive single mom who believed in your dream of being a wrestler probably unlike other parents with their kids dreams. Tell me about that. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Yeah. Any type of sports or entertainment dream sounds like a pipe dream. I think when I was eight years and stumbled upon wrestling realizing that was what I was going to do. I am sure it was like ok that's great and awesome. When I was 17, beginning my training, and my last year of high school and doing this, she was always my number one fan. She was totally supportive even through the thick and the thin. The days of making no money as well and she was there through all of those times. She never once doubted me. She saw the compassion I had for the business and that I was never going to stop till I did get to where I wanted to get to. If she would have doubted that it would have been a big stumbling block." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The fact that you ended up in the world of professional wrestling because you won a contest for a free wrestling education that was valued at $3000. Through the whole book it's like bad things happen, but the good comes out in the end. Tell me about that. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Definitely. I think everybody's life is like that. I don't think everything is completely smooth as that isn't part of life. There is always going to be stumbles and valleys, but you walk out of the valley with your head held high as you get out of it. That's what I choose to do. Any negatives turn into a positive. For example I broke my beck for one year and I wrote a book. I always try to do something positive if negative things are happening. That's all you can do. The wrestling training was a blessing is disguise. That was the first huge happening when it comes to the point of my career. It would have definitely delayed me to start if I didn't get that opportunity for me to get the $3000." </B></div> <div> <B>It's an amazing story that you put up with these low rate independent wrestling shows in under zero degree weather, but the fact that you drove over a frozen lake boggles the mind trying to get to another wrestling show. This really are the stories of starting from the bottom and going to the top. Tell me about all that. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Yeah. Where I started there was no place to go but up. In that respect it was a good way to start. I look back at it fondly. Would I some of the things now that I did back then? Would I drive over a frozen lake? You couldn't pay me enough now. At that point it was fun. It was what we needed to do to get to where we are with me, Rhyno, and Christian. That's just what we did. Depending on who I am talking to, but Canadians understand that story ok driving over a frozen lake. Over 100 percent of people I know have never heard of driving over a frozen week. You drove over a lake and you fell through which sounds unbelievable, but it definitely happened. Where you live in Florida, driving across a frozen lake sounds wrong." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Is it amazing to you that you and Christian well start on these small independent wrestling shows and end up in WWE together that are not brothers, but as tag team partners together as well with Rhyno who was on those small wrestling with you guys too. Tell me about. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"It really is. I haven't really thought about that looking back on it, but if you look at two guys that met in grade six. The book goes through all of it. I started wrestling two years before he did, but we went everywhere together. We started tag teaming basically as soon as Christian finished his training. It was a natural fit because we had already had been doing it pretty much as long as I can remember in his side yard. Once we got in there and wrestled guys like Rick Martel and Bad News Brown it didn't surprise me we were going to get to the WWE. I was hoping we would have won the tag team championship, but doubt started to creep us as they always tried to break us apart. When we actually did it at WrestleMania 17 it was amazing. It was pretty astronomical if you look at the odds. Rhyno who I have known for ten years and for him to be there with us and doing our thing. At WrestleMania 17 with him being an important part of the tables, ladders, and chairs match. It is amazing that three friends can do these things together. I wish the Johnny Swinger's and Joe Legend's were with us too. Everybody takes a path and this is where we ended up." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You talk in your book that Vince McMahon is a very approachable boss. Tell me about that. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Initially I didn't. When I started to feel like I was earning my stripes, that's when it was like ok I am going to go talk to this guy. I want him to know I am here rather than just this wrestler put on TV. I want him to know the person. I want him to know that I do have some thoughts and ideas. Whether they are good or not who knows, but I am never gonna know what he thinks unless I go to him. He wants people to go to him. He wants to hear feedback and what ideas you have. He is a busy guy so he might not always have time, but eventually he will make time for you. I think he respects that when guy goes to him. He does have a presence and it is intimidating. Once you break down that barrier and realize he just wants you to perform and be able to produce for the show. Once you get past that he is very easy to talk with. He is a pretty good guy." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I was surprised a little on the influence Bret Hart had on you getting into WWE. Tell me about that. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"A lot of people just assume that I showed up in 1998 and I was a rookie. There was a lot of work to get to the point where I got there. I think the book opened it up and lets people know. I think the whole process included me meeting Bret Hart, who has always had a big influence on my career. Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and Hulk Hogan would be the three guys that definitely touched me the most when it came to getting me into the industry. A lot of people don't realize that it was Bret Hart who initially opened the for me. All he could guarantee me was to come up to his house which I did and he was impressed. He talked to Jim Ross and from there brought be to do Stanford, Connecticut. At that point it was up to me. Either I was gonna kick the door down or it was going to be shot in my face if I wasn't good enough. Thankfully they said there is your contract. Here we are eight and a half years later here we are." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>In your book and of course in this interview you looked up to Hulk Hogan. Did you ever dream in your wildest mind you would hold the WWE Tag Team Championship with Hulk Hogan in July of 2002? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Without a doubt. It was something that I never thought would happen. When I was a kid of course you have dreams, but I never thought he and me would be peers at the same time in the same company and doing the same thing. When it did it was one of those total goose bumps. I had this huge cheesy smile on my face, but everything was completely legitimate. The way I looked is the way I felt. It definitely goes down as one of the milestone moments in my career. When you read the book you can tell what an influence he had on me." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The WWE is not doing the 7.0 ratings they were doing at the end of the 1990's, but right now the wrestling business is at a down point. What do you think is needed to get the business back to where it once was? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Well, I have always said wrestling is a cyclical business. I was one of those fans who was always there through out it. I originally caught in with the Hulk Hogan Rock and Wrestling connection. When it went down and Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels had to carry the load I was still there. I have seen it go through the ups and downs. When I first at 17 wrestling wasn't popular, but I still wanted to do it. When I started with WWE I got lucky when it exploded with Steve Austin and The Rock. I think it will take the cycle to run it's course. It's just always what it does. I feel comfortable about doing my character now the way it comes out. Guys like The Rock and Steve Austin just did it. They were able to cut the cord and go as far as being known in pop culture." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Finally, your book wasn't the big gossip book like other wrestling books, but if you are going through tough times and want to hear a success story as a wrestler. Do you feel your book would be the best to read with the fact what you went through to get to the WWE. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Yeah. I think it's a book that shows struggles will never stop with all the injuries I have had. People have said before there is not a lot of controversy. I say to those people I am not going to make up controversy and have it in a book. I am not going to make up issues. I am not going to start my own angles in a book. I don't have situations like Ric Flair with Eric Bischoff. What I am is a guy who wanted to do this. I am still struggling to get to where I want to go with getting the WWE Championship. I think aspiring wrestlers can look at the book and say ok cool. I don't have a lot of back stage problems or anything like that. I am doing what I love to do. I am not going to complain about it."</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Interview with David Flair</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="411add10.gif" border=0 width="173" height="209" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>It has never been easy for any kid who was the son of a famous star in any aspect of entertainment. If you were the son of Ric Flair, you knew your father was on the road making the money for a better family lifestyle. David Flair is the son of Ric Flair. He has had runs with WWE and WCW, but for now he works for various wrestling promotions. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>First off how are you?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Good."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>This coming Sunday April 25th, you're going to be taking on Dory Funk Jr. in Ocala, Florida. Any thoughts on the match this coming Sunday?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Not really. Should be exciting to work a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and a guy with a caliber like Dory Funk Jr. as it will be pretty exciting. I wish I could see what it would be to wrestle him more in his prime. Just to be wrestling I will be excited to do it."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>How hard is it being the son of one of the greatest professional wrestlers ever?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"It's very hard. They expect a lot more out of you. I felt like Pete Rose's kid you know what I mean? How can you follow up to that? There are a lot of people like Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonds, and there is a lot of father son duos where the fathers are just another level among the rest."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What do you remember most from traveling with your dad on the road growing up?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"How much fun I had I think. How they all got along. It seemed to me now there is a lot more pressure than there was back then. The guys had a lot more fun. I wish I knew how to have fun now, but I wasn't there. It just seems like it was a more fun then. It was a different time and different era."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>When the idea came for you to be involved in professional wrestling and WCW, who came up with the idea?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I would say either Dusty Rhodes or Kevin Sullivan."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Did you feel many would have some criticism about you having to live up to a lot as the son of Ric Flair when you started your career?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Oh yeah. I think people thought like I wouldn't know what I was doing or be ready to wrestle. That wasn't or is not the case." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Early in your WCW career you were given the WCW USA Heavyweight Championship. Do you feel that the company chose to give you something too early in your career when you had not had time to grow?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Most definitely. It was during their downfall. I think they were going more gimmick like with David Arquette and stuff like that."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Your biggest win as WCW USA Heavyweight Champion was a win over Dean Malenko at WCW Bash at the Beach 1999. Thoughts on your biggest win as WCW USA Heavyweight Champion?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I don't remember much about it. I know it was in Florida. I wish I knew what I know back then. I wasn't ready to wrestle at that caliber. It was an honor to wrestle Dean Malenko as he can do so much. I just wish I was more prepared now than I was then. That wasn't the case then." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You later won the WCW Tag team Championship with Crowbar. Thoughts on tagging with Crowbar and being the WCW Tag Team Champions?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"The same thing. I wish I knew what I know now. I wish my skills were as good then as they are now. I don't know. So much was thrown into the mix. I didn't really know what I was doing. I had no formal training. Pretty much the same answer as before." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What are your thoughts on how Eric Bischoff and Vince Russo ran WCW?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Too many chiefs, not enough Indians. There are so many different guys saying one do this and then they get changed by someone else. It wasn't one head guy like Vince McMahon, where what he says goes."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What do you think went wrong with WCW?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"With Vince McMahon it's not saying one thing and do another. That's just my take. I was young and was 19 or 20 years old then and the happiest kid in the world. I didn't know much of what was going on. I tell you that is my take on it." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You moved over to the WWE Developmental program after WCW. What did you learn in OVW and from Jim Cornette?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I learned a lot from Jim Cornette. He knows how to run a promotion. What he was given he did really good at it. I think he taught a lot of guys what's it like to be in one promotion. It was good to be in OVW. Danny Davis has a nice building and good hands. I learned a lot from him."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You worked a WWE segment with The Undertaker while he was in a feud with your dad where he beat you up at the WWE school. Thoughts on working that segment with the Undertaker?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"It was pretty cool working with The Undertaker as I grew up watching him. Being part of anything with WWE is pretty cool. It's the number one syndicated wrestling show besides NWATNA. To do anything with WWE is pretty cool."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You then had the opportunity to work with NWATNA and had a match with Dusty Rhodes. Thoughts on working for NWATNA?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"It was ok. I like Jeff Jarrett and a lot of the guys there, but I don't think it was that well ran. Working Dusty Rhodes was cool, as we had a bunkhouse match in five minutes. I don't know. It was ok."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Did you feel the </B><B>Ric Flair Ultimate DVD</B><B> collection was put together well for your father?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"You can tell by how many have been sold. It was really good, but there is so much more. There is a library of his stuff, and I feel they could do one with interviews, matches, and some of the good matches with Ricky Steamboat, but he has many good ones with Ricky Morton, Barry Windham, but there were so many more. I think they just wanted to test the waters and probably do another one."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>When do you think your father will officially retire from the wrestling business?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"When they tell him to stop. I think he really enjoys it. I think the fans still like seeing him around." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Final comments? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I was in Puerto Rico for six months. I came back in December, have a normal job now, and just do wrestling on the side. I would like to do it full time, but it's just not there for me right now. I think I have come a long ways and worked pretty hard to get better. I am only 25 and think there is still time for me. I don't know when, but I still love wrestling."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Interview with Nascar Driver Hermie Sadler</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="40bfc1a0.gif" border=0 width="252" height="282" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hermie Sadler has over 200 Nascar Busch Series races under his career. He made 10 Nascar Nextel Cup Series in 2003. He is one of the newer drivers on the Nascar circuit next to his brother Elliot Sadler who is more well known. Besides a Nascar driver, he has also been involved in professional wrestling.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>First off congrats to your brother Elliot Sadler for winning the Radio Shack 500 on April 4, 2004.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"What a great day. We just got back from the airport where we picked him up and there were probably 25 to 30 newspapers and TV people there. It was a great welcome home for him. A big party for him tomorrow. It's gonna be a fun week."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Do you feel the sport of Nascar is getting more mainstream sports attention as the years go on?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I don't think there is any question. The new markets were getting to on the west coast and Las Vegas, California, and Texas. Those places are growing as it was a southern redneck white sport to a nationwide and worldwide sport. No question about that."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Do you think many normal sports fans relate to Dale EarnhartJr., the guy they cheer for because of the death of his father?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Dale Earnhart was our biggest name no doubt. His passing brought a lot of attention to the sport. Some of it was positive and some of it was negative. For the most part it helped create a fan base and a whole new following. We continue to build on that over the last three to four years. Having the name Earnhart is connected with Nascar. Dale Earnhart, Jr. has done a great job of carrying that torch and creating an attraction for new types of Nascar fans. He certainly has helped attract new young fans you wouldn't expect."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>In your first Nextel Cup Series race in 2004, you finished 31st at the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway and started 42nd. Thoughts on your first Nextel Cup Series race of 2004?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"It was ok. Certainly not great. The Nextel Cup operation is a work in process. We basically used it to help build and do some testing for our Busch series effort which is our main focus. Nascar this year changed the arrow dynamics and tire compounds that we are running. We use it as an opportunity to get some testing in because we haven't put ourselves in a place to do some new testing this year. We ran that race to get some information."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You have had over 200 Nascar Busch Series races in your racing career and at one point started 173 consecutive races. What's the most important thing to remember and that you have learned through all of your Nascar Busch Series races?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Well, its really hard to because our sport changes from week to week and certainly year to year as far as the rules, competition, and race tracks we are going to. When I first started there were a lot of short track races and now there are more intermediate speedway races. What you did in the past doesn't really help you or hurt you as far as now. Our sport runs so many different places, obstacles, and competition is so much tougher. We need to learn to adapt to the new cars, race tracks, competition, and try to do things to keep our teams up there as far as technology and how we prepare our equipment."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Tell me about your first race ever on the Nascar circuit.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"In 1992 I ran a Nascar Busch Series race at Orange County Speedway. You never forget your first one. We ended up having an accident, but we ran really good. We got a good feel for things and started to attract some attention from car owners. It was a good race. I was fortunate enough over the last 11 years to be able to do what I love to do. Once you get racing in your blood, it's hard to get it out. We have been working real hard to maintain a presence and a competitive presence."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Who did you idolize to get involved in racing as a career?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I didn't idolize anybody. We just loved racing. My dad use to own a dirt car back when I was five, six, or seven years old. He use to take me every weekend to the races and I use to watch him make the pits in the back of the truck. I have been going with my dad to watch races my entire life. Like I said, once you get it in your blood it's hard to get it out. Have been doing some type of racing ever since."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Any rivarly between you and your brother Elliot Sadler?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"No. It couldn't be further from the truth. There are always people trying to make it into something like that, but we support each other a great deal. Nothing but support."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>How does a Nascar driver end up a fan of professional wrestling?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Well, I was a fan of professional wrestling before I started even racing. From the time I was really small we would watch on Saturday's the Jim Crockett shows that use to come on TV Saturdays here at home. My following recently of professional wrestling started when I met Dave and Earl Hebner in Richmond, Virginia nine or ten years ago. I called them up for tickets to a show in Virginia and they were big race fans and we struck up a friendship. I have created friendships with a lot of people in WWE and people in NWATNA with Jeff Jarett and those guys. A lot of wrestlers buy cars from me, as I am in the car business including The Rock who has gotten a couple cars from me. I create a lot of friendships through those associations. A lot of those guys come to the races and watch us, and we watch them too.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>How did you end up getting hooked with the Jarrets and work with NWATNA?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Well, I met Jeff Jarrett seven or eight years ago when he was with WWE. Jeff is a good person and friend who comes and deals with us every year. He talked to me a lot when they were going to launch NWATNA. He wanted me to go on their first shows where I did some things and the fans seemed to get into it. We worked out a deal to have may come back and do a few more shows and I had a match with Ron Killings. They have sponsored me in a couple of races to help create awareness for their pay perviews. I think they are real close on a network TV deal. They are steadily growing their fan base. Professional wrestling needs more then one organization. Hopefully it will be good for everybody."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Do you intend to work with NWATNA again in the near future?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Oh sure. They're in the middle of working on some programs and getting some stuff together to get some bigger pay perviews together. Probably around June or July, you will hear announcements about me being involved with them again."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Final comments on your Nascar career?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I would like to see our Nascar Busch program turn around and hopefully winning would be a stretch for us. We try to show improvement every time we go to the race track and if we can do that I will be happy with our progress."</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Interview with Al Snow</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="3f8b6f20.jpg" border=0 width="182" height="242" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Al Snow has always been a considered one of the guys who has been a motivator. As the head of the WWE reality show Tough Enough, he trained and gave the competitors an education in professional wrestling they would never forget. Besides that, Al Snow is also a broadcast commentator for WWE Heat, but either way he is a former WWE Hardcore Champion, WWE European Champion, and WWE Tag Team Champion with Mick Foley.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>First off how are you?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I am doing great."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>How much have you enjoyed being a broadcast announcer on WWE Heat with Jonathan Coachman and what have you learned most overall?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"It's a whole new challenge. It's a whole new aspect of my career. I guess I enjoy it from that standpoint. I guess I have learned that it is a lot more difficult and that it is not as easy as it seems to be. I really am having a great time with it and trying to develop a style on my own. It is another portion of my career."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What are your best memories from the </B><B>WWE Tough Enough</B><B> series, and is there going to be another WWE Tough Enough in the near future?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"It's still up in the air as far as the future of WWE Tough Enough. We still really don't know if we are going to do another </B><B>WWE Tough Enough</B><B>. We should know by January. I think the thing I cherish most out of it is my friendship with Big John Gaurbick. We have developed a very close friendship. It's very hard to find people you can truly relate to or you can really call a friend in this business. I feel very fortunate to have developed that friendship with Big John."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>How hard was it overall to cut some of the competitors on the show?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"It was always very difficult to cut them especially as the show went around. You are spending 10 hours a day for around 12 to 14 weeks with these kids. You can tell that they really want to do it. You really are putting your heart and soul into it, and they are as well. It's hard to walk up to one of them, look them in the eye, and say that your dream ends here today. I don't know if there was one particular hard one than any other one."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What are your thoughts on the way the wrestling business is today with only one major company to work for?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Competition is always good. The old saying is that you put one lawyer in town he will starve to death, but if you put two lawyers in town they will both make money. I think that applies to it. The fans and the wrestling companies do benefit from the competition. I think there needs to be some force out there on the same level as WWE."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>During your wrestling careers, you and Mick Foley lived together and made a friendship. Tell me about that.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"It just sorta developed. We kinda started riding together by accident. It became a matter of choice. When you spend that much time with somebody you really get to know them."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Why is it that Mick Foley always has had something to say about Al Snow in his wrestling promos?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I would say it's because he is obsessed with me and has a sickness. He might need therapy for it. I think it is undeniable that we have some on-air chemistry much like some of the old comedy teams like Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. People watch us and say they have some chemistry together. They were a lot better together than they were apart."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What are your thoughts on the memorable wrestling matches in the Michigan wrestling area you had with Sabu in around 1994 to 1996?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I was very fortunate that we had that first match in Michigan because that is what really got me noticed and kinda made a difference. Up and to that point I was known as the best kept secret in wrestling. That one match with Sabu kinda opened the doors nationally that I was out there. It really helped me get noticed and get a break."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What are your memories of ECW and working for Paul Heyman?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"All my memories are all great. It was really a wonderful time. It probably was one of the best times of my career. The second time I was there, it was great to achieve and get over like I did and have the run I did there. The locker room was so enjoyable to be in and be a part of. I wouldn't have traded it for the world. Working for Paul Heyman is interesting to say the least. People say what they want to say about Paul and a lot of it would be true, I am sure. Paul Heyman was a guy that was a genius. He could take a guy that no one else could utilize and turn their weaknesses into strengths or hide their weakness. He would take it to the point where they would become a draw. He gave a lot of guys a break and a new career. I could go down the list as there are many guys who owe Paul Heyman tremendously for the careers they have because after going to ECW, it opened up the doors for WWE and WCW."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What are your thoughts on the other wrestling characters you have been, such as Leaf Casidy and Avatar?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"They're all just characters and not really me. I am not emotionally tied to them. There was a big buzz that I didn't like being Leaf Casidy, but I really enjoyed it. It was just very frustrating because of the fact that I could not get work with it. They didn't have any plans for that character. I was basically used as a job guy. It became frustrating because no matter how hard I worked, I was pigeon holed. I enjoyed the character itself. Avatar wasn't really who I am, but it was so different and unique. The people didn't know how to take to it. It was only used once on TV. It wasn't the character I was frustrated with, but just the dead end street. I couldn't get my way out of it or get utilized to make a living."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>At WWE Backlash 1999 you defeated Hardcore Holly to win your first WWE Hardcore Championship. What are your thoughts on that night and winning WWE gold for the first time?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I was just happy to survive the match. It's not like I am a mark for the belt. When WWE gives you a title they have some faith in you. I was thrilled as it was new storylines for me. It was like Vince saying we have some faith in you and you can carry the ball. I was very happy to get the belt. I remember walking up to Vince McMahon after that match and saying that I am not gonna let you down or you won't regret this. I hope he didn't. I have no idea."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>At the WWE Unforgiven 1999 pay perview, you defeated the Big Bossman in a Kennel From Hell Hardcore Championship match. What are your memories of that special match?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"They were supposed to actually have trained guard dogs, the focus of the match being the dogs. It would then be important to utilize the dogs in the match. Unfortunately they basically just had dogs from different owners with regular dogs. They couldn't even show the dogs on TV because they were urinating, defecating, and fornicating to the point where the owners had to exchange numbers for puppy rights. The storyline of the match was the dogs were gonna put you in jeopardy. It was an embarassment and has become a joke to this day. I take pride in going out there and trying to put on a good match. There was nothing I could do to make that match better."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What are your thoughts on WWE Raw creative head Brian Gerwitz?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I think Brian is a great kid. I think he needs to lean more toward the humor side of things, but he is a true fan of the wrestling business. He does write from the fans viewpoint. Brian is gutsy and he does stand up to Vince McMahon on ideas he is passionate about. I don't know if it is good to have it all on one guy's shoulders. I think they need to have more than the two, three, or four that they have. The more creative minds you have, the better you are."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Final Comments?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"It's been a situation where I started at a time where you couldn't be somebody unless you were related to somebody. I have been able to give back to the wrestling business through WWE Tough Enough by training some of the kids who will be the next generation. I have given as much back to Vince McMahon as his family has to me."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Interview with Steve Austin</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="3deb8f50.jpg" border=0 width="184" height="245" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Steve Austin has achieved everything that you possibly can within the world of professional wrestling. His numerous title runs, WrestleMania matches, and various Hollywood TV spots put him as one of the top five wrestlers in the last five years. All these accomplishments leads to his book titled </B><B><U>The Stone Cold Truth</U></B><B>. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>First off, how are you?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I am good."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>When the idea originally came up to write the book, was it Jim Ross that approached you to help you write this book, or did you approach Jim Ross?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"No. It was Jim Ross's idea because they approached me four or five years ago wanting me to write a book. It would have been the first WWE book out, but I said, 'No I don't want to write a book.' I just didn't feel like running my mouth and being private by nature. I didn't feel like I had enough to talk about. Several years went by and I took my leave of absence from the company, and Jim Ross got me back in the company, and pitched the idea to write a book. I said, 'Hey man, let's go to do this thing.' There are a lot of things I want to settle and bury the hatchet."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The inevitable comparisons will come between </B><B><U>Stone Cold Truth</U></B><B> and </B><B>Mick Foley's </B><B><U>Have a Nice Day</U></B><B>. Some will say you are coming up three years late and a dollar short with this book. Why should a reader plunk down their hard earned cash for this, and can anything beat Foley's groundbreaking work? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Theoretically as far as the timing of the book, yeah the business was a lot hotter several years ago. The timing as far as our business goes could've been a lot better. As far as any comparison you're going to get with the Mick Foley book, Mick Foley is one of my favorite guys I have worked with in wrestling, and he is just a cool guy and great human being as far as I am concerned. That is a great comparison, but as far as a day late and a dollar short, well it's Stone Cold Steve Austin. It's </B><B><U>The Stone Cold Truth</U></B><B><U> </U></B><B>and my life story. If you had any interest whatsoever in what we do or what I did or what I still do on a different basis, then I think that's a good reason to go and buy the book."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Will we get a good look in the book as far as all the events that went down at the WrestleMania 14 win where you defeated Shawn Michaels with Mike Tyson as the special enforcer, which was your first WWE World Championship?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"It will basically cover everything I did. Some of the things Shawn was going through, the guy pretty much was a little bit burnt out, his lower back had a lot of problems. We didn't even know if the match was going to happen. There I was hotter then hell as far as the business goes. It was just kind of a real dicey situation."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Will the fans get a good look of your thoughts of your off camera relationship with Vince McMahon?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Oh yeah. They will find a whole lot about it. The relationship between me and Vince has been good and bad and it's been real good and real bad. There has been a lot of ups and downs. The kinda comparison I like to make is that you have a pro football team and you have a head coach and I am the quarterback. He is calling the plays and he is supposed to run the team, but I am out there running the plays. I see things different and I want to do something else. When you're throwing the business that is pro wrestling in hand, and you have dollars involved and the egos like that, it can be a pretty hairy situation. It has been."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Does the book have a good look at covering all your major wrestling injuries including your neck injury and your experiences through rehab back to the wrestling ring?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Yeah. I pretty much covered all the bad knees, the bad neck, the action in itself, what I was feeling, when the action had happened, 90 seconds after it had happened, and the lasting effects that it has had on my life. I still suffer effects from that, and a lot of people have asked me why I haven't gone and quit when all the doctors were telling me you need to get out of the ring. We covered all that and I didn't feel like quitting. Pro wrestling is what I was put here to do in my life. I wasn't satisfied with stopping the career or ending."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>In your book you talk about how Jake Roberts had influence on your career and you go back to the King of The Ring 1996 match against Jake Roberts which you won. How much influence did Jake Roberts really have on your career?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Absolutely. He is one of my favorite workers to ever get in the ring. He was very economical. He didn't do nothing fancy, but what he did made sense. One of the classic storytellers whereas Ric Flair is one of the great storytellers so is Jake, two different types of workers, two different promos. If I would have never wrestled Jake Roberts in that match when I went to the hospital and got my top lips hooked up with 14 stitches then I came back. If Michael Hayes wouldn't have told me Jake Roberts cut a religious base promo on me I wouldn't have said Austin 3:16 because that's the bottom line because Stone Cold Said So. It was instrumental; it wasn't like it was going to pop in my head for no reason." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>In the book you seem to really have enjoyed your time with Brian Pillman. Do you think the gun angle with the late Brian Pillman was too extreme?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"No. I don't feel like it was extreme at all. You watch our show and you realize what it is. It's basically professional wrestling. It's sports entertainment ok. So you know what it is and why you are watching it. I didn't think like it was over the top, but some people did. I just think because of the way it was executed I really meant everything I was doing over there and he really meant it when he pulled the gun, but you gotta understand it's like watching TV and I don't watch TV really anymore. But if you're watching one of the shows you see what you see on the TV. It's the same thing with our show."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Do you think the book clears up all the rumors as far as when you walked out on WWE in the summer of 2002?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Yeah I do. We talk about the injuries, politics that were going on, talk about the creative, and how that was basically the icing on the cake, but the bottom line was my health was failing at a pretty good pace. I was trying to keep up with guys who were 90 to 100 percent and I was barely 50 and try to maintain a level of performance that was barely satisfactory to me and the fans and having a hard time doing it." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>How do you see yourself retiring and leaving WWE when the time finally comes, and do you think you will wrestle at WrestleMania 20?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I don't know how I am going to retire. When that may come and how it's going to happen because I really just make short term plans. I don't sit around and think and plot my life out. I got a brother that can tell you what he is doing in one or two years and give it to you on a calendar. As far as WrestleMania 20 goes, I tell you that it is a possibility that I would get in the ring again, but not a good possibility. I got to look down the road, but when I don't make long term plans the only long term plan I make is the quality of life at five, ten, and fifteen years. You go in this business and do everything you do, and so you save your money because of your negligence and not thinking things out to the enth degree, and you don't get medical advice, and you end up in a wheelchair. What was it all worth? Not a whole lot."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You dedicate a chapter to Owen Hart and how your whole neck injury came about. What were your thoughts on the night Owen Hart passed away and how you had to wrestle the main event with The Undertaker at WWE Over The Edge that evening?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"That was one of the weirdest things in my life. We're just hanging around backstage and I remember me and Undertaker actually talking, and we just got word that Owen had fallen. We all knew he was going to do the deal with the harness from the arena roof. We knew when they said he had fallen it was going to be bad. We didn't know how close he was to the ring, but when they brought the news back it wasn't good news. Then shortly there after from 30 seconds to a minute it came back that Owen was dead. You're fixing to go out and entertain 18,000 people and realized one of your buddies had died in the ring and the show is going to continue. I will say this, every time you go to the ring you get an adrenaline rush, but that night I don't remember feeling anything. I knew we had to go the ring and do the match because the show was going to go on, but I didn't feel anything. I was pretty damn numb and shocked."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Finally, the media has made your personal life seem to be the stuff of soap operas. You've always been respected as a straight shooter, your thoughts on you and your wife Debra parting ways and the small domestic disturbance incident overall?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Well, when we do what we do you reach a level of success. Everybody looks at your personal life. So the fact that everything happened with the few times I have been married which is three of them. The dispute I had with Debra was well documented and it goes with the territory and the fact that I had notoriety. If I would have just been Steve Williams living in a double wide in San Antonio, Texas or something like that nobody would have cared other than the law, but the people wouldn't have cared. Of course it is Stone Cold Steve Austin so it got a lot of coverage, but we cover that in the book of what I can talk about. It was water under the bridge, but I tell my story the best I can and it was </B><B><U>The Stone Cold Truth</U></B><B>. As far as she goes, there were things by law we had to leave out and we did as such."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I</B><B>nterview with Lodi</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="3ef9a140.jpg" border=0 width="154" height="276" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>You probably remember him as the sign guy in WCW in Raven's Flock. You could also remember him as one half of the gay tag team Lane and Rave in WCW. Lodi is one of the lower mid carders in WCW that got the chance to show himself, but has battled through many injuries, including a 16 month neck injury. He is back on the wrestling scene now, and ready to make an impact. He has a very candid story about wrestlers and drugs. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>First off how are you?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I am doing good."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Tell me about the experience of breaking your neck 16 months ago and the rehabilitation back to the ring.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"If you're aware Chris Benoit has had this, Edge is out, Kurt Angle, and Steve Austin. It's a reaccurring injury that guys have had. My problem was that I have had the injury before back in 1994. It's been a painful 16 months. The first four months I spent in a neck brace. Over the last few months I have started to get back in the ring."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Do you think with all the latest wrestling deaths that there are drug problems in wrestling?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I may divulge more information then the fans want to know. When I first appeared on air in WCW, if you didn't have a drinking problem or drug problem it was somewhat surprising. It was like, come on you don't drink? It was somewhat weird if you didn't have a drug problem. There was an incident before I ever went to WCW after a show in Greenville, North Carolina that I was involved with my old tag team partner, the Hardy's, Sabu, and Rob Van Dam. I was offered an illegal substance by someone out of those six people and I will let this go out there. This guy said, 'Hey you want some of this?' I said no because we get drug tested in WCW. He said, 'Well, we get drug tested in ECW too. If you don't have a drug problem we'll give you one.' Obviously if you look over the past six or seven years you have a lot of guys dying of drug overdoses and drug problems. It is rapid in the business. I will not sit here and deny it. I went to rehab losing my job over WCW. I was addicted for six and a half to seven years on GHB and pain killers. I rarely if ever wrestled on TV being sober. I can't be anymore candid than that."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What were your thoughts on the gay tag team in WCW with Lenny Lane, and was that the reason you were taken off WCW TV altogether?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Lenny Lane came to me and said, 'There's not doing much with me and they're not doing much with you. Why don't we form a gay tag team?' Lenny Lane finished it in a week and put it on paper. He gave it to me and I gave it to a friend who gave it to Kevin Nash. Kevin Nash came back to me and said, 'Lodi we can't do a gay gimmick. You're high right? What are you thinking?' At this time the Lodi character was in limbo as well as Lenny Lane's. I moved to Hollywood, California to work on the acting. I got a phone call that said, 'We need you at TV next week.' They ran with the gimmick Lenny Lane had laid out. A lot of people don't understand that Lenny Lane and Lodi laid out that whole gimmick. There were protests that we were gay bashing, never won a match, and we weren't really good. AOL Time Warner caught off because these guys were protesting, and we were taken off TV because of protests and we collected a paycheck for six months. This is the time when WCW was in a decline doing a 2.0 rating. During the quarter hours with me and Lenny Lane we were doing 4.4's, 4.5's, or 4.6's. We had Hogan doing 1.5 and 1.6's. Hello? What were the fans watching?"</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Many wrestling fans have wondered, is Lodi gay in real life?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"It's a great question. I will tell you this. I had more girls approach me and more girls want to spend the night with me as a gay character on TV then the Lodi as a straight character. I don't think the Lodi of the flock was different from the Lodi of the West Hollywood Blondes. Lenny does a great job at being a feminine character. He and me are pretty much straight as nails."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Any possibility you might be in NWATNA?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I have a contract signed with NWATNA that happened the week I broke my neck. I haven't done any NWATNA shows yet, but look forward to working with those guys in the near future. I cannot put over Raven enough who has given me a lot of insight, guidelines, and information as far as what is going on"</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What caused the downfall of WCW in your opinion?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Too much creative control in the wrestler's hands was a big downfall. Overpaying superstars was another problem. Not paying attention to popular trends in pop culture. There were 12 guys who always work with each other, but no matter how good you were they would never eclipse the top 12. It wasn't about getting the whole company over, but getting myself over."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>How did you come up with the sign guy gimmick, including phrases this is my seat and we need a ride home?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"My gimmick was a total rip off of Lou E Dangerously as Sign Guy Dudley in ECW. The day I wrote the sign we need a ride home, Raven lost the keys to the rental car. We are 10 minutes away from being a pay perview. We didn't have a ride to the arena. My webmaster off my website that doesn't exist anymore got his dad to give us a ride. We hopped in the back of a station wagon, but problem was he got us there but we didn't have a ride home. Raven lost the keys to the rental car. He is a dumb bastard sometimes for being a genius. I love his ass, but he lost the keys. It was an easy. We need a ride home. Dean Malenko came up with many of my signs as he was a funny guy."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What were you thoughts on the Billy and Chuck gay tag team as you and Lenny Lane did do that first?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I appreciated you saying we originated it. It was a copy of Lenny Lane and Lodi. The acting ability was zero. We never once portrayed the idea that we were a gay character. That's what Lenny portrayed. If you look at the World Wrestling All Stars pay perview shows we did, Lenny Lane never left a clue in your mind that he was gay. It was that outrageous. Lenny is very straight by the way."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What are your thoughts on Bill Goldberg?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"When I went to WCW Powerplant and tried out, there were three guys left standing out of 27. Bill Goldberg at the time was just coming in when I was at the Powerplant. I took the jackhammer and spear many times before it was on TV. He was a wonderful guy that was good to me. I want everyone to hear a great Bill Goldberg story. In March of 1998 I was wrestling Psychosis. I ended up breaking my ankle. When I went through the curtain, Bill Goldberg was standing there and pushed the referee and doctor aside. He picked me up and carried me around the arena to the locker room. Bill is a nice guy. I appreciate him and will never say anything bad about him. He was in the right place at the right time and utilized his talents."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Final comments?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I missed performing. I enjoy wrestling. I enjoy entertaining people. That's what I do. I got as much a rush wrestling in front of 46,000 people in WCW as I did 400 people for TCW with Dusty Rhodes."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Interview with Luna Vachon</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="3dc95e00.jpg" border=0 width="149" height="224" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Luna Vachon is probably one of the most talented women wrestlers in the last decade in professional wrestling. Her father was Mad Dog Vachon, one of the great wrestlers in the days of the wrestling territories. Luna proved herself many times in WWE and at WrestleMania 14 as she tagged with Goldust against Mark Mero and Sable, one of her high profile highlights. She is a truly classy lady who loves being a wrestler and appreciates the business and the fans. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>First off how are you?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Thank you for having me. It's a pleasure to be joining you today. All things are good."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>When you were growing up and your father was a wrestler in the business, did you get influenced by any of the women wrestlers of those days?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"My aunt Vivian Vachon was one of the greatest women wrestlers of all time. She had an unbelievable ability to wrestle more like a man than a woman. You can go to Blockbuster and rent a movie called </B><B>Wrestling Queen</B><B>, which is about my aunt and my family of the early 1970s, which were the women in the wrestling then. It was a great time in wrestling. That is why I wanted to be a wrestler from the time I was three years old. My parents tried to discourage me because the wrestling business is so hard on women. It takes a lot more toll on women then men because we are made to reproduce. I did on many occasions get to see women's wrestling because my aunt was 11 years older then me and she was my idol."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What did you learn from being around your father, Paul Butcher Vachon, about the wrestling business?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"There are so many things I wish I could remember. I learned when you are in the Gange's territory not to buy a house. You don't buy a house in the neighborhood that you are working in because in our business that meant the promoters were going to pay you less when you bought a home in their territory. I went to 16 schools by the 8th grade because we were constantly on the road. There are only two types of promoters, bad and worse. You grow up fighting and defending the business and standing behind your father and family. It was a totally different era."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What are your thoughts on your match at WrestleMania 14 teaming with Goldust to take on Mark Mero and Sable?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"It was one of the most awesome nights of my life. How nice of you to remember and boy do you know your way around the wrestling world. Sable has this preconceived notion that she didn't have to learn to take bumps. She didn't know to protect herself in the ring, and it made it for an interesting match. If there ever was a match I was in that was choreographed it would have to be that one. Her not wanting to take bumps and me getting a warning that if I scratch or bruise her you are going to lose your job. This is WrestleMania. This is our Super Bowl. For about six weeks out we had to do it step by step, so she would learn what was going to happen during this match and where I wouldn't bump her during the match. I think in the old days under those conditions a Fabulous Moolah or Mildred Burke would have just broken her arm right away. For a woman not being able to protect herself, distribute her own weight, and take bumps, you are asking a lot out of your opponent to make them look good."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Owen Hart came over and put his arm around you after the match at WrestleMania 14, am I right?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Yes, it was Owen Hart. It was really cool because I walked back to the gorilla position and I didn't get a thank you or a word, and you are kinda not sure under these conditions whether you have done an ok job or not. Nobody said anything and Owen pulled me behind the big makeup box and he said, 'Thank you. You did great.' My blessings go out to the entire Hart family for the loss of Stu Hart. He was responsible for my husband's training. He will be missed, but I am glad he is out of pain."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Why don't you think you were ever given the WWE Women's Championship?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I don't think I fit into the mold that they wanted as a spokesperson. It is unfortunate for Vince McMahon that he didn't see what I desired most in the whole world and most of my life. The fans are the ones who buy the tickets and I think we have to do something to please them. Let me give you an example. One night at a particular hotel, the fans know that WWE is going to be checking in. The fans would be waiting in the lobby and I can remember one particular evening and all the little kids were there after the TV taping and one of them said. 'she is going to be a bitch too.' This was just after Sable and Chyna had checked in. I spent three hours in the lobby signing autographs, and I thought that if the other two women had bad days then it was my job to pick up the slack and make the women of our company look good like we care about the fans. I just felt like that was important to me. I don't think the WWE was interested in the fans at that time, but I did what I could by signing autographs and anything else." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What do you remember most about your days in the Florida wrestling territory?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I remember being scared to death. It's amazing the magic you feel when you are going into an arena or something like that. I started out by giving a rookie of the year to Kendall Windam and Kevin Sullivan came out and gave me a really big slap. When we got back to the dressing room all the boys were looking at me like wow. I said, 'Is that the best you can do?' And they offered me a job. Most of them didn't know I was a Vachon. I remember that the best."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Finally, what advice would you give to girls who want to be in professional wrestling?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Don't sell yourself short. It's very hard for women in our sport. The wrestling business has turned into such a T&A factor which is unfortunate. Jackie Moore I would love to wrestle and have my ears ringing for weeks from her clotheslines and I am not kidding when I tell you that. In the USWA she would ring my bell every night. I like working with a woman that is strong and beautiful. She is an asset to our sport and I am proud to have so many matches with her."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Interview with Jimmy Snuka</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="3c496c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Jimmy Snuka is still regarded as one of the greatest legends of all time. His jump off the steel cage at Madison Square Garden against Don Muraco is still in the minds of fans. Jimmy Snuka is still part of wrestling today and he could show up in WWE one day again soon.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>First off how are you?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Aloha brother. Everything is lovely. Thank you very much."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Do you think retirement is in your near future?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Brother excuse me, but I don't know what that word means. I think maybe someday brother, but not right now. Someday but not at the moment."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>How much do you enjoy doing these independent wrestling shows?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Brother, nobody can take that away from me. I love it too much. That is why I love them brother."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What are your thoughts on the wrestling business today?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"There are a lot of changes. Things that go on today are a lot different then the way we used to do it. This is a new generation and everything, but everything goes step by step."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Any possible future involvement with WWE?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"It's really up to Vince McMahon. If he wants the superfly to fly, then he is always ready."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You had the chance to work for World Class Championship Wrestling. What were those experiences like for you, and what are your thoughts on the Von Erich family tragedies?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I was there close to the 1980's. I had a wonderful time with the family and everything. I loved the father and the mother and of course all the kids were alive then. It was pretty hard for them."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You moved to the Mid Atlantic Territory and put some great matches on with Ricky Steamboat and as well had the chance to work with Ric Flair. What was it like to work with these guys 20 years ago and what were their work rates like back then?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"It's hard to describe these kind of guys. They're generals. Generals make sure everything will work out right. People get in the ring and get rid of their frustrations, but they go home happy. That's what is all about."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>When you moved to WWE, your monumental leap off the cage at Madison Square Garden against Don Muraco still has fans talking about it. What are your thoughts looking back at the historic moment?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I love the people very much. Something like that in Madison Square Garden is the big apple of them all. That's the only place you can cut lose."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>In another famous memory Roddy Piper slammed a coconut over your head on a Piper's Pit segment. What were your thoughts on that?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Now you're really giving me goosebumps. That's probably one of the greatest Piper's Pits that ever happened."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>During your second run with WWE when you had the match with The Undertaker at WrestleMania 7, you were regarded as a teacher. How did that make you feel?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Brother,I love it. I am not a glory man, but I am a business man."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Why don't you think you ever worked a program with Hulk Hogan?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I don't really know brother. To be very honest there was a time when it was supposed to happen, but I guess things didn't work out. I don't know why, but that's the way it goes."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>When you moved to ECW you were the federation's first champion. How influential do you think you were laying down the ground for guys like Rob Van Dam, The Sandman, and Shane Douglas?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"The business is wonderful when things are done right. When it is done right and everything is lovely there is no negative about it as everything has to be about business."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>There were all sorts of strange stories about your behavior on the road. What is the weirdest story you have heard people say about you, and how does it make you feel to hear them?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I don't really know brother. It is probably jealousy."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Final thoughts on your future in the wrestling business?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I love it. I enjoy it. I love the people. I love the fans. I love what this business is doing for everybody."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Interview with S.D. Jones</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="3c3b3df0.jpg" border=0 width="179" height="223" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>S.D. Jones's career highlight is being on the first WrestleMania as he was defeated by King Kong Bundy. Many have not heard from him in a while, and he speaks for the first time about what he has been up to, and his time with WWE including WrestleMania 1.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>First off how are you?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I am fine."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What have you been up to of late, and are you still in professional wrestling?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I quit after 20 years. In 1989 or 1991 I think I did the last match, and then I gave up."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>At WrestleMania 1 you were defeated by King Kong Bundy in a very short match. What are your thoughts on the match, and being on the first WrestleMania?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I only did one Wrestlemania against King Kong Bundy and that was it. It was ok. It wasn't my best, but I didn't do too much as the match was 17 seconds. I let him squash me and that was it. It wasn't one of my best."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What was the atmosphere like among everyone that night at WrestleMania 1?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I don't know because most of the time I don't sit with most of the society. I sat in the back with Tito Santana and Junkyard Dog, but everyone has their own friends. I really didn't know what was going on that night. I knew I had my match with King Kong Bundy, and I was ready for that."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What do you remember most about the early days of the WWWF under Vince McMahon, Sr.?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"We had a better time with the father than the son. We had better matches I think."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You were discovered by Gorilla Monsoon, am I right?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"He was responsible for me being there. I was going down to wrestling school in Manhattan, New York with Johnny Rodz, and he was the one who brought me there. Captain Lou Albano was the one who spoke with Gorilla Monsoon to take me into the company."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You also had the opportunity to tag with Andre The Giant. What was that like, and what are your memories of Andre The Giant?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"He is one of the best I ever worked with. He was a very good nice man. I had a good time with him. I did three or four matches with him I think."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You also had some six man tag team matches with Rock Johnson and Tony Atlas. What was it like to work with those guys?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"That was fun. We laughed a lot. We clicked I should say. Once in a while they would break it off and put me in a tag match with Rock Johnson or with Tony Atlas."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Did you get see Rocky Johnson's son The Rock grow up?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Of course. My kids and him grew up together in Florida."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What are your thoughts on Vince McMahon, Jr. as a wrestling promoter, and when he bought the company from his dad?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"It wasn't bad. He is doing the best he can for wrestling I would say."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Finally, what is in store for your future?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Just enjoying life now. I did 20 years, and I am just sitting home relaxing."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Interview with Jamie Koeppe</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="3b5b5100.jpg" border=0 width="181" height="272" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Jaime Koeppe entered the WWE Divas Search Competition on WWE.com and out of thousands of applications and entries ended up in the final four and ended up winning the whole thing, and it possibly might lead to a long term career with WWE, but from talking with her she seems to really have it together.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>First off how are you?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I am exhausted, but I am doing really well."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Why did you decide to send in your application to the WWE.com Summerslam Divas search competition?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Several fans from my Yahoo club encouraged me to do so. It took me a little while to decide to do so and I then entered, and once I entered, it gave me a little effort to try and win it."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Did you think you had a good chance of winning?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"To be honest, I had no idea. I didn't think I would win. I saw my competitors, and I thought that they just had a little more experience then I did. My competition was Diane who was in my region, and I thought she would take the whole thing."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Is there any chance you could become a full time WWE Diva, and possibly wrestle in the WWE Women's Division or do you have any interest in being a wrestler?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"That's not really up to me. I think that is up to WWE. I think that we would have to sit down, and talk about what would happen. I am open to ideas and seeing what is going to happen as I am not too sure, but I am up for any challenge." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Tell me about your entertainment background as a TV personality, actress, and fitness model?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I like to call myself that. You can say I do more auditions then acting. I audition for any independent movie or commercials. I have done hosting parts and pilots for some sports extreme shows, and I competed in a competition that was across Canada, and I won the Miss Molson Indy Canada 2002 contest, but that was more of a bikini style competition. I have done fitness competitions where I have placed 5th and 6th, and then some contests I have never placed. I have done mostly print stuff, but it has taken four years to get a resume. I mean even longer then four years.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Do you think the WWE Diva photo shoot you won and appearances on the WWE TV will help you reach something else you want to do?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I have no idea. It is hard to say, because just being pretty doesn't mean anything. I have talent, but I need to be seen. People might assume she is good looking or has an attractive body, but I happen to be very marketable and do have talent. I am thankful for the opportunity to be seen, but I am hoping something will come out of it. My thing is sports and entertainment."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Were you a fan of WWE before this competition?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I have been watching it for years. We used to get together as a group and watch it, and yeah I have been watching it for years even with my family. I have always watched it. People say I am not a fan, and there are a lot of people saying a lot of things, and there are a lot of haters. There is nothing I can really do. People are going to do judge you in all ways no matter what. People always have an opinion."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Did you enjoy your time at WWE Summerslam?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I had an awesome time. I loved it. I will definitely go to more events when given the opportunity to do so. It was so fun. There were times when I sat in my seat when I said I should totally be up there and be doing this because it is entertainment. I love to entertain."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What are your thoughts on fellow Canadian fitness model turned WWE Diva Trish Stratus?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I think it's great. She has come a long way. I think she is doing an awesome job."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Final comments?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I am open to anyone who has any suggestions. I am pretty much open to seeing what happens and this is entertainment. I love live entertainment, but will basically see what happens. I think the possibilities are endless. There are a lot of opportunities, and the world is my oyster."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Crash Holly Interview</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="3a896c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Crash Holly's claim to fame in WWE is creating the 24/7 rule in the WWE Hardcore Championship division. He was the underdog of sorts, but was always very entertaining and interesting to watch as Hardcore Holly's cousin. He recently departed from WWE, and now finds his home in NWATNA.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>First off how are you?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I am doing fine."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Why were you released from WWE?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"It was a mutual release between myself and the company. I was no longer happy there, and I wanted to after other interests which would be sanity, so they gave me my sanity back."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What were your thoughts on the WWE creative team, including Brian Gerwitz?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"My thoughts on Brian Gerwitz are that if you're not one of the favorites or somebody's in then you really don't get to do anything. I didn't see eye to eye with Brian Gerwitz, and my stint on WWE Raw or I would like to call WWE Heat because that is the only show I ever got to wrestle for. If he is currently responsible for the writing, then my comments basically tell you what I think of his writing. I don't think Dave Lagona and Brian Gerwitz know the history of this business, but it should be someone like Dean Malenko or Arn Anderson writing these shows because they know history, but if they let the boys write the show with a good track record, then the wrestling business can turn around."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Do you think Brian Gerwitz had any direction or card for your character?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Brian Gerwitz cares for some characters, but obviously he has his favorites like any other wrestling promoter or writer, where you're going to push your favorites with the most TV time. The wrestling business is kinda like a cd collection. If you have 50 cd's, and you're only listening to two or three or four cds, it's kinda like Norah Jones sweeping the Grammy's, and you have all these other artists like Eminem and Avril Lavigne sitting on the side and like the Grammys, Brian Gerwitz choose to push and use his favorite person, but you haven't heard any recent Norah Jones radio ads. That is what I think of Brian Gerwitz and the WWE creative team."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What are your thoughts on Vince McMahon as a wrestling promoter?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"He is one of the smartest people in the world. The WWE hired me. I would be a hypocrite to go around and criticize them because they gave me my spot. If you have someone who is talented, but when you come in for the first year and everything works out was great, but for the next three to four years you don't get to do anything wasn't the lack of my talent, but I wasn't the favorite toy to push. I wasn't one of their favorites I guess, but I wish I would have been because I could have been a good piece in the program."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You are probably one of the most decorated WWE Superstars of all time, and your highlight would probably have to be teaming with Hardcore Holly to defeat The Rock and Mankind for the WWE Tag Team Championship, and as well inventing the 24/7 WWE Hardcore Championship rule. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Actually, my favorite moment was not beating The Rock and Mankind. My favorite moment was the culmination of the 24/7 that was leading up to WrestleMania. The 24/7 was a good thing, because not only did I get over, but all the guys like Tazz, Perry Saturn, Mean Street Posse, and Hardcore Holly got over by beating the hell out of me. It was a good piece in the puzzle, and in 2000 it got some of the highest ratings. That was my favorite time. People can say the WWE Hardcore lost credibility because it switched so many times, but the 24/7 was an idea of reinventing itself because it was entertainment, something different, and never done before. That was my proudest moment of being out there."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Which WWE Hardcore Championship segment did you enjoy the most?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Probably the one in the fun house with The Headbangers. Pre tape usually takes a long time to do, but that segment took one take. The one at WrestleMania 2000 had a lot of color. Those are my two favorites."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What are your thoughts on working with Steve Blackman?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"He was one of the funniest guys in the locker room. I wish he could have transferred that on to the TV because generally Steve Blackman is a real funny bastard."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What was it like teaming with Hardcore Holly to defeat The Rock and Mankind for the WWE Tag Team Championship on October 18th, 1999 on WWE Raw?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Hardcore Holly taught me so much. He taught me the in and outs of the company. I have never been a mark to win the title. I have always been the mark that gets the opponent, angle, or whatever else over me. If I have the attitude of getting someone over, then you will have the attitude to get yourself over, and winning the titles wasn't the most important thing to me. It was more about getting to run with the ball and if you can run with that ball."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What do you regret most from your run with WWE?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Not getting the chance to work with Matt Hardy and Shannon Moore. I think we're the only three men in wrestling to never do a six man, and whatever Vince McMahon says goes. It is really frustrating for me, Matt Hardy, and Shannon Moore that we never got our feet off the ground because I know it would have worked."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Do you think Paul Heyman did a good job as head booker of WWE Smackdown?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I am not at the booking meetings. I can't tell you what influence Paul did or didn't have. If you look at the show now, and you look at the show when Paul Heyman was writing certain segments, but I think it's a shame that someone like Paul Heyman or Tommy Dreamer isn't used in better fashion."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Do you think HHH has extra political power because he is dating Stephanie McMahon?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I will point out the obvious. If my wife worked for that company and my wife was the boss's daughter, I think I would still work for WWE. I think she did come out on Howard Stern and admitted they were item of sorts. That is painfully obvious, because if that is your boyfriend, he's going to be in the inside and have a say so. The wrestling business doesn't work as far as how talented you are. There are a lot of the boys bitching about HHH's position, but if you put most of the boys in his position they would probably do the same thing. If you don't like it find something else to do. That is just the nature of the business."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What are your thoughts on the incident with Hardcore Holly where he beat up a WWE Tough Enough 3 contestant Matt?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Matt better go get a box of tissues and wipe those damn tears. Hardcore Holly has beat me up more then anyone else, and every time Hardcore Holly beat my ass, I went into the back and shook his hand. That's how you earn respect in the wrestling business. You don't sit there and cry. This is a man sport, and if you can't take an ass whooping from Hardcore Holly then get out the door"</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What are your thoughts on working with NWATNA?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"You walk into WWE week by week, and it is very frustrating when the creative says we just don't know what to do with the guy. I just think it's funny that when I am in NWATNA the first two weeks, they know what to do with me. If someone like WWE doesn't want to have anything to do with me, then I still have a lot to offer the wrestling business. I am very happy to work for NWATNA, and show what I can do."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What is it like working with Vince Russo in NWATNA?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I love Vince Russo. I get along with Vince Russo. He was the person who came up with the name Crash Holly. Vince Russo came up with the idea that he was gonna make Hardcore Holly a cousin. Vince Russo had the original concept, but he was only there a few weeks. After that I came up with most of my stuff."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Why do you think the wrestling business is in a decline?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"It all begins with your writing. That is how the business has drawn money, and that is how the business will continue to draw money when you have good storylines, characters, and you are hooking people in. I don't care if there is one big company. You need to write wrestling storylines on a weekly basis and get people hooked in. That is when the people will tune in."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Final comments?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I am looking very forward to working with NWATNA because it has made wrestling fun again."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Another Interview with Roddy Piper</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="3a018fb0.jpg" border=0 width="280" height="251" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Roddy Piper went back to the WWE for one more run at WrestleMania 19 when he interfered in the Hulk Hogan vs. Vince McMahon match as Piper's Pit was alive one more time, and became one of the most important roles on WWE Smackdown next to Vince McMahon and Hulk Hogan as always. Now after being released, Roddy Piper has new projects in store for his future.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>First off how are you?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I feel great. I am honored because there is not many people who have me back twice. I feel pretty good. On a personal note, my second oldest child is in Italy right now, she got a 4.0, and is an honor student, and she is now going to UCLA. So for a professional wrestling lacking education, it's a pretty proud moment for her dad."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The comments you made on the HBO special about wrestlers involved with drugs and deaths included admitting that you took drugs. Do you think this was the main reason you were released from WWE?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I don't think it had a thing to do with it. No. Not at all. In my book </B><B>In the Pit with Piper</B><B>, the wrestling fan received 80,000 words. If you read between the lines </B><B>In the Pit with Piper,</B><B> you would have known that I went through a spell under the lifestyle of a professional wrestler. What you're referring to on HBO as far as using drugs, it's a little misleading. The fellow by the name of Armen Keteyian was the guy who interviewed me, and the interview was about two hours, and then they asked if they could interview me with my family, and that took two and a half hours. During the interview we talked about a players association, and Armen Keteyian generally asked, 'What did Dr. Zahorian have and where?' Well, it was Hershey, Pennsylvania, and there was this doctor who was prescribing drugs, and 30 minutes later Armen Keteyian in the same interview said, 'Roddy, you lived like this for 20 years?' Yeah I did. I didn't take every one of those drugs because he had asked me about what prescriptions or drugs he had. I have been arguably in this sport for more then 30 years, and no one knows including me, but as the interview was played they showed nothing of my family. What I did with HBO Real Sports Brian Gumble and Armen Keteyian was that they had been after me since January, and I kept pushing it off as I didn't want to do the interview. They were interested in doing a story on chapter 12 in my book which was the sickness, and I admitted that yes that was 12 years ago, and all the drugs they named I wasn't taking, but on the other hand I was in court. You can look up the transcript, and see what I was and wasn't doing. I wouldn't do the interview unless I had my team there, so I had the B roll of all the footage. You have HBO Real Sports here who is trying to do a piece with the deaths of professional wrestlers that I have been speaking of, and with you in our first interview I believe what I thought of what Vince McMahon was doing. We bring me ahead to the first appearance on WWE Smackdown, and I ended it with I hate you too Vince McMahon. It was pretty much in your face, what I was saying all along, and what is in the book. When you see Vince McMahon slapping the paper out of Armen Keteyian's hand, this is Vince McMahon losing his temper. I think it came down to why I was terminated was that it was about who can handle the pressure, and who was the best stickman in the world, and it's not Vince McMahon. I just think I made a multi-millionaire angry, and this multi-millionaire decided that he didn't want to be bothered handling Roddy Piper. Every time we came in the ring to do The Piper's Pits, it became more Mr. McMahon, and the quality of them was decreasing. It was a way out for him not having to deal with somebody he couldn't control."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>So your response is that you came off better then Vince McMahon did on the HBO Real Sports special, and with that Vince McMahon fired you because of that?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Exactly."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What was the exact statement you were given from WWE as far as your release goes?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I saw it like everyone else saw it when WWE put it on the internet, and I have not spoken to anyone from WWE at this point when I am speaking to you Chris. They put up this statement, and they referred to the HBO special which we just talked about as a reference point. From 1971 to 1991 if your talking about a drug use, this is 2003, and that is irrelevant. I believe that self destructive was in the statement, and I had in my hand the booking dates with Piper's Pit with Vince McMahon in house show venues for August, and I had received a three month working visa for Japan as I was schedule to go over there too. There were no contract disputes at all, everything was settled. I was in the Hotel in Newark at Madison Square Garden the same night the HBO special aired. Ironically Hulk Hogan took his mask off and quit, and I found via this statement the next day of self destructive behavior, and I wasn't wrestling as I was only doing Piper's Pits, but via many lawyers, we know there was no contractual disagreements as it was already done. I have not done any drugs since I was in that darn court with Dr. Zahorian which was 1991, and yes sir it is his ego, and in a little defense of Vince McMahon, he has taken it upon himself as far as keeping sports entertainment running, and it's very hard for one man to run the sport as we see from week to week on the show."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Why did you decide to go back to WWE, and do the run in at WrestleMania 19 in the Hulk Hogan vs. Vince McMahon match?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I was on The Best Damn Sports Show, and I knew that Vince McMahon and Hulk Hogan were going to wrestle each other, and I said Vince McMahon and Hulk Hogan have been living next door to each other their whole life, and put me in the middle as referee and I will have them kill each other, and that is what started the balling running. The reason I came into the ring not as referee was that they were going to come back after WrestleMania 19, and this might have been the lowest WrestleMania they ever had, and the fact I would make a surprise appearance and come back and do a match on the pay perview would make more sense and to a point that is correct."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What were your thoughts on the creative direction of WWE Smackdown, and your thoughts on how Piper's Pit came across?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"The first Piper's Pit I call free falling, and I don't write them or construct them in that matter. I felt really good as I believe it got the highest share for that segment in the history of that show, and from there on I believe that Vince McMahon tried to become Roddy Piper having Piper's pit and here comes Mr. McMahon. I did a taped interview and I said Vince McMahon, Jr. and they bleeped out the Junior. The next week I come out and introduce Vince McMahon, and he said, 'After all, who better knows a big American success story than Vincent Kennedy McMahon.' When I would said something on Piper's Pit, the next week it was compensated for. There was a young fellow by the name of Zack Gowen, and he asked if I would pull this kid's leg off. I went to Zack Gowen and found out he was a baseball player, lost his leg to cancer, and he had been in a wrestling camp, and could do these maneuvers quite well. Once I looked at in the way it was his dream to be a professional wrestler, I knew that he needed some propelling to get to that main event slot, and there is no other way he would have got there. What are you going to do? Put Zack Gowen against The Big Show, and it's going to draw money? No. I am going to help this kid get a lift up, and that was that, but if you look at it from that point, and how much Zack Gowen wanted to be a professional wrestler, but if you look at the picture for the WWE that's not a nice way of a killing a top commodity off or putting a mask over a famous wrestler like Hulk Hogan as Mr. America. One of the most stupidest times when I was in the ring was saying that you're not Mr. America, you're Hulk Hogan. The idea was with the way things were structured by Vince McMahon on Piper's Pit, he was trying to kill my heat and step in as the host. At WrestleMania 19, he made himself the main event, and now he wants to be in front of the camera, and he picks Hulk Hogan to wrestle him, and he picks Roddy Piper to come down who got a bigger ovation then both of them, and Vince McMahon got over his head."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Do you think there is too much Mcmahon's in the major storylines on WWE Smackdown?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Yes...Yes...Yes. Next question."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>On May 18, 2003 WWE Judgement Day 2003 you were defeated by Mr. America aka Hulk Hogan. In your biography, you talked at length on why you refused to lose to Hogan, what changed your mind this time around?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Well, Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 1 was a totally different story. I was fighting for my family and he was fighting for his. My job as I saw it was to help out young guys, and to get my business back on track that is professional wrestling. I believe that it was off track, and there are only a few people who can put it on track. I was open and honest, and if that worked for the fans, and at my point in my career, I owed it."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Were you surprised to see Hulk Hogan leave the WWE because he was not happy with his creative direction?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Surprise? Yes. The most ironic thing is that for different reasons our time with WWE ended for different reasons, and me and Hulk Hogan became pretty close towards the end, and that day in Madison Square Garden was the last day for Hulk Hogan who took his mask off after the cameras went off and said good bye. It is kind of ironic, but I don't know if it's coincidental or not."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Did you think Sean O'Haire lost out when you were let go?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"The creative team in WWE didn't understand on how to get someone like that over. Sean O'Haire is one hell of a guy, and he can speak for himself, and he doesn't need Roddy Piper. I think the WWE did a tremendous disservice by putting him with Roddy Piper. Let them go out and do what they need to do because I can only tell you how Roddy Piper can draw money. I wish him nothing but the best." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Why do you think WWE never gave you the WWE World Heavyweight Championship?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I didn't need one. Only people who can't draw money need belts. The only thing I need is a great opponent."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You're going to be starring in a movie with Janet Jackson real soon, am I right?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Yeah. The filming starts September 2nd, and it has Janet Jackson, Christopher Walken, and Emilio Estevez, so I am going to be doing that movie."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Finally, what is in store for your future?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"As we wind this up, you Chris are doing a great job. I wish you all the luck in the world, and for the listeners and readers watching you, you are very respectful, and have all my respect from that. UPW is going to be a ball, and at the end of this seven day camp, the top ten guys have to go into this battle royal on a real deal card, and that is going to be the best entertainment for me. It's going to be a very tough camp, but a sincere honest one. I would like to do animated voices. I think that would be a blast. I am a big kid fan. I am going to do entertainment in various ways."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Dutch Mantell Interview</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="39bdcef0.gif" border=0 width="220" height="239" ALT="Bitmap Image" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Dutch Mantell is probably as old school as you are going to get in the wrestling business as far as today's standards go, but he is still going as a behind the scenes creative head and booker for IWA Puerto Rico's TV show and events as well. He is remembered most for his days in the wrestling territories especially Memphis with his feuds with Jerry Lawler, and has had so much influence on careers of The Undertaker and Steve Austin just to name a few.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>First off how are you?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I am ok."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>As the creative head behind IWA Puerto Rico, it is good to hear that your TV ratings are still very high every week. What has the experience been like booking and producing a TV show in Puerto Rico?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Well, it's different. If you go back 10 or 20 years in the territories they would have TV for an hour a week. The tradition here even going back to the first company, is that there is TV for at least and hour and a half, but now today it is two hours. Both companies today have two hours Saturday and two hours Sunday which makes it four hours a week, and if you multiply it by 52 times four that's 208 hours a year. That is a lot of TV, and you can have wrestling for hours a week, but the key comes in if you can have quality wrestling to fill those hours, and if you don't have that you really have a bad product. What we try to do here at IWA, is that if we put out something from the booking of the match to the execution of the match to the production of the match where it goes on tape for the viewer to see is three stages we have to take care of. That's one reason our ratings are so good."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Why did you leave the WWC for IWA Puerto Rico?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Everybody leaves them. It is a 30 year-old company now that has seen it's better days. I am not going to say anything bad about them, but it is money problems. They are late on money, late on business, and all that. It is a company that didn't change, but you can see today their beliefs have almost left them to their demise. I don't think they have changed with the times. When the people in Puerto Rico had a choice they hopped to IWA Puerto Rico. I wrestled for WWC and had a lot of matches. I started to first come to Puerto Rico in 1979, and I was one of the first to come here, and to me it was the best kept secret in the world, and I made a lot of money. The thing about Puerto Rico is that you can come down here in the wintertime when everyone is freezing up in the North in January and it will be 80 or 90 degrees and it's great. I have a soft spot for Puerto Rico, and I have done well here too."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Please elaborate on your experiences with the WWE of late as far as a possible job on their creative team and everything else.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"They put out a press release that I was rejected for a writing position, and I was wondering how can you be rejected when you have never applied? I stay in contact with Bradshaw, and he said to me, 'Why don't you think about coming here?' I told him I don't know. He said, 'Why don't you send me a resume, and I will put your name in there and see what happens.' He said something to them, and they called me. The girl who called me up was Jennifer, and she works in Stephanie McMahon's office, and she didn't even know who I was, didn't care who I was, but she wanted me to submit two sample storylines, and sign a form that if they were good and they wanted to use them that I wouldn't get any compensation for it. I said to myself that if I have to audition the hell with it. In the older days you never had to do that anyways, and it was a closed community where this guy is good at this or this guy is good at that. They now have people who don't know what they are looking for. They have writers that are 25 or 26 years old that have probably never written anywhere else or they might have written an interview column. I don't like the term writing because it's creating and booking. I don't think they know the difference, and that's why WWE is in the position they're in. Vince McMahon years ago raided all the territories, and got the top talent from every territory. He ended up with an all-star team, and when the all-star team got too old to wrestle anymore, all the other territories had died because he killed off his own talent bank. He is trying to run today with guys you have never heard of, and they try to find their way through the developmental system, and when they got on TV no one knows who they are. Vince McMahon is having trouble creating new talent, and he doesn't know what to do, and hell I don't know what to do either to tell you the truth."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What are your thoughts on the death of Bruiser Broody?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Nobody liked it."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What was it like to book the Memphis wrestling territory for a few months then someone take over with fresh ideas?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Well, a new booker wouldn't come in every few months. It was Jerry Jarret for many years, and at times Jerry Jarret was brilliant. Jerry Lawler sometimes was brilliant. The arrows were different in those days, but when a new booker came in it was good. I wasn't there when the new bookers came in. The booking usually went between a couple of people that went between Jerry Jarret, Jerry Lawler, and Bill Dundee, and then I had it a few times. Nothing really did change that much, and it wasn't that bad."  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Who do you think the best booker you ever met was?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Jerry Jarret was one of them. Eddie Graham was one of them. Tom Arnesto was one of them. A lot of people might not agree with me, but Dusty Rhodes had brilliant ideas at times, and regardless of what they did in the match they made money. It was exciting to work with those guys because if you hit the ring and those people were hot you were doing your job right, and you were looking for a hot crowd, and they all did it. Those were the smartest bookers I was around. I learned a lot watching those guys."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Tell me about your feuds with Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee in the Memphis wrestling territory.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Jerry Lawler is a tremendous performer and very professional. We booked a match one time, and I think had the southern title and he went for it. We went to Mid South and sold out just by booking the match, and we went to Louisville, Kentucky and sold out, Nashville, Tennessee and sold out. In Memphis at one time, we would draw like a 20 rating, and Jerry Lawler was doing better then network shows at the time. You had to be in shape to work with Bill Dundee, and he might in the ring, under the ring, or over the ring. One thing I remember about Bill Dundee is that we had a scaffold match and I am afraid of heights, and Bill Dundee came from a circus family so he liked heights. When he got there 15 feet over the ring he enjoyed it, and he was so high in the Mid South Coliseum he could look straight over at the highest deck. I would never do that match now, and it was like the first one who falls off 15 to 20 feet in the air loses the match, and today I would never do that again because you know who ha