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The Stro Speaks 9-11-02
Words from Strozilla/ USA, HLA, and more!
Hello everyone. In honor of this special day, I would like to pay my respects to the lives that passed away on 9/11. Their memories will always live in our hearts and will never be forgotten. To those who risked their lives to save them and countless others, you all are the true heroes of this world. It's is because of your courage and unity that I am so proud to be an American. GOD bless the USA!
So glad the tropical storm off of the Atlantic coast didn't strengthen this week. I had just flew back from Vancouver and it would be just my luck to fly right into a storm. It never fails though. Every time I leave North Carolina to travel, nine times out of ten a storm hits there. But I have rambled about this long enough. About "3 minutes" too long (laughs), which leads me to.. this week's WWE programming.
I remember not too long ago when Eric Bischoff will tell us all in the back in WCW about how important it was for us to make WCW a "family oriented show". He would even go ballistic when the "ass" word was used (even though it was used periodically with the "established" guys and then full stream with the Russo era). But I tune into WWE Raw and what do I see? Eric talking sex with two ladies portraying to be lesbians. Ha! What a rib! WWE programming exploring the "controversial" issues of the world although may be admirable in attempting so, it should be taken just as serious as other issues and make sense to the audience instead of being made light of or being too racy for younger viewers. The viewing audience, no matter what "preference" they are, deserves equal respect as we all want our ways of life portrayed in a positive manner for young and old audiences. Let's hope the WWE realizes this and directs all this in a more positive light in the weeks ahead.
I will be in Hamlet, North Carolina this weekend for the WCEW's "September Showdown" show at the national guard armory wrestling WCEW star Steve Michaels in a number one contender match for the WCEW heavyweight title. The winner will wrestle the winner of the WCEW title match later on that night between champion Magnum T.R. and former WWE and current NWA/TNA star Bo Dupp. Steve Michaels is a very cagey wrestler who along with "Bad Company" member Mike Draven, have formed one of the top tag teams in WCEW. This time around, the WCEW title match hangs in the balance. I will be focused and look forward to see all the great wrestling fans in Hamlet. For more information on the show, go to the WCEW website at http://www.wcewrestling.com.
Tales from the Lair
I was warming up for a WCW Nitro TV taping in Denver in the back while conversing with Vampiro and Norman Smiley. It was a typical night of taping. Chaos with the writers, confusion of the boys, the usual. I had just got through seeing Rick Steiner and Mike Rotundo wrestle PG 13 , a tag team I have wrestled many times in the past with former tag team partner Tommy "Wildfire" Rich in the old USWA (including the infamous hair vs hair match at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis) There was a match before mine involving Hugh Morris and Meng(Haku). The agents were worried that they weren't on deck and were looking for them. Suddenly we heard loud screams and noises. We thought to ourselves "Oh my GOD! These big bears are fighting!" Suddenly they both barg through the double doors, knocking Arn Anderson down in the process. Hugh Morris was chasing Meng around the back trying to tickle him while Meng is giggling like a little kid! Imagine that! Two overgrown 300 pounders chasing each other trying to tickle one another. LOL Unreal!
I am also gonna start another new section of the column next week called "Stro Mailbox". This will have feedback letters with opinions and views I recieve along with questions that I will answer here at the column. So if you guys have any feedback that you would like for me to post here at the column, let me know.
Thank you guys for taking the time to read my column. Email me your ideas and feedback at stro@thestro.com. Be sure to check out my website at www.thestro.com for all the latest on me such as appearances, my wrestling school, merchandise, and more. For you Yahoo group users, you can visit my fan group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stroworld and for MSN, http://groups.msn.com/stroglobe. Don't forget live chats on Monday nights after Raw at my official website, every Thursday before Smackdown at 7 pm. est at Stroworld, and after Smackdown at StroGlobe.
Stro
"Nobody can go toe to toe with the Stro!"
Paul Emanuel Interviews AJ Styles
Hi this is Paul Emanuel I would like to welcome you to another interview from
www.wrestlinginterviews.com. I would like to welcome my guest today, one the top cruiserweights in pro wrestling, AJ Styles. First off AJ I would like to thank you for the this interview.
"Well Your Welcome"
Let me ask you this, How did you get into pro wrestling?
"Well, I kind of just fell into it. It is something I always thought that I would do. But growing up as a kid I wanting to be a Football Player or something of that nature not a Wrestler. So I went up with two friends to NCW Training School, which is now Wildside, they quit and I
stayed and here I am."
Tell us about wrestling in WWA.
AJ: "I wrestled for them twice once in Australia and once in Las Vegas. I wasn't a big deal, it was just like any other Indy group. I was well ran, I had a good time, great places to go, and overall I guess I did enjoy it."
How do you like wrestling in NWA-TNA?
"I absolutely love it, how could I not. Everything is very professional. They guys there are no big heads and there are no clicks, everyone is on the same level there. I love wrestling there, I will always know there we be a great match for me to take part in. It just makes it more exciting about going there to wrestle."
What is it like being Tag Team Partners with Jerry Lynn?
"Well it is funny how you watched Jerry Lynn become a ECW Heavyweight Champ and you think oh my god this guy is awesome he is great. Then a couple of years later I am Tagging with him. He comes up with some of the best ideas, I don't think that there is one match that you can have with him that is not awesome. Being his Tag Team partner is just an honor."
Who or what was your motivation for becoming a Pro Wrestler?
"Well to give you the truth and the truth at first was money, because wrestling at the time was so big. When you wrestle for the first time, it grows on you so quickly that you fall in love with it. For me it was not really a motivation is was I just could not stop."
What advice would you give to someone wanting to become a pro wrestler?
"Well if you are looking for money there is no reason for getting into Pro Wrestling. It is really not going to be there unless you get super lucky and I have been very lucky. There is no money in it at first and it takes a toll on your body. It is so hard to make a name for yourself in the wrestling business and when you do you have to slow down because
your knees or elbows or hurting or something. It is hard, I would really tell them to think about it. I would also suggest that they look at some documentaries on wrestling before making a decision."
What does the future hold for AJ Styles?
"Well I hope that NWA-TNA keeps going on, it is one of the biggest wrestling promotions in the world. But if not I would certainly love to wrestle for WWE, New Japan, and All Japan. Wrestling over in Japan is one of my main goals. I hope that TNA does not let that happen, I enjoy being a part of that group. Hopefully that will be my future, I would love to retire wrestling in NWA-TNA."
Any Final Comments
"If people want to see great wrestling they are going to order NWA-TNA pay perviews. It is clear that when you watch NWA-TNA all the guys are giving there 100 percent. Again it is a great place to work for and it is great wrestling to watch."
rs, you can visit my fan group
The Manager of Champions Bill Alfonso Commentary
Bill Alfonso led Tazz to an incredible undefeated streak which lasted well over a year before leading Rob Van Dam to the longest World Television Championship reign in the history of ECW.Declaring himself as the man who "calls it right down the middle," Alfonso never stops moving and never stops blowing his whistle at his charges or anyone else. Not above interjecting himself into Van Dam's matches, Alfonso is a major cog in the RVD machine, as well as an essential piece of Van Dam's success here in Extreme Championship Wrestling.With his years of experience empowering Rob Van Dam, Alfonso remains one of Extreme Championship Wrestling's most successful managers.
7-31-01 Bill Updates us with his monthly commentary.He comments on Rob Van Dam and the WWF,Hogans Promotion and the New Promotion Main Event Championship Wrestling.
6-12-01 In the exclusive commentary Bill Alfonso tells his interest of working with a major promotion Poissibly Hulk Kogans or the World Wresting Federations New WCW he also talks about Shane Mcmamhon,Rob Van Dam and Paul Heyman.
5-12-01 The commentary is up live at the Future of Wrestling Show in Davie Florida Fonzie goes over many things his future and getting use to the Indy Scene.
4-27-01 The newest with Bill Alfonso discusses his upcoming Indy appearances and what's in store for him. Listen to the Commentary
4-18-01 The weekly commentary is up Listen The Manager of Champions comments on the ECW Bankruptcy. Bill Alfonso Comments
4-9-01 The weekly commentary is up Alfonso discusses where he might end up with the WWF and come back to TV really soon all this and much more. Listen to the Commentary
3-30-01 Bill Alfonso Discusses WWF buying WCW and is he signing with them also we talk about wrestlemania and his favorite moment. Alfonso speaks his words
Wrestling Legend Dickie Stienborn Commentary
While wrestling on the road throughout the United States, I found that wrestlers all over this country loved playing jokes," Ribs" on each other. I was no different, just worse. I guess I learned it from my Dad, who told of the wrestlers in the 1920s and 30s, and some of the jokes they played on each other.
I saw a golden opportunity one day. I was putting out a small puiblication at my Dads promotion in Orlando every Monday, selling anywhere from 8 to 9 hundred for 50 cents each.. I was the photographer, and loaded that little program up with new pictures every week. I dictated the stories, and it was a ringside wrestling bible. It continually told the story of what happened the week before ,and future plans by the pormoter. I called it " Milos Mat" . My Dad had a column in there, where he teasingly tantalized his patrons in a soap opera of struggle, hate and wrestling action.
I went by the printers Monday night to pick up my programs, and then decided on this rib spontaneously.I had taken a cover shot photo of " DANTA and MEPHISTO" and their manager.
There were 900 programs with their picture on the cover. I asked the printer if he could give me some 2 inch by 6 inch strips of printed material stating " BOBBY HARTand FRANKIE CAIN. Those were the guys under the masks. I glued about 20 strips over their names on the program and headed for my Dads arena , the Orlando Sports Stadium.
Since I was my Dads leg man at the arena, I quickly deposited 10 programs in each of the two dressing rooms. It was a Monday night, and after a well deserved Sunday rest, the wrestlers arrived in Orlando at 7.30pm ,and were always eager to read about themselves in my 22 page weekly publ;ication. I timed it just right. I entered the dressing room at 10 minutes to 8, and Frankie Cain comes up to me with a bewildering expression on his face. He was holding the program up to me, showing me his legal name. while under the mask. I said" What`s wrong?" he said" You put our name on the program" I looked at him and slapped my open palm to my forehead and stated" Oh my gosh, there`s over 700 of these sold already".If Frankie Cain had not been my friend, I felt sure I would have recieved a Sunday puinch right there and then.I tore the strip off the program and looked at him and called him" A Mark" and left the dressing room.
I saw him at a Las Vegas reunion last year ,and that was the first thing he brought up, that I really fooled him with my last minute rib. " INNOVATION" is the happiness of success.
Regards
Dickie Steinborn
2606 West Main Street,
Richmond, VA 23220
