Crosman
07-14-2006, 06:24 AM
It's hard to say this after 20 years of watching WWF/WWE but I have finaly come to realize that WWE wrestling is dead and has no chance of ever rising back on top.
TNA is for sure the future of wrestling.
Please read this interveiw with Jim Cornett, Interesting and true.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ross Forman welcomes us to the call. He hypes Victory Road for this Sunday, and then runs down the above ratings information. He introduces Jim Cornette.
If he is the new face of TNA, he would hate to see the old one.
Q. What do you think of the current wrestling scene?
A. It is no secret that I love wrestling, I have been in25-years. It has hurt me to see where wrestling has gone, and I almost quit. WWE is honestly what people think wrestling is, and they can insult you on many levels with their programming. They are a vanity promotion, where Vince, Shane and the kids run the show and the new talent doesn't get the shot. I have been working with the reunion shows, ROH and now TNA and I got the old feel back. People that love wrestling and want to show that to people. I was ashamed for a long time, but TNA has allowed me to have a good time, there is great talent; old and new that is going to be great. If more people can find TNA, the company will only grow and they are a true alternative.
Q. Any chance you will bring some of "your guys" to TNA?
A. I am looking things over, and there is a ton of talent trying to get into TNA as of now. Samoa Joe has said that TNA will let you show your talent and let the fans decide. TNA does do that, and while you can't book everyone, there are people out there that should be brought in as the crème always rises to the top.
Q. How big a factor was knowing a lot of the talent factor in for you coming to TNA?
A. I just realized that this was something I should be and could be involved with. I have a lot of TNA experience and could help them. Maybe I could have influence on getting some of them to came to TNA. I gave Candido, Kane and Al Snow their first real shots. In OVW we had great talent, but they weren't always used properly. If my credibility could help TNA, I am all for it.
Q. Will you have any part in the creative team?
A. I don't really play well with others, and am not too diplomatic. TNA contacted me to lay down the law and tell the fans how things are. I will be the liazon between TNA and the fans. I will lay things out and they will be the truth. These guys have to have great matches, draw ratings and buy rates.
Q.What do you remember about having your head shaved back in 1984?
A. Have a good set of clippers! I got cut up bad, and we will have good clippers so that no one will have a scalp cut up like Raven's last time, that was brutal!
Q. Spike is owned by MTV and Viacom, they will be launching Wrestling Society X. Will TNA do any cross promotion?
A. They are 2-different things, and I really know nothing about them. TNA is a separate entity, and before any TNA does anything with others, TNA will be working on cementing themselves. I don't know much, but I doubt it.
Q. What went through your mind when you were with Funk and Bobby and the guy started yelling, "It's still real to me damn it!"
A. David Wills is a great wrestling fan, and he became over come with emotion seeing his heroes. He is a smart man, and once the world found out he was smart, the major talk shows backed off. He is a great guy, and we had a great time talking about him. I am a lot like him, although I may not cry…but I have seen some stuff that will make me cry recently. WWE started ECW to run the small buildings and take them away from TNA, and that product is PERFECT for small venues I will tell you that! I will say again, you cannot polish a turd and they are finding that out right now.
Q. What is it like here in TNA as compared to OVW?
A. They are very different. OVW was started in 1993 by Danny Davis. I ran into him and saw the operation and it was a great training ground. Danny got TV and ran a lot of live events. I suggested OVW become a developmental system for WWE when I wanted out of Stamford. I then bought into it, and when JR was involved things were great, but when he stepped down, it went to hell. They tried to run everything and I realized that we have done great things, and trained great guys, they kept telling us what to do. Problems arose, and with the horrible writing of the Jr. McMahon and the skateboard manager, they ran things into the ground in OVW and that reflected on me. OVW was a small local promotion and a teaching tool. TNA is an International company that has high name stars. In the past 25 years, I worked everywhere, and when it comes down to it, it is all wrestling. People don't want to be insulted or cars being blown up or penis enlargers, they want to see larger than life characters going after each other in a believable environment for a title.
Q. What is your take on the "slapping" incident?
A. We had a moron in our school, that was in an area for our students. The Boogey Man came out and was scaring the audience, and he thought he was tough and he laughed at him and stood in his way. This was on TV and he ruined the product. I asked him why he didn't run, he claimed ignorance and I slapped the piss out of him. I told him if he was so tough, he could fight me and get it out of his system. Johnny Ace, who never drew a dime and doesn't know shit, got me released from my WWE contract. But then they couldn't get me out of OVW since I owned it. I kindly stepped aside so that Danny could have the relationship still, because I am a hell of a guy. I don't care to ever work with them again.
Q. Is it a challenge for you to be a TV character in a new environment?
A. Not really. I do what I do and let the fans decide. I have been in it so long, that I just try to do what I think will work. As far as what I do, I just do what I think is right for the right situation. I don't want to be a star or try to sell PPV's. I want to help the young guys to do that. I want to make it easy for them, lend credibility, and make good match announcements and hope that THEY become that big.
Q. Do you miss managing?
A. I miss the guys that I managed, like the Midnight Express. We tore the house down every night and it was a blast. I hated Mantaur and the NEW Midnight Express. I think managers are still needed. WWE you have to have big fake tits to be a "manager." In TNA we have some, like James Mitchell who is great. For me, it is really not an option. I do it on the reunion tours, but with my age and all, I am about done with that.
Q. Who are you most proud of coming out of OVW?
A. That is like choosing you kids…but I love John Cena. A great guy, very humble, very thankful to the OVW fans and I hope he makes a million dollars. Now Matt Morgan SHOULD have been a huge star, great TV personality, clean living and perfect. But they made him a stuttering idiot and he is in Japan now. Don't be surprised if you see him in TNA sometime soon if I have my way about it.
Q. What about the Heart Throbs?
A. They were great and had the gimmick down. They needed more ring work, and they were plucked from the garden way to soon. WWE stripped them of their gimmick and they failed and were fired. That is a common story up there. Nobody has patience up there. There is talent out there, they just need to be properly cultivated. Look at Joe, he had offers from WWE, but he realized what would happen if he went there, and he chose TNA.
Q. Is it odd owning OVW while being in TNA?
A. Hell, I cant even get on OVW TV anymore…lol. That is the odd thing!
Q. Why don't you like flying?
A. I never liked it, and after 9/11 we don't mix anymore. I have a great vehicle and me and my beautiful other take long trips and have a blast.
Q. What advice could you give someone that wants to be a booker or manager?
A. Well booker is an outdated term, it's "writer" now, which I refuse to use. You have to take personalities, and make matches people will want to see with these guys and then cultivate a story stemming from that. Things are over done and produced these days. Let guys with personalities show them and make matches that people want to see and let it fall where it may. Vince Russo, the demon seed, caused a lot of this problem because he had to be on TV and try to be one of the boys. You need great talent and GOOD match making. If you have a bad product, you can't sell it. I believe that you need to be a huge fan and you have to have some form of performance experience in the business.
Q. Lance Storm did some work in OVW, and he says Raw has about no wrestling while Impact has more wrestling with promos when needed.
A. Lance and Jericho worked their first US matches for me in SMW. I think Lance is tremendous, and I like some more sizzle. Lance likes all steak, with maybe some sizzle. WWE is all sizzle and the steak is still in the fridge. Just have people do what they do well, and don't do stuff that they can't.
Q. Harry Smith is signed with WWE, they may do an angle with him, Orton, Hogan and Brooke. What do you think?
A. Hahaha. Wow. To be the son of Davey Smith, to have his size and ability, you would think that would be enough. It is a square peg in a round hole. You don't always need a ton of bells and whistles.
Q. A lot of comparisons have been made with WWE and TNA. WWE is entertainment, and they admit that. Heyman has said TNA isn't competition, do you think that is the case?
A. See, there is a problem. WWE has deluded themselves to think that they are NOT wrestling. Sports Entertainment was marketing term to make money. What has happened is they believe this, and the new people that are hired with no wrestling background further separate it. No one calls it sport entertainment, they always call it wrestling. I was in a WWE meeting and Shane McMahon said, "What should we call our talent?" I said wrestlers! They wear boots, tights, are in a ring…they are WRESTLERS! Wrestling made them money, but they insult it by refusing to call it that. I'll call it what you want, but I know it is wrestling. The damage that WWE does to TNA and anyone else is that because of how long they have been around, people think THAT is what wrestling is. WWE being what they are hurts anything trying to upstart. People don't buy title matches because the titles are devalued. WWE isn't a better product, but to many they have all the credibility and THAT is the problem.
Q. Do you think that WWE doesn't really give it all at times?
A. Well, you always should give it all when someone pays you to do your job.
Q. Back in 1988, Midnights vs. Fantastics, you went head to head with WM 4.
A. That was planned that way, and it was a choice and an alternative. It was a great show and more watched the Clash than watched WM 4.
Q. With you in TNA, is there anyone there that reminds you of the old days, that could break out and do something great?
A. I did say that AJ, Daniels, AMW had a great tag match, and with AJ and Daniels just starting to tag, it was great. AMW uses a new wave version of the Veg-O-Matic of the Midnights fame, and I love that. WWE doesn't care about tag team wrestling right now, AMW is doing so well since they have stayed together for so long. AMW, AJ and Daniels are state of the art right now.
Q. What do you think about Rob Conway's use right now?
A. Conway, Dinsmore, Doug and Danny Basham were the heart of OVW and were totally great. They are tremendous talents and could do it all. I pushed for them to get into WWE and they get there, and one is a retard, Conway is on his back so much and the Bashams have disappeared. Mean while they will find a useless chick and pay her $250,000 to go into Play Boy. The young ones in their prime are being wasted.
Q. Is Ric Flair embarrassing himself right now?
A. Flair has been the man for a long time. He is not what he was, but he is still better than half the guy son the roster. If he can wrestle when he is 75, I say let him do it. He is over, he draws and is respected. People overlook the age, because he is Ric Flair. I say let him be.
Q. A few years ago you had a throat problem, what happened there?
A. I did announcing for so long, and doing meeting, training session and years of yelling as a manager, along with acid reflux took a toll on my throat. Now that I don't do all the announcing, and modified my diet, I feel better and it is well. The rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated!
Q. Are you thinking of ever starting another promotion again?
A. It's a young man's game, and I just don't have the energy. You have to have production, and when I saw what TNA had, I was shocked it as so amazing. I jus don't have it anymore to do something like that. I would lend my talents and such to promotions like ROH and TNA, but that is about all.
Q. Would you ever consider coming to 1PW here in the UK?
A. My girlfriend has been there and loved it, and she wants me to come. ROH has asked me to go, and while I may, probably not this year as things are pretty booked up. Maybe a cruise for me, no planes!
Q. What are your thoughts on Jeff Jarrett in TNA?
A. Jeff really disappointed me. His grandmother was the promoter in Louisville, and she got me into the business. I have known him since he was 14, and what I said on Impact a few weeks back was the truth. Jeff is very talented, it is in his TNA, but Jeff is using his position and stature and reputation to try and keep charge of the NWA title and to try and make the fans love him. He always cheats his way back to the top. I have power played before, and Jeff and I will have that power play fight soon, and he better get out of the way.
Q. What brand of tennis racket do you recommend?
A. That hardest one you can find!
Q. You have talked about adult content in wrestling. ECW, who was built on that, is on earlier than the family friendly company of TNA.
A. It is hard to hurt my feelings, but these things on a wrestling show are really childish. Nudity, transvestites, penis pumps and simulated Oral Sex is childish. Frasier is an adult entertainment, because you have to be old to understand it! That crap doesn't add to the audience. I have 400 cable channels, if I want nudity and sex, I can find it really easy! You have to center things on wrestling. I am not religious, but I wouldn't want to do an angle that could insult someone that is. I can't say that TNA has even insulted my intelligence as far as that kind of thing goes. I was embarrasses to be a part of the WWE family, and would downplay it. I like the Boogeyman, he is a nice guy, but I don't want to see worm eating. And when you put worms on others and put them in other's mouths is sick. If it ever comes to that, I don't want to be in the business anymore
Q. Mark Madden once said you ended your career in 1988 and never realized it.
A. I thought he and I were friends. He always wanted to be in wrestling, and when he got the job in WCW, he started lying about me and buried me. I called him up and only ever go this mom because he wouldn't talk to me. He and I will fight someday. I saw him at a fundraiser for Mark Curtis (Brian Hildebrand) and Madden was there. I wanted to bow out to not cause a stir, but I was talked into being there. Madden threatened to sue the guy if I touched him. Mark Madden can kiss my big white ass!
Q. When you see the young talent of TNA, who do you think can have the big chance to rise to the top?
A. A lot of the X-Division guys. Some people say it is cruiserweights. To me it was for guys who wanted to do anything to get attention. They all have the determination and have the drive. If they catch on, they'll get the push and then could break out. Butterball D'Amore and I will have issues. He has hurt the careers of the Team Canada guys. Young, Roode and Petey all are tremendous talents and will now have a time to shine.
Q. As a man of style, how do you think Larry Z will look bald?
A. It wouldn't hurt Raven to shave his head as well. Larry Z also disappointed me as he let Jarrett manipulate him. I met Larry years ago when I was reaching for my wallet and he was already back there with his hand in my pocket. No one has had faith in past authority figures, and I will change all of that.
Q. What did you think when you saw Vince and Bishoff on TV together?
A. Thankfully I wasn't watching it, and I didn't have to see it. When you are loyal to WWE, you get embarrassed like Jim Ross. But if you screw Vince and sue him, they will give you more money and treat you even better. Bishoff was only good to take a billion dollar checkbook, hot shot a company for 3 years and then bankrupt it. Don't get me started on Russo. He was at the right place at he right time. He also helped run down WCW and ran off talent. Russo says God told him to be back in wrestling, if there was a God he would have struck him down. Paul Heyman is a liar, and cost people money and then lied about it. I will never do business with him. Talented, but crooked.
Q. If they ever call and say they are working of a best of or something with Smokey Mountain, would you say yes?
A. They never would do it, but I suppose I would. They are dedicate dup there, but they pass by the great old footage. They own all of the great matches of Flair, the world class and such, and we get a best of Tito Santana month. No offence to Tito, but come on.
Q. I talked with Bryan Danielson a while back, and what would it take to get him into TNA?
A. He is a great guy and the ROH champion. TNA is going to showcase a lot of talent in the coming months. Remember, they only have one-hour of TV a week and we can't bring in 50-more guys when we don't have the time. I am willing to suggest people to be brought into TNA, but you can't stockpile wrestlers like WWE does and WCW did. It isn't good for anyone. Give TNA time, and they will showcase new and great talent. They will do it slowly and it will make sense.
Q. Explain Rick Ruben's affiliation SMW.
A. He has done a ton in the music world and he was a HUGE wrestling fan. He was a big fan of mine, and he wanted to see more old school wrestling, and when I was done with WCW, we got together and he was a major financial backer of SMW. 1995 was such a down year, and with the way things were going, we were dead in the water. We just hit a time when we were losing money, everyone was losing. It was a great product, just the wrong time.
Thanks to www.411maina.com for this interveiw.
TNA is for sure the future of wrestling.
Please read this interveiw with Jim Cornett, Interesting and true.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ross Forman welcomes us to the call. He hypes Victory Road for this Sunday, and then runs down the above ratings information. He introduces Jim Cornette.
If he is the new face of TNA, he would hate to see the old one.
Q. What do you think of the current wrestling scene?
A. It is no secret that I love wrestling, I have been in25-years. It has hurt me to see where wrestling has gone, and I almost quit. WWE is honestly what people think wrestling is, and they can insult you on many levels with their programming. They are a vanity promotion, where Vince, Shane and the kids run the show and the new talent doesn't get the shot. I have been working with the reunion shows, ROH and now TNA and I got the old feel back. People that love wrestling and want to show that to people. I was ashamed for a long time, but TNA has allowed me to have a good time, there is great talent; old and new that is going to be great. If more people can find TNA, the company will only grow and they are a true alternative.
Q. Any chance you will bring some of "your guys" to TNA?
A. I am looking things over, and there is a ton of talent trying to get into TNA as of now. Samoa Joe has said that TNA will let you show your talent and let the fans decide. TNA does do that, and while you can't book everyone, there are people out there that should be brought in as the crème always rises to the top.
Q. How big a factor was knowing a lot of the talent factor in for you coming to TNA?
A. I just realized that this was something I should be and could be involved with. I have a lot of TNA experience and could help them. Maybe I could have influence on getting some of them to came to TNA. I gave Candido, Kane and Al Snow their first real shots. In OVW we had great talent, but they weren't always used properly. If my credibility could help TNA, I am all for it.
Q. Will you have any part in the creative team?
A. I don't really play well with others, and am not too diplomatic. TNA contacted me to lay down the law and tell the fans how things are. I will be the liazon between TNA and the fans. I will lay things out and they will be the truth. These guys have to have great matches, draw ratings and buy rates.
Q.What do you remember about having your head shaved back in 1984?
A. Have a good set of clippers! I got cut up bad, and we will have good clippers so that no one will have a scalp cut up like Raven's last time, that was brutal!
Q. Spike is owned by MTV and Viacom, they will be launching Wrestling Society X. Will TNA do any cross promotion?
A. They are 2-different things, and I really know nothing about them. TNA is a separate entity, and before any TNA does anything with others, TNA will be working on cementing themselves. I don't know much, but I doubt it.
Q. What went through your mind when you were with Funk and Bobby and the guy started yelling, "It's still real to me damn it!"
A. David Wills is a great wrestling fan, and he became over come with emotion seeing his heroes. He is a smart man, and once the world found out he was smart, the major talk shows backed off. He is a great guy, and we had a great time talking about him. I am a lot like him, although I may not cry…but I have seen some stuff that will make me cry recently. WWE started ECW to run the small buildings and take them away from TNA, and that product is PERFECT for small venues I will tell you that! I will say again, you cannot polish a turd and they are finding that out right now.
Q. What is it like here in TNA as compared to OVW?
A. They are very different. OVW was started in 1993 by Danny Davis. I ran into him and saw the operation and it was a great training ground. Danny got TV and ran a lot of live events. I suggested OVW become a developmental system for WWE when I wanted out of Stamford. I then bought into it, and when JR was involved things were great, but when he stepped down, it went to hell. They tried to run everything and I realized that we have done great things, and trained great guys, they kept telling us what to do. Problems arose, and with the horrible writing of the Jr. McMahon and the skateboard manager, they ran things into the ground in OVW and that reflected on me. OVW was a small local promotion and a teaching tool. TNA is an International company that has high name stars. In the past 25 years, I worked everywhere, and when it comes down to it, it is all wrestling. People don't want to be insulted or cars being blown up or penis enlargers, they want to see larger than life characters going after each other in a believable environment for a title.
Q. What is your take on the "slapping" incident?
A. We had a moron in our school, that was in an area for our students. The Boogey Man came out and was scaring the audience, and he thought he was tough and he laughed at him and stood in his way. This was on TV and he ruined the product. I asked him why he didn't run, he claimed ignorance and I slapped the piss out of him. I told him if he was so tough, he could fight me and get it out of his system. Johnny Ace, who never drew a dime and doesn't know shit, got me released from my WWE contract. But then they couldn't get me out of OVW since I owned it. I kindly stepped aside so that Danny could have the relationship still, because I am a hell of a guy. I don't care to ever work with them again.
Q. Is it a challenge for you to be a TV character in a new environment?
A. Not really. I do what I do and let the fans decide. I have been in it so long, that I just try to do what I think will work. As far as what I do, I just do what I think is right for the right situation. I don't want to be a star or try to sell PPV's. I want to help the young guys to do that. I want to make it easy for them, lend credibility, and make good match announcements and hope that THEY become that big.
Q. Do you miss managing?
A. I miss the guys that I managed, like the Midnight Express. We tore the house down every night and it was a blast. I hated Mantaur and the NEW Midnight Express. I think managers are still needed. WWE you have to have big fake tits to be a "manager." In TNA we have some, like James Mitchell who is great. For me, it is really not an option. I do it on the reunion tours, but with my age and all, I am about done with that.
Q. Who are you most proud of coming out of OVW?
A. That is like choosing you kids…but I love John Cena. A great guy, very humble, very thankful to the OVW fans and I hope he makes a million dollars. Now Matt Morgan SHOULD have been a huge star, great TV personality, clean living and perfect. But they made him a stuttering idiot and he is in Japan now. Don't be surprised if you see him in TNA sometime soon if I have my way about it.
Q. What about the Heart Throbs?
A. They were great and had the gimmick down. They needed more ring work, and they were plucked from the garden way to soon. WWE stripped them of their gimmick and they failed and were fired. That is a common story up there. Nobody has patience up there. There is talent out there, they just need to be properly cultivated. Look at Joe, he had offers from WWE, but he realized what would happen if he went there, and he chose TNA.
Q. Is it odd owning OVW while being in TNA?
A. Hell, I cant even get on OVW TV anymore…lol. That is the odd thing!
Q. Why don't you like flying?
A. I never liked it, and after 9/11 we don't mix anymore. I have a great vehicle and me and my beautiful other take long trips and have a blast.
Q. What advice could you give someone that wants to be a booker or manager?
A. Well booker is an outdated term, it's "writer" now, which I refuse to use. You have to take personalities, and make matches people will want to see with these guys and then cultivate a story stemming from that. Things are over done and produced these days. Let guys with personalities show them and make matches that people want to see and let it fall where it may. Vince Russo, the demon seed, caused a lot of this problem because he had to be on TV and try to be one of the boys. You need great talent and GOOD match making. If you have a bad product, you can't sell it. I believe that you need to be a huge fan and you have to have some form of performance experience in the business.
Q. Lance Storm did some work in OVW, and he says Raw has about no wrestling while Impact has more wrestling with promos when needed.
A. Lance and Jericho worked their first US matches for me in SMW. I think Lance is tremendous, and I like some more sizzle. Lance likes all steak, with maybe some sizzle. WWE is all sizzle and the steak is still in the fridge. Just have people do what they do well, and don't do stuff that they can't.
Q. Harry Smith is signed with WWE, they may do an angle with him, Orton, Hogan and Brooke. What do you think?
A. Hahaha. Wow. To be the son of Davey Smith, to have his size and ability, you would think that would be enough. It is a square peg in a round hole. You don't always need a ton of bells and whistles.
Q. A lot of comparisons have been made with WWE and TNA. WWE is entertainment, and they admit that. Heyman has said TNA isn't competition, do you think that is the case?
A. See, there is a problem. WWE has deluded themselves to think that they are NOT wrestling. Sports Entertainment was marketing term to make money. What has happened is they believe this, and the new people that are hired with no wrestling background further separate it. No one calls it sport entertainment, they always call it wrestling. I was in a WWE meeting and Shane McMahon said, "What should we call our talent?" I said wrestlers! They wear boots, tights, are in a ring…they are WRESTLERS! Wrestling made them money, but they insult it by refusing to call it that. I'll call it what you want, but I know it is wrestling. The damage that WWE does to TNA and anyone else is that because of how long they have been around, people think THAT is what wrestling is. WWE being what they are hurts anything trying to upstart. People don't buy title matches because the titles are devalued. WWE isn't a better product, but to many they have all the credibility and THAT is the problem.
Q. Do you think that WWE doesn't really give it all at times?
A. Well, you always should give it all when someone pays you to do your job.
Q. Back in 1988, Midnights vs. Fantastics, you went head to head with WM 4.
A. That was planned that way, and it was a choice and an alternative. It was a great show and more watched the Clash than watched WM 4.
Q. With you in TNA, is there anyone there that reminds you of the old days, that could break out and do something great?
A. I did say that AJ, Daniels, AMW had a great tag match, and with AJ and Daniels just starting to tag, it was great. AMW uses a new wave version of the Veg-O-Matic of the Midnights fame, and I love that. WWE doesn't care about tag team wrestling right now, AMW is doing so well since they have stayed together for so long. AMW, AJ and Daniels are state of the art right now.
Q. What do you think about Rob Conway's use right now?
A. Conway, Dinsmore, Doug and Danny Basham were the heart of OVW and were totally great. They are tremendous talents and could do it all. I pushed for them to get into WWE and they get there, and one is a retard, Conway is on his back so much and the Bashams have disappeared. Mean while they will find a useless chick and pay her $250,000 to go into Play Boy. The young ones in their prime are being wasted.
Q. Is Ric Flair embarrassing himself right now?
A. Flair has been the man for a long time. He is not what he was, but he is still better than half the guy son the roster. If he can wrestle when he is 75, I say let him do it. He is over, he draws and is respected. People overlook the age, because he is Ric Flair. I say let him be.
Q. A few years ago you had a throat problem, what happened there?
A. I did announcing for so long, and doing meeting, training session and years of yelling as a manager, along with acid reflux took a toll on my throat. Now that I don't do all the announcing, and modified my diet, I feel better and it is well. The rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated!
Q. Are you thinking of ever starting another promotion again?
A. It's a young man's game, and I just don't have the energy. You have to have production, and when I saw what TNA had, I was shocked it as so amazing. I jus don't have it anymore to do something like that. I would lend my talents and such to promotions like ROH and TNA, but that is about all.
Q. Would you ever consider coming to 1PW here in the UK?
A. My girlfriend has been there and loved it, and she wants me to come. ROH has asked me to go, and while I may, probably not this year as things are pretty booked up. Maybe a cruise for me, no planes!
Q. What are your thoughts on Jeff Jarrett in TNA?
A. Jeff really disappointed me. His grandmother was the promoter in Louisville, and she got me into the business. I have known him since he was 14, and what I said on Impact a few weeks back was the truth. Jeff is very talented, it is in his TNA, but Jeff is using his position and stature and reputation to try and keep charge of the NWA title and to try and make the fans love him. He always cheats his way back to the top. I have power played before, and Jeff and I will have that power play fight soon, and he better get out of the way.
Q. What brand of tennis racket do you recommend?
A. That hardest one you can find!
Q. You have talked about adult content in wrestling. ECW, who was built on that, is on earlier than the family friendly company of TNA.
A. It is hard to hurt my feelings, but these things on a wrestling show are really childish. Nudity, transvestites, penis pumps and simulated Oral Sex is childish. Frasier is an adult entertainment, because you have to be old to understand it! That crap doesn't add to the audience. I have 400 cable channels, if I want nudity and sex, I can find it really easy! You have to center things on wrestling. I am not religious, but I wouldn't want to do an angle that could insult someone that is. I can't say that TNA has even insulted my intelligence as far as that kind of thing goes. I was embarrasses to be a part of the WWE family, and would downplay it. I like the Boogeyman, he is a nice guy, but I don't want to see worm eating. And when you put worms on others and put them in other's mouths is sick. If it ever comes to that, I don't want to be in the business anymore
Q. Mark Madden once said you ended your career in 1988 and never realized it.
A. I thought he and I were friends. He always wanted to be in wrestling, and when he got the job in WCW, he started lying about me and buried me. I called him up and only ever go this mom because he wouldn't talk to me. He and I will fight someday. I saw him at a fundraiser for Mark Curtis (Brian Hildebrand) and Madden was there. I wanted to bow out to not cause a stir, but I was talked into being there. Madden threatened to sue the guy if I touched him. Mark Madden can kiss my big white ass!
Q. When you see the young talent of TNA, who do you think can have the big chance to rise to the top?
A. A lot of the X-Division guys. Some people say it is cruiserweights. To me it was for guys who wanted to do anything to get attention. They all have the determination and have the drive. If they catch on, they'll get the push and then could break out. Butterball D'Amore and I will have issues. He has hurt the careers of the Team Canada guys. Young, Roode and Petey all are tremendous talents and will now have a time to shine.
Q. As a man of style, how do you think Larry Z will look bald?
A. It wouldn't hurt Raven to shave his head as well. Larry Z also disappointed me as he let Jarrett manipulate him. I met Larry years ago when I was reaching for my wallet and he was already back there with his hand in my pocket. No one has had faith in past authority figures, and I will change all of that.
Q. What did you think when you saw Vince and Bishoff on TV together?
A. Thankfully I wasn't watching it, and I didn't have to see it. When you are loyal to WWE, you get embarrassed like Jim Ross. But if you screw Vince and sue him, they will give you more money and treat you even better. Bishoff was only good to take a billion dollar checkbook, hot shot a company for 3 years and then bankrupt it. Don't get me started on Russo. He was at the right place at he right time. He also helped run down WCW and ran off talent. Russo says God told him to be back in wrestling, if there was a God he would have struck him down. Paul Heyman is a liar, and cost people money and then lied about it. I will never do business with him. Talented, but crooked.
Q. If they ever call and say they are working of a best of or something with Smokey Mountain, would you say yes?
A. They never would do it, but I suppose I would. They are dedicate dup there, but they pass by the great old footage. They own all of the great matches of Flair, the world class and such, and we get a best of Tito Santana month. No offence to Tito, but come on.
Q. I talked with Bryan Danielson a while back, and what would it take to get him into TNA?
A. He is a great guy and the ROH champion. TNA is going to showcase a lot of talent in the coming months. Remember, they only have one-hour of TV a week and we can't bring in 50-more guys when we don't have the time. I am willing to suggest people to be brought into TNA, but you can't stockpile wrestlers like WWE does and WCW did. It isn't good for anyone. Give TNA time, and they will showcase new and great talent. They will do it slowly and it will make sense.
Q. Explain Rick Ruben's affiliation SMW.
A. He has done a ton in the music world and he was a HUGE wrestling fan. He was a big fan of mine, and he wanted to see more old school wrestling, and when I was done with WCW, we got together and he was a major financial backer of SMW. 1995 was such a down year, and with the way things were going, we were dead in the water. We just hit a time when we were losing money, everyone was losing. It was a great product, just the wrong time.
Thanks to www.411maina.com for this interveiw.