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Podcast: The TMPToW Interview Sgt. Slaughter

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Its time to stand at attention and show some order for The Two Man Power Trip of Wrestlings very special guest a REAL G.I. Joe come to life, 2004 WWE Hall of Fame Inductee, Former WWE Heavyweight Champion, Sgt. Slaughter. Sgt. Slaughter takes us all back to the days when two things ruled a young childs life, wrestling and G.I. Joe. Sarge being the first major crossover star from pro wrestling to mainstream entertainment gives John and Chad meticulous details about his controversial departure from the WWE amidst the launch of the Rock N Wrestling Era and how it was a now or never situation. He also looks deep into the Mid-Atlantic roster and how the crowds of the Mid-Atlantic area compared to those of Madison Square Garden. There is also a very interesting twist to his infamous heel run as an anti-American sympathizer that has rarely been revealed and how an injury could have massively changed the plans of WrestleMania 7.

Full Episode Download Link:

http://tmptow.podoma…T21_00_00-07_00

Sgt. Slaughter On Why He Left The WWE For G.I. Joe

Sgt. Slaughter On His Role & The Success of G.I. Joe: The Movie:

 

Reaction to the NXT Takeover: Brooklyn event and sitting first row:

It was pretty incredible. I was kind of set-back myself a little bit because there was so much energy in the audience and the performers. A lot of them I didn’t know as well as I do the WWE Superstars and I’ve gotten to know more of The Divas because there are so many of them. Getting out there and seeing not many of the WWE Superstars there, some were wandering around but it was like NXT’s own little private show to the public and I was just incredibly entertained. To be asked to go out at ringside and watch one of the matches was a great honor to be a part of that, that first inaugural Brooklyn, New York type style of match. It brought me back to when I first went into the ring in Allentown, Pennsylvania or Madison Square Garden and Baltimore, Philadelphia all the fans appreciation of knowing how hard they work in there and really enjoy being entertained. When you give them something that they really enjoy they make you go harder and harder and put out more then you thought you could.

 

Crowd reactions to stories being told in ring:

Fans are mostly the same wherever you go. They are going to get behind you whether you are the hero or the villains. It’s the way you come across, your character it’s just really nice to see that the fans are getting back into it and that they can be told a story. It makes it so much easier and so much fun for the villains and the heroes to tell the stories and have people that want to watch those stories and continue to watch them.

 

Memories of the Mid-Atlantic Territory:

Well, there was so many of them. Ricky Steamboat, Jay Youngblood, my partner at the time Don Kernodle probably had some of the greatest matches ever witnessed in tag team action. The match we had in Greensboro, North Carolina, a cage match for the titles, they still claim that it is one of the greatest matches of all time because they never had tag matches in a cage before. Back then, we didn’t have pay per views we had closed circuit and I kept trying to get Crocket Promotions to rent the building next door and do closed circuit. Sixteen – twenty thousand people were turned away and that’s a lot of people who want to see a match so it meant a lot and it’s still very close to Don and I. I see Steamboat once in a while and he always mentions that match.

 

His infamous Boot-Camp match with Pat Patterson being a precursor to the Hardcore style:

It was hardcore before there was hardcore and we didn’t know what we were getting into. I just talked to Pat Patterson about it at SummerSlam. It was one of those matches that he says is the greatest of his career and the whole magic about the match was that there is no referee. When you go in and try to have a match without a referee it’s pretty difficult, especially to hold the fans and keep them on their feet and interested in the match. How do you stop a match like that? We just kind of went out and battled from the time I stepped onto the apron and we started fighting and the blood, the sweat and the tears I was battling for everything I had and all of a sudden I see this towel go flying into the ring and was so upset because I wasn’t done. They finally had sent officials out there to stop the match and I really didn’t lose, but it really propelled Sgt. Slaughter to be the bad-ass guy that he is today and that he never quit even though he was bleeding half to death. It really propelled me to the next step which was facing the Iron Sheik and defending America.

 

Returning to WWE and being pitched the Iraqi Sympathizer:

I am in the business of entertaining. As I said earlier I couldn’t do the first six WrestleMania’s because I was with Hasbro and G.I. Joe and I was kind of setback that I wasn’t with the WWE and had kind of hurt feelings and I didn’t really watch much of the shows. But, I did watch WrestleMania 6 from Toronto, Hogan vs. Warrior. The next day I sent a handwritten note to Vince McMahon saying I watched the pay per view and it wasn’t so much the match that I thought was good but his production. I thought his production could not be topped by anybody that I had ever seen. About two weeks later I get a call from Vince and he said “seeing if you are done with G.I. Joe because I’ve got an idea for you”. I thought he was going to take G.I. Joe: “The Real American Hero” Sgt. Slaughter and make him “The Real Real Real American Hero” with all of his ways of doing it but he had other ideas. So he laid out this huge piece of cardboard that was painted up and it was the LA Coliseum and it could hold 104,000 fans and he said I want to fill this up at WrestleMania 7 and I want you to help me do it.

 

How he ended up facing The Ultimate Warrior and winning the world title:

Vince started laying out this idea of me coming back as an Iraqi Sympathizer and eventually working to Hogan and I to be the main event. I was gung-ho and I wanted to do it immediately. We started on our way and it did get pretty rough out there with the death threats and the bomb threats. When I first started out they brought me back nice and slow and let people digest it that I just came off G.I. Joe and now he’s anti-American and he’s going for Iraq, what was going on? So we worked hard at it and Macho Man Savage and The Ultimate Warrior were in a rivalry and The Macho Man broke his hand and Vince came to me and said we are going to switch gears, I’m going to put you with the Warrior and Sherri will be your manager and get you through until Randy heals. So Hogan kind of disappeared and we went on with the Warrior and at that time Randy and Warrior were almost to the Steel-Cage match part of their story-line so I had to get in shape pretty quick for The Warrior and we battled and battled and finally in Miami I took the title from him and started on our way to Hogan and the LA Coliseum and 104,000 fans. The night after I took the title from Warrior the acid was really poured on the fire and there was no looking back at that point. It really started getting rough out there.

Sgt. Slaughter goes into great detail over the health and well-being of his family being threatened during the build to WrestleMania 7, the massive efforts it took to pull off his hatred of the USA, the origins of his patriotic attire, wrestling in the AWA before it closed down, being an ambassador for WWE, his legacy and being the first crossover star from wrestling to mainstream entertainment as part of the G.I. Joe franchise.

Podcast: The TMPToW Interview Les Thatcher – Part Two

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Today The Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling Podcast shares Part 2 of our interview with one of pro wrestling’s greatest mentors, trainers and overall pitchmen, Les Thatcher. As heard in our Dean Ambrose Podcast, (Part 1) of our talk with Les covered his training of a young Jon Moxley in HWA and his take on current happenings in the business. Now, it’s all about digging into Les’ vast history of being an asset to so many different promotions and mentoring so many stars rising through the ranks. We also get a very amusing take on the MTV True Life television special that helped spawn the career of “Rapid Delivery” Rory Fox and gave Heartland Wrestling Association a global stage to showcase what a real pro wrestling school has to offer.

Full Episode Download Link:
http://tmptow.podoma…T21_00_00-07_00

Les Thatcher On The Success Of MTV True Life: I’m A Pro Wrestler

 

The development of Rapid Delivery Rory Fox on the MTV True Life special:

The business, because its a work is subjective and there is a young man who was a hell of a worker and a good solid hand and should probably have had a contract or at least a short run with a major company and just never did. He was good people, but the guys ribbed him about the “paperboy” and the guys were telling him that Les was going to make you ride a bicycle from the dressing room to the ring and throw newspapers. He thought that it may be kind of hokey but it got over and I’ll never forget that he came to me and he said that he had met Justin Credible and he went up to introduce himself and he (Justin) said “you’re the Paperboy Rory Fox”. You see, you got over after all didn’t you? That was a great time for all of us.

 

Pitching the infamous “Paperboy” gimmick:

Every kid that has come through my place has an idea or that it’s this music or that music, let’s wait to see who you really are before we decide what to do with you. Rory always thought that he should do some big power moves and I sat him down one day and said; Go look in the mirror and step on a scale and you will notice that you are not King Kong, so we have got to make you a different type of worker. I just thought he was from a small Iowa town and I thought that with the Paperboy thing we’d use the John Mellencamp song “Small-town” and it got over.

 

Frustration over his trainees not getting Developmental contracts:

I’ll tell you the truth. I’ve loved all my kids, some of them were a pain in the ass at times but I cared about them all and to me it’s a shame that a lot of them should have had contracts but never got them for whatever reason I couldn’t even begin to think. We’ve had a lot of talent and guys who if I mention there name, you would say well who the hell is that but they were as talented as the guys who had contracts.

 

Organizing the Brian Pillman Memorial Shows & Chris Benoit vs. William Regal:

The Pillman shows were special. There was always something about having and being the only company in the world that had ECW, WCW & WWF wrestlers all under the same roof and in the same night. I was so honored that these companies trusted us to do that. One of the great things in it and if you don’t watch it then you are not a wrestling fan and it’s the Benoit/Regal match from Pillman 2000 and which is on the Benoit DVD, I use it in training. It was an amazing match and they had 2,000 people on there feet at the end and we would have brought it back for the fourth Pillman show and in fact we had the title Pillman 2001: Regal/Benoit: The Return but Chris broke his neck and had neck surgery so we couldn’t do that. Honestly, Regal called me and said there is only one other guy in the world that I feel like I can have that particular match with and I wouldn’t want to short change the fans nor insult Chris by trying to do it with someone else. That match is friggin’ amazing and if you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor and watch it.

Les Thatcher also covers many aspects of his over 50 year career including working alongside Jim Cornette in Smoky Mountain, breaking into the business, teaching how to work in all aspects of wrestling and where he see’s the business heading.

Podcast: The TMPToW Interview Dean Ambrose And Les Thatcher

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Today The Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling takes a walk on the side of lunacy as we welcome WWE Superstar, “The Lunatic Fringe” Dean Ambrose. Ambrose clawed his way to WWE with a fearless career on the independent scene, absorbing and dishing out punishment in equal measure. He competed in violent environments and unimaginably sacrificed his body with the goal of inflicting as much damage on his opponent as humanly possible. Now as we wind down 2015 and look ahead, we look back with Dean on his affinity for Rowdy Roddy Piper, his feuds with Bray Wyatt and Seth Rollins and what is next for a possible future WWE Champion. We are also joined by Dean Ambrose’s trainer Les Thatcher and hear directly from him the kind of student Ambrose was and what he thinks of the progress Dean has shown thus far in his career. Thatcher is also quite outspoken about the current state of WWE, NXT and the overall 2015 wrestling product.

Full Episode Download Link:
http://tmptow.podoma…T21_00_00-07_00

Dean Ambrose on His Memories of Rowdy Roddy Piper:

 

How does his preparation differ from other stars in the WWE:

I like to take things moment to moment. I don’t try to be anything that I’m not because that would be in-authentic and I was blessed with certain talents and certain abilities and others I wasn’t. I try to do things I do and do them well and I don’t try to pretend to be anything that I’m not. If I’m in a bad mood, your gonna get Dean Ambrose in a bad mood. If I’m in a good mood your gonna get happy, fun Dean Ambrose that day. I would literally take whatever I’m feeling, that’s just what you will see in the ring. I like to just be myself and I just go out there and kind of just do whatever I want to my own devices and it’s kind of just not just the fans but WWE slowly realized another Dean Ambrose isn’t going to walk through the door anytime soon. So I kind of occupy my own space and kind of carve out my own little spot. Fans don’t want to tune in and see you do the same things every week and when they hear your music for me they like to think that any wild thing may happen when I come through the curtain because sometimes I don’t know. I make as much up as I possibly can as I go along.

 

Memories of Rowdy Roddy Piper:

Everybody loves Roddy Piper. There’s so many of these shocking out of nowhere passings and it’s so weird because these are the guys that my generation grew up watching, it sucks. Everybody loves The Hot Rod and my favorite Roddy Piper memory is a very specific one because I recently not too long ago watched it. Starrcade 96 when he fought Hogan for the Championship when he came back to WCW, it was a terrible, sloppy match with two old guys but awesome and was such a spectacle. The cool part of it was his entrance. One of the best entrances you will ever see if you really watch it and you are into the story and you really watch what he is doing, it’s like this death march to the ring. You have this on-going decade long blood-feud with Hogan and he knows that he is going to get beat up by the nWo and ganged up on 20-1 and it’s a one man war against the nWo and he’s just coming down the aisle as simple as can be, no flashy entrance or pyrotechnics. In WWE everyone has the special entrance. In NXT they have a dance move that they do and they get in the ring the same way every time and its like their schtick. It was so refreshing to go back and watch that because he comes out and just stares at the ring and burns a hole with his eyes and walks down the aisle as simple as humanly possible. His eyes are just cold and it just tells so much, you know he is willing to go in there in the middle of that ring. He is going to fight to the end. If he walks away with the championship, cool but he’s prepared for this to be the end. It’s very intense and most people who watch it wouldn’t put that much thought into it but get on WWE Network, watch Starrcade 96 and just watch Piper’s entrance it’s such a cool thing.

 

Comparison to Superstars like Piper, Terry Funk and Brian Pillman:

I really can’t answer that because I try not to put any thought into what I am doing. I go by what I feel, whatever happens, happens. I think a lot of those guys probably thought the same way.

 

Why does he work so well with Seth Rollins:

Our styles just meshed well. First time we ever wrestled was in FCW. We never crossed paths before. It was maybe one of the first times that people started to pay attention to what was going on in Developmental just from a wrestling standpoint. I had a certain following and he had kind of ran with a different crowd on the indy scene like Ring of Honor and it kind of was a clash of indy worlds happening in Developmental. It just clicked immediately. I felt that stuff that he did was complimenting the stuff that I did. The stretching and they physical stuff in the holds, it was such a phsyical style I was doing at the time and just kind of meshed with his and it was like peanut butter and jelly, like mixed perfectly together the stuff that we were doing. He is such a smart guy and visualizes and comes up with cool things and then you have just the way that I would like go off-the-cuff a lot of times, we could go out and wrestle thirty minuets and literally not talk at all before hand, it just meshes well and then you know WWE styles still mesh and it’s hard to explain. There’s just that certain chemistry with people. He’s so good, its like anyone can have a good match with Seth Rollins and we kind of bring out the best in each other from a healthy competitive standpoint and all the great opponents always had that together like Ric Flair/Ricky Steamboat and Nick Bockwinkel/ Verne Gagne.

 

Is their any one specific WWE Superstar looking to bring down the house:

I think all of the core group of guys right now, myself, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Cesaro, The Wyatts I think we all have that competitive chemistry with each other because we are kind of pushing each other and we are the guys kind of carrying the load right now as far as 300 nights a year. We are the guys who are counted on to tear the house down and wrestle 15-20 minuets on Raw each week and I think that’s a real healthy thing across the board.

Podcast: The TMPToW Interview Former Tough Enough Contestants Tanner And AJ

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It’s a double dose of Tough Enough favorites on today’s Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling featuring the very popular Tanner from the 2015 Tough Enough class and the very outspoken 2011 Tough Enough contestant AJ Kirsch. First, Tanner dives deep into his perceived heat with ZZ and how the two are in different places in life. Tanner also discusses why he thinks he will succeed in pro wrestling and how the trainers were a large help to him and his future success. AJ Kirsch has gone on to do a lot of phenomenal work since appearing on the Andy Levine won season of Tough Enough but what does AJ think of where the show is going from here on out. It is a favorable take and a must listen show to say the least. Please Subscribe to The Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling on iTunes and via YouTube by searching the Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling or visit the OFFICIAL Website of the Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling: www.tmptofwrestling.com & twitter.com/twomanpowertrip

Full Episode Download Link:

http://tmptow.podoma…T21_00_00-07_00

 

WWE Tough Enough’s Tanner Shoots On Heat With ZZ:

WWE Tough Enough’s AJ Kirsch Talks Working With Steve Austin:

 

Tanner:

His overall feelings of the Tough Enough experience:

I was definitely blessed for the whole experience and the opportunity that was given to me and I have no regrets going through it. There were just a few things that maybe needed a bit more work, I just didn’t have time to improve fast enough on I guess. Overall the experience was mind-blowing. The way the Superstars interacted with us and the hospitality and sense of family that was built was an incredible experience.

 

Breaking into the business via the Tough Enough casting process vs. traditional training:

I think we are in a new age now so there are different tools that maybe are being utilized and experimenting with some ways that are social media based and we have to rely on votes from our fans. We had to impress our fans, judges and coaches so I think all that tied in and gives you different perspective and lets everyone know what the WWE Universe is looking for.

 

Any resentment from the veterans or trainers:

They worked with us and there was no hesitation or I never got a no. Any question I had or anytime I tried to work with them extra or any question I ever had they were all more than willing to accommodate and help out. I didn’t feel any resentment from them and I think they understand the business is trying to grow every day and is trying to do something new and they are trying to pass on their legacy towards us so we can uphold the traditions and stuff. Just to be put in that opportunity, they dealt well with us and taught us a lot.

 

The format of judges, host and trainers all being current or former Superstars:

I thought it was enjoyable and at times thought it was frustrating or nerve-wracking. You have to wonder do I have to impress the coaches this week during a challenge and then I’m going to have to impress the judges who maybe think something differently. There are different styles and they do all have different styles between the coaches and the trainers so maybe one thing that Billy Gunn loves Daniel Bryan may not like so much. Things like that and what you are thinking when you are going out there, then it comes down to the WWE Universe and your votes and your career depends on impressing them as well. It’s real confusing at times, who you are impressing and who you are angering.

 

Daniel Bryan’s influence on Tanner during the competition:

Daniel Bryan to me is a great guy. I had a few moments where I could sit down and talk with him off camera and he was in the weight room a couple of times and he is really an awesome dude, very humble, very knowledgeable. His outlook on how to approach things and just how he looks at situations are refreshing to see something like that. I try to stay out of mainstream stuff and that kind of thinking and he seems to have a similar thought process and so that is refreshing to see something like that and to interact with someone as well.

 

His personality and charisma being a focus of the judges:

Everything I learn, I just have to learn very mechanically. I have to learn the steps of how to do things and small things like that. To have my athletics at the high level that they are would give me time to focus on those fine tuning of the personality expressions and stuff. The Miz said to me that we see you in the reality portion, we see your personality and the only problem is not doing that in the ring. I just don’t entirely know how to and honestly I just need to learn and with a couple of acting classes or promo classes I can learn anything. Learning how to do that and learning how to express whether through my face or body language just putting my stage presence out there as being more dominant is what I am lacking.

 

Heat with ZZ and the picture Tanner posted on Social Media of ZZ entering Burger King:

That was actually sparked by a message I received from ZZ. Upon returning back home. I don’t have a lot of money, I have to work for everything I have so I am in the process of trying to set myself up to be able to train and support myself financially as well so coming back home so I went to an (MMA) fight and the promoter promoted me a bit because he had a lot of WWE fans there and I went to another fight this past Saturday night and I think that is why ZZ said what he said. ZZ said to me in a message I thought that you really wanted to do this (wrestling) and the first thing you do is go back home and you are back into your MMA world. I took that very offensively, coming from him. In my opinion he doesnt understand the struggles I have to go through financially and that I make money off this. This is how I pay my rent and utilities. I think ZZ being so young he may not understand to struggle financially, I’m pretty sure his parents are paying for all of his stuff, he’s 19 hes probably still living at home. I felt the need to expose the lies that he was claiming that he was eating healthier and he is eating better and manipulating the crowd and there he is. We go out to eat healthy and he walks over to Burger King. Don’t call me out on making a living for myself while you are doing your own thing and manipulating the world.

Tanner gives much more about his time training on Tough Enough, more into his heat with ZZ, respect for the other contestants, his MMA background, his plans for the future and does he see himself getting back into the WWE Developmental System

The “OH MY GOD!” Review: ECW TV 8/16 – 9/13/94 (Extreme Is Born!)

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TV 1994-08-16 (Matches taped Hardcore Heaven 1994-08-13 at ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pa)

Champions
Heavyweight: “The Franchise” Shane Douglas
TV: Jason
Tag: Public Enemy

We open with the opening of the Cactus Jack Terry Funk match.

Opening Video.

Joey Styles brings us stills the the match and video of the chair throwing. Jeru the Damaja’s “Da Original” music video plays with clips of Tag Team Champions Public Enemy. PE are backstage after Hardcore Heaven. “Flyboy” Rocco Roc says that Terry Funk didn’t like what they have done to him. Roc says this is no longer about competition or money. This time it’s about blood. Roc says Funk would never last 5 minutes on the streets. August 27th Funks blood will be on their hands. Real good promo.

August 27th PE take on Terry Funk and Cactus Jack and an NWA World Championship Tournament.

Terry Funk and Cactus Jack are backstage. Funk cuts an accidentally hysterical promo.

Video package on one of the top seeds to the NWA Title Tournament 2 Cold Scorpio is shown. WHOOMP!

The Jason Mikey Whipwreck match is shown. Joey is back stage with new champion Jason. Jason talks about how easy it was to beat Mikey. Nothing new about the ending was said.

Paul E. Dangerously talks about how ECW is going to go worldwide and the World Championship is coming to them. Paul E is mad as hell because there’s not a man in the wrestling world that is man enough to represent the world of wrestling. He’s so mad that on August 27th he’s calling 911. Heavyweight Champion “The Franchise” Shane Douglas says this is not about who can kiss the most ass and but who is the best wrester. Douglas names a bunch of old champions but says as of the early 90s he can’t name any champions because Ted Turner squashed the NWA. Douglas names WCW Champions and says he you want to see old men like that you can watch WCW but if you want to see a real wrestler to watch Douglas. Shane challenges Flair and Hogan. Douglas says he will challenge Flair as NWA Champion but Flair will be to chicken shit to respond. Douglas says he will even go to Atlanta.

My thoughts on the show…
All the promos tonight were good. As I said I liked the Jason Mikey match but that ending AWFUL!

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TV 1994-08-23 (Matches taped Heatwave 1994-07-16 at ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pa and Hardcore Heaven 1994-08-13 at ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pa)

Champions
Heavyweight: “The Franchise” Shane Douglas
TV: Jason
Tag: Public Enemy

We get stills of the Tommy Dreamer and Sandman match from Hardcore Heaven. Sandman and Woman are backstage and Woman is made because Dreamer is comparing kissing her to kissing Peaches. Woman says Dreamer, Peaches and “Ironman” Tommy Cairo are probably together at Sandman’s house drinking his beer and hanging out. Sandman is mad at Dreamer because now he has to listen to her bitching.

Opening video.

To Joey Styles and he brings us the brackets for the NWA Title Tournament this Saturday. Heavyweight Champion “The Franchise” Shane Douglas takes on Tazmaniac, Dean Malenko versus Osamu Nishimoura, 2 Cold Scorpio up against Chris Benoit and 911 goes at it with an unnamed wild card entrant. Dean Malenko introduces himself to those that don’t know him and talks about all the great names and says that you can’t help but get excited to think that your name might get added to the list. He says this completely monotone and not very excited like. Malenko says he knows the names of the seven other competitors and it gets his blood pumping thinking about the competetion. Apparently Dean knows who the wild card is but isn’t telling. Man oh man that was a bad promo.

We head all the way back to Heatwave and see the Tazmaniac and a mystery partner that turned out to be Sabu beat the Pitbulls.

2 Cold Scorpio hypes the tournament.

To Hardcore Heaven we go for the battle of the big men as 911 defeats Mr. Hughes and chokeslams Angel a few times too.

Paul E Dangerously talks about how the NWA is going to become the 3rd World Champion. Paul E talks about how the great wrestlers that are going to be in the tournament. Paul E hypes the card hard. He is so damn good at this.

Shane Douglas cuts a promo that I thought was just a re airing of last weeks promo until Mr. Hughes also talked. Douglas tells everyone to take out a second mortgage and empty there bank accounts and put it all on Douglas to become Heavyweight Champion of the World. These Paul E and Douglas promos sound very foreshadowy lately.

Cactus Jack tells a story about how he first met Terry Funk. Jack talks about how he has build up aggression after being in WCW recently and Tag Team Champions Public Enemy are the ones that are going to suffer for it.

We get the same stills and footage of the Funk Jack match as last week.

PE talk about all the violent things they are going to do to Funk and Jack on Saturday.

My thoughts on the show…
Almost all matches we saw already so I didn’t pay much attention to those. As for promos Paul E of course steals the show. Douglas right behind him though. Nothing stood out as any good and then there was Dean Malenko. Terrible promo. When we next meet up things will be very different for ECW.

———————————————–

TV 1994-08-30 (Matches taped 1994-08-27 at ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pa & 1994-08-28 at ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pa)

Champions
Heavyweight: “The Franchise” Shane Douglas
TV: Jason
Tag: Public Enemy

911 (w/ Paul E Dangerously) vs. Doink. ref Jim Molineaux
“Kill the clown” chant rings out. Doink avoids the chokeslam twice but can’t get out of the way the third time. Fans chant one more time and Doink goes up again. Fans again ask for another. Three chokeslams are enough for Doink and 911 advances in the tournament after 1.58. ECW fans help make some things so awesome.

Opening video.

Joey Styles is very flustered as to how to introduce the show. He says it will all make sense later.

We see highlights of the feud between Tommy Dreamer and Sandman with narration by Styles. Woman tells Sandman that she wants Dreamer bloody and his knees looking up at her begging. Sandman again complains that Woman has to many wants.

Singapore Canning Match: Tommy Dreamer vs. Sandman (w/ Woman), ref Jim Molineaux (1994-08-28)
Dreamer posts Sandman and then has a fan hold a chair and ram Sandman into it. Commercial break. We come back and Dreamer still in control and he brings it back into the ring. Dreamer with a DDT but Sandman’s thumb pokes the ref. Woman comes into the ring and Dreamer goes to kiss her but Sandman attacks from behind. Dreamer moves and Sandman stops from hitting Woman. Dreamer goes to attack but he stops when Sandman moves. Woman nails Dreamer with the cane and Sandman hits the DDT. Tod Gordon comes down and says they will restart the match cause Woman cheated. Dreamer says no and prepares for his ten lashes. Woman says she will call it all off if he bows to her and kisses her feet. Dreamer choses the lashing. After each shot Woman offers him his out and Dreamer keeps telling Sandman to hit him. Dreamer takes all ten shots never giving in to Woman. Dreamer gets up and gets in the face of the Sandman and tells him he took Sandman’s best shot and is still standing and there is nothing Sandman can do about it. Dreamer turns and gets BLASTED, Dreamer however gets back up as Sandman and Woman leave. And just like that the fans have taken to Tommy Dreamer and chant his name. Props to the creative decision on this match. They have been trying for some time now to get Dreamer over as not just a pretty boy and nothing was working. This had a lot of time to unfold and was real good. Woman was a big part of this with her being the only one on the mic the whole time.

It’s now time for the finals of the tournament but first highlights of how we got here. Heavyweight Champion “The Franchise” Shane Douglas beat Tazmaniac with a roll up and a hand full of tights. 2 Cold Scorpio and Chris Benoit appeared to have a double pin after a Benoit superplex however the ref awarded the match to Scorpio saying he get a shoulder up. Douglas beat Dean Malenko in the second round no finish is shown. Scorpio beat 911 by count out after Doink came out and attacked Paul E Dangerously and 911 went out after him. Matt Borne comes out and attacks 911 with a chair. Doink pulls off his wig and is revealed to be Douglas. Really they show everything except Malenko and Osamu Nishimura.

The NWA World Heavyweight Title Tournament Finals
ECW Heavyweight Champion “The Franchise” Shane Douglas vs. 2 Cold Scorpio, ref John “Pee Wee” Moore
This is it, time to crown a new NWA Heavyweight Champion. Lots of wrestlers out of the locker room and at ringside to watch. Some back and forth stuff for the first five minutes nothing great. Scorpio with a cross body from the top for 2 and into a chin lock. Douglas up and turns into the chin lock and hits a belly to back. Shane with a camel clutch. Scorpio stands up and as Douglas on his shoulders and drops back. Scorpio with a leaping clothesline and slingshot splash. Scorpio covers 1,2 but no Shane kicks out. Scorpio goes up top now and hits a drop kick. They go into the crowd and brawl a bit. Scorpio goes for a suplex on the floor but Shane reverses and drops Scorpio on the guard rail. Shane brings Scorpio in the hard way with a suplex from the inside out. Douglas goes for a cross body but Scorpio ducks. Tombstone by Scorpio and then he goes up top and misses a moonsault! Douglas with a belly to belly and Shane Douglas is the NEW NWA WORLD CHAMPION in 12.48! Scorpio tells Douglas he will be on his ass for the belt. Douglas says he will not hide. This is it the moment that REALLY put ECW on the map. Douglas names former NWA Champions. Douglas looks up and speaks to his father. Douglas names a few more champions and says they can all kiss his ass. Douglas throws down the title and says he will not be handed the torch of a dead promotion! Douglas says he is going to ignite the new flame of the SPORT of pro wrestling. Douglas grabs the ECW Title and declares himself ECW Heavyweight Champion of the WORLD! Shane says tonight starts the era of ECW. Big “ECW” chant from the fans. Scorpio gets in the ring and talks on the mic but the fans are either to loud or it’s turned off. They shake hands. Scorpio’s a dick and trying to take away Shane’s spotlight. Shane even doesn’t want the spot light and has gone into a corner to give the glory more to the company then himself. “Flair is dead” chant by the fans.

Dennis Corraluzzo says he is on his way to have a conference call with other board members. Corraluzzo says Douglas IS champion wether he likes it or not. Then he says they are going to talk about stripping Douglas of both the NWA and ECW Titles. Right after he said he WAS champion.

Tod Gordon says as of noon today Eastern Championship Wrestling has folded. They are now Extreme Championship Wrestling and Douglas is recognized as their champion.

Tag Team Champions Public Enemy sneak onto the set and spray Extreme on the “Eastern Championship Wrestling” banner. Johnny Grunge even tries to cross out the “Eastern” but the spray paint is the same color as the lettering so it does nothing at all. “Flyboy” Rocco Roc says that if we thought they were hardcore before now they are taking it to the extreme.

My thoughts on the show…
I wish more of the tournament matches were shown. Would have been interested in seeing them all besides the 911 Scorpio match. The title match was just eh but it’s what happened after that was more important anyway. Cool Shane Douglas promo and the birth of Extreme makes this a must see episode!

———————————————–

TV 1994-09-13 (Matches taped 1994-08-27 at ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pa & 1994-08-28 at ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pa)

Champions
World: “The Franchise” Shane Douglas
TV: Jason
Tag: Public Enemy

This week’s episode opens with a highlight video of Tag Team Champions Public Enemy. Cactus Jack and Terry Funk were supposed to tag and take on PE for the titles but Funk missed his flight. Tommy Dreamer the protege of the Funk brothers came out to be Jack’s partner but he was attacked by PE and beaten down. Jack went back to the locker room and emerged with Mikey Whipwreck.

Tag Team Champions Public Enemy vs. Cactus Jack & Mikey Whipwreck, ref Jim Molineaux (1994-08-27)
Mikey starts with “Flyboy” Rocco Roc and Mikey tries to leave. Cactus grabs him and pulls him back into the ring. Mikey begs Jack and let him go so Jack tags in. Mikey drops off the apron and runs away. Jack goes out to get him but PE attack him on the floor. Jack fights back in the ring. Mikey comes back out and nails PE with a board. Roc and Jack the legal men now. Jack tags Mikey and whips him into Roc. Jack picks up Mikey and rams him into Roc. Johnny Grunge comes in and eats a few drop kicks. Mikey on a roll. Jack with a neck breaker on the floor to Grunge. All four men brawl on the floor. Back in the ring Grunge with a DDT to Mikey on a chair. Grunge with a vertical suplex but Cactus breaks up the pin at 2. Grunge beats on Mikey but Mikey keeps kicking out. Sideslam top rope elbow combo by PE for a 1,2 but NO Mikey kicks out. Cactus in the ring and they all go to the floor and Roc and Jack into the crowd. Mikey gets laid out in the ring and PE beat on Jack in the crowd. PE brings a table into the ring. Roc moonsaults Cactus through the table. PE go for the drive by Jack breaks up the senton portion of it. Roc crotches on the ropes and Mikey school boys him to become the new Tag Team Champions in 14.02! Fans go wild.

Cactus and Mikey are backstage and Mikey says he promised his mother he would never win another title again so he didn’t end up like Cactus. Cactus says he could have picked so man other people from the locker room but he picked Mikey because he saw himself in Mickey. Jack says he will talk to Mikey’s mom and straighten this all out but Mikey can not give back the belts because PE is coming after them now.

We go back to the Singapore Cane Match from last week when Tommy Dreamer became a man. A rematch has been signed between the two men and this time it’s an I Quit Match. Woman starts rant at Sandman about how he better not quit on her. She keeps going on and on and Sandman freaks out and says Dreamer is worse then his divorce and it’s time to divorce Dreamer from ECW.

Chris Benoit vs. Chad Austin (TV Champion Jason & Rockin’ Rebel), ref John Finnegan
Match starts and we cut away to a Tommy Dreamer promo. Dreamer says he’s going to make Sandman say I quit. Benoit beats on Austin. Austin bails to the floor and seems to argue with Rebel. Back in the ring a snap suplex hits. Benoit hits the ropes but Rebel trips him up. Rebel gets on the apron Austin charges at Benoit but he moves and Rebel and Austin crash. Benoit with a tombstone and top rope head butt gets him the three in 3.35. Austin and Rebel argue and Jason tries to calm things down. Rebel pushes away Jason’s hand. Jason gets pissed and nails Rebel with the belt. Austin and Jason attack the shoulder of Rebel.

TV Champion Jason (w/ Dean Malenko) vs. JT Smith, ref John Finnegan
Malenko is now in Jason’s group. As the ref checks Jason for weapons Malenko attacks and looks on a leg lock. We get the bell and Jason goes to work on the knee of Smith. Smith fights back and goes to send Jason into the ropes. Jason changes the way he is running and goes into the turnbuckle. HAAAHAA idiot. Jason comes back out of the corner and Smith goes for a slam but his knee gives out. Jason falls on top and retains in 1.37.

Highlights from last weeks NWA Tournament. World Champion “The Franchise” Shane Douglas introduces us to his new backup Matt Borne. Borne turns and laughs evilly.

My thoughts on the show…
Mikey with another huge upset that makes every one love him more and thats about it. I wonder if Funk really missed his flight or if this was the plan the whole time.

Podcast: The TMPToW Interview “Dangerous” Dan Spivey

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Today The Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling is joined by the great Dan Spivey. Spivey is largely recognized for his portrayal of the mysterious and down-right innovative Waylon Mercy character as part of the WWF’s New Generation, but he also has one of the most accomplished tag team resume’s of the late 80s/early 90s. A mountain of a man who battled all over the world, Spivey’s survival of his time in the wrestling business are a testament to his strong will and desire to make a difference.

Full Episode Download Link:
http://tmptow.podoma…T21_00_00-07_00

Dan Spivey: Old Wrestlers Suing WWE Over Concussion Related Injuries is BS:

 

Could today’s Pro Wrestler handle the travel schedule of “the old school”:

I think so, but the main reason we did those schedules was for the money. I went ninety days one time without ever coming home. When you are living on the road for ninety days, it was hard but we had a good time doing it. It was hard work and the thing was we were all chasing money. When you work ninety straight days you get a pretty good paycheck. Everyone wanted to work for WWE, (in the day WWF) because it was the number one company. It’s the company that if you work for them, you got famous. It was seen all over the world. Vince took it International and if you take guys today and bring them in there they would work for Vince for free to get the notoriety. It was a privilege to work for that company and because when you got to the WWE you made it in the business.

 

Older Wrestlers Complaining That Vince McMahon pushed them to work:

How would those guys feel that are complaining about Vince if they never had the opportunity to work there? I think they would be very disappointed and their careers would have never been fulfilled.

 

First impressions of Vince McMahon:

I thought that he was and still is a great promoter. I thought he was a fair guy. He asks you to go out there and work hard and give it your very best which is what any employer would ask. I hadn’t been in the business more then two years and I had a ruptured disc in my neck and it wasn’t real clear if I was going to be able to come back from it or not. Vince (and I hadn’t been in the business more then two years) gave me five hundred dollars a week while I was recovering. I don’t know any other promoter that would have done that. He took care of me, I know that.

 

Did Bray Wyatt seek out his help in developing his character:

I’m just assuming that everybody knows but me and Mike (Rotunda) were partners when I first came to the WWE. I teamed up with him as the US-Express. Mike’s two kids Widham and Bo were both down in the training facility for the WWE and Bray (Windham) came to me and asked me about Waylon Mercy. So we talked and I gave him some ideas and the kid ran with it and he’s done a great job with it and I am really happy for him.

 

A rumored return to the WWE as part of the Wyatt Family:

I would love to do it. I think there is a lot to be done with it. I kind of think though that they want Bray to be on his own and they don’t want any association with me, which I think is crazy because what an angle that could’ve been when Bray wrestled Taker. The connection with me and Undertaker as The Sky-Skyscrapers and Bray as Rotundo’s kid doing my old gimmick. If you are asking the question would I be interested in doing it? Yeah I would. I think that would be great.

 

Being pitched Waylon Mercy and the look of the character:

Vince brought it up to me and asked me what I thought about it and I loved it and thought it was a great idea. The promos where they just stuck me out there. The first one where I killed the bug on my arm, I just went out there and winged it. I’m from the South, I knew a lot of Southern people and I just went off of kind of just winging it and I remember watching the movie (Cape Fear) several times with Robert DeNiro and what a great movie that was. Everything was off the top of my head, there was no writing for me like they have nowadays. The red light came on and I just went with it. Vince didn’t really say anything to me after we had the first meeting. I put the costume together, although he did say he wanted me to dye my hair black which was no problem. We had these tattoos which would stay on for like two or three days and if the character would have done something and carried on the way that it should have been I would have got the tattoos for real. They were a real pain in the ass to put on and take off. He didn’t have anything to say, that was all me.

 

Why Waylon Mercy’s run was cut short:

I was only there for a short time, I was there only about nine months. I was beat up and always hurt and always taking the pain-killers. I had a bad hip, a bad knee and it was just a bad time. I wasn’t happy with the way things were going so I quit. Vince and Gerry Brisco tried to talk me into coming back and I had just had enough and was done. I wasn’t happy because I wasn’t able to perform like I wanted to and I didn’t feel like it was going anywhere. I wasn’t mad I was just ready to retire because I couldn’t perform the way I wanted to.

 

Backstage atmosphere in 1995 & did he see Undertaker becoming the star he is:

No, I had no idea. Mark when we teamed up was really green. I thought he was a good guy and I liked Mark from the very beginning. I had no idea that he would ever be the star that he is today. Nobody bothered me that’s for sure. I was pretty much a loaner anyway so I didn’t care about The Kliq. A lot of guys that were up there were real primadonnas.

 

Dan Spivey also discusses his lengthy run in Japan, teaming with Stan Hansen in AJPW, forming The Sky-Sky-Scrapers in WCW and teaming with both Sid and Mean Mark, his entry into the WWF filling in for Barry Windham, Breaking into the business with Scott Hall, Dusty Rhodes, his no nonsense attitude and more.

Podcast: The TMPToW Interview Bruce Hart

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Today John and Chad welcome the great Bruce Hart to The Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling. Bruce gets right into to it regarding his strong feelings on the recently announced WWE DVD project on his brother Owen. As a longtime veteran of the business and basically having it in his blood Bruce goes on to say what he feels the WWE needs to do to walk the fine line between broadcasting a great wrestling product and running a successful wrestling company. Bruce also discusses at great length how he feels the WWE Hall of Fame lacks credibility and that if they are indeed clamoring for a strong fan response that they pay homage to the true history of the wrestling business. In what can only be described as extremely candid, this is one show that definitely does not disappoint.

Full Episode Download Link:

http://tmptow.podoma…T21_00_00-07_00

Bruce Hart Questions WWE’s Motives with Owen Hart DVD:

 

The continued clamoring to have Owen Hart and The British Bulldogs inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame:

The WWE can’t claim that they haven’t had it brought to their attention and that it hasn’t been mentioned to them. I suspect or suppose there is some perceptible rational in Owen’s situation. I think they are obviously apprehensive about the backlash from Owen’s widow, Martha. But as for Dynamite and Davey I have no idea why the hell they are not in the Hall of Fame. There are a lot of inconsistencies. I’ve spoken and maybe been outspoken in the past on some of the glaring inconsistencies in the WWE Hall of Fame. In recent years to have they have more then put themselves over and they have chosen to induct some non-WWE people. Some of these old guys like my Dad and Gorgeous George. If they are so inclined and choosing to do that why don’t they induct Lou Thesz or Strangler Lewis or Frank Gotch or some of these iconic legends and builders that were really of their era like Jim Thorpe or the Bronko Nagurski in a football parallel. Those guys are glaring by their omission in the Hall of Fame.

 

The upcoming Owen Hart DVD set finally being released:

The fact they are talking about doing a DVD or some damn thing, I would hope that if they do choose to do that, they choose to give the money to charity or give it to Owen’s wife and let her give it to charity. I always hate to sound like one of these em-bittered or some kind of outsider denouncing something because I may be not in it but that’s not really the case. I’ve seen a lot of injustices and things that don’t sit right with me and I think one of the problems with the wrestling business these days all too many people from the wrestling fraternity have this flickering unrealistic notion that I better not say anything detrimental or negative about anyone in Connecticut because it might jeopardize their job security. I suspect that 99% of those poor bastards would if given the time of day. For all intents and purposes I feel that WWE should be endeavoring to do what’s right for the wrestling fan-base.

 

The timing of recent DVD sets coinciding with Hall of Fame inductions:

It’s exploitative and materialistic and if that’s the case, I’ve suggested to them that several years ago and they gave me some kind of lame rational about Owen and being apprehensive about Martha. I said that it would be that much easier for you guys if you are going to induct Owen that you induct him in the same class in the triage of Davey and Dynamite. They are all kind of from the same, Stampede Wrestling, Owen and Davey were a tag team , quite often Davey was a part of the Hart Foundation like when they did that thing in 97. It would be that much easier if you inducted them all together and then you have less backlash from Martha if you maybe just inducted Owen individually and it looked like you have more grounds to bitch about it and claim you are exploiting Owen. They didnt even dignify what I said with a response.

 

The Hart Family relationship with WWE:

If nothing else I am somewhat pleased that there is a little kind of bridge over troubled waters with the Harts and the WWE and I thought it was even a step in the right direction even taking into consideration when they chose to induct my Dad in the Hall of Fame. I thought it was belated and all too often I don’t want to digress into another tangent but it’s perplexing to me some of the people that are inducted into the Hall of Fame. The obvious question I ask is. What the hell took so long for example Randy Savage? Most people on the inside know there is a lot of political dynamics that are that obviously predicate these decisions. It still doesn’t reflect well on them and ultimately it comes across as petty and shows arterial agendas.

 

Hulk Hogan being ex-communicated from The WWE Hall of Fame:

I’m told now that Hulk Hogan is no longer in the Hall of Fame. I am not sure how that even works. Say OJ (Simpson) as far as I know the Hall of Fame in Canton has not rescinded his membership, maybe it has. But if they let OJ stay in the damn hall then poor old Hulk is ex-communicated for some ill-conceived comments. His actions were more of a live and let live with blacks and whites. Whenever I’ve been around Hulk he’s never been anything like a racist. But he’s purged or disowned. There are a lot of those types of things that ultimately don’t reflect well on the WWE.

 

Bruce is also quite candid on the current state of WWE, what he like and doesnt like about todays crop of talent, his pitch for Bret Hart vs. Vince McMahon at WrestleMania 26, appearing on WWE TV, The WWE Hall of Fame, Dynamite Kid as a worker, Booking the Stampede Territory in the 80s, Brian Pillman, Having a match with his Dad

Podcast: The TMPToW Interview Savio Vega

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Today’s guest may widely be considered as the one of most under-utilized talents of the WWE’s “New Generation” and today Puerto Rico wrestling legend Savio Vega joins The Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling. From his early days breaking into the business through his rise as TNT, Savio details the long road to the top and who helped guide him towards super-stardom as one of the most recognizable stars to ever wrestle on the island of Puerto Rico. John and Chad also find out how Savio got into the WWF and who was responsible for his most memorable pairings and why Savio feels he was rushed to fast through the WWE’s mid-card while not being appreciated enough by management and maintaining one of the most consistent resumes of great matches and moments while on the WWE’s roster.

Full Episode Download Link:
http://tmptow.podoma…T20_02_46-07_00

Savio Vega on Taking The First Stunner & Steve Austin:

 

Advice from Bruiser Brody on wrestling outside Puerto Rico:

When (Bruiser) Brody was in Puerto Rico he told me. You have big time experience so go to the States and go to someone and don’t stay here where no one can help you. So it’s bad luck for him in what happened to him and that held my career to a halt for awhile. But thank you GOD for my career that everything moved better.

 

Getting in the door of the WWE and getting a tryout:

Who took me up to Vince was Scott Hall. I worked with him in Puerto Rico so many times before he was there doing Razor Ramon. When Yokozuna went to WWF and Bam Bam Bigelow went to WWF we were all together like two years before in Japan. One day I said to somebody tell all the boys I said hello and Razor right there talked to Vince and said there’s a kid in Puerto Rico and Vince said bring him to TV and let’s try him out. I tried out two times as TNT and they loved my work and they sent me home for almost three months.

 

Signing with WWE and being pitched Kwang:

I sat down with JJ Dillon and Vince in Stamford and they gave me a contract. I flew in on a Sunday morning and they flew me back in the afternoon with the contract in my hand. I was so happy and the only people that knew were my parents and my ex-wife. They didn’t want to use the paint (I don’t know why) and they gave me a mask and said you are going to be called Kwang. So I did what I did as Kwang. That character was so strong at one point that we had a match against Bret Hart for the World Title and we broke the ratings at that time. That was when Raw was live one week and taped the next.

 

Transitioning from Kwang to Savio Vega:

When Vince said they were going to change my character he said he had something better. So they put in Savio Vega and that’s when I came on and jumped the barricades and saved my old pal Razor Ramon and now you’ve got two guys from the streets, one from Miami and one from the Bronx. Two fighters, together.

 

Why did Vince turn Savio Vega heel and joining The Nation of Domination:

I don’t know. They put me in the Nation of Domination and they go through some crazy stuff over there sometimes and it’s like things that don’t make sense for one person, make sense for the other. They turned me to the Nation and I feel that I could do so many more things. I never won a belt in WWE and I never needed it. I was over with fans because of my work and I love that. Now everybody is the champ. You can come in one day and they say hey, pick a belt. What was good working in the WWF at that time was the date Jim Ross told me they had nothing for me, I just went to Vince’s office and thanked him because of what I learned over there. I loved working for that company.

 

Savio Vega goes into much more detail about his entire WWE run and talks about his feud with Goldust that never got the proper pay per view platform, why he worked so well with Stone Cold Steve Austin, his run in Puerto Rico as TNT and learning the ropes from the legends of the Island, training wrestlers today and how the process is different today vs, 20 years ago.

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