Behind the steely-eyed glare of Chyna boils a cauldron of emotions. Occasionally her inner rage seeps out, surprising non-believers with its shocking ferocity. Blessed with physical prowess and a killer instinct, Chyna’s impact on the World Wrestling Federation has been immediate and powerful. The headstrong and confident bodyguard for DX has taken the helm and led a number of situations, showing her to be more than just a muscular hired gun.
Chyna has never shied away from danger and she has thrown herself on a grenade more than once to save her clients from their adversaries. But she has also risked her health and compromised her dignity in the face of some immature sins committed by Shawn Michaels and HHH. Going into battle is one thing, but holding back the angry masses for obnoxious behaviour is another. Have the childish antics Shawn and Hunter often display taken the luster off Chyna’s involvement in DX?
Usually silent, Chyna has given us a hint of possible resentment at some of DX’s embarrassing best. The look she had when Shawn and Hunter were rolling around in the hearse with a bevy of beauties on the search for the Undertaker was a sign that her patience could be wearing thin. Displaying an all-business attitude on the surface, it’s a sure bet that the brazen antics displayed by her fellow DX members go directly against her stoic grain.
Before anyone rushes to judgment and claims that Chyna is unhappy in DX, let me stop you right there. There is no dissension within DX/ However there has been many offers made for Chyna from other superstars in need of assistance. Certainly, her resume is impressive and HHH’s career has skyrocketed with the silent assassin in his corner. With job offers apparently pouring in every day and monetary enticement growing as well, could there be a bidding war brewing for Chyna’s services?
Another point to consider is Chyna’s own ego. Certainly,any desire to express herself or strike out on her own could be risky. With the magnetism and superstardom that Shawn and HHH are blessed with and a good possibility of a conflict of interest if she does business with other Federation superstars, Chyna may find the road hard if she desires to venture beyond DX. Is she satisfied professionally and emotionally merely with her bodyguarding duties? With interview opportunities few and far between, Chyna’s personal goals are unknown to most, but her "Personality Profile” In the December 1997 issue of the World Wrestling Federation Magazine provided a rare glimpse.
We learned that Chyna is fluent in many languages, which could potentially send her global to assemble a worldwide network of clients. Well-schooled in many different combat disciplines, she might also broaden her horizons in a managerial capacity. Chyna surely knows how to make champions in addition to protecting them, having been a student of the sport all her life. Despite the championship proximity she enjoys with DX, Chyna may receive more gratification for developing her own titleholders.
Would HHH and Shawn Michaels allow Chyna to go out on her own? While they have given her some autonomy and decision-making leverage within DX, the idea of a separate Chyna enterprise may not sit too well with them. As far as potential "Associates" she could control, DX is a very closed group. The inner circle begins and ends with Shawn, Hunter and Chyna. As I mentioned earlier, the potential for conflicts of interest is great if the woman now tagged “The Ninth Wonder of the World” strays from the inner circle. That could be the stumbling block for Chyna’s independence and might force her to make some tough decisions. IF so, what would she decide?
Certainly Chyna has sailed uncharted waters in her Federation career and many say that there is no one on Earth quite like her, a dynamic, complex woman we barely know. An undeniable facet of Chyna is her strength. Judging by her superb condition, her physical strength. Judging by her superb conditioning, her physical strength is obvious. The strength of her character and her convictions might come into play in the near future.
If she is truly tiring of the antics of DX, she may have to work to put them in their place or look to life on her own. Considering that Shawn and HHH never listen to authority, a lecture from Chyna might fall on deaf ears. Despites her inner strength, her patience may dwindle and the smoldering fire that burns inside her may be released. From all appearances, it seems that Chyna doesn’t take “no” for an answer very well or often.
On her own, Chyna could cultivate talent in her own image and ease the stress of life inside DX if she can’t gain control to her satisfaction. One look in her eyes, however, tells me that she can control any situation she wants. Shawna and HHH must recognize that or a valuable member of their team may become a free agent.
Talented….Good Looking….Popular. Rotundo is now the Florida and Southern Belt titleholder and is looking for new fields to conquer.
There are very few overnight success stories in the wrestling profession. To make it to the top requires a certain amount of experience coupled with a tremendous amount of wrestling knowledge. Once you have these two all important ingredients under your belt then one can begin to slowly move up the ladder to success. This was the position Mike Rotundo found himself in while wrestling in the Mid Atlantic area.
For the first two years of his career Rotundo wrestled in the Mid Atlantic area. In this time, he displayed flashes of brilliance. At times he appeared invincible while at others he wrestled like the inexperienced rookie that he was. But he was going to be a star sometime in the very near future. Wrestling in the Mid Atlantic area Rotundo traveled to Florida and as they say put it all together! Right now Rotundo has been wrestling in Florida for almost six months and has already captured two major regional titles and the U.S. tag team title. To the fans in Florida Mike Rotundo was an overnight success story. But not to Rotundo himself.
"I've been training for this day ever since I was twelve years old. Everything I ever did revolved around this sport. I wrestled in grade school, high school and later in Syracuse University where I won the eastern championship. I always knew that wrestling was the thing for me and now I've just put it all together."
In less than two weeks after his arrival in Florida, Mike Rotundo captured the Southern Heavyweight belt from rugged Ron Bass and has been on top ever since. Actually no one really gave Rotundo much of a chance against Bass figuring that the Texan would easily defeat Rotundo. But the popular Italian surprised everyone with his sensational victory.
"Going into that battle I knew that I had to win the belt," Rotundo stated. "I figured that if I didn't win the title on my first outing I would be totally ignored in the future. I felt that my whole future rested on the outcome of that match and I was psyched. I used everything at my disposal to come out on top and luckily things worked out the way I had hoped."
Rotundo's next major championship came when he was victor in the finals of a tournament to crown the new Florida Heavyweight Championship. To win, Rotundo defeated rough Greg Valentine.
"I wrestled Valentine many times before while I was in the Atlanta area," Rotundo recalled. "And he always gave me quite a few problems. This time I was determined to turn the tables on him and I did."
If this wasn't enough, Rotundo, along with Mike Davis also won the U.S. tag team title when they defeated Ron Bass and the awesome One Man Gang in January, 1984. With all of these accomplishments under his belt Mike Rotundo had finally established himself as the number one contender for Ric Flair's crown.Flair, however, still wasn't sure that Rotundo was worthy enough to warrant a title shot.
"I've seen the kid many times in the Mid Atlantic area," Flair stated. "And he's good. he's always showed me a lot but is he really in the class of Ric Flair? I have my doubt, but since he has done so well in Florida he deserves a title match. Rotundo, I know of your background and what you did as an amateur but now it's time to learn a few tricks from a real professional. I'll show you why I'm the champion and you are merely a challenger."
Orlando, Florida was chosen as the spot of this all important confrontation. Prior to the battle Rotundo stated, "I know that Ric Flair is a great wrestler. He has to be to have the World's championship but I feel that I will give him a battle he won't forget. This is the match I have been waiting for ever since I broke into this profession. Wrestling for the World's title is everyone's dream and tonight the dream will have a happy ending."
For sixty minutes Ric Flair and Mike Rotundo battled nonstop. In this time both men displayed a tremendous amount of wrestling knowledge and ring savvy. For every hold Flair applied, Rotundo had a counter and the same can be said for Flair. But when the sixty minute time limit had elapsed the crown gave both men a tremendous ovation. The match had to be one of the toughest battles Flair has ever encountered and the champ admitted as much after the battle.
"Mike Rotundo is a tremendous wrestler," Flair stated. "I always felt that he had the potential to make something of himself in this sport and now that potential has really blossomed. Unlike some of my other challengers, I feel Mike Rotundo may someday be World's champion."
Coming from Ric Flair that is the highest compliment one could ever receive. After only three years as a professional Mike Rotundo is well on his way to becoming one of the best stars in the sport.
The good looking Italian from Syracuse, N.Y. has the poise, confidence and ability to be World's champion and in time these three ingredients will carry him to the top in the wrestling profession. ▣
Melina Perez came into 2006 on a low note. She had attempted to use her “feminine wiles” to persuade Batista to refuse to take a match against M-N-M, only to have Batista succumb to her advances and then go on to take her team’s title. Melina threatened a sexual harassment lawsuit against Batista, but then went one step further and brought in Mark Henry to physically punish Batista for “having his cake and eating it too.” So far, it looks like Melina’s plan has paid off as Henry has put Batista on the shelf and M-N-M has their belts back. But there’s one other goal that Melina still desperately wants to achieve, and that’s to beat Trish Stratus for the women’s championship. She may not be as good a wrestler as Trish, but with M-N-M (and possibly even Henry or Kid Kash) running interference for her, we think she’ll manage to win that title soon. While her powerful friends might help her win the belt, they won’t be able to help her keep it for long. One of her first challenges will come from Mickie James, who will be determined to win the title to show up Trish. Melina will lose the belt at Backlash, and then will go back to her true passion–managing Nitro and Mercury to another great year as WWE’s premier tag team.
WHERE WILL SHE BE IN 2011?
M-N-M will run out of gas after a year or two and–like most rule-breaking tag teams–will probably end up at each other’s throats. Melina will stick with Johnny Nitro and help him develop into a U.S. title contender. She will also sign hot prospect Ken Doane, who will become a top contender for the World championship. Melina will continue to draw heat, despite her extremely popular ring entrances. In 2011, she and Doane will be the hottest couple on Smackdown.
WHERE WILL SHE BE IN 2016?
After giving his nod of approval to the relationship between Melina and Doane, Nitro will be furious because he feels Melina is spending more time promoting Doane than him. Nitro will slap Melina and spark a bitter feud with Doane and Melina, which will miraculously turn Doane and Melina into fan favorites. After the feud ends in 2013, Doane and Melina will be two of the most beloved figures on the Smackdown brand. In 2016, Melina will be WWE’s top manager. She will win the 2016 Woman of the Year award with a landslide vote.
JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT the World Wrestling Federation couldn’t get any better, the WWF’s Divas proved that they are more athletic, better looking, and more entertaining than ever. In 2001, we witnessed the debut of three stunning newcomers, the continued marathon of last year’s two hottest rookies, and the sustained excellence of our four most tenured Divas.
Torrie Wilson, Stacy Keibler and Mighty Molly showed the world that they have what it takes to survive in the World Wrestling Federation. Trish Stratus and Lita demonstrated that 2000 was no fluke, and Ivory, Jackie, Terri and Debra affirmed their status as four of the most beautiful and toughest women ever to set foot in the World Wrestling Federation.
Whether it was battling for the WWF Women’s Championship, teaming up with fellow Superstars or posing for the Divas 2001 Swimsuit Magazine, these Divas proved that when it comes to real beauty, there is no place like the World Wrestling Federation.
trish
SMART ‘N’ SEXY
No sophomore jinx for this blonde bombshell. Not only did Trish prove that she can do it all in front of the camera, she also proved that she can do it all in the ring. Fighting back from a severe ankle injury, she won the World Wrestling Federation Women’s championship. Beauty, brains, brawn–there’s no doubt that Trish has it all…Stratusfaction Guaranteed!
ivory
SEXY TOMBOY
She calls herself a “sexy tomboy,” and who would be crazy enough to disagree? Whether battling in the ring, posing for a photo shoot or providing commentary on television. Ivory always manages to become the center of attention. Is there any doubt why?
jackie
TEXAS TROUBLE
Don’t let her gorgeous looks fool you. This is one tough woman–just ask any Diva or Superstar unfortunate enough to have to wrestle Dallas’ greatest gift to the world. Jackie may not be the biggest Diva around, but rest assured, there isn’t a Diva alive that looks forward to competing against Jackie–in the ring or in a swimsuit competition.
lita
BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL
This Divas 2001 Swimsuit Magazine Cover Girl showed the world that being yourself is truly beautiful. Is it any wonder that Lita proved to be the most popular Diva in the year 2001? With her athleticism and looks, don’t be surprised if she proved to be on top of the WWF Women’s Division for years to come.
torrie
TRULY TEMPTING
What a debut Torrie made in 2001. Sure she may have chosen the wrong side when she came in as part of the Alliance, but even Federation fans had to admit that they couldn’t get enough of her. This year she treated fans to a lingerie match and two spectacular photo shoots. Here’s hoping that this knockout gets plenty of television time in 2002!
stacy
LONG ‘N’ LEAN
Forty-two inch legs. Need we say more? Not really, but just in case you’ve had your head in the sand for the past year, let us remind you that few Divas have ever had a better debut year than Stacy Keibler. One thing everybody learned is that behind the sweet smile and innocent look lurks a very tough and driven woman.
terri
SINFUL “SHE-DEVIL”
If there’s one constant in the World Wrestling Federation it’s that the “She-Devil” will be looking great and plotting something fiendish. Nobody’s better at using her “talents” to get what she wants, and 2001 proved to be no expectation. You would think that the guys would know better by now. But let’s be honest, what man could refuse this temptress’ advances?
debra
COOL AND CRAFTY
Sure there may be a few fans out there who don’t like her cookies, but our best guess is that there aren’t any who don’t like her. Debra never looked better or had more success than she did in 2001. Is it any wonder that Stone Cold Steve Austin is the most envied man in America?
molly
MIGHTY FINE
Sweet and innocent, right? Don’t let her girl-next-door looks fool you, there is no tougher competitor than Molly. Whether flying off the top rope or flying off the handle with fellow superhero The Hurricane, Mighty Molly demonstrated that a girl can have it all. Oh yeah, she’s more than just a little bit cute too, ain't she?
Kevin Nash and Scott Hall were the catalysts for a boom period in WCW and the sports entertainment industry when they defected from the World Wrestling Federation in 1996 and formed the nWo. While Hall and WCW subsequently have had their share of ups and downs,Nash has had a consistent run as one of the company's top stars despite numerous switches from heel to babyface.
Nash has been a major player behind the scenes during his tenure in WCW. He was part of the booking team in 1999 and has gained a reputation for being outspoken. Nash recently has been campaigning for WCW to bring back Hall, his real-life friend, whose problems have been well documented.
In an interview with WCW MAGAZINE, Nash discussed the situation with Hal, his true feelings about Bill Goldberg, and his thoughts on being labeled by some as a disruptive force in the locker room.
Question: One of the frequently asked questions about WCW concerns the future of Scott Hall. How often do you speak to him and how is he doing mentally and physically?
Answer: He’s good. I talk to him at least once a week, sometimes twice. I think he was cleared medically on September 1 and he’ll be ready to come back shortly–either that or he’ll be sitting home with full pay (laughs).
Q: Do you think we will see Hall again in WCW?
A: When somebody's not medically cleared, it’s easy to say they’re not coming back. But when somebody’s medically cleared and the numbers are what they are and that person equals ratings, I think that sooner or later you have to use him. People ask: “How many chances can you give a guy?” Well. you’ve given him 75 already, what’s 76?
Q: If Hall did not return to WCW, would we see the Outsiders together again somewhere else?
A: Absolutely. At a local strip joint probably (Laughs).
Q: Let me rephrase that question. Will we ever see the Outsiders again as a tag team, in the ring?
A: Oh, that’s a different story. Yeah. Our contracts are up on the same day: January 1, 2002.
Q: How would you describe the bond between yourself and Hall?
A: There’s nothing I don’t talk to him about. I'm going through a divorce right now and he just went through one. It’s like our lives have paralleled in a lot of ways. We've been friends for 12 years, and we’ve been traveling partners for the last eight years. Almost every day of our lives when we’re on the road we’re together. I’ve spent more time with Scott Hall the last eight years than I have with any other human being.
Q: What are your thoughts on the creative direction of WCW? Do you think WCW is headed in the right direction?
A: I think so. We’ve got good young talent here and we’ve got a place that’s developing more every day. But it’s going to take time to teach these guys the specifics of the business and for them to mature. Now it’s just putting people in the right positions. We’ve been jockeying guys around. Some guys are a heel one month and babyface the next. You’ve got Goldberg, who is our franchise babyface, and we tried to turn him heel. We thought it might work, but there was resistance on his behalf because he didn’t know what direction he was going in, and it would have been an uphill climb to turn him heel. I think we have everybody in the right spot now. I feel I’m better as a heel than I am as a babyface. You’ve got Scott Steiner and Jeff Jarrett with me, so the three of us make a good heel combination. You put the Natural Born Thrillers with us to give them the rub, so that’s a pretty good heel foundation. I always believed when a territory is down you have to book heat. You have to build your heels first and then every babyface comes up after that. We’ve got Bookter T., Goldberg, Sting–who has a lot of good years left–so you’ve got three really good babyfaces. You just need a couple of these young guys to step it up in the next 16 months. The thing is, I think these corporate people want this thing to turn around in 90 days. To me it’s a soap opera. If you’ve been watching “Days of Our Lives” for a year and somebody says “Santa Barbara” is good, it doesn’t matter; you’re just not going to start watching “Santa Barbara.” If that other show gets stale, then you might look, but right now the WWF is keeping things pretty fresh and it’s hard to get that viewership back. When they did the Super Bowl ad, they created a whole new audience. Probably a 1.5 to a 2.0 rating of new people tuned in to see what this was that they saw during the SuperBowl. Those people now have been brought into sports entertainment by the WWF and it’s going to be hard for us to grab those people because they’re brand loyal to them.
“People ask: ‘How many chances can you give Scott Hall?’ Well, you’ve given him 75 already, what’s 76?”
Q: You said that WCW has some good, young talent. Who do you see as the future stars of WCW?
A: THere are guys, like Sean O’Haire, who have a certain quality–they have a look. I think Chuck Palumbo will do well. WHen I had a hand in the creative end and I went to the Power Plant to watch some of the guys work, there wasn't one or two guys, there were like none or 10 guys that were pretty good. The Wall is another guy. I don’t know if i like the gimmick he’s in right now, but he knows how to sell like a big man, his stuff looks good; I think he’s a guy that you can make money with.
Q: Is there anything you think WCW failed to do while beating WWF in the Monday ratings for 83 straight weeks?
A: The WWF did such a good job branding their name. IF two baseball players got into a shoving match, the guy on SportsCenter would say it was from a scene reminiscent of aWWF event; it was never a WCW event. For a while the nWo brand was probably the strongest brand in the business. I think what they should have done, and Scott and I lobbied adamantly for this, was that inevitably the nWo would take over WCW and we would re-brand the company as the nWo. So now it would be the nWo, WWF and ECW. When Scott and I left New York and came here, there was an explosion. It was the perfect situation: two top guys came into territory, which had never happened before; Hulk Hogan turned heel, the nWo was born and it turned wrestling into more reality-based programming. Before, Vince McMahon did a lot of gimmicks: one guy was a pig farmer, one guy was a dentist, one guy was an astronaut. The storyline of the nWo was something the 25- to 35-year-old demographic that read about corporate takeovers could relate to.
Q: You just mentioned reality-based programming. It seems as if Vince Russo has taken that concept and expanded on it. Do you think pitting wrestlers against each other who have real-life heat between them makes for a better product?
A: Somebody once told me that I’ll get over when I welcome myself because people like me in the locker room. If you come to work and you’re the same guy that goes in front of the people, that’s not a stretch. If you have guys that actually have some heat between each other, as long as they stay professional and as long as they don't cross any boundaries. I think it makes for better TV because the emotion shows.
Q: Is there any legitimate heat between yourself and Goldberg?
A: There’s always some heat between everybody. With Bill–hell, anybody who has been around Bill Goldberg for more than three minutes knows that he’s a nice guy. This business makes assholes out of all of us at one time or another. He was in a position that he wasn’t happy with and wasn't comfortable with. The hear wasn’t between Bill and I. The heat was between the situation Bill was in and everything else. I cut a shoot promo because one of the front things I said was: “I Don’t like Bill Goldberg.” Well. that’s not true.
“I don’t believe in undermining the guy that’s writing the show, but if I don’t agree with something, I’ll lobby my idea if I think I have a better idea or a better way to end a match.”
Q: You made a reference on television a couple months ago to a match several years ago in Montreal in which you acted unprofessionally. For those who don’t know, can you talk about what happened in that match, which was with Carl Oulette?
A: It was a point in his career when he was just young. Guys got in his head and got him all geeked up. It was his hometown and he didn’t do business. But I saw him in Canada recently and we talked. There’s no animosity toward him. It was a mistake and he made and I definitely made a mistake in being professional in the ring. It isn’t anything I’m proud of. I brought it up only because it fit in the storyline that we had at that time with Goldberg and we were trying to sell tickets. There’s absolutely no heat between Carl and I. It was just an unfortunate instance that happened, and he learned from it and I learned from it and we’ve gone on.
Q: You said you feel you’re better as a heel than a babyface. Isn’t your situation similar to Goldberg’s in that people would rather cheer than jeer you?
A: I’ve been back and forth so many times with this company. If you’re over and you’re a heel, yeah, you’re going to have people that cheer you. People have said that when Scott and I came into WCW that we weren’t heels, that we were babyfaces. I said, “Well, how were we babyfaces when we were giving guys comebacks? The guy making the comeback is the babyface. The guy flopping around and getting his butt beat at the end of the match is the heel. So how were we not heels?” And they said, “Well, the fans liked you.” The fans are going to like who they’re going to like. Storyline is important as to how you're perceived. If you go out there and work like a heel and act like a heel, I think out of respect even the people that would want to cheer you will boo you because they know that they’re supposed to boo you.
Q: When you had a hand in booking in 1999, did you enjoy it or was it a headache dealing with the politics and egos?
A: I helped for 11 months and during that time there were no mass coups or 18 guys wanting out of their contracts, so I didn’t have any headaches. They might have been saying it behind my back, but nobody said anything to my face. One advantage I had in that position is what when you’re the biggest guy in the locker room, you kind of get a little respect (laughs).
Q: We’ve heard a lot lately about wrestlers such as Hulk Hogan having creative control clauses. How much control or input do you have in your storylines?
A: Well, No. 1, it’s live TV. So they can tell you whatever they want in the back, but when it’s live TV, you can pretty much do whatever you want once you get out there. The old saying among the boys is that it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission. I don’t believe in undermining the guy that’s writing the show, but if I don’t agree with something, I’ll lobby my idea if I think I had a better idea or a better way to end a match. You do this for 10-12 years, you may have been in the same predicament 30 times, so you can say this is what worked this time, how about if we do it this way. What booking is to me nowadays is a blueprint. I’m having a house designed down in Florida right now and I have an architect. He does some things and then I look at it and make changes. He’s the architect. He does and he’ll tell you no, there’s certain things you can’t change. Vince Russo is the architect, but it’s our match, and Vince is smart enough to give the guys he knows some insight that leeway to express how we feel. But if Vince wants it a certain way, we do it the way Vince wants it.
Q: You seem to be one of a minority of wrestlers who has some clout backstage. When you break into the business, obviously you have no power. How did you get to the position you’re in now?
A: It’s like anything else. If you’re driving a car and the guy in the backseat tells you to take a left and you do it and he ends up being right, and the next time you get lost and he has a suggestion and he's right again, the more you believe in him. Hulk Hogan, for example, is a guy who always drawn money. He knows how to get over and how to take care of his character. Hulk goes on track record, and I think I go on track record. My record is nowhere near as impressive or as long as Hulk’s is, but I sell merchandise and I’ve become a commodity that’s valuable to the company. The more valuable that you become to the company, the more voice you get and the more power you get. Plus, I think it’s your personality. I’m an aggressive personality. I’m very outspoken and I have been my whole life. It’s gotten me in a lot of trouble, but that’s just who I am. If I think something is not right, even the treatment of the boys where it may not affect me as much as some of the guys underneath, I feel that because I have a voice I have to speak for the other guys because they don’t have a voice. Corporately you’re looked at as a locker-room lawyer and you’re trouble. There was talk of cutting some guys around here and I know my name came up, but it was like: “He’s been good lately, so we won’t try to get rid of him.” It’s not that at all: it’s just that they haven’t done anything to upset me. It’s not that I’ve been a good boy; it’s just that maybe they are running things a little bit better.
Word Association with Kevin Nash
Scott Hall: My brother, but not by blood.
Booker T.: The real deal.
Triple H: I’ve never gotten closer with any human being faster. He’s very much like me.
Shawn Michaels: Greatest pure worker the sport ever had.
Eric Bischoff: A man’s man; good boss: a guy that understood the boys.
Bret Hart: The last wrestler.
Vince McMahon: Genius.
Vince Russo: If McMahon is a genius, Russo is a mad scientist.
Q: Do you pay attention to the negative criticism directed at you in the dirt sheets and on the Internet?
A: I really don’t give a damn if a bunch of smart marks don’t like me. There’s not one of them that could go out on live TV and call a match, so how do they deem who is a good worker and who’s not a good worker? To me, a good worker is a guy you can bring into a building, give him a finish and not let him see his opponent the rest of the night and do a 12- to 15-minute TV match. That to me is somebody that can work, not somebody that can sit in the back for six hours and choreograph a dance routine with another guy. That to me is not a good worker; that’s somebody who has a great memory. A good worker can go out there, listen to the people and be able to change things on the fly; when stuff gets screwed up he is able to recover so that people don't know that the spot was screwed up. I see guys who are deemed great workers that will send a guy off for a high spot right after they just got done working his leg. You’re supposed to go out there and give a performance that looks like you're killing each other without getting hurt. If you take a guy on top of a ladder and drop him through a table, that’s not a work. It’s a real table, it’s a real ladder and you’re going through it. This business is supposed to be a work. If I hit you in the ring and it looks like I kill you and I don’t touch you, that’s being able to work. If I hit you in the ring and I potato you and it looks good on TV, you sure as hell wouldn’t want to work with me 10 nights in a row.
“There was talk of cutting some guys around here and I know my name came up, but it was like: ‘He’s been good lately, so we won’t try to get rid of him.’”
Q: Are you still a fan of the business?
A: Absolutely. You get jaded and callous to it, but there’s not a better feeling on earth than going out there with one of your buddies and getting the reactions you’re trying to get from the crowd. I don’t think Booker and I had ever worked shingles matches together until recently and on two straight nights we basically went to the ring and with just the finish. We went out there and just called it back and forth to each other; neither one of us potato each other, so it’s a pleasure to work with the person. Now if i have a 10-day look with Booker, it would be like basically having 10 days off. It’s going to be easy for me to perform because I’m out there with someone who knows what they’re doing.
Q: If your 4-year-old son, Tristan, wanted to pursue a career in professional wrestling, what would you say to him?
A: If my son came to me when he was older and wanted to be a wrestler, then I’d definitely get back in so I could book and I could push him (laughs). I just bought my wife a new home, and I look at the things wrestling has given me. Anybody in my family that’s ever had financial problems has always been able to come to me for money. Wrestling has provided that for me and my family, so if my son determined this is something he wanted to do, that’s OK. If he came to me and said he wanted to be a figure skater, he could be a figure skater. If he wants to be a wrestler, God bless him. I’d be proud that my son would want to follow in my footsteps, but I’d also be blunt and tell him what this life is about. He’ll know one of the main reasons his mother and father got a divorce was because of this. He’ll know the dark side, the disadvantages of this lifestyle as well as the advantages.
Q: With your hectic schedule and impending divorce, how difficult is it to spend time with your son?
A: I read an article not too long ago where they did a survey of 9-to-5 business guys and how many hours a day they actually spend with their kids, and it was something like 15 minutes a day. I may be home three or four days a week, but there’s one day that I spend a whole day with him where he stays with me and sleeps over. The other days I usually see him when he gets out of school at 2:30 until he goes to bed around 9. I Spend a lot of hands-on time with my son. My wife and I have stayed good friends. It’s not a bitter divorce. My relationship with her hasn’t changed. The only difference is I don’t sleep in the house anymore.
“I really don’t give a damn if a bunch of smart marks don’t like me. There’s not one of them that could go out on live TV and call a match, so how do they deem who is a good worker and who’s not a good worker?”
Q: You’ve gained a reputation as a guy who likes to play hard outside the ring. Are you mellowing at all?
A: I just had my 41st birthday party and I was out with a bunch of 25-year-old guys until 7 in the morning the night before a pay-per-per-view, so I don’t think so. I tried to slow down. I’m thinking I really shouldn’t be doing to my body at 41 the same things I did to it at 20, but I guess when you have a certain lifestyle, it's just kind of your lifestyle.
Q: How many years do you want to continue wrestling?
A: If I hit the lotto tomorrow you wouldn’t see me (laughs), but this is what I do for a living. I can’t sing and I can’t dance. People always talk about it maybe being the time to act or something else. I watch a lot of movies, and I can’t see that there’s going to be a lot of roles for a 6’ 10” guy. I was up for the role of Saber Tooth in “The X-Men.” I also was offered a role in “Mortal Kombat." But the pays is so low-scale compared to what we get. You can make me the fry-boy at McDonald’s tomorrow for $2.5 million and I’ll do it. I work for the money.
Q: After your in-ring career is over, do you think you will stay in the business, perhaps on the creative side?
A: I like the creative side. Creatively, I’d like to be involved and have a voice, but as far as having the pressure week in and week out of having to come up with stuff, I don’t know. I’ve sat there so many times with six guys in a room for 45 minutes just looking at each other and going, “Man, I can’t believe that nobody has an idea,” knowing that you're under the wire, knowing that you have to have something on paper by Wednesday because travel has to get tickets to the guys. Booking is a hard aspect of the business. I would like to maybe help direct some stuff in the back or maybe work my way into the truck. Who knows? Maybe I won’t do anything. Maybe I'll just go sit some place and rot.
What a blow it would be if he was! Fortunately for loyal WWF backers, it doesn’t look like Shawn’s going anywhere. But the people who run the WWF might want to make sure “The Heartbreak Kid” remains happy where he is
By Bryan Ethier
THE WAR OF the world not only has made losers of both armies, it has precipitated more rumors of destruction than The Black Plague.
The WWF is crumbling … Diesel and Razor Ramon have been offered big bucks to leave the WWF for WCW … Billionaire Ted is looking to crush Vince … Shawn Michaels has grown weary of his role in the WWF and is leaving for greener pastures.
Yes, you’ve heard all the rumors, except perhaps the last one. Shawn Michaels leaving the WWF? It would be like a king abdicating his throne at the height of his popularity. Granted, Michaels is the most popular wrestler in the WWF today, probably in the world. Mix the precise mind of a lab technician with the spunk of a toddler with the cocky charm of Tom Cruise with the goofy aloofness of Deion Sanders, and there you have Shawn Michaels. It’s no wonder that even when he enters the ring simply to be interviewed, teenagers drop in the aisles as if they just saw Ringo, Paul, and George pick up their instruments to strike up a tune.
[This is what Shawn Michaels loves to do–engage in hand-to-hand combat with the toughest combat with the toughest competition the world has to offer. And right now he seems to like the competition in the WWF.]
What sets Michaels apart from other stars is that he backs up his braggadocio with results. He is strong–not as strong as The Undertaker, Diesel, or Razor Ramon–but powerful nonetheless.But Michaels can also strike as fast as a copperhead. He can do far more in the ring than just stick his heel in a competitor’s face. When he signals to the fans that he is about to finish off an opponent with some “sweet chin music” (a superkick), they always rise to their feet in anticipation.
But what scares WWF officials out of their suits is the idea Shawn Michaels can be more than just a wrestling superhero.
[Check out the look on Michaels’ face as he ties up the arm of another opponent. This is a determined man, a man who wants to be the best. He still has a lot he can accomplish in wrestling. He’s not ready for Hollywood.]
“Considering how successful and popular Shawn is in the WWF, you wouldn’t think anyone would be concerned about his loyalty.” admitted one source close to the WWF. “But because of this war with WCW, many people in the WWF have to be nervous. Look how Ted Turner pirated Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage out of the WWF. Look how they are trying to get the upperhand on the WWF today. If the people who run WCW decide to open their pocketbooks for Shawn, the WWF has a big problem. How much do you think they’d offer Shawn to jump ship?”
Before we go too far, we should explain that as of press time, Shawn Michaels had no plans to leave the WWF, nor were there any rumors about WCW offering him big bucks to do so But things happen fast in wrestling, as evidenced by the surprise WWF-to-WCW jumps of Lex Luger and Alundra “Madusa” Blayze in 1995.
[Fans are still talking about the terrific Michaels-Diesel match from WrestleMania XL. Shawn was effective in the air (above left) and with his fists (above right) that day. If he stays in the WWF, he could be the star for many years.]
The WCW camp has proved to be most dangerous when it does not spread rumors and simply acts. Therefore, there may be no fore-warning of a Michaels’ departure.
While some WWF officials fret over Michaels possibly jumping to WCW at some point, others worry that “The Heartbreak Kid” now needs more than wrestling to satisfy his immense ego. Will he follow the path of Bret Hart and pursue a career in acting? Will he seek the big bucks and comparatively light schedule that comes with doing endorsements?
“If Shawn can draw so many viewers to WWF TV shows, think what he could do on the silver screen,” remarked one former WWF wrestler. “The guy simply has common d over his audience. I think it’s a longshot, but you never know.”
“Forget it,” countered WWF expert Thomas Pillard. “Shawn basically owns wrestling at this point. He's so popular that he can call his own shots, travel in the best hotels, and wrestle almost anyone he wishes. He knows the WWF would suffer without him. But he doesn’t use that power selfishly. He respects the federation, for it is here that he became ‘The Heartbreak Kid.’ Don’t expect Shawn Michaels to break the hearts of his devoted WWF fans.”
Although nothing is certain in wrestling, count on the WWF to continue to roll out the red carpet for Michaels and to offer him carte blanche within the organization.
[Michaels and Razor Ramon have had some memorable battles during the last two years. But while Ramon has reportedly been offered a lot of money by WCW, apparently no offer has been made to Michaels. The WWF better keep him happy where he is.]
“One thing you have to understand about Shawn is that he has really worked hard to get to this level of success,” said Capt. Lou Albano. “If this was just about money, he’d be a member of the Million-Dollar Corporation and takin’ home more cash than he could ever spend.that’s why I can’t see him jumping to another federation.
“Wealth, to a guy like Shawn Michaels, is found in the smile of a 14-year-old fan, the pat on the back from a 65-year-old lady who’s been following the sport for 50 years. This is what turns him on. You think he’s going to leave his lead role in the WWF for a bit part in some nothing movie? And endorsements? He can do them and say in the WWF. Or he could just endorse WWF merchandise.”
In fact, under close scrutiny, there is reason to believe Michaels will stay in the WWF for a long time. He appears to be having the time of his life in the ring now. Sure, there’s a little paranoia out at Titian Towers, but as long as the folks in the WWF can keep Michaels happy, everything should be fine.
“Ignore the hysteria, the hype, the paranoia,” said one WWF employee. “The Michaels-WWF relationship is stronger than ever. Shawn is the hottest thing going in the WWF today, and both sides know it. Both want to keep it that way, too. It’s that simple.”
[Okay, so Kama isn’t one of the world’s elite wrestlers, but there are plenty of other great ones in the WWF who could challenge Michaels for years to come. Staying put wouldn’t be a bad decision for him.]
Notable titles held: WWF Intercontinental title (4/12/01); WWF world tag team title (4: 6/29/99, 9/24/00, 3/5/01 - with Matt Hardy, 10/24/00 - as Los Conquistadors with Matt Hardy)
At a glance:
One-half of one of the most popular tag teams in the WWF, Jeff Hardy is beginning to show signs of becoming a singles star. His teamwork with his brother, Matt, is still strong, but his Intercontinental title win on April 12 shows praise of a big push.
Feuds and angles:
A feud with Triple H over the Intercontinental title was short lived. The Hardy Boyz will contend for the tag team title again, but not until they get rid of those pesky Radicalz and figure out who loves Lita more.
Coming soon:
Will he get another shot at the Intercontinental title? As one of the WWF’s most popular, young superstars, the answer has to be yes. A good run as the title holder will put him on the level of Chris Benoit or Chris Jericho.
Overhead:
“We’re teaming with Eddy again. You think we can trust him or not?”
Steven Richards censors nothing in a candid conversation about his recent WWF tenure
by Andrew Maxwell Fowler
[Steven Richards, shown in control of Jerry Lawler, has used his mic skills to establish himself in the WWF’s Right To Censor.]
After fighting multiple concussions and neck and foot injuries, it appears that Steven Richards [real name: Michael Manna] has finally squashed the injury bug that has plagued him throughout his wrestling career. Richards - who is now involved in the highly visible Right To Censor angle with Bull Buchanan, The Goodfather, Ivory and Val Venis - has found his niche in the World Wrestling Federation by mocking one of WWF’s most vocal, real-life critics, the Parents Television Council.
With that storyline about to run its course, Richards recently talked about the gimmick that made him a household name, the injuries he’s overcome, parenting in America and much more.
Q. A YEAR AGO, YOU WERE PREPARING FOR THE START OF THE RIGHT TO CENSOR STORYLINE. NOW THAT A YEAR HAS PASSED, WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE BEING IN A MAJOR WWF STORYLINE?
A.Things are very different from this time last year. It’s been very exciting, busy and hectic. This is exactly why I got into wrestling. This is exactly why I signed with the WWF two years ago, and maybe by the time this interview goes to print there might not be a Right To Censor any more, but hopefully there will be a Steven Richards on WWF television.
Q. AFTER FIGHTING NECK AND LEG INJURIES IN THE PAST, YOU’VE BEEN HEALTHY FOR QUITE A WHILE. WHAT HAS IT MEANT TO YOU TO OVERCOME THE INJURIES AND STAR IN A MAJOR ANGLE?
A. It makes me feel good knowing that I’m healthy for the first time in awhile. It was rough for a while, because each time I wrestled, it seemed that I got hurt, and that was one of those things that just happens. There are some guys who never get hurt in their careers, and there are guys like me who for whatever reason, get hurt many, many times. Right now, that is all behind me, and I now can hopefully live my life and the rest of my career injury free. The position the WWF put me in enabled my face on TV even while I was injured. I’m very lucky.
Q. YOU HAD A NECK INJURY SIMILAR TO STEVE AUSTIN’S. DOES THAT STILL WEIGH ON YOUR MIND WHEN YOU WRESTLE? ARE YOU “GUN SHY?”
a. No, I don’t worry about that. I always carry in the back of my mind the multitude of problems I’ve had with my neck. That’s part of being careful and taking care of yourself - that’s not being gun shy. All the other injuries are little nagging injuries that just kind of hindered me a little bit. But the neck injury is something you’ve got to think about. Guys like me,’Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, X-Pac, even Billy Gunn, have a neck injury that we’re working through. You just have to take care of yourself and remember you have to live your life after you’re out of this business.
The RTC-PTC connection
Q. RTC IS BASED ON THE PARENTS TELEVISION COUNCIL AND ITS FOUNDER, L. BRENT BOZELL, WHO PUBLICLY LOBBIED FOR THE WWF’S SPONSORS TO QUIT ADVERTISING ON THE WWF’S SHOWS BECAUSE OF PERCEIVED ADULT-ORIENTED CONTENT. WHAT DID YOU INITIALLY THINK ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN THE GIMMICK?
A. I really didn’t understand the gimmick at first. Then I did my homework, and I actually joined the PTC - which to this day they never sent me any of their propaganda at all, so I want my $25 back! It’s a very easy gimmick to do, because the spots they put me in - like taking the Godfather’s hoes away or removing the tables prior to the table matches - are a very easy way to get heat. They could have put anybody in that spot who could talk, and it probably would have gotten over just as easily. I was lucky they put enough stock and faith in me to give me the microphone a number of times to show what I could do. I think I’ve talked just as much as anyone on WWF television, right up there with Vince McMahon, Triple H, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, all those guys. If they give me that kind of time, I must be doing something right.
[The Goodfather and Bull Buchanan were Richard’s first RTC recruits.]
‘ That’s why America is screwed up, because a lot of parents in America suck.’
Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PTC STANDS FOR?
A. The PTC stands for total censorship, just trying to decide what the people of America should and should not watch, and that’s wrong. It’s up to the parents. THe problem is, there are parents out there who are unfit, who can’t gauge what their children should or should not watch. That’s why America is screwed up, because a lot of parents in America suck. It has nothing to do with the PTC. The PTC is just an instrument that thinks it can control something that it has absolutely no jurisdiction over.
Q. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME DISSENSION WITHIN THE RTC STORYLINE. VAL VENIS WAS DISCOVERED REVERTING TO HIS “PORN” PAST, AND IT LOOKS LIKE RTC IS GOING TO BREAK UP. WHERE IS THE GIMMICK IS GOING. AND WHAT WILL YOU DO AFTER IT HAS RUN ITS COURSE?
A. I see Steven Richards still being somewhat a zealot, somewhat of an extremist, still being pretty much a psycho, just maybe not the Right To Censor banner behind him. There has always been chemistry between Ivory and me that a lot of people have pointed out. Bull and I have some chemistry. Right To Censor also made Bull, Ivory and me stand out for the first time in the WWF. So maybe it will be something where the three of us, or a mixture of two of us, can still do something together. When we are done, there will never be another Right To Censor, because it’s kind of like The Four Horsemen: Once you try to replace those members, it’s never the same.
[Val Venis and Ivory also joined RTC.]
Q. WHAT DO YOU SEE YOURSELF DOING AFTER YOU’RE OUT OF WRESTLING?
A. I’ve invested a lot of the money I have made during wrestling. Hopefully that money will make me enough money so I can live without having to work any further. At the very least, I’ll probably open a small business. I’ll always have wrestling in my heart. I’ll always do something in wrestling, whether it is in the ring or behind the scenes. I wouldn’t mind going back to working in independents, where I had the most fun of my career.
Wrestling monopoly
Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF VINCE MCMAHON'S ACQUISITION OF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING AND THE ABSORPTION OF EXTREME CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING?
A. We’re in a very surreal time in pro wrestling. Never in the history of the business has there been only one company, especially a company that bought or absorbed the other companies. I think Vince will make it exciting and possibly double or triple his money by making WCW a promotion that’s right up there with the WWF. It’s going to take a long time, but he will do it. Vince always thinks not in terms of days, weeks or months, but years and maybe, who knows, we might even see Extreme Championship Wrestling come back as a third promotion. Vince is a genius, and it’s probably the best thing that could have happened to WCW and ECW.
[Richards said he won’t have any problem shaking the RTC label once the group disbands.]
‘When we are done, there will never be another Right To Censor, because it’s kind of like The Four Horseman: Once you try to replace those members, it’s never the same.’
Q. DO YOU THINK IT MIGHT BE HARMFUL TO THE BUSINESS? THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF OPTIONS FOR PERFORMERS WHO DON’T MAKE IT IN THE WWF?
A. I’m sure a lot of guys look at it that way, and I’ve had thoughts about that, but if you show Vince McMahon loyalty, Vince McMahon will show you loyalty. Even though he owns all the wrestling companies in the United States as far as on a national TV level, you always have a job. You may even have more longevity. Maybe you’ll go from the WWF to WCW and maybe then back to the WWF again after awhile.
Q. HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THE FANS? PEOPLE LIKE VARIETY, LIKE COKE AND PEPSI. IN THE LONG TERM, DO YOU THINK THIS WILL HELP OR HINDER THE WWF’S GROWTH?
A. Coke and Pepsi both own four or five other sodas under them. So you’ve got to look at it the same way as Vince McMahon, He’s going to make WCW a totally different product. Sure, there may be some interpromotional wars, but I don’t think it will happen as quickly as everybody thinks it will. Once you have an interpromotional war, where do you go after that? Who knows? Maybe Vince will do something after that interpromotional war to make things even more interesting.
[The Blue Meanie joined Stevie RIchards in ECW’s Blue World Order.]
Life after RTC
Q. RTC WILL RUN ITS COURSE. WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR GUYS COMING OVER FROM WCW - LIKE DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE, BOOKER T AND POSSIBLY SCOTT STEINER - WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DO YOU THINK THOSE ESTABLISHED WCW PERFORMERS WILL HAVE ON YOUR ROLE IN THE WWF? ARE YOU CONCERNED?
A. There is no competition from other companies, but there is far more competition for spots on TV. That question could have been asked even before those guys possibly come over. We have guys in the back right now who are worthy of television time; there is just no time to give. It just so happens I can speak and I can do some things well and I fit into a spot that Vince and others feel has a place on TV. Maybe when this interview prints, I’m off TV, but almost every show, every week. That’s pretty good.
Q. BUT WHAT IF YOU FIND YOUR TV TIME REDUCED?
A. Better to have loved and lost than never have loved at all. Better to have been on TV and then had it reduced, but still be on TV! As long as they have me in some sort of role, as long as they have me on the payroll, then I’ll be happy. If they let me go tomorrow, I’ve accomplished everything I ever wanted to do in wrestling.
Q. DO YOU THINK THE RTC GIMMICK WILL RESTRICT YOUR OPTIONS IN THE FUTURE. AS FAR AS BEING LABELED AS THE CENSOR, THE GUY WITH THE WHITE SOCKS?
A. How long did it take me to shake the role of Raven's lackey? How long did it take people to stop calling me Big Stevie Cool? How long did it take people to stop chanting ECW? I’ve proved throughout the nine years of my career that I can play any role. I’m probably the most adaptive performer in wrestling history. I can be put into any role, and I can do my best and probably pull it off.
Q. YOU SPENT A LARGE PART OF YOUR CAREER IN ECW, BUT YOU DIDN’T LEAVE ON GREAT TERMS. HAS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ANY OF THE PERFORMERS CHANGED?
A. There were a lot of things going on with Paul Heyman and me and a lot of other people who actually are in the WWF today, and a lot of that has been forgotten. Tazz is one of my favorite people in the company. I think Tazz is entertaining, a very funny guy, actually in many ways much funnier than I could ever have been back in my ECW days. It’s kind of weird how time and different environments change people and relationships. For a while, Raven and I did not get along, but now we get along very well. At one time Raven was as close to me as anyone in my family. He was like a brother or father to me at times. We had our disagreements, and we had it out a couple of times. Decisions were made, things were said and now Raven and I are friends. I never thought I would say that, but we are. So, it’s just so strange that time and change of environment can change people's views of each other.
Steven’s Stats
REAL NAME: Michael Manna
BORN: Oct. 9, 1971
HEIGHT: 6’3”
WEIGHT: 227
HOMETOWN: Philadelphia
FIRST MATCH: Feb. 24, 1992, against Jimmy Jannetty. It was the first match in the history of Eastern Championship Wrestling, which would later become Extreme Championship Wrestling.
NOTABLE TITLES HELD (AS OF JUNE 1, 2001): ECW world tag team title (2: 6/20/95, 10/7/95 - with Raven)
THE START OF RTC: Stevie Richards became the ultra-conservative Steve Richards on the June 26, 2000, episode of RAW.
