PureHatred
04-17-2004, 05:17 PM
The link below will let you read the entire transcript of his recent chat with The Sun.
CLICK HERE!!!!! (http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2003560001-2004180004,00.html) (beware pop-ups)
Here are some excerpts:
On WCW's final days:
Your promo and match with Sting at the last ever WCW Monday Nitro in 2001 were very moving for a lot of fans. What emotions did you go through?
Navdeep Rehill
I was glad to see WCW close down! The company was an embarrassment to anything I'd ever known or been part of. Vince Russo had turned it into a circus.
I was emotional to be involved in the show but I wasn't prepared to wrestle and I didn't want to wrestle. I was honoured to be there with Sting and I understood what they were doing, but they made me fight. The interview was just something I've always been able to do.
It was such a sad day for the 150 individuals who lost their jobs – with relatively small compensation packages – and the people responsible for that happening should be dead.
I totally blame Eric Bischoff, Russo was just another add-on. The management didn't take into account anyone's feelings, they kept hiring the wrong people and there were no controls in place.
Instead of concentrating on making our product better, Bischoff was consumed with beating Vince. Any success he and the company enjoyed, Eric bought. There was no creative genius.
And he needlessly spent millions of dollars. If Vince bought an aeroplane we had to have an aeroplane, if Vince had ten limousines then we had to have ten limousines. At least when Vince spends money, it's his money.
On Eric Bischoff:
Is there still any real-life animosity between yourself and Eric Bischoff? Is it hard working with him every week on Raw?
Edwin Bear
I tolerate Eric and he tolerates me. I'm sure he knows how I feel.
I'm not the only one, there are 10 guys in there who want to kick his a*** every time they see him. But we're in a controlled environment and we have to get along.
He's a strange guy and the sad thing about Eric is that everyone who know him knows that if he could go away and get a millionaire to go into business against Vince he'd do it tomorrow. Take my word for it.
On the current roster:
Hi Ric, who on the current WWE roster do you think has the brightest future ahead of them? And who can wear your old tag as the "greatest professional wrestler alive today"?
Ben, Southampton
Triple H is by far the greatest professional wrestler alive right now, and Shawn Michaels is too when he wants to be. Shawn was the best and then along came Triple H, who is now finally getting his due.
And Kurt Angle is the WWE's Alex Rodriguez, if he can get healthy again he could be the top wrestler of all-time.
I think Randy Orton and Dave Batista have the best shot of making it big, and John Cena is in the top five. Randy and Dave have improved a lot working with Hunter and myself in Evolution.
When Dave and I go on the road as tag team partners – and much to my dismay they're making me work more than I want to – it's great experience for him. He gets to wrestle Shawn Michaels and Chris Benoit, and when you're working with guys like that you going to learn your craft.
Randy is a phenomenal athlete, and his dad was a great performer.
It is just going to take a little bit of time for both of them to find their niche, get their own style and become better talkers.
On the sexual harassment allegations:
How are you responding to the charges of sexual harassment that have recently been made against you, Scott Hall and Dustin 'Goldust' Runnells by two female flight attendants on the "WWE flight from hell" in May 2002?
Brian Nisbet
I don't even know what they're talking about, none of that happened. I really don't have a comment as there is no truth there.
And the claims have been made two years later. If it was bad then, why didn't something happen then?
On the NWA, hardcore wrestling, and some surprising stuff about Mick Foley:
Do you ever watch NWA:TNA and how do you feel they are continuing your legacy?
Ali, Southall
I've watched it a couple of times and what I saw of it was terrible. Anything that Vince Russo is involved with is going to be bad, I'm sorry but he's a cartoon character.
Jeff Jarrett is a good performer, but some of the stuff they've had on it with Raven and others wasn't enjoyable. I wouldn't pay a dollar to see Raven headline.
I've never seen a good match on NWA:TNA. People talk about the high-flying stuff but that's not wrestling. That's just raising the bar and one of the reasons the WWE has toned back down is those guys won't last five years.
It doesn't translate into money and when someone gets jumped on from a guy on a ladder, how does he come back? That's why people say wrestling is fake, because they say nobody could do that and they're right. I respect the fact those guys can do it, but so what.
It is like Mick Foley – falling off a building does not make you a wrestler. Where would he be if he hadn't fallen on a bed of thumb tacs?
I get along with Mick, he's drawn a lot of money and been very successful - but he's not a great wrestler by any means. He's a stunt man. He couldn't have even got started when I started in the business.
Could Mick wrestle for an hour? Does anyone think he could go for 60 minutes tomorrow against Chris Benoit or Eddie Guerrero? You're kidding, he's out of shape. I'm just telling it how I see it.
They'll replay that bump Mick took off the cage and through the table forever, but where do you go with that? He can only wrestle one style of match.
Look at Steve Austin, probably the biggest star the WWF/E has ever had, did he do any hardcore wrestling? Did Hogan, The Rock, Hunter or Shawn Michaels? No.
You've got to build your company around guys who can wrestle. Hogan was not a great wrestler but he brought everything else to the ring.
Hi Ric, when is your autobiography coming out and will it be as good as Mick Foley's?
Stu, Blackpool
It's out on June 28 and everyone who has sent in questions should read my book, you'll all love it.
I've not read a wrestling book yet, but I can't imagine Mick Foley's life story after being in the business for 10 years is anywhere near as good as mine.
CLICK HERE!!!!! (http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2003560001-2004180004,00.html) (beware pop-ups)
Here are some excerpts:
On WCW's final days:
Your promo and match with Sting at the last ever WCW Monday Nitro in 2001 were very moving for a lot of fans. What emotions did you go through?
Navdeep Rehill
I was glad to see WCW close down! The company was an embarrassment to anything I'd ever known or been part of. Vince Russo had turned it into a circus.
I was emotional to be involved in the show but I wasn't prepared to wrestle and I didn't want to wrestle. I was honoured to be there with Sting and I understood what they were doing, but they made me fight. The interview was just something I've always been able to do.
It was such a sad day for the 150 individuals who lost their jobs – with relatively small compensation packages – and the people responsible for that happening should be dead.
I totally blame Eric Bischoff, Russo was just another add-on. The management didn't take into account anyone's feelings, they kept hiring the wrong people and there were no controls in place.
Instead of concentrating on making our product better, Bischoff was consumed with beating Vince. Any success he and the company enjoyed, Eric bought. There was no creative genius.
And he needlessly spent millions of dollars. If Vince bought an aeroplane we had to have an aeroplane, if Vince had ten limousines then we had to have ten limousines. At least when Vince spends money, it's his money.
On Eric Bischoff:
Is there still any real-life animosity between yourself and Eric Bischoff? Is it hard working with him every week on Raw?
Edwin Bear
I tolerate Eric and he tolerates me. I'm sure he knows how I feel.
I'm not the only one, there are 10 guys in there who want to kick his a*** every time they see him. But we're in a controlled environment and we have to get along.
He's a strange guy and the sad thing about Eric is that everyone who know him knows that if he could go away and get a millionaire to go into business against Vince he'd do it tomorrow. Take my word for it.
On the current roster:
Hi Ric, who on the current WWE roster do you think has the brightest future ahead of them? And who can wear your old tag as the "greatest professional wrestler alive today"?
Ben, Southampton
Triple H is by far the greatest professional wrestler alive right now, and Shawn Michaels is too when he wants to be. Shawn was the best and then along came Triple H, who is now finally getting his due.
And Kurt Angle is the WWE's Alex Rodriguez, if he can get healthy again he could be the top wrestler of all-time.
I think Randy Orton and Dave Batista have the best shot of making it big, and John Cena is in the top five. Randy and Dave have improved a lot working with Hunter and myself in Evolution.
When Dave and I go on the road as tag team partners – and much to my dismay they're making me work more than I want to – it's great experience for him. He gets to wrestle Shawn Michaels and Chris Benoit, and when you're working with guys like that you going to learn your craft.
Randy is a phenomenal athlete, and his dad was a great performer.
It is just going to take a little bit of time for both of them to find their niche, get their own style and become better talkers.
On the sexual harassment allegations:
How are you responding to the charges of sexual harassment that have recently been made against you, Scott Hall and Dustin 'Goldust' Runnells by two female flight attendants on the "WWE flight from hell" in May 2002?
Brian Nisbet
I don't even know what they're talking about, none of that happened. I really don't have a comment as there is no truth there.
And the claims have been made two years later. If it was bad then, why didn't something happen then?
On the NWA, hardcore wrestling, and some surprising stuff about Mick Foley:
Do you ever watch NWA:TNA and how do you feel they are continuing your legacy?
Ali, Southall
I've watched it a couple of times and what I saw of it was terrible. Anything that Vince Russo is involved with is going to be bad, I'm sorry but he's a cartoon character.
Jeff Jarrett is a good performer, but some of the stuff they've had on it with Raven and others wasn't enjoyable. I wouldn't pay a dollar to see Raven headline.
I've never seen a good match on NWA:TNA. People talk about the high-flying stuff but that's not wrestling. That's just raising the bar and one of the reasons the WWE has toned back down is those guys won't last five years.
It doesn't translate into money and when someone gets jumped on from a guy on a ladder, how does he come back? That's why people say wrestling is fake, because they say nobody could do that and they're right. I respect the fact those guys can do it, but so what.
It is like Mick Foley – falling off a building does not make you a wrestler. Where would he be if he hadn't fallen on a bed of thumb tacs?
I get along with Mick, he's drawn a lot of money and been very successful - but he's not a great wrestler by any means. He's a stunt man. He couldn't have even got started when I started in the business.
Could Mick wrestle for an hour? Does anyone think he could go for 60 minutes tomorrow against Chris Benoit or Eddie Guerrero? You're kidding, he's out of shape. I'm just telling it how I see it.
They'll replay that bump Mick took off the cage and through the table forever, but where do you go with that? He can only wrestle one style of match.
Look at Steve Austin, probably the biggest star the WWF/E has ever had, did he do any hardcore wrestling? Did Hogan, The Rock, Hunter or Shawn Michaels? No.
You've got to build your company around guys who can wrestle. Hogan was not a great wrestler but he brought everything else to the ring.
Hi Ric, when is your autobiography coming out and will it be as good as Mick Foley's?
Stu, Blackpool
It's out on June 28 and everyone who has sent in questions should read my book, you'll all love it.
I've not read a wrestling book yet, but I can't imagine Mick Foley's life story after being in the business for 10 years is anywhere near as good as mine.