Avenger
07-25-2005, 09:43 PM
CREDIT: ProWrestling.com
http://www.prowrestling.com/news.php?id=14587/articles/news
Paul Bearer on His Weight Loss: "I Can See Body Parts I Haven't Seen In A Long Time!"
Date Added: July 25, 2005
Story By: Doc Young (http://www.prowrestling.com/php-bin/contact/index.php?email=docyoung999@hotmail.com)
<!-- printinclude body -->
Wrestling Weekly featuring Doc Young and Les Thatcher began the show Sunday, July 24 by talking with Greg Oliver and Steven Johnson, authors of the new 300-page wrestling book about the greatest tag teams of all time, The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams. And also appearing as their special guest, William Alvin Moody, best known as Paul Bearer, talked about his rise in the wrestling world as he went from real-life licensed mortician to the man behind WWE’s the Undertaker.
The Tag Teams was conceived by the man behind the Slam! Wrestling Website, the Canadian Wrestling Report newsletter, and another wrestling book, The Canadians. Greg decided to create a tag team of his own for ECW Press when he partnered with writer Steven Johnson to spend hundreds of hours interviewing well-known wrestlers, promoters, managers, and fans to create a definitive book compiling the top 20 best pro wrestling tag teams of all time.
Steven began the interview by talking about the difficulties they faced in tracking down some of the targeted wrestlers after all these years. Many of the wrestlers honored in the book had wrestled as far back as the 1950s, so a lot of detective work was required to get the information they needed. They often they relied on “cold calls” to find some of them, calling relatives or people that may have known them in the day. Luckily, several photographers generously gave the authors pictures to include in the book. Greg said some of the personal photos they acquired directly from the relatives of the wrestlers were the best.
Steven said the best part of doing the book was a lot of guys wouldn’t have had their stories told otherwise because although they may not have been remarkable as single wrestlers, they were absolutely tag team specialists. Because of this, many of these athletes have not received the recognition they deserved.
Discussion turned to the dying art of tag team wrestling. Steven said that although tag teams “were really off the charts” in the late 80s with Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard, The British Bulldogs, the Road Warriors, for example, they took a nosedive in the early 90s. And back in the old days, many of these teams stayed together for 20 years or more, and unheard of feat today.
When the authors talked to Terry Taylor for the book, he said that even though he personally had tremendous success in tag teams, he found it difficult to write tag team matches for TV. Often he would turn to other men with tag team expertise such as Arn Anderson to help write the match. The authors theorize that by using “Hollywood writers,” like they do at the WWE, these writers don’t have a clue about how to write a tag team match, thus contributing to the demise of the style.
Asked who the most underrated tag team was, Steven cited the “Bicentennial Kings,” Dennis Condrey and Phil Hickerson as an example most given by others. He said many people thought these two men were extremely talented but never quite made it “big” for some reason or another.
The book is currently available at better bookstores and online at www.slam.ca.
William Alvin Moody, better known to some as Percival Pringle III and to most as Paul Bearer, began his interview with talk about his special contractual status at WWE as a “Legend.” His contract includes a multi-year affiliation with WWE that allows him to enjoy the best of worlds, the connection to the behemoth World Wrestling Entertainment and the involvement in the independent wrestling promotions he adores. Called a “win, win situation” by Percy himself, he has a new Paul Bearer action figure coming out soon and he can now also take outside bookings for the first time in 14 years.
When the conversation turned to his new action figure, he joked that it will require less plastic to complete it, referring to his recent gastric bypass surgery. The surgery was the result of a signing bonus he received when he re-signed his contract with the WWE. He said in 2003 he topped off at 525 lbs. “I was dying.” Percy said. Right about that time, Jim Ross called him. He was ashamed of the weight he had gained, so he did not return Jim Ross’ phone calls. He eventually did contact Jim by email, declining the offer to appear with the Undertaker in Wrestlemania XX. Percy said, “(There was) no way in hell I could go on the road.” Jim knew something was up and eventually Percy confided in him about his life-threatening health dilemma. The WWE decided to sign him for three years with the added bonus of financing the life-saving surgery that he could not afford. Unfortunately, at that time the weight loss surgery left him feeling weak because he was sometimes losing two pounds a day, so prior to his appearance in Wrestlemania XX, the decision was made to “bury” Paul Bearer. Still, he is happy about the weight loss—now enjoying weighing less than 300 lbs. for the first time in 20 years. “I can see some body parts I haven’t seen in a long time, “he said.
A few moments were spent talking about the recent death of Lord Alfred Hayes, the former announcer at WWF. Percy relayed a story about how in 1991, he appeared as Paul Bearer on the old WWF primetime wrestling talk show demonstrating how the embalming process works. Both Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and Vince McMahon were there and he said his most vivid memory of that experience was that Lord Alfred Hayes played the corpse during the demonstration.
When Percy talks about his ongoing relationship with WWE, he describes his affiliation as being a “dream world.” Prior to getting there in 1990, he was out of work as a wrestling manager and contemplating returning to his former profession in funeral service. His old friend, Rick Rude, told him to hold on and hooked him up with Vince McMahon within days. He describes when Vince found out about his former profession, he laughed and said, “We are looking for a manager for the Undertaker,” making the job a perfect fit. Although Paul Bearer was ‘buried” in concrete at Wrestlemania XX, he’s leaving it open-ended, “As long as there is an Undertaker and Kane, the Paul Bearer can come back anytime.”
A listener asked about kayfabe and whether he thinks it will ever return to wrestling. Percy made a definitive, “no.” He continued, “The man behind the curtain has been exposed.” Another listener asked who he enjoyed managing the most. Percy describes all his “charges” as his children, that it would be hard to pick one as a favorite. However as far as longevity, he picked the Undertaker, adding that he worked with a lot of great guys over the years.
Percy, a notorious wrestling fan, admits “If there’s wrestling, I’m there.” He’s been attending independent shows lately in the Gulf Coast area near his home in Mobile. He joked, “My wife makes me go.” Percy resides in Mobile, Alabama with his wife and youngest son. You can read much more about Percy’s life and career at www.percypringle.com.
This week, Sunday, July 31, Doc and Les welcome Samoa Joe. Joe, the former Ring of Honor Superstar, recently made his debut at NWA-TNA Slammiversay to defeat Sonjay Dutt proving that he is not only an awesome force in stature but one in agility as well. Find out from Joe what it was like working his way up in the wrestling ranks from UPW to RoH to TNA, about his appearance during the opening ceremonies of the 1984 Olympics at the tender age of 5, having his own wrestling talk show, coming from a family of prominent Polynesian dancers, plus much more!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Anyway I thought this was interesting.
<!--Begin Ad--><!--Advertisement: FULL Coverage: The Road to WM XXI - Hogan, Austin, Piper Updates. Previews & Analysis + Exclusive Updates @ WrestlingDotCom.com (>>) (http://www.wrestlingdotcom.com)
-->
http://www.prowrestling.com/news.php?id=14587/articles/news
Paul Bearer on His Weight Loss: "I Can See Body Parts I Haven't Seen In A Long Time!"
Date Added: July 25, 2005
Story By: Doc Young (http://www.prowrestling.com/php-bin/contact/index.php?email=docyoung999@hotmail.com)
<!-- printinclude body -->
Wrestling Weekly featuring Doc Young and Les Thatcher began the show Sunday, July 24 by talking with Greg Oliver and Steven Johnson, authors of the new 300-page wrestling book about the greatest tag teams of all time, The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams. And also appearing as their special guest, William Alvin Moody, best known as Paul Bearer, talked about his rise in the wrestling world as he went from real-life licensed mortician to the man behind WWE’s the Undertaker.
The Tag Teams was conceived by the man behind the Slam! Wrestling Website, the Canadian Wrestling Report newsletter, and another wrestling book, The Canadians. Greg decided to create a tag team of his own for ECW Press when he partnered with writer Steven Johnson to spend hundreds of hours interviewing well-known wrestlers, promoters, managers, and fans to create a definitive book compiling the top 20 best pro wrestling tag teams of all time.
Steven began the interview by talking about the difficulties they faced in tracking down some of the targeted wrestlers after all these years. Many of the wrestlers honored in the book had wrestled as far back as the 1950s, so a lot of detective work was required to get the information they needed. They often they relied on “cold calls” to find some of them, calling relatives or people that may have known them in the day. Luckily, several photographers generously gave the authors pictures to include in the book. Greg said some of the personal photos they acquired directly from the relatives of the wrestlers were the best.
Steven said the best part of doing the book was a lot of guys wouldn’t have had their stories told otherwise because although they may not have been remarkable as single wrestlers, they were absolutely tag team specialists. Because of this, many of these athletes have not received the recognition they deserved.
Discussion turned to the dying art of tag team wrestling. Steven said that although tag teams “were really off the charts” in the late 80s with Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard, The British Bulldogs, the Road Warriors, for example, they took a nosedive in the early 90s. And back in the old days, many of these teams stayed together for 20 years or more, and unheard of feat today.
When the authors talked to Terry Taylor for the book, he said that even though he personally had tremendous success in tag teams, he found it difficult to write tag team matches for TV. Often he would turn to other men with tag team expertise such as Arn Anderson to help write the match. The authors theorize that by using “Hollywood writers,” like they do at the WWE, these writers don’t have a clue about how to write a tag team match, thus contributing to the demise of the style.
Asked who the most underrated tag team was, Steven cited the “Bicentennial Kings,” Dennis Condrey and Phil Hickerson as an example most given by others. He said many people thought these two men were extremely talented but never quite made it “big” for some reason or another.
The book is currently available at better bookstores and online at www.slam.ca.
William Alvin Moody, better known to some as Percival Pringle III and to most as Paul Bearer, began his interview with talk about his special contractual status at WWE as a “Legend.” His contract includes a multi-year affiliation with WWE that allows him to enjoy the best of worlds, the connection to the behemoth World Wrestling Entertainment and the involvement in the independent wrestling promotions he adores. Called a “win, win situation” by Percy himself, he has a new Paul Bearer action figure coming out soon and he can now also take outside bookings for the first time in 14 years.
When the conversation turned to his new action figure, he joked that it will require less plastic to complete it, referring to his recent gastric bypass surgery. The surgery was the result of a signing bonus he received when he re-signed his contract with the WWE. He said in 2003 he topped off at 525 lbs. “I was dying.” Percy said. Right about that time, Jim Ross called him. He was ashamed of the weight he had gained, so he did not return Jim Ross’ phone calls. He eventually did contact Jim by email, declining the offer to appear with the Undertaker in Wrestlemania XX. Percy said, “(There was) no way in hell I could go on the road.” Jim knew something was up and eventually Percy confided in him about his life-threatening health dilemma. The WWE decided to sign him for three years with the added bonus of financing the life-saving surgery that he could not afford. Unfortunately, at that time the weight loss surgery left him feeling weak because he was sometimes losing two pounds a day, so prior to his appearance in Wrestlemania XX, the decision was made to “bury” Paul Bearer. Still, he is happy about the weight loss—now enjoying weighing less than 300 lbs. for the first time in 20 years. “I can see some body parts I haven’t seen in a long time, “he said.
A few moments were spent talking about the recent death of Lord Alfred Hayes, the former announcer at WWF. Percy relayed a story about how in 1991, he appeared as Paul Bearer on the old WWF primetime wrestling talk show demonstrating how the embalming process works. Both Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and Vince McMahon were there and he said his most vivid memory of that experience was that Lord Alfred Hayes played the corpse during the demonstration.
When Percy talks about his ongoing relationship with WWE, he describes his affiliation as being a “dream world.” Prior to getting there in 1990, he was out of work as a wrestling manager and contemplating returning to his former profession in funeral service. His old friend, Rick Rude, told him to hold on and hooked him up with Vince McMahon within days. He describes when Vince found out about his former profession, he laughed and said, “We are looking for a manager for the Undertaker,” making the job a perfect fit. Although Paul Bearer was ‘buried” in concrete at Wrestlemania XX, he’s leaving it open-ended, “As long as there is an Undertaker and Kane, the Paul Bearer can come back anytime.”
A listener asked about kayfabe and whether he thinks it will ever return to wrestling. Percy made a definitive, “no.” He continued, “The man behind the curtain has been exposed.” Another listener asked who he enjoyed managing the most. Percy describes all his “charges” as his children, that it would be hard to pick one as a favorite. However as far as longevity, he picked the Undertaker, adding that he worked with a lot of great guys over the years.
Percy, a notorious wrestling fan, admits “If there’s wrestling, I’m there.” He’s been attending independent shows lately in the Gulf Coast area near his home in Mobile. He joked, “My wife makes me go.” Percy resides in Mobile, Alabama with his wife and youngest son. You can read much more about Percy’s life and career at www.percypringle.com.
This week, Sunday, July 31, Doc and Les welcome Samoa Joe. Joe, the former Ring of Honor Superstar, recently made his debut at NWA-TNA Slammiversay to defeat Sonjay Dutt proving that he is not only an awesome force in stature but one in agility as well. Find out from Joe what it was like working his way up in the wrestling ranks from UPW to RoH to TNA, about his appearance during the opening ceremonies of the 1984 Olympics at the tender age of 5, having his own wrestling talk show, coming from a family of prominent Polynesian dancers, plus much more!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Anyway I thought this was interesting.
<!--Begin Ad--><!--Advertisement: FULL Coverage: The Road to WM XXI - Hogan, Austin, Piper Updates. Previews & Analysis + Exclusive Updates @ WrestlingDotCom.com (>>) (http://www.wrestlingdotcom.com)
-->