1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: Ladies and gentlemen, Welcome to the battle Ground Podcast. This 2 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:10,120 Speaker 1: is a podcast all about professional wrestling. Joined Battle and 3 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: Eli as a breakdown what's going on in the world 4 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 1: of professional wrestling with special guests including some of your 5 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: favorite wrestling superstars. You never know who's gonna stop by 6 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: now making their way to the microphone. 7 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 2: Give it up for the greatest podcast team in the world, 8 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 2: Battle and Eli. 9 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 3: I gotta say, like, sitting in front of me, a 10 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:38,879 Speaker 3: guy that has shaped my love of professional wrestling is 11 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 3: in the studio with us right now. 12 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:42,200 Speaker 2: Tony Shavanni is in the building. 13 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 4: I've really shaped your love of pro wrestling. 14 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 3: You have, like growing up, it was you and Jim 15 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 3: Ross and that was it for me. 16 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,880 Speaker 4: Well, I appreciate you saying that. That's that's some cool stuff. 17 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 4: I'm always I hear that a lot from people voice 18 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 4: my childhood, you know that that kind of right, And 19 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 4: it kind of blows me away because it seems like 20 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:08,320 Speaker 4: it wasn't that long ago when I was telling some announcers, 21 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 4: you're the voice of my childhood, and now it's happening 22 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:15,320 Speaker 4: to me. So it's it's kind of weird. 23 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:16,560 Speaker 3: And it's kind of one of those things like I 24 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 3: got into radio, and it actually was thankful to you 25 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 3: and Jim Ross, because I mean I was are you 26 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 3: guys calling wrestling matches? And I was like, I want 27 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:26,720 Speaker 3: to do that, which then kind of transition to my 28 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 3: loft for radio. So I owe you a lot of thank. 29 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 2: Yous right now. 30 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 4: Well thanks for saying that. My advice to you is 31 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 4: get out of radio. Right It's a terrible business. 32 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 2: It has its moments. There's days. 33 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 4: Yeah, So tell how many program directors have you wanted 34 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:44,960 Speaker 4: to punch in your day. 35 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:46,040 Speaker 2: There's been quite a few. 36 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 3: Some of them aren't here anymore, though, so it's all alady, Yeah, 37 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 3: they got punched out by corporate. 38 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 2: So tell us about your background. What drew you to broadcasting. 39 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 4: I can't remember a time in my life where I 40 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 4: didn't want to do anything else, but I'm talking about 41 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 4: fourth grade. I guess it really started when I used 42 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 4: to play stratamatic baseball, a baseball card game with a 43 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,919 Speaker 4: friend of mine, and we lived about six seven miles apart, 44 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,799 Speaker 4: and we did over the telephone and I would call 45 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 4: as I'm rolling the dice and everything, I would call 46 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 4: the game on the radio over the phone kind of 47 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 4: and wow, then I had a friend of mine who 48 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 4: lived across the street. He was blind and he was 49 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 4: a big baseball fan too, And every night during the 50 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 4: summer we would go out and sit on the porch 51 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 4: and listen to baseball on the radio. We listened to 52 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 4: WSB and the Atlanta Braids. We listened to three WE 53 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 4: out of Cleveland and the Cleveland Indians. We picked up it. 54 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 4: Sometimes we picked up WABC out of New York and 55 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 4: picked up the Yankees. That was not that easy though, 56 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 4: because WSB and three W were the clear channels. WLW 57 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:01,839 Speaker 4: out of Cincinnati picked them up and listened to them. 58 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 4: And that's where I fell in love with the game 59 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 4: of baseball, and I fell in love with the descriptions 60 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 4: of the game of baseball. So from day one, I 61 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:15,079 Speaker 4: wanted to be a baseball announcer and that was all 62 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 4: I knew. And after I graduated from college, I had 63 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:25,360 Speaker 4: done some high school football and basketball, and I applied 64 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 4: to many different minor league teams and got on with 65 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 4: the minor league team which led me a year. After 66 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 4: a year in Greensboro led me to Charlotte, North Carolina, 67 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 4: where I was employed by the Crockett family because they 68 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:42,119 Speaker 4: owned a baseball team, and I was also a big 69 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 4: wrestling fan. Although I never didn't envision myself being a 70 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 4: wrestling announcer, I really loved it right and that's where 71 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 4: the connection with wrestling came and where I moved out 72 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 4: of baseball into wrestling. 73 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 3: Well, that kind of answered the next question because we 74 00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 3: were going to ask how did you get involved with 75 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 3: Jim Crockett Promotions? And you know, what was it like 76 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 3: working during I guess the influential boom of pro wrestling 77 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 3: in the eighties during that time. 78 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 4: It was wonderful. It was It was It was kind 79 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 4: of like a dream, and I don't want to try 80 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 4: to oversell it, but it really was because I love 81 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:18,040 Speaker 4: it was I was doing wrestling for the company and 82 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 4: the promotion that I watched when I was younger. I 83 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:25,160 Speaker 4: watched mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling. I'm from Virginia. I watched 84 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 4: Jim Crockett Promotions. I watched Rick Flair and Wailhoom McDaniel 85 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:32,279 Speaker 4: and Ricky Steamboat and Greg Valentine and the Anderson brothers. 86 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:37,480 Speaker 4: I watched all those guys, and now I'm working with them, 87 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:42,279 Speaker 4: and it was amazing. It was an amazing feeling to 88 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 4: be able to move from one side to the of 89 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 4: the camera to the other side of the camera, so 90 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 4: to speak, and see how life was on that side. 91 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 4: So I was a big fan. I took my job 92 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 4: pretty seriously because I loved it so much. And then 93 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 4: we moved to TBS in eighty five and we went 94 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:02,159 Speaker 4: on an scale and that's where, you know, things started 95 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:05,040 Speaker 4: to really pick up for Crockett Promotions. Didn't last long, 96 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 4: about four years, but there was a four year period 97 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 4: there eighty five to eighty nine where it was was 98 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:10,719 Speaker 4: pretty darn good. 99 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 2: It's the hell of a run right there. 100 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 4: Yeah, it was good. 101 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:14,840 Speaker 3: Our guest Tony Shavani is on with us right now. 102 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 3: So you went to work for Vince, you know, for 103 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:20,799 Speaker 3: a couple of years, one year. What was your tenure 104 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 3: like there? And ultimately what convinced you to leave and 105 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:26,919 Speaker 3: go back to TVs who had bought Crockett Promotions. 106 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 4: When TVs bought Crockett Promotions, really didn't want to work 107 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 4: for them. I and of course the management at that 108 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,240 Speaker 4: time was a guy named Jim Hurd. They brought him 109 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:40,280 Speaker 4: in to run it and I met with Jim. He 110 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 4: offered me a job and offered me great money, more 111 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:44,280 Speaker 4: money than it would ever make in my life, had 112 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 4: ever made in my life, and it was good, but 113 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:49,280 Speaker 4: I had didn't have a good feeling about working for him, 114 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:53,280 Speaker 4: and Vince basically came calling through JJ Dillon, who was 115 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 4: a friend of mine. JJ had left and gone up 116 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:57,840 Speaker 4: there at work. Arn Anderson Tully Blanchard left and gone 117 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 4: up there at work, and I decided in eighty nine 118 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:03,839 Speaker 4: that I would go up there. And it was a 119 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 4: wonderful year, wonderful year. I went from a very small operation, 120 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:14,600 Speaker 4: mom and pop operation to big time wrestling, big studios, 121 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 4: New York City, doing matches of Madison Square Garden in 122 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 4: Boston Garden, and it was a wonderful year. It was 123 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 4: probably until maybe this year, probably the best year I've 124 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:30,160 Speaker 4: ever had in wrestling, that one year in WWE man 125 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:34,160 Speaker 4: at that time WWF. But my wife was very unhappy. 126 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:39,040 Speaker 4: We were living in Connecticut, where real estate calls for 127 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 4: sky high. Her family's in the South, and she didn't 128 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:47,559 Speaker 4: pressure me, so to speak, but I knew she wanted 129 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 4: to move back, and I knew it wasn't a good 130 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:53,080 Speaker 4: fit for my family. So when Turner came calling, when 131 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 4: Jim Hurd called back and wanted me to come back, 132 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,039 Speaker 4: and then offered me a lot more money than he 133 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:01,719 Speaker 4: had originally offered me, and a lot more money than 134 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 4: I was making in the WWF at that time. I'm 135 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:08,040 Speaker 4: weighing the fact should I stay in the WWF where 136 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 4: I can't afford to buy a house because of housing prices. 137 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 4: We're talking eighty nine the housing price. We're half a 138 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 4: million dollars for just a modest neighborhood. Do I want 139 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 4: to stay there? Or do I want to go back 140 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 4: to the South where the prices were much lower and 141 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 4: I'll be making a lot more money and my wife 142 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 4: would be a lot happier. 143 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 2: So it was a no brainer. 144 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 4: There's no brainer. It was, and it was a tough decision. 145 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 4: It really was, and still to the day when I 146 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 4: when I think about tough decisions I made, I've had 147 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 4: to make a couple of tough decisions in my career. 148 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:42,239 Speaker 4: That's been the toughest of my career. 149 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 3: Right, I can believe that because I mean family involved 150 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 3: and moving and everything. I completely understand that Tony Shavani 151 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 3: is our guest. Tonight aw Takes Over missis a tourin, 152 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 3: but the big thing is the after party. Tonight at 153 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 3: Zani's You, Jim Ross, Codrad Thompson, Let's talk about that 154 00:07:56,920 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 3: for a little bit. 155 00:07:58,040 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 2: What's going on tonight at Zanie's the World? 156 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 4: No, Well, let's see. I've been to Zanies before a 157 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 4: couple of times. I had a show there one time, myself, 158 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:07,560 Speaker 4: Conrad and I did. I was. I was at Eric 159 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 4: Bischoff's show yep and. 160 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 3: Which the biggest pop of the night was when you 161 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 3: came out with the room. Really, I was there, Yeah, 162 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 3: it was exciting stuff. 163 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 4: Yeahes has been good for us, and I h I 164 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 4: I kind of I kind of consider myself a very 165 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 4: novice stand up comic type guy because I go out 166 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 4: and drop a lot of f bombs and I try 167 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 4: to be irreverent and funny, and uh, it's going to 168 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 4: be really cool when I do it with j R. 169 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:41,560 Speaker 4: Because you know, Jim's kind of serious, right, and we'll see, 170 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 4: we'll get him loosened up, We'll get him some Moscow 171 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 4: mules and even get him loosened up, and but we uh, 172 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 4: I really enjoy it to a certain extent. I talked 173 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 4: to Conrad about this. Now that I'm no longer you know, 174 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,079 Speaker 4: I moved back into baseball, and I was doing the 175 00:08:56,280 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 4: Braves Triple A team for for eleven years, right I 176 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 4: have stopped doing that now that I resigned at the 177 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:07,559 Speaker 4: end of this past season. So now I've got some time, 178 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:09,680 Speaker 4: although I don't have it right now, when the summer 179 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 4: comes around spring and summer, I have some time to 180 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:14,199 Speaker 4: go out and go live and do live shows again. 181 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 4: I enjoy it because Conrad kind of leads things with 182 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:22,840 Speaker 4: questions and answers and fan questions and everything. But there's 183 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,560 Speaker 4: there's a very, very much, a very uncomfortable feeling that 184 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 4: I have when I'm on stage. Right now. I could 185 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:32,320 Speaker 4: probably loosen up tonight and maybe have a few drinks 186 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 4: or so, but I've got the flight first thing in 187 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 4: the morning back to Atlanta, and we've got to do 188 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:40,840 Speaker 4: some on camera work for AW tomorrow morning. So I 189 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:41,200 Speaker 4: don't know. 190 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 2: You don't know how much tonight's gonna happen right exactly. 191 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 4: If I didn't have anything to do tomorrow, i'd probably 192 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:48,200 Speaker 4: really blow it out tonight, But I've got to be 193 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:51,559 Speaker 4: very cautious about what I do. But I'm gonna have fun. 194 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:57,679 Speaker 4: I really, honestly, honestly enjoy talking to the fans, communicating 195 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 4: the fans. We have a Patreon site where our top 196 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 4: tier subscribers have kind of become our friends. Every time 197 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:09,960 Speaker 4: we have a live show somewhere, one of those guys 198 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 4: show up everywhere we have. One of our friends from 199 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 4: Toronto comes everywhere we go. We had a show in 200 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:24,319 Speaker 4: Saint Louis recently. It was one of our crazier shows, 201 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:29,200 Speaker 4: crazy shows. Oh yeah, crazy shows, and a lot of 202 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:32,840 Speaker 4: our top tier guys showed up. One from Arizona, one 203 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 4: from Toronto, one from Pennsylvania, a couple of guys from Cincinnati, 204 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:45,560 Speaker 4: one from ann They convinced, they convinced Wildfire Tommy Rich 205 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:49,000 Speaker 4: to join us. Oh wow, because Tommy Rich. We had 206 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:51,720 Speaker 4: Tommy make a surprise appearance one of our little conventions 207 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 4: we did with our listeners, and Tommy was tremendous. So 208 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 4: now he just kind of shows up. This shows up. 209 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 4: But I feel uncomfortable on stage. I really do. I 210 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 4: guess I really. Guys like Taylor Williamson and Dan Saint 211 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 4: Germain and Ron Funches, those guys who are friends of 212 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:15,200 Speaker 4: mine and do it for a living doing stand up. Yikes. Yeah, 213 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:16,199 Speaker 4: it's tough business. 214 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 2: That is tough business. 215 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 3: Because and you would think like after you're saying that, 216 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:21,319 Speaker 3: you would think that it wouldn't be tough for you 217 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 3: because you're doing commentating. But then it's the same time, 218 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 3: nobody's sitting there watching you and you're not having to 219 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 3: see them. 220 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 4: Not looking right at people exactly. 221 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:29,719 Speaker 2: Yeah, and that's that's where it gets kind of nerdve 222 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 2: a bruck. It's like radio. 223 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 3: It's like, I could sit here, we could have this conversation, 224 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 3: but you put me in a crowd of you know, 225 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 3: in front of people, you kind of tense up and 226 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:39,960 Speaker 3: you're like, yeah, so, uh, Tony Giavanni is our guest 227 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:42,440 Speaker 3: right now in the studio. So going back to kind 228 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:45,840 Speaker 3: of wrestling, when Turner brought bought Crockett Promotions, he renamed 229 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:49,080 Speaker 3: the promotion World Championship Wretsling, which was the name of 230 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 3: the NWA show on TBS. There was a lot of 231 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 3: change within to the point you asked Vince to return 232 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:56,840 Speaker 3: to WWF when that happened. 233 00:11:56,880 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 2: Is that true? 234 00:11:57,840 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 4: What that? I wanted to go back right? Yeah, I 235 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 4: want to go back immediately. 236 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 3: What was it that kind of rubbed you the wrong 237 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:05,320 Speaker 3: way with the acquisition and the new changes? 238 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 2: If you mind me asking. 239 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:08,559 Speaker 4: I don't mind you asking. I don't know if anything 240 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:12,160 Speaker 4: rubbed me the wrong way, but I remember thinking that 241 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 4: I had taken a drastic step down in my career. 242 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 4: I had gone from again what I had said. You know, 243 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 4: New York, Madison Square Garden. Vince had a very, very 244 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 4: large and still does production facility, a lot of people, 245 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:32,440 Speaker 4: a lot of things at your disposal that you can do, 246 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:36,080 Speaker 4: and it was a lot of fun. I was a producer. 247 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 4: And then I came back and I'm thinking, Oh, I'm 248 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 4: back in the same old I'm doing the same old 249 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:47,680 Speaker 4: thing that when I left. And I didn't really like herd. 250 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:51,080 Speaker 4: I liked him as a guy. He and I went 251 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 4: out a couple of times and had some drinks, and 252 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:55,839 Speaker 4: we were out in Japan together and Super Show in 253 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:58,480 Speaker 4: Japan in ninety one. I really liked him, but I 254 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 4: didn't like working there. I just didn't. Now. The house 255 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 4: was great. We lived in this great area of Marriotta. 256 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:08,200 Speaker 4: We still live in that house. Oh nice, Yeah, almost, 257 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:11,160 Speaker 4: it'll be thirty years coming up in April. I love 258 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 4: the house, I love the area, love the neighborhood. All 259 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 4: the kids grew up there. But I didn't like I 260 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 4: didn't feel like my my career was going the right way. 261 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 4: I there was. I say this and it's kind of facetiously, 262 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 4: but it was almost on a daily basis, I almost 263 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:33,520 Speaker 4: thinking they're going to close this place down. This is 264 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:37,360 Speaker 4: so mismanaged and so run on the shoe string. That 265 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 4: turner is just going to come in here and say 266 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:41,079 Speaker 4: we've had enough of it and they're going to lock 267 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:42,679 Speaker 4: the doors. I really thought we would go out of 268 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 4: business at any time, and I really felt strongly about that. 269 00:13:47,679 --> 00:13:49,319 Speaker 4: I didn't feel like it was being run the correct 270 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 4: way right. And I'm not the type of guy to say, hey, guys, 271 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:56,560 Speaker 4: time out, listen, this is all this all sucks and 272 00:13:56,600 --> 00:14:00,800 Speaker 4: we need to do something. But I just I hung 273 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:05,880 Speaker 4: out and took the money, worked hard, real hard at 274 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 4: trying to make a show, work on shows. And it 275 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:13,880 Speaker 4: wasn't until Eric Bischoff took over and Hulk Hogan came 276 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:17,080 Speaker 4: in that we started to do very very well. And 277 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:18,920 Speaker 4: then that didn't last long as well. 278 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:21,480 Speaker 3: So you know, there was a lot of high and 279 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 3: low moments in WCW. I want to know what was 280 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:27,960 Speaker 3: like kind of your favorite moment in your tenure with WCW. 281 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 4: My favorite moment. I had a lot of great moments. 282 00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 4: Hulk Hogan turning heel was pretty darn good. Hulk Hogan 283 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 4: and Rick Flair's first match when Hogan came aboard at 284 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 4: Bash of the Beach in Orlando, that was pretty cool because, 285 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 4: I mean, we legitimately sold out the building, which we 286 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:48,240 Speaker 4: weren't doing a lot of setting out of the buildings 287 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 4: before Hogan came aboard, and Hogan came out with Shaquille 288 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:53,800 Speaker 4: and Eole, and I kind of got a feeling that 289 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 4: we were doing something right, getting the celebrity rub so 290 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 4: to speak, becoming mainstre That was pretty cool. The summer 291 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 4: in nineteen ninety six, when the Olympics came to Atlanta 292 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 4: and our offices were right downtown, we moved operations to 293 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 4: Disney and we moved to a we had offices backstage 294 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,680 Speaker 4: at MGM Studios, and we spent the entire summer there. 295 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 4: That was cool. That was really cool working at Disney 296 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:29,320 Speaker 4: and doing the shows there. That Disney run was probably 297 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 4: the best for us. That was probably the best feeling 298 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 4: I had about what we were doing. 299 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 3: Now, when you worked at Disney, did you get like 300 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 3: a pass that you could just ride the rides and 301 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 3: just walk around Disney or was it just kind of 302 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 3: you strictly stayed there. 303 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 4: No, basically we you know, we're talking way before, you know, 304 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 4: nine to eleven right right. I had a car pass, 305 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:55,520 Speaker 4: and my car pass put it on the dash allowed 306 00:15:55,560 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 4: me to go to any park, any parking lot, any 307 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 4: employee parking lot, in any any of the parks. So 308 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 4: I would take the kids from in the car and 309 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 4: I'd go right through the employee parking lot and they'd 310 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 4: bail out and go into this go into the uh 311 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:14,000 Speaker 4: had it the park? 312 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:17,320 Speaker 2: Cool moment though for dad be like, hey, gives some 313 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 2: Disney come. 314 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 4: On as much as you want. 315 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 2: You know. 316 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 3: There were some times that kind of getting towards the 317 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 3: end of the WCW era and there was kind of 318 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:26,720 Speaker 3: some ridings on the wall that was kind of going 319 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 3: the way that it was about the closed vents. 320 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 2: Was going to buy it? 321 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 3: When did you kind of see the ridings on the wall. 322 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 3: I got to get out of here. 323 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 4: I don't remember the time, but I do know that 324 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:40,920 Speaker 4: that I was making phone calls and trying to get 325 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 4: into it. I knew my apparently by my contract, there 326 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 4: was a certain period of time where I could not 327 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 4: look for another job, and I said, they held with it. 328 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:55,280 Speaker 4: I'm going to look for another job. I remember one specifically. 329 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:57,840 Speaker 4: We were in Greenville, South Carolina, at the Bilo Center 330 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 4: and I spent the entire day standing out back making 331 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 4: phone calls trying to get another job. And I knew 332 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:11,359 Speaker 4: it was bad. And then I was told I was 333 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:13,639 Speaker 4: told the TVs, you know, with the sale of a 334 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:16,640 Speaker 4: of aol that they did not want to have wrestling 335 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:20,639 Speaker 4: on TV anymore. And this was we had a pretty 336 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,119 Speaker 4: good feeling because Eric had a company, Eric Bischoff had 337 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 4: a company that was going to buy it, and then 338 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 4: Turner said, we don't want wrestling on TV anymore. Yeah, 339 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:31,480 Speaker 4: and then Eric's sale kind of was like what's he 340 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:33,680 Speaker 4: If Eric's going to buy this company and he has 341 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 4: no place to put it, what's the use of buying it. 342 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:40,320 Speaker 4: Then of course they sold events, but there were a couple. 343 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 4: I can't give you the date, but it was like 344 00:17:43,119 --> 00:17:48,920 Speaker 4: that last year. Yeah, very terrible Christmas. We we went 345 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:57,600 Speaker 4: after the Olympics were in Sydney, Australia in nineteen In 346 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 4: two thousand, we were in Sydney, Australia for we were 347 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:05,440 Speaker 4: actually in Australia for like ten days and we did 348 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:08,200 Speaker 4: some TV tapings there, and it was a miserable It 349 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:09,679 Speaker 4: should have been a great trip, but it was a 350 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:12,520 Speaker 4: miserable trip because we all were thinking that when we 351 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 4: came back, we're gonna have our We're going to be 352 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:15,680 Speaker 4: closed down. 353 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's something you don't want to have on it 354 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 2: kind of thing like that. 355 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 4: No, And uh, of course it didn't. It wasn't until 356 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 4: right up to the end where we really didn't know, 357 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:27,280 Speaker 4: you know, what's going to happen, and we're going we 358 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 4: got sold and we closed our doors and I got 359 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:34,200 Speaker 4: a real good severance, pay real good and started doing 360 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 4: radio the very next day. 361 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:38,879 Speaker 3: There it is, and then you know, and you're in 362 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 3: wrestling back again, which is a great thing for all 363 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 3: of us wrestling fans because I'm a thirty year old 364 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:45,199 Speaker 3: dude and it, like we talked earlier before, it is 365 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 3: like growing up wrestling, you, Jim Ross, Jery Lawler, like 366 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:51,439 Speaker 3: we're all part of me being a wrestling fan, and 367 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 3: you guys helped shape wrestling for me and something that's 368 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:58,000 Speaker 3: really cool. Uh, Major League Wrestling kind of want to 369 00:18:58,000 --> 00:18:59,480 Speaker 3: talk about that for a little bit, if that's okay. 370 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 3: How did you get involved with him and kind of 371 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:03,880 Speaker 3: what convinced you to go back to pro wrestling. 372 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:09,359 Speaker 4: Well, I court Bauer, who runs Major League Wrestling, got 373 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:12,600 Speaker 4: in touch with me and asked me to come and 374 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 4: do some work for him, and he said, I can't 375 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:20,360 Speaker 4: pay you much, and I kind of balked at it, 376 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:23,040 Speaker 4: but then I said, you know what, I'll give it 377 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:25,879 Speaker 4: a shot. I've completely ignored wrestling, haven't watched it in 378 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 4: a long time, a long long time. And I was 379 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 4: doing the podcast with Conrad court ran Major League Wrestling 380 00:19:37,119 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 4: and MLW Radio, which were our podcast was on We're 381 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:42,119 Speaker 4: on Westwood One now with it, but it used to 382 00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:45,359 Speaker 4: be on EMLW. So I started going down to the 383 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:51,239 Speaker 4: Guilt Nightclub in Orlando to do matches and everybody was 384 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:53,399 Speaker 4: not everybody, but most of the guys were kind of 385 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:56,680 Speaker 4: like yourself, that age group to where they all watched 386 00:19:56,720 --> 00:19:59,400 Speaker 4: me and loved me and loved what I did, and 387 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:01,719 Speaker 4: there with a certain respect they had for me. And 388 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:03,920 Speaker 4: I got to thinking, you know, if if they really 389 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:09,480 Speaker 4: do like me, and they really and they really love 390 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 4: this business, maybe maybe I can help them with their career. 391 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 4: Maybe by you know, putting them over and being an 392 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 4: announcer help them with the career and so I started 393 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:25,600 Speaker 4: doing it and they they kind of escalated. They signed 394 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:28,440 Speaker 4: a deal with be in Sports. I signed a three 395 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:34,879 Speaker 4: year deal with Court for not much money at all, thinking, Yeah, 396 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:36,879 Speaker 4: what the hell, No one's gonna want me to do wrestling, 397 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:38,479 Speaker 4: and I might as well just take this little bit 398 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:43,119 Speaker 4: of money and help pay the bills. And then AAW 399 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:46,359 Speaker 4: came around and that kind of happened quickly. 400 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, and it's and it's we talk about it 401 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:50,200 Speaker 3: all the time, and it's an exciting time to be 402 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:54,520 Speaker 3: a wrestling fan. AW is literally blowing the roof offs 403 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 3: and we see that in the ratings because we look 404 00:20:56,600 --> 00:20:58,800 Speaker 3: and on the show we kind of do a wide 405 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 3: variety of talking about all the other companies, and you know, 406 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:05,200 Speaker 3: it's it's not I guess we can call it a 407 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:08,399 Speaker 3: Wednesday Night war unofficially is what a lot of people 408 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:12,280 Speaker 3: like to say. But how did you get involved with AW? 409 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:15,240 Speaker 3: Because for a while, like you said, you were just 410 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:18,080 Speaker 3: kind of coming on to do AW kind of dark correct, 411 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 3: and then it trans or. 412 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:24,159 Speaker 4: You know what happened was I because I'm a friend 413 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:28,480 Speaker 4: of the of Cody's family, his mom, his brother, obviously, 414 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:31,920 Speaker 4: his deceased dad. I was working for MLW. I knew 415 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:34,119 Speaker 4: I was under contract for MLW, and Cody asked me, 416 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:36,919 Speaker 4: will you come in and do a control center for 417 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 4: us IT or just air on YouTube? And I'm went, yeah, right, 418 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:45,080 Speaker 4: And that was a mistake because Court bouers, what the 419 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:47,320 Speaker 4: hell are you doing? And I got to think, well, 420 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 4: I'm just helping Cody out. I didn't get paid for it. Yeah, 421 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:54,920 Speaker 4: And I never, never, one time asked Cody for a job. 422 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:59,960 Speaker 4: I'm not like that. I'm not I'm not the one 423 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:03,480 Speaker 4: that And I even went out to dinner. Conrad and 424 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:05,160 Speaker 4: I went out dinner with Coding and Brandy one time. 425 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:06,800 Speaker 4: We ate and I didn't ask him for a job. 426 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:09,800 Speaker 4: Although I knew AW was going down, and I had 427 00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:11,879 Speaker 4: known about the T. I known about the T and 428 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:15,760 Speaker 4: T thing long before it was announced officially. Wow, I 429 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:17,159 Speaker 4: knew they were going to be on T and T. 430 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:20,000 Speaker 4: That was kind of common knowledge with me and Conrad 431 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:26,359 Speaker 4: and all of us. So this is crazy. This was 432 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:29,200 Speaker 4: like the craziest month of my life. And I'm thinking 433 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:34,359 Speaker 4: it's like September, or maybe it's August. Maybe August. Bruce 434 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:36,840 Speaker 4: Pritchard had gone to the wwe had gone back to 435 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:39,360 Speaker 4: the WWS was well known, and Bruce and I are 436 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:42,600 Speaker 4: friends and he has a podcast to Conrad. When Bruce 437 00:22:42,640 --> 00:22:44,840 Speaker 4: went back to the WWE at the first of the year, 438 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:48,080 Speaker 4: he said to me, he said, if I get in 439 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:50,560 Speaker 4: there and there's a place for you to come to work, 440 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 4: will you consider it? I said absolutely, I would. I'd 441 00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:54,359 Speaker 4: love to come back. I'd love to come back and 442 00:22:54,359 --> 00:22:57,520 Speaker 4: be a producer. I really love producing much more I 443 00:22:57,520 --> 00:22:59,879 Speaker 4: do announcement, although announcing is where you make your money, right, 444 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:04,320 Speaker 4: and so he said it'll probably be April. April came, 445 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 4: nothing happened. I didn't push it. Finally, in August he 446 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:11,399 Speaker 4: calls me. He said, hey, I got something here. You 447 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 4: want to talk. I went, are you serious? And he 448 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:18,960 Speaker 4: said yeah. I said okay, So I hung up the phone. 449 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:22,280 Speaker 4: First person I called is Conrad, who's my friend and 450 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:25,040 Speaker 4: Bruce's friend. I said, you're not going to believe this, 451 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:27,720 Speaker 4: but Bruce Pritchard just called me and I think there's 452 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:31,160 Speaker 4: interest to me going to the WWE. And Conrad said, 453 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 4: that's great, that's great, let's see what will happen. I 454 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 4: hang up the phone. He calls Cody immediately, so it 455 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:43,639 Speaker 4: had to be ten minutes after I hung up with Conrad. 456 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:45,359 Speaker 4: I get a text from Cody. I don't want you 457 00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 4: going to the WWE. I want you to come to 458 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:55,879 Speaker 4: work for us, and okay. So I was contacted by 459 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:58,440 Speaker 4: Bruce again. Bruce said, you got a job. Vince wants 460 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:01,720 Speaker 4: you to come here work for the network. The next 461 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 4: person had got in contact from me was to me 462 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:08,679 Speaker 4: was their n HR lady. She asked me what I 463 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:13,040 Speaker 4: needed and I told her and I Cody got in 464 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:15,679 Speaker 4: touch with me and I said, Cody says, have you 465 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:17,200 Speaker 4: signed with him? I said no, I said, but I'm 466 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:20,040 Speaker 4: talking to their HR department. He said, I want you 467 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 4: to talk to Tony Khan. So Tony khn called me and 468 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:25,159 Speaker 4: he said, Ony, don't you come down and meet with 469 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:28,080 Speaker 4: me in Jacksonville. And I said okay. And in the 470 00:24:28,119 --> 00:24:30,920 Speaker 4: midst I'm still getting calls on a weekly basis from 471 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:34,879 Speaker 4: their from their HR department saying we don't have anything 472 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:38,120 Speaker 4: for you yet. We're still talking and in the process, 473 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:39,040 Speaker 4: but we'll be back. 474 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:40,440 Speaker 2: With you trying to figure everything out. 475 00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:42,720 Speaker 4: Right. So I went down. I met with Tony Khan 476 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:44,919 Speaker 4: and it was a long meeting. It was an all 477 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:46,800 Speaker 4: day meeting. It was great. Went to lunch with him 478 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:49,280 Speaker 4: and everything at the stadium, and there was no question 479 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:50,880 Speaker 4: in my mind. I wanted to work for Tony Khan, 480 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 4: no question, because of his passion and his drive, his 481 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:57,600 Speaker 4: love of the business. And I did, but I didn't 482 00:24:57,600 --> 00:24:59,720 Speaker 4: commit to him. And I said, I'm still hearing from 483 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:02,720 Speaker 4: the double. He says, well, here's what I got to offer. 484 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:05,120 Speaker 4: If they offer you more money, I suggest you take it. 485 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:10,080 Speaker 4: I said, okay, went back. Still didn't hear from anybody. 486 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 4: Bruce called me couple times. Do you hear anything from 487 00:25:12,040 --> 00:25:14,640 Speaker 4: my har apartment? Yeah? They keep stringing me along here, Bruce. 488 00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:17,199 Speaker 4: I don't know what's going on. So finally, right before SummerSlam, 489 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:20,200 Speaker 4: the Friday before SummerSlam, the lady calls. She says, I'll 490 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:22,879 Speaker 4: have an answer for you after Summer Slam. I said, okay, 491 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:25,600 Speaker 4: now this is Bruce has already told me that Vince 492 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:27,359 Speaker 4: says I got a job. I don't worry about it. 493 00:25:27,359 --> 00:25:29,320 Speaker 4: And Bruce even told me one of the phone calls, 494 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:30,920 Speaker 4: he says, you got a job here, don't worry about it. 495 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:35,720 Speaker 4: I just I said. And the Monday after Summer Slam, 496 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:37,200 Speaker 4: the very I get a call first thing in the 497 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:39,360 Speaker 4: morning from this lady. I think her name was Meredith 498 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:41,760 Speaker 4: and she says, we appreciate your interests, but we have 499 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:45,760 Speaker 4: nothing here for you. Oh and I said, I said, Meredith, 500 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:50,040 Speaker 4: you guys called me. I didn't call you. She said, well, 501 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:52,879 Speaker 4: that's all I can tell you. I said thanks, And 502 00:25:52,960 --> 00:25:55,560 Speaker 4: I called Tony Kahn. I said I'm in and he 503 00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:59,399 Speaker 4: sent me the paperwork and I signed. That week, Bruce 504 00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:03,359 Speaker 4: calls me so Saturday, and Bruce says, I just I 505 00:26:03,880 --> 00:26:06,560 Speaker 4: just have my head above water. I mean, they listen 506 00:26:06,640 --> 00:26:08,080 Speaker 4: working up there. It's high priceure business. 507 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:08,640 Speaker 1: Right. 508 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:10,880 Speaker 4: Just got my head above water. It's been terrible week. 509 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:13,760 Speaker 4: Have you heard from us our HR lady? I said, oh, yeah, 510 00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:16,520 Speaker 4: I have. She told me we had I had nothing 511 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:19,880 Speaker 4: where was nothing there? This would be a text back. Yeah. 512 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:24,280 Speaker 4: So I signed with a W and Bruce says, I 513 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:28,719 Speaker 4: don't believe it. I don't understand how that happened. He said, well, 514 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:30,159 Speaker 4: you call me later, and I said yeah, And I 515 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:31,600 Speaker 4: never called him. I said, you know, they have to 516 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:34,000 Speaker 4: heck with it. And that's how that that's how it 517 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:36,080 Speaker 4: all happened. Was it was a crazy week in my 518 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:41,199 Speaker 4: life to where all of a sudden, nobody wants me 519 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:42,800 Speaker 4: in wrestling, and now all of a sudden, I'm going 520 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:45,480 Speaker 4: between two you know, A W and W W E. 521 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:49,520 Speaker 4: I don't know what happened, but I think it all 522 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:52,280 Speaker 4: happened for the best because I'm really enjoying this right now, and. 523 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:54,560 Speaker 2: I know we are enjoying it. Hearing you and Jim 524 00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:55,480 Speaker 2: Ross back together. 525 00:26:56,960 --> 00:26:58,480 Speaker 4: It was a big part of me getting here. You know, 526 00:26:58,680 --> 00:27:00,560 Speaker 4: he really lobbied and pushed from me being one of 527 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:04,160 Speaker 4: his being his partner and announcing because we worked together 528 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:08,120 Speaker 4: and been friends for so long, and so it all 529 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:10,680 Speaker 4: worked out. So I owe him a lot too getting 530 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:11,000 Speaker 4: me here. 531 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:12,960 Speaker 3: We kind of want to know, what's it like being 532 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:15,560 Speaker 3: back on T and T and calling matches with Jim 533 00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:16,120 Speaker 3: Ross again. 534 00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:20,280 Speaker 4: Well, it's it's really great. This is this is more fun, 535 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:23,680 Speaker 4: really more fun than ever had because it's high profile 536 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:26,200 Speaker 4: and I'm not doing play by play, so I just 537 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:27,240 Speaker 4: kind of let Jim take care. 538 00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:30,040 Speaker 2: Of it, right cause you got Jim and Excalibur there 539 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:30,320 Speaker 2: as well. 540 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:32,280 Speaker 4: Yeah. I'm just adding stuff, that's all I am. And 541 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:34,800 Speaker 4: I'm trying to you know, trying to add I'm trying 542 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:37,159 Speaker 4: to add stuff that it gives it meaning, not just 543 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:39,479 Speaker 4: add stuff to add stuff, because if you get three 544 00:27:39,480 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 4: announcers trying to vibe for time with words, you get 545 00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:45,359 Speaker 4: a terrible broadcast, right, So I just try to add 546 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:51,040 Speaker 4: to it. And you know, we uh, it's really well organized. 547 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:53,840 Speaker 4: When when we're there during the day, like you know, 548 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:58,040 Speaker 4: we're here in Nashville at the MINNISUSA Auditorium for the event, 549 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:01,480 Speaker 4: and it's all Organs nice backstage. We've got a lot 550 00:28:01,520 --> 00:28:04,520 Speaker 4: of staff, We've got seamstress, we've got makeup. It's just 551 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:08,920 Speaker 4: like it's just it's really uh, it's really wonderful. And 552 00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:10,879 Speaker 4: we go out and we have like at three thirty, 553 00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:13,600 Speaker 4: we'll have a we'll go out and we'll do our 554 00:28:13,640 --> 00:28:16,160 Speaker 4: weill rehearse our stand up, and we'll look at all 555 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:19,399 Speaker 4: the videos that we have to pitch to and we 556 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:22,359 Speaker 4: were really well prepared. When when and then when it 557 00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:24,520 Speaker 4: when it happens, you know, Jim takes the lead and 558 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:28,119 Speaker 4: it's Jim Ross welcoming everybody and ex CALIBERO say something. 559 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:34,600 Speaker 4: I will say something, and the it's fun, it really is. 560 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:36,960 Speaker 4: Doing the live shows are fun. Now work on a 561 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:39,880 Speaker 4: aw dark and that's really a lot more work for 562 00:28:39,960 --> 00:28:42,160 Speaker 4: me because I've got to work with some of the 563 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:45,160 Speaker 4: guys to format it and I write the script and 564 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:47,360 Speaker 4: we have to do that, so that's a little bit 565 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:51,280 Speaker 4: more involved. But this is, uh, this is wonderful, and 566 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:53,000 Speaker 4: so far it's been well received. 567 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:55,760 Speaker 2: Me well, we we love it. 568 00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:58,520 Speaker 3: And my co hosts Uh we kind of talk about it, 569 00:28:58,560 --> 00:29:00,760 Speaker 3: and he's kind of protesting the other brand at the 570 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 3: moment just because of some things that they're doing. 571 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:06,600 Speaker 4: But I get that. And right now, right now, it's 572 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:10,800 Speaker 4: we are the flavor of the month and we're in 573 00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 4: a honeymoon period. I'm not trying to I'm not being 574 00:29:14,280 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 4: negative at all by saying this, but Weekly Wrestling TV 575 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:20,440 Speaker 4: is a whole different monster. Right So hopefully next year 576 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:22,640 Speaker 4: this time will be as popular with the fans as 577 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:25,080 Speaker 4: we are now. I'd like to think that because we've 578 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:28,320 Speaker 4: got some very good talent. But now it's our charge, 579 00:29:28,560 --> 00:29:30,920 Speaker 4: and I'm talking about us to keep you wanting to 580 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:33,760 Speaker 4: come back on a weekly basis, And if we can 581 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:36,200 Speaker 4: continue to have storylines like we had with Jick, Chris, 582 00:29:36,280 --> 00:29:39,960 Speaker 4: Jericho and Cody and now with Cody and MJF, then 583 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:41,080 Speaker 4: I think we'll do that. 584 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:43,840 Speaker 3: Because I know that there's there because I follow you 585 00:29:43,920 --> 00:29:45,560 Speaker 3: on Twitter and I know you and MJF kind of 586 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:47,640 Speaker 3: go back and forth, which is kind of fun, especially 587 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:50,520 Speaker 3: watching you know, yeah, you're one liners. 588 00:29:50,160 --> 00:29:51,520 Speaker 4: And he's an arroganting dumbass. 589 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:54,640 Speaker 3: And Eli, who's my co host, text me and he's 590 00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:56,560 Speaker 3: like Tony Shavini just called him a. 591 00:29:56,560 --> 00:29:58,640 Speaker 2: Dick on Live TV called him a prick. 592 00:29:58,680 --> 00:29:59,480 Speaker 4: That's right, right, And. 593 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:01,840 Speaker 3: I was just like this is this is great and 594 00:30:01,880 --> 00:30:03,440 Speaker 3: it's just MJF Whar's that? 595 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:04,680 Speaker 2: Heel roll very well? 596 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:06,720 Speaker 4: Yes and no he'll like. 597 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:08,960 Speaker 2: You know, some people are comparing him to Piper. 598 00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 4: Right right. That's probably good because he can talk and 599 00:30:12,360 --> 00:30:15,680 Speaker 4: he has a great presence about him. He's darn good 600 00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:20,200 Speaker 4: worker in the ring. The the prick line was I 601 00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:23,640 Speaker 4: went to the we have TBS people there in the truck, 602 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:27,120 Speaker 4: like three or four of them, come out and let 603 00:30:27,200 --> 00:30:29,560 Speaker 4: us know what we can say because we're TV fourteen, right. 604 00:30:29,680 --> 00:30:31,200 Speaker 4: So I walked in the truck that day and I 605 00:30:31,240 --> 00:30:33,080 Speaker 4: talked to him, met him and I said, can I 606 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:35,640 Speaker 4: use the word prick? And they when yeah, I. 607 00:30:35,640 --> 00:30:37,760 Speaker 2: Went sold fair game. Now you got it. 608 00:30:37,760 --> 00:30:39,600 Speaker 4: But I knew exactly what I was going to use 609 00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:43,600 Speaker 4: it for. And tonight I'm going to because it's the 610 00:30:43,600 --> 00:30:45,840 Speaker 4: first show after Full Gear, I'm going to see it 611 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:46,760 Speaker 4: and get by with tonight. 612 00:30:47,160 --> 00:30:48,520 Speaker 2: Oh man, it's going to be exciting. 613 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:51,800 Speaker 3: Which you could still buy tickets to aw Dynamite aw 614 00:30:51,920 --> 00:30:52,520 Speaker 3: ticks dot com. 615 00:30:52,520 --> 00:30:56,000 Speaker 2: They started twenty dollars. You can still get those. Let's 616 00:30:56,080 --> 00:30:58,480 Speaker 2: talk about your social media. Where can people go find 617 00:30:58,520 --> 00:30:58,800 Speaker 2: you at? 618 00:30:59,080 --> 00:31:06,320 Speaker 4: Okay, don't find me on Facebook. I'm there, but that's 619 00:31:06,400 --> 00:31:09,120 Speaker 4: kind of like for my family and my people back home, 620 00:31:10,520 --> 00:31:13,440 Speaker 4: the old guys showing auth their grandkids. I don't really 621 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:16,400 Speaker 4: friend request on Facebook from people I don't know. I 622 00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:21,320 Speaker 4: don't really write. I'm on Instagram and on Twitter at 623 00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:25,400 Speaker 4: at Tony Chavani twenty four although I haven't been an 624 00:31:25,440 --> 00:31:29,080 Speaker 4: active on Instagram up and it's I come and go 625 00:31:29,160 --> 00:31:31,840 Speaker 4: with Twitter, because you know, Twitter can be the sewer 626 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:32,400 Speaker 4: of America. 627 00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:35,080 Speaker 2: Everybody's so warrior about a Keypard exactly. 628 00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:37,360 Speaker 4: But there's some pretty good things on there. And you know, 629 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:40,360 Speaker 4: we've got our own What Happened when our podcast has 630 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:42,760 Speaker 4: its own Twitter feed too as well, and its own 631 00:31:42,840 --> 00:31:45,680 Speaker 4: Facebook page. That's probably the best place what happened When 632 00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:50,000 Speaker 4: our Facebook page and our Twitter page. I'll get on 633 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:55,160 Speaker 4: Twitter and after a show like tonight and check and 634 00:31:55,200 --> 00:31:58,160 Speaker 4: see what the feedback in. It's been mostly positive, people 635 00:31:58,160 --> 00:32:02,320 Speaker 4: who are people who are who are not positive about 636 00:32:02,320 --> 00:32:04,120 Speaker 4: what I say, I either meet them or block them, 637 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:06,560 Speaker 4: not because I'm mad at them, but just because at 638 00:32:06,600 --> 00:32:08,720 Speaker 4: my age, I don't need any negativity in my life. 639 00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:10,360 Speaker 4: No one see you later. 640 00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:11,960 Speaker 3: And that's the thing is like we've talked to a 641 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:14,479 Speaker 3: lot of wrestlers before and they're like if they you know, 642 00:32:14,960 --> 00:32:16,760 Speaker 3: I just completely normal, or like you said, you just 643 00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:19,680 Speaker 3: block them because I mean, everybody has an opinion, and 644 00:32:19,720 --> 00:32:21,400 Speaker 3: everybody thinks that there's the best. 645 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:24,600 Speaker 4: Right and listen, everybody's got Everybody may have a valid opinion. 646 00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:27,160 Speaker 4: You may have a valid opinion, but if your opinion 647 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:29,920 Speaker 4: is negative towards me, I don't want to see it. 648 00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:32,440 Speaker 4: I don't need to see it. It's I'll just push 649 00:32:32,520 --> 00:32:35,080 Speaker 4: it out of my way. You know. I say this, 650 00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:38,640 Speaker 4: and I'll probably say this tonight. Uh at Zany's one 651 00:32:38,680 --> 00:32:42,360 Speaker 4: of my in my routines. I say. Twitter has become 652 00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:45,680 Speaker 4: one of the great tools and one of the worst 653 00:32:45,720 --> 00:32:51,200 Speaker 4: tools ever in our society. The reason about it it's 654 00:32:51,240 --> 00:32:53,560 Speaker 4: one of the worst tools is it has given idiots 655 00:32:53,560 --> 00:32:56,240 Speaker 4: a voice. That's number one. The reason it's one of 656 00:32:56,280 --> 00:33:01,560 Speaker 4: the great tools, it's it's the great identify you know, 657 00:33:01,600 --> 00:33:04,040 Speaker 4: who's an asshole and who's not. You walk down the street, 658 00:33:04,080 --> 00:33:06,280 Speaker 4: you don't know that person's asshole, but you go on Twitter, 659 00:33:06,320 --> 00:33:09,480 Speaker 4: you know who They don't know who they are, they. 660 00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:13,520 Speaker 3: Will make it known that person. So, oh man, it 661 00:33:13,560 --> 00:33:14,840 Speaker 3: has been honored hanging out and. 662 00:33:14,760 --> 00:33:16,800 Speaker 4: Talking with you. Thanks. It was great being here. I 663 00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:21,920 Speaker 4: love this town. The last time we're close to here. 664 00:33:21,960 --> 00:33:25,160 Speaker 4: There's a man salon called the Moose. I've been there before. 665 00:33:25,720 --> 00:33:30,040 Speaker 4: Beautiful women cut my hair, and I've come here when 666 00:33:30,120 --> 00:33:33,600 Speaker 4: Vanderbilt plays Georgia all the time football and basketball. Been 667 00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:37,800 Speaker 4: doing that for thirteen years now, and years ago we 668 00:33:37,880 --> 00:33:42,680 Speaker 4: used to have Stark Star Cat, Stark Starkade, Stark Gas 669 00:33:42,680 --> 00:33:45,920 Speaker 4: Star Gate at the auditoriums. That we're back there once again. 670 00:33:46,080 --> 00:33:49,120 Speaker 4: And this is it's one of the great cities, and 671 00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:54,120 Speaker 4: it's great wrestling background, great wrestling history. Even though Jeff 672 00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:57,000 Speaker 4: Jarret's part of it and he's an idiot, but he 673 00:33:57,040 --> 00:34:01,040 Speaker 4: knows he's an idiot. It's great right back and so 674 00:34:01,480 --> 00:34:04,240 Speaker 4: and I appreciate you having me on. It's aw has 675 00:34:04,240 --> 00:34:06,959 Speaker 4: been the last, it really has. Hopefully next year at 676 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:09,440 Speaker 4: this time it'll be still be at the last. 677 00:34:09,480 --> 00:34:10,959 Speaker 3: It's still going to be a blast in our book 678 00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:13,720 Speaker 3: and what it rolls back through Nashville again. Studios always 679 00:34:13,719 --> 00:34:16,239 Speaker 3: wide open, all right, thank you, Tony my book. 680 00:34:18,280 --> 00:34:21,279 Speaker 2: We hope you enjoyed this week's episode of Battleground. Make 681 00:34:21,280 --> 00:34:23,800 Speaker 2: sure you give it five stars and leave a nice review. 682 00:34:24,440 --> 00:34:26,399 Speaker 3: If you want to stay up to date, follow them 683 00:34:26,400 --> 00:34:36,640 Speaker 3: at Battleground Podcast on Instagram.