Interesting interview with Rodney Mack, where he talks about the locker room contrast from the WWE to ECW, "old school" wrestling versus "sports entertainment," and trying to run your own promotion.
I thought he came across as a thoughtful, articulate guy...
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Second interview:
The WWE is lacking writing talent right now. They’re lacking people who actually know storylines and have experience in professional wrestling. The other thing is talent. I’m being straight honest with you guys, not trying to be rude… but the young talent in the WWE simply SUCKS. They can’t wrestle. They don’t understand psychology. Most of the young guys just don’t have enough experience in the independents to understand ring psychology. They can do all the moves, but they can’t tell a decent story.
I’ll be quite honest with you. HHH is a guy who people say negative stuff about all the time, but every single experience I ever had with him was extremely positive. He was a good mentor to me and Jazz. I never saw any evidence of him being manipulative, or using his influence to punish people. Don’t get me wrong – maybe he has – but I can only go by what me and Jazz both experienced, and everything involving HHH was positive. Instead of being cold and aloof, he’d go out of his way to help us with various in-ring techniques. I guess he saw something in us that he liked. I respect the man for all he did to help me and all the other wrestlers backstage.
I heard all those stories about the “bad” Shawn Michaels, too, but just like with HHH, I can only report on my own experiences. In all honesty, all the stories I grew up hearing about the old Shawn Michaels, compared to the guy I actually met, it was literally like night and day.
The truth is, sports entertainment can really change a person, and all of us evolve over time. The Shawn Michaels I met and had the honor of wrestling was a superb mentor. Shawn goes around coaching backstage, and he’s all about the betterment of the show. He’ll teach you what he knows and is a great guy to be around. I never saw any evidence whatsoever that he’d stab someone in the back. He was all about helping people, and was loved and respected by everyone backstage.
Bubba Ray Dudley & Big Vito [are the biggest a-holes] – and you can put that in big, black writing! One day I’d like to meet those two in a ring – or even better, in an alley where we don’t have any rules. I’m serious, too.
Here’s the deal: It all started in ECW when Jazz and I were first getting our start. Originally, Bubba Ray and Big Vito treated Jazz well, but after I joined the promotion, they viewed me as a threat and tried to burry me. They were playa-haters, and deliberately tried to hold me back. It’s something I’m still pissed about.
WHAT WORKED: TKG: KEVIN VON ERICH SLIPPING OFF THE LOAFERS!!!!!!! holy shit that was awesome. The Con Man comes out and talks shit on the mic. Von Erich looks down and thinks "Oh it's going to be on" and slips off the loafers. Fucking Awesome....