Post by Mike Giggs' Munchies on Oct 14, 2007 13:45:25 GMT -5
Has anybody read the new RVD interview in FSM magazine (it's English)? He talks in depth about his time in WWE. He basically says how he didn't really want to go there, how Vince was a c*nt, how he was depushed and basically says it sucked. If WWE ever read it he is never going back. Also, there's more next month.
I might, MIGHT, write a transcript if I have time, but don't expect it to be up for a week. It would be helpful if anyone who has it scanned it. They also have a decent Randy Orton interview.
BTW, if you don't think it is ripping into him that's fine. But I do, and posted it because of that.
Here's a few of interesting questions...
FSM- Many wrestlers, including Jesse Ventura throughout the years and Bill Goldberg more recently, have said that teh sport needs a union. Do you agree, and do you think it's even possible?
RVD- You know, I've been wrestling for 18 years and they've always talked about a union, but my opinion has never changed: I've always felt that if the wrestlers were to take a stand they would just be replaced, especially if you're on top. When I'm on television every week, there are a million other wannabe wrestlers who are watching and dreaming about having my position. That's why it's so hard to get there, why you fight so hard to stay on top and why you don't want to lose your position by taking a few days off because you're hurt or want some time away. You want to stay there because so many people want your position, and rightfully so - everyone wants to be a superstar. So every time the wrestlers think that they're brave enough and wan to take a satnd and say "Hey, we're not working unless we get a better deal" - well, I think they're just going to be replaced.
FSM- With that being said, let's talk about your final match in WWE. Were you happy with the fact that they let you go out with a win over Randy Orton at ONS 07?
RVD- Well having the victory there, as well as victories leading up to it, was certainly a positive way to go. As I knew I was leaving I was suprised week by week, going into my last match, that they wern't even acknowledging that I was leaving. It was as if they didn't belive that I was going anywhere. So one week I was starting a programme with Snitsky and the it's changing and I'm starting a programme with someone else and it ended up being Randy. It was like they were shuffling these last few weeks to try and capitalise on my leaving. Plus, I was winning every night, even if it was by DQ.
So far as letting me keep my value and in good faith keep on good terms with them, that went well. But I'm somebody who prides himself on being tough, and I've spent my entire career proving that I can go out there and be considered reckless or suicidal and challange the whole standard of what hardcore is - I pride myself on being able to handle that and still not get hurt. So to be written out with a storyline that I had a concussion is definately a blow to what I stand for. But I wanted out so bad that, when that was recommended to me I said "sweet".
FSM- Inevitable question time - will we be seeing you wrestle in TNA?
RVD- The honest to God truth is that everything is indefinate. Right now my candle of passion for wrestling is not lit. If that flame returns then of course I will consider anything - which means WWE, TNA and I've heard from All Japan Pro Wrestling too. I'm getting offers every day, but I have no intrest in putting the wrestling boots on right now. Sure, I probably haven't had my last match because I'm in great shape and I can still outwrestle anybody out there - but I just don't know if I'll be able to return full time or not.
FSM- Whe you debuted in WWE in 2001, as part of the ECW/WCW alliance, were you prepared for the office and the backstage politics that you would have to face?
RVD- Somewhat. You know, I avoided going to WWE for the longest time. When I did go, I wasn't very ahppy about it, but it was pretty much the only smart option left - ECW had folded, WCW was under and if I wanted to continue wrestling and elevating my carrear status, it was the only thing to do. The only plus was that Paul Heyman was there. Paul is a good friend of mine and the only person in that office, during the whole time I was there, who was looking out for my best intrests. When I went to WWE back in 2001 I went with my defence and my guard up, and I was expecting to have a lot of headaches over the politics. But I'll tell you that I was way more frustrated than I ever thought I would be.
FSM- Nevertheless, your star really took off in the company and you were soon programmed against headliners like The Rock, Kurt Angle and Steve Austin. We still remember you getting more cheers than the latter two during your triple threat match at No Mercy. How about these guys - were they supportive of that early push you got?
RVD- I belive the guys you just mentioned were - they definately seemed to be from my perspective. The guys in the office, all along, were suprised at how over I was. I told J.R before they hired me, "I'm going to be super over because I'm already a big star without you guys, and the first time you put me in an arena there will be tonnes of RVD signs."
Well, they didn't belive me and at my first PPV, which was Invasion where I wrestled Jeff Hardy,they were overwhelmed by how many RVD signs there were in the stands. I was even overwhelmed because it was a far bigger crowd than I was used to performing in front of inECW (laughs). So WWE has never liked to acknowladge or accredit the original ECW. That is a fact - and face-to-face I've heard V-Man deny that ECW had any theme to it whatsoever, and he even went as far that teh new ECW was designed to vapitalise on the old one. It's like all this big ego thing. So, yeah, the guys you mentioned were behind the push, but there were certainly some other people you haven't mentioned who were against the push and who buried me at the production meetings. So there goes my push, you know?
FSM- Did one of those guys also happen to have 3 initials?
RVD- (Laughs) Rumourd to be, although you can be sure that the guy has never said anything to my face to confirm that - and nor would I ever expect him to be the kind of guy who would.
FSM- That said, you reportedly got along well with Stephinie Mcmahon, is that right?
RVD- Yeah, Stephinie is great. She's a sweetheart and I learned to really appreciate her.
FSM- And despite any political differences that may or may not have exsisted, you always worked well in the ring against HHH.
RVD- I'm telling you, if you look at my entire carrer - and even just thelast 6 years or so in WWE - you're not going to find too many matches that I had that aren't good. I was consistent, and still am, and I consider that my job: to pull out a good match. That goes for whether I'm in the ring with someone like Jerry Lynn, who can match my skilful agility, or whether I'm wrestling 400 pounds of Kamala or One Man Gang or whether I'm wrestling someone with a 1000 pound ego who thinks he's king of the world (laughs).
Either way, I let them throw on the table what they've got, I throw on the table what I've got, and we mix it up. There's your match! When you become a veteran of the sport, and also become more comfortable with you're skills, you can show that and have a good match with anyone. I can count the number of matches I wasn't satisfied with on one hand.
I might, MIGHT, write a transcript if I have time, but don't expect it to be up for a week. It would be helpful if anyone who has it scanned it. They also have a decent Randy Orton interview.
BTW, if you don't think it is ripping into him that's fine. But I do, and posted it because of that.
Here's a few of interesting questions...
FSM- Many wrestlers, including Jesse Ventura throughout the years and Bill Goldberg more recently, have said that teh sport needs a union. Do you agree, and do you think it's even possible?
RVD- You know, I've been wrestling for 18 years and they've always talked about a union, but my opinion has never changed: I've always felt that if the wrestlers were to take a stand they would just be replaced, especially if you're on top. When I'm on television every week, there are a million other wannabe wrestlers who are watching and dreaming about having my position. That's why it's so hard to get there, why you fight so hard to stay on top and why you don't want to lose your position by taking a few days off because you're hurt or want some time away. You want to stay there because so many people want your position, and rightfully so - everyone wants to be a superstar. So every time the wrestlers think that they're brave enough and wan to take a satnd and say "Hey, we're not working unless we get a better deal" - well, I think they're just going to be replaced.
FSM- With that being said, let's talk about your final match in WWE. Were you happy with the fact that they let you go out with a win over Randy Orton at ONS 07?
RVD- Well having the victory there, as well as victories leading up to it, was certainly a positive way to go. As I knew I was leaving I was suprised week by week, going into my last match, that they wern't even acknowledging that I was leaving. It was as if they didn't belive that I was going anywhere. So one week I was starting a programme with Snitsky and the it's changing and I'm starting a programme with someone else and it ended up being Randy. It was like they were shuffling these last few weeks to try and capitalise on my leaving. Plus, I was winning every night, even if it was by DQ.
So far as letting me keep my value and in good faith keep on good terms with them, that went well. But I'm somebody who prides himself on being tough, and I've spent my entire career proving that I can go out there and be considered reckless or suicidal and challange the whole standard of what hardcore is - I pride myself on being able to handle that and still not get hurt. So to be written out with a storyline that I had a concussion is definately a blow to what I stand for. But I wanted out so bad that, when that was recommended to me I said "sweet".
FSM- Inevitable question time - will we be seeing you wrestle in TNA?
RVD- The honest to God truth is that everything is indefinate. Right now my candle of passion for wrestling is not lit. If that flame returns then of course I will consider anything - which means WWE, TNA and I've heard from All Japan Pro Wrestling too. I'm getting offers every day, but I have no intrest in putting the wrestling boots on right now. Sure, I probably haven't had my last match because I'm in great shape and I can still outwrestle anybody out there - but I just don't know if I'll be able to return full time or not.
FSM- Whe you debuted in WWE in 2001, as part of the ECW/WCW alliance, were you prepared for the office and the backstage politics that you would have to face?
RVD- Somewhat. You know, I avoided going to WWE for the longest time. When I did go, I wasn't very ahppy about it, but it was pretty much the only smart option left - ECW had folded, WCW was under and if I wanted to continue wrestling and elevating my carrear status, it was the only thing to do. The only plus was that Paul Heyman was there. Paul is a good friend of mine and the only person in that office, during the whole time I was there, who was looking out for my best intrests. When I went to WWE back in 2001 I went with my defence and my guard up, and I was expecting to have a lot of headaches over the politics. But I'll tell you that I was way more frustrated than I ever thought I would be.
FSM- Nevertheless, your star really took off in the company and you were soon programmed against headliners like The Rock, Kurt Angle and Steve Austin. We still remember you getting more cheers than the latter two during your triple threat match at No Mercy. How about these guys - were they supportive of that early push you got?
RVD- I belive the guys you just mentioned were - they definately seemed to be from my perspective. The guys in the office, all along, were suprised at how over I was. I told J.R before they hired me, "I'm going to be super over because I'm already a big star without you guys, and the first time you put me in an arena there will be tonnes of RVD signs."
Well, they didn't belive me and at my first PPV, which was Invasion where I wrestled Jeff Hardy,they were overwhelmed by how many RVD signs there were in the stands. I was even overwhelmed because it was a far bigger crowd than I was used to performing in front of inECW (laughs). So WWE has never liked to acknowladge or accredit the original ECW. That is a fact - and face-to-face I've heard V-Man deny that ECW had any theme to it whatsoever, and he even went as far that teh new ECW was designed to vapitalise on the old one. It's like all this big ego thing. So, yeah, the guys you mentioned were behind the push, but there were certainly some other people you haven't mentioned who were against the push and who buried me at the production meetings. So there goes my push, you know?
FSM- Did one of those guys also happen to have 3 initials?
RVD- (Laughs) Rumourd to be, although you can be sure that the guy has never said anything to my face to confirm that - and nor would I ever expect him to be the kind of guy who would.
FSM- That said, you reportedly got along well with Stephinie Mcmahon, is that right?
RVD- Yeah, Stephinie is great. She's a sweetheart and I learned to really appreciate her.
FSM- And despite any political differences that may or may not have exsisted, you always worked well in the ring against HHH.
RVD- I'm telling you, if you look at my entire carrer - and even just thelast 6 years or so in WWE - you're not going to find too many matches that I had that aren't good. I was consistent, and still am, and I consider that my job: to pull out a good match. That goes for whether I'm in the ring with someone like Jerry Lynn, who can match my skilful agility, or whether I'm wrestling 400 pounds of Kamala or One Man Gang or whether I'm wrestling someone with a 1000 pound ego who thinks he's king of the world (laughs).
Either way, I let them throw on the table what they've got, I throw on the table what I've got, and we mix it up. There's your match! When you become a veteran of the sport, and also become more comfortable with you're skills, you can show that and have a good match with anyone. I can count the number of matches I wasn't satisfied with on one hand.
ing great.