1990s Star PN News Reveals Why He Was Fired From WCW
VOC Nation’s ‘In The Room’ broadcast hosted former WCW star PN News this week and topics discussed include details of his departure and the state of the company when he was in WCW. Check out the highlights below along with the full interview.
Transcription credit to VOC Nation
On his current health status:
I’m having a few issues with my hip and my knees and stuff like that. I’m working, I’m not saying I’m completely done, I’m working on something right now and I hope to be doing the Wrestlecon over by Wrestlemania this year and people will be getting a lot more information about me then.
Why he stays associated with professional wrestling:
It’s a love hate with the industry, it really is. I was selfish in a way to continue wrestling as long as I was, but I did it because I enjoyed entertaining the fans. There was no greater high than making people suspend their disbelief that wrestling is real, and just to get people to say ‘Oh my God’, it’s just like any other high, you just keep chasing that first buzz.
On his extreme travel schedule during his time with WCW and the physical toll it had:
I never saw my front door for the first 90 days I was on the road with WCW. I’d wrestle 320, 330 days a year. You were always traveling, you were always on the road, it was not the easiest life. Just as much damage has been done to my body riding in cars for 10 or 12 hours a day than I’ve ever done in a wrestling ring. It’s an eat or be eaten world; if you take the time off then somebody is going to step into your place.
On his departure from WCW:
I was railroaded out and blackballed; there was nothing I could really do. Basically we were over in England during the first tour of England and some money went missing in somebody’s bag. There had been money missing every once in a while at TVs; they were noticing at TVs that money was missing from people’s bags and (stuff) like that. By the time we got back to Atlanta a few days later, for some reason I got blamed for stealing all the money. That’s how the whole thing started. There’s nothing I can do about it. I just know that God is my witness; I have a lot of sins that I’m going to pay for but that’s not one of them.
On the talent WCW had in the 1990’s:
Brian Pillman was becoming a tremendous talent before he died. Austin, you could tell he was talented right away. You could see that he had the attributes, the timing, the athleticism, he could talk on the microphone, all those things were crucial. When he finally got the opportunity with the right gimmick for him, he ran with it. Shane Douglas obviously was a good talent, he found his niche. I’ve been very, very fortunate to work with some tremendous talent that you could pick up and learn stuff from.
His thoughts on the state of wrestling today:
These younger kids today, they’re probably a hell of a lot more athletic, but the actual ring psychology and ring knowledge that you gain from working with guys like Austin, Pillman, Douglas, and more night in and night out is just amazing. When I as in wrestling, they used to say that if you can’t get your crap over (on the microphone) in two minutes, then (you) ain’t worth talking about. Nowadays you turn on the TV and all they do is talk. I think that using enhancement talent and telling a good story in the ring is really important. They kinda cut that psychology out of the industry. And the fact that they’re doing pay per views every month kind of rushes everything. There’s no time to build up any good story angles or anything like that, or build up that anticipation.
You can see the entire interview below courtesy of VOC Nation.
In the Room airs live on VOC Nation every Tuesday night at 9PM ET with Pro Wrestling Illustrated contributor Brady Hicks and crew, legendary guests, and listener calls.