Post by Joe Clark on Apr 20, 2008 1:27:38 GMT -5
Admin Note: After our board malfunction, I was able to do a cache search online and salvage this interview we conducted with Randall Shane back in October 2007. Here it is in it's entirety:
Host: Randall, Thanks for taking time to talk with us today
RS: Hey, it's your pleasure I am sure. Now, my time is precious so, let's quit the chit chat and get on with the questions.
Host: I understand that You are currently with Mid-South Championship Wrestling; so how many years have you been wrestling?
RS: You are right. I recently returned to Mid-South Championship Wrestling which was formerly Vette City Wrestling. It actually shocked a lot of people in and around the Bowling Green wrestling scene. I have been wrestling 6 years this past September.
Host: What inspired you to become a pro wrestler and who were / are some of the guys that you look(ed) up to in the business?
RS: I didn't start watching wrestling until around '92. But when I started, I was hooked. Yeah, I would watch the WWF and WCW but what really intrigued me was the USWA/Memphis and Smokey Mountain Wrestling. SMW to this day is still one of my top 3 favorite promotions of all time. On Sunday nights my friend, who also got into the business, and I would go to Lampin Park and watch Dale Mann's Mid-Continental group. I loved it! Just seeing the wrestlers go out there and do what they do. It was awesome to me.
As far who I look up to growing up it was Scott Steiner, Bret Hart, Bobby Eaton, Rick Rude, Ricky Steamboat, Demolition and a few others that really caught my eye.
Then as I got older and decided that wrestling is what I wanted to pursue I kinda got stuck on Shawn Michaels of course but also, Brian Pillman, Arn Anderson, Ric Flair and here locally Chris Michaels. As far as today their are still dozens of guys I look up to. Just to name a few around here are Vic The Bruiser, Eddie Browning, John Noble, Chris Michaels, Tracy Smothers, Bobby Eaton and so on.
Host: Where were you trained?
RS: I was trained in Bowling Green at Vette City Wrestling by JW Wildfire.
Host: Three part question here: When was your first match, who was your opponent and what was it like for you?
RS: My first match was September 23rd, 2001 against VCW Cruiserweight champion, Kid Dynamite. To me, the match was awesome because simply it was my first match. But, honestly it was the nutss. LOL. I really wasn't ready to be in the ring but they needed someone else so, I went ahead and worked. I froze up when I heard the bell ring and it took a couple minutes into the match for me to loosen up. LOL. It was still great though.
Host: What promotions have you worked for?
RS: Geez. Let's see in Kentucky I have worked for; VCW, UCW, AWA, NEPW, TLW, KWA, SCWA/ICW, MSCW and coming up next week the WWC. In Tennessee; NWA-Main Event, SWA, and IWF-TN. I am also going to be making my first trip to Alabama next month.
Host: What titles have you held, and which one is the most significant to you?
RS: VCW Tag Team w/ Calvin Abercrombie as The Wasted Youth, SWA Cruiserweight, Southern Kentucky title 3 times, SCWA Tag Team w/ Shane Smalls, ICW Tag Team w/ Big E, Mid-South Junior Heavyweight title and Mid-South Tag Team w/ Boy
Host: Who has been your toughest opponent to date?
RS: Toughest is defiantly Vic The Bruiser. We had a match back in 2004 I believe in TLW and I wish I had it on tape. It was a rough match but, I loved it and hope to work Vic again one day. I learned a lot in that match.
Host: What has been your favorite match to date and why?
RS: My favorite was defiantly the dream partner tag match when I teamed with Bobby Eaton against Val Joiner & Ricky Morton. The match was so much fun. We had the biggest crowd Bowling Green had in years and when they heard The Midnight Express theme play, they went nuts.. and we were heels! I learned a lot in that match too. I hope to team with Eaton again in the future and would love to work Ricky one more time. I mean, here were two guys I grew up watching on WCW and SMW and I am in the ring with them. It was awesome!
Host: Is there anyone on the Kentucky Wrestling scene that you have not yet wrestled but would like to?
RS: I haven't wrestle Scott Hayes in a singles match yet. We've only worked in tag matches so, I would love to work him in a singles match. Chance Prophet is one that comes to mind. Of course Chris Michaels is one too. There are some more, I just can't think of them off the top of my head.
Host: Now, lets get to some tougher questions. You have primarily wrestled in the Bowling Green area. And judging from the message boards and different websites, Bowling Green has certainly been a controversial area as far as wrestling is concerned. Promotions coming and going, promotions changing their names, promotions going head to head on the same night. Also, several fines and suspensions have supposedly been levied by the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority in the Bowling Green area. What do you think has been the biggest reason for all the controversy? And, has things now improved in the Bowling Green area as far as wrestling is concerned?
RS: Wow! I had a feeling this was coming. Let's start with the promotions coming and going. Bowling Green has been a dead town for years. Honestly is has. It hasn't done well since Dale Mann. I mean, it does decent but, it could do better. I mean we are a college town. The average attendance in BG is between 30 and 50. That's average some weeks it may be more and some may be less. I remember when Dale ran Lampkin Park, that building would be full. Even when Mike Mann ran TNT Wrestling at Reed's the place was full and even when VCW first started, Reed's was packed every Sunday night. But since 9/11 it hasn't been the same. I don't know if that has anything to do with it or not but, that's the facts. I can count 6 different promoters that have ran Bowling Green since 9/11 and I was on most of those shows. The crowd just isn't there. I think the promoters come in with a quick fix or the cure to heal Bowling Green but, it doesn't work. Hell, I ran BG under the banner NEPW and I thought I had the cure. We had decent crowds but nothing spectacular. Would have been better I'm sure if I had a better ring. LOL. Seriously though the hottest Bowling Green has been was the past 2 years with ICW and that is a fact. Mid-South has done good but, with the Armory canceling our shows it's killing us because we can't build up to anything.
As far as the head to head on Sunday nights I guess you can say I sort of started that. VCW was running Sunday nights then I came along with NEPW and ran every other Sunday nights. Then I closed and they closed. A couple years later I am booking for SCWA/ICW then VCW starts back up again on Sunday nights and it was on. LOL. I liked it though. Kinda made it interesting I thought. We had two different products. VCW was the more old school type show and we were the newer style with younger talent and a little more entertainment added. I gave the other promotion free advertising and even told the crowd one night that if they didn't like what they saw here they could go across town. The following week, the crowd number didn't change.
The fines and suspensions could have been prevented. The promoter thought he was untouchable so he was going to push the envelope. I kept telling him you are eventually going to get busted and guess what? He did.
I think the BG area has seen a turn for the better. We are all understanding that in order to make Bowling Green draw again we have to work together.
Host: Another three part question here: You once tried promoting. What was that like for you? Why did you stop? And would you like to be a promoter again in the future?
RS: Yes I did try promoting under New Era Pro Wrestling. I loved it while it lasted. I should have thought it out a little more though. I stopped for a number reasons. Primarily the money issue came into play. I didn't have a good enough quality ring and couldn't afford to buy one at the time. The guy that leased the building I was using, his lease ran up so, we had nowhere to run. I would love to promote again in the future. I am actually in the planning stages now. LOL. It'll still be a couple years though unless I do some spot shows in TN. But, I will promote again. Someday!
Host: Are there any promotions out there in Kentucky for whom you have not yet worked, but would like to?
RS: The MWA is one. Hell, I might show up at an AWF show and punk you around Joe. You never know. UCW Pro. I wouldn't mind working for The Maddox's. They're some good guys. I used them a few times in ICW. I've heard some good things about HCW so, I wouldn't mind working for them. I am really open to working anywhere.
Host: If you could change any one thing as far as the Kentucky wrestling scene is concerned, what would it be and why?
RS: I wish they would section off the state kind of like territories.
Host: Where do you see Kentucky Indies as being in ten years?
RS: If nothing happens soon.. dead and full of backyarders.
Host: Where do you see yourself as being in ten years?
RS: Not really sure. I am working on a couple different things right now that is still in the wrestling business. So, I'll defiantly still be in the business but I don't know in what capacity.
Host: What do you think is lacking on the Kentucky Wrestling scene today?
RS: The star image. That "it" factor that makes you want to go see someone, a certain someone.
Host: If you had to choose one wrestler on the Kentucky Indy Scene to label as being "the best there is", who would it be and why?
RS: D***, put me on the spot. Defiantly, John "F'N" Noble! LOL.
Host: Describe Randall Shane the person and not the wrestler. What are you like outside the ring? What are some of your hobbies and interests?
RS: Honestly, I am a student of the game. LOL. Outside the ring I am watching tapes and working on how to improve my skills. I'll watch my old matches and write down things I need to work on. Other then that, spending time with my fiance takes up the rest of my time. I love movies. I am a big horror movie buff.
Host: If you could change one thing about your career to date, what would it be and why?
RS: I would have taken more chances in the start. I would have went out and got more bookings and exposed myself better. It's my fault I know. I would have taken better care of my self and got into better shape sooner. That's something I am working on now.
Host: Thank you for your time and best of luck to you.
RS: No problem Joe!
Host: Randall, Thanks for taking time to talk with us today
RS: Hey, it's your pleasure I am sure. Now, my time is precious so, let's quit the chit chat and get on with the questions.
Host: I understand that You are currently with Mid-South Championship Wrestling; so how many years have you been wrestling?
RS: You are right. I recently returned to Mid-South Championship Wrestling which was formerly Vette City Wrestling. It actually shocked a lot of people in and around the Bowling Green wrestling scene. I have been wrestling 6 years this past September.
Host: What inspired you to become a pro wrestler and who were / are some of the guys that you look(ed) up to in the business?
RS: I didn't start watching wrestling until around '92. But when I started, I was hooked. Yeah, I would watch the WWF and WCW but what really intrigued me was the USWA/Memphis and Smokey Mountain Wrestling. SMW to this day is still one of my top 3 favorite promotions of all time. On Sunday nights my friend, who also got into the business, and I would go to Lampin Park and watch Dale Mann's Mid-Continental group. I loved it! Just seeing the wrestlers go out there and do what they do. It was awesome to me.
As far who I look up to growing up it was Scott Steiner, Bret Hart, Bobby Eaton, Rick Rude, Ricky Steamboat, Demolition and a few others that really caught my eye.
Then as I got older and decided that wrestling is what I wanted to pursue I kinda got stuck on Shawn Michaels of course but also, Brian Pillman, Arn Anderson, Ric Flair and here locally Chris Michaels. As far as today their are still dozens of guys I look up to. Just to name a few around here are Vic The Bruiser, Eddie Browning, John Noble, Chris Michaels, Tracy Smothers, Bobby Eaton and so on.
Host: Where were you trained?
RS: I was trained in Bowling Green at Vette City Wrestling by JW Wildfire.
Host: Three part question here: When was your first match, who was your opponent and what was it like for you?
RS: My first match was September 23rd, 2001 against VCW Cruiserweight champion, Kid Dynamite. To me, the match was awesome because simply it was my first match. But, honestly it was the nutss. LOL. I really wasn't ready to be in the ring but they needed someone else so, I went ahead and worked. I froze up when I heard the bell ring and it took a couple minutes into the match for me to loosen up. LOL. It was still great though.
Host: What promotions have you worked for?
RS: Geez. Let's see in Kentucky I have worked for; VCW, UCW, AWA, NEPW, TLW, KWA, SCWA/ICW, MSCW and coming up next week the WWC. In Tennessee; NWA-Main Event, SWA, and IWF-TN. I am also going to be making my first trip to Alabama next month.
Host: What titles have you held, and which one is the most significant to you?
RS: VCW Tag Team w/ Calvin Abercrombie as The Wasted Youth, SWA Cruiserweight, Southern Kentucky title 3 times, SCWA Tag Team w/ Shane Smalls, ICW Tag Team w/ Big E, Mid-South Junior Heavyweight title and Mid-South Tag Team w/ Boy
Host: Who has been your toughest opponent to date?
RS: Toughest is defiantly Vic The Bruiser. We had a match back in 2004 I believe in TLW and I wish I had it on tape. It was a rough match but, I loved it and hope to work Vic again one day. I learned a lot in that match.
Host: What has been your favorite match to date and why?
RS: My favorite was defiantly the dream partner tag match when I teamed with Bobby Eaton against Val Joiner & Ricky Morton. The match was so much fun. We had the biggest crowd Bowling Green had in years and when they heard The Midnight Express theme play, they went nuts.. and we were heels! I learned a lot in that match too. I hope to team with Eaton again in the future and would love to work Ricky one more time. I mean, here were two guys I grew up watching on WCW and SMW and I am in the ring with them. It was awesome!
Host: Is there anyone on the Kentucky Wrestling scene that you have not yet wrestled but would like to?
RS: I haven't wrestle Scott Hayes in a singles match yet. We've only worked in tag matches so, I would love to work him in a singles match. Chance Prophet is one that comes to mind. Of course Chris Michaels is one too. There are some more, I just can't think of them off the top of my head.
Host: Now, lets get to some tougher questions. You have primarily wrestled in the Bowling Green area. And judging from the message boards and different websites, Bowling Green has certainly been a controversial area as far as wrestling is concerned. Promotions coming and going, promotions changing their names, promotions going head to head on the same night. Also, several fines and suspensions have supposedly been levied by the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority in the Bowling Green area. What do you think has been the biggest reason for all the controversy? And, has things now improved in the Bowling Green area as far as wrestling is concerned?
RS: Wow! I had a feeling this was coming. Let's start with the promotions coming and going. Bowling Green has been a dead town for years. Honestly is has. It hasn't done well since Dale Mann. I mean, it does decent but, it could do better. I mean we are a college town. The average attendance in BG is between 30 and 50. That's average some weeks it may be more and some may be less. I remember when Dale ran Lampkin Park, that building would be full. Even when Mike Mann ran TNT Wrestling at Reed's the place was full and even when VCW first started, Reed's was packed every Sunday night. But since 9/11 it hasn't been the same. I don't know if that has anything to do with it or not but, that's the facts. I can count 6 different promoters that have ran Bowling Green since 9/11 and I was on most of those shows. The crowd just isn't there. I think the promoters come in with a quick fix or the cure to heal Bowling Green but, it doesn't work. Hell, I ran BG under the banner NEPW and I thought I had the cure. We had decent crowds but nothing spectacular. Would have been better I'm sure if I had a better ring. LOL. Seriously though the hottest Bowling Green has been was the past 2 years with ICW and that is a fact. Mid-South has done good but, with the Armory canceling our shows it's killing us because we can't build up to anything.
As far as the head to head on Sunday nights I guess you can say I sort of started that. VCW was running Sunday nights then I came along with NEPW and ran every other Sunday nights. Then I closed and they closed. A couple years later I am booking for SCWA/ICW then VCW starts back up again on Sunday nights and it was on. LOL. I liked it though. Kinda made it interesting I thought. We had two different products. VCW was the more old school type show and we were the newer style with younger talent and a little more entertainment added. I gave the other promotion free advertising and even told the crowd one night that if they didn't like what they saw here they could go across town. The following week, the crowd number didn't change.
The fines and suspensions could have been prevented. The promoter thought he was untouchable so he was going to push the envelope. I kept telling him you are eventually going to get busted and guess what? He did.
I think the BG area has seen a turn for the better. We are all understanding that in order to make Bowling Green draw again we have to work together.
Host: Another three part question here: You once tried promoting. What was that like for you? Why did you stop? And would you like to be a promoter again in the future?
RS: Yes I did try promoting under New Era Pro Wrestling. I loved it while it lasted. I should have thought it out a little more though. I stopped for a number reasons. Primarily the money issue came into play. I didn't have a good enough quality ring and couldn't afford to buy one at the time. The guy that leased the building I was using, his lease ran up so, we had nowhere to run. I would love to promote again in the future. I am actually in the planning stages now. LOL. It'll still be a couple years though unless I do some spot shows in TN. But, I will promote again. Someday!
Host: Are there any promotions out there in Kentucky for whom you have not yet worked, but would like to?
RS: The MWA is one. Hell, I might show up at an AWF show and punk you around Joe. You never know. UCW Pro. I wouldn't mind working for The Maddox's. They're some good guys. I used them a few times in ICW. I've heard some good things about HCW so, I wouldn't mind working for them. I am really open to working anywhere.
Host: If you could change any one thing as far as the Kentucky wrestling scene is concerned, what would it be and why?
RS: I wish they would section off the state kind of like territories.
Host: Where do you see Kentucky Indies as being in ten years?
RS: If nothing happens soon.. dead and full of backyarders.
Host: Where do you see yourself as being in ten years?
RS: Not really sure. I am working on a couple different things right now that is still in the wrestling business. So, I'll defiantly still be in the business but I don't know in what capacity.
Host: What do you think is lacking on the Kentucky Wrestling scene today?
RS: The star image. That "it" factor that makes you want to go see someone, a certain someone.
Host: If you had to choose one wrestler on the Kentucky Indy Scene to label as being "the best there is", who would it be and why?
RS: D***, put me on the spot. Defiantly, John "F'N" Noble! LOL.
Host: Describe Randall Shane the person and not the wrestler. What are you like outside the ring? What are some of your hobbies and interests?
RS: Honestly, I am a student of the game. LOL. Outside the ring I am watching tapes and working on how to improve my skills. I'll watch my old matches and write down things I need to work on. Other then that, spending time with my fiance takes up the rest of my time. I love movies. I am a big horror movie buff.
Host: If you could change one thing about your career to date, what would it be and why?
RS: I would have taken more chances in the start. I would have went out and got more bookings and exposed myself better. It's my fault I know. I would have taken better care of my self and got into better shape sooner. That's something I am working on now.
Host: Thank you for your time and best of luck to you.
RS: No problem Joe!