Former WCW World Heavyweight Champion, former six-time WCW World Tag Team Champion, & one of TNA’s newest stars, Scott Steiner, was one of the special guest on this past week's live edition (5/1/05) of Monday Night Mayhem,
Here are some of the highlights from the interview provided by the show's senior correspondent, Mr. DFL.
“The Big Bad Booty Daddy” Scott Steiner was welcomed to the show by The Big Mosh & Blade. To all the naysayers that said he would no show, “The Man With The Largest Arms In Wrestling” was right on time. From Buffalo, NY (the hometown of The Mayhem) to Bangkok & from Chicago to Cairo, Scott made it known that after all this time, his freaks are still out there.
Mosh kicked off the interview by asking Scott what has been like coming back to wrestling and joining the TNA roster? Scott openly stated that "it has been so far so good," and it feels good to be back especially in front of a live crowd. Scott also mentioned since leaving the WWE he had taken some time off due to foot surgery and also mentioned that after all this time that "he still has the largest arms in the world."
With regards to being away from the business on more of a full-time capacity & having any worries coming back, Scott said that the TNA travel schedule is extremely helpful, because he can still wrestle on the weekends in the process. He still travels close to 300 days/year, even not being with the WWE.
TNA's Sacrifice PPV is next Sunday night, with Steiner teaming up with "The King Of The Mountain" Jeff Jarrett against Sting & his partner (SPOILER ALERT: "The Samoan Submission Machine" & the reigning X-Division Champion, Samoa Joe). Blade & Mosh asked Scott if he would prefer to be wrestling a tag team match or singles at the big Pay-Per-View. He would prefer a singles match against Sting, especially because of their bad blood in WCW, but he has also known Jarrett since their time in World Championship Wrestling as well, including the new World order. The only person he feels truly sorry for is Joe, because the X-Division Champion has no clue what he will be stepping into the ring with. Steiner also mentioned the irony of the PPV being on Mother's Day, because Joe is going to find out that Scott is a "mother-f*cker." The main reason Steiner came to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling was to get rid of Sting once and for all, and come Sacrifice, "he will show him the door for good."
Blade switched gears to the past two weeks of Impact, and how Scott’s brother (Rick), Buff Bagwell, & Lex Luger made their "returns" to TNA, and based on this, could we possibly see a re-birth of WCW, compared to what the WWE did several years ago. Scott replied by saying that there still is a WCW audience out there. Word Championship Wrestling defeated the WWE 82 weeks in a row during the "Monday Night Wars." Steiner said, "The fans want competition, and they need competition in order for the business to pick up as it once was."
Scott has never been one to dodge any questions, so Mosh asked Steiner point blank for his current thoughts on the WWE television product. "It is just a matter of time before TNA will go head-to-head with World Wrestling Entertainment. The relationship between TNA & Spike TV is fitting together slowly but surely like a nice puzzle." He does not understand why the WWE pushes "f*ggots" such as The Spirit Squad, but does clearly comprehend why Triple H is still in the main event scene -- "You might as well turn your TV's off for another two years, as all that will happen is Triple H will inch closer to breaking 'The Nature Boy' Ric Flair's World Heavyweight Championship record. The only reason that 'Kevin Federline' is as successful as he is now & why his career took off, is because he is banging the boss' daughter."
When asked about the pending return of "Big Sexy" Kevin Nash to TNA & whether or not Nash's latest string of injuries could be seen as a bad sign, Scott shot hard. He feels that Nash is one of the best big men in the business today. "Injuries come daily in this business, and Kev has had some bad breaks." In addition to Nash, Steiner believes that as far as Scott Hall is concerned, he was "one guy who never got the chance to hold a World Championship, and it was a shame he never got that chance." Scott did make it clear to the fans that if it was not for Hall & Nash, "the nWo would not have been as huge as it was."
Mosh & Blade asked Steiner about his thoughts on the passing of Miss Elizabeth (three years ago this past week), Scott declined to comment on this subject, but did mention that Liz & him "were friends, and it was a horrible thing that happened to her."
Good friend of The Mayhem, Brian Knobbs, has said on several prior appearances on the program, that his favorite tag team he had the opportunity to wrestle was Rick & Scott, The Steiner Brothers, because they were "brutally tough." Scott said The Steiners feud with The Nasty's was one of his favorite moments in his entire career, because "that’s when wrestling was fun." He loved working them, when the tag team scene was hot in WCW.
Things really began to change for WCW with the creation of WCW Monday Nitro. Steiner 100% believes that Eric Bischoff was the "best thing to happen to WCW, because he gave guys jobs & opportunities that might not have made it elsewhere."
Scott said that it will be hard to change the business today going forward, simply because there was even a recent time when the WWE sent Pat Patterson home, with the reason being "he was pushing Triple H too hard." When things like that happen, the business only goes backwards. As far as the business changing by leaps-and-bounds, Scott does not think so -- at least not yet.
Steiner was known for some of the wildest & greatest promos in World Championship Wrestling -- as wrestling fans never knew what he was going to say next. On the topic of that, Blade asked Scott if we would be seeing a return of those in TNA. Scott replied with a "yes," and as soon as they give him more microphone time, we will see him go wild once again. Steiner then brought up his WWE promos, and how everything is scripted there -- "with guys telling you what to say left & right...it's a joke."
Scott has received plenty of criticism over his feud with "The Game," Triple H back in the early part of 2003 -- with some in the business going as far as saying that was the worst series of matches in '03. Steiner said that HHH's matches with "The Immortal" Hulk Hogan & Chris Jericho "stunk the place up" the year prior, and that Hogan/Rock should have main-evented WrestleMania 18. Based on these performances, Scott left the audience with an interesting question: "Why in the hell would Vince McMahon ever listen to him?"
The WWE Talent Wellness Program was the next item of discussion. Scott said that back in the day the entire McMahon/steroid trial was legit, but as far as what's going on there right now, he does not know -- because he is not up there. Another question posed by Steiner to the listening audience: "Why did the WWE start this policy after Eddie Guerrero's death, when in fact that was not his cause of death?"
"Working in WCW was a tough time for Eddie," according to Scott. It was a time where he was going through his demons, and he was not cleaned up yet. He did remember when Guerrero got into a car accident really messed up his ankle, and was gone for 8-9 months. "Anyone dying too early is a shame, and what happened to Eddie should not have happened."
The return of ECW is almost here. Even though Steiner competed in Extreme Championship Wrestling for two matches (and it was not more because him & Rick just came back touring from Japan), he is thankful he competed there. Scott thinks that "the WWE is going to try and steal some of TNA's ECW talent (such as Rhino), who's contract is reportedly up at the end of the summer. He stressed to those who are wavering in their decision to go there by saying, "do not fall for their bulls***, and be stuck there unhappy." Based on his own personal experiences (wrestling for the WWE), he began to hate wrestling even more & more. Some might feel the same way he does, some do not.
Mosh & Blade then asked Scott how it feels to wrestle again on the independent scene and to give back to your freaks? Steiner said that wrestling on the indy circuit is fun because it’s more laid back, keeps him in shape, and gives him time to see his freaks.
When will Scott get a chance at the NWA World Heavyweight Championship? Steiner told Mosh & Blade that "anytime you win a belt is very emotional," and as far as wrestling Christian, he would be glad to "bitch-slap Captain Charisma" anytime he wants.
On an edition of The Mayhem last April, the returning "Lord Of The Hardcore," Terry Funk, called Vince McMahon an a******\. How quickly one changes his tune! The question was posed by Blade & Mosh to Scott if he blames Terry for making the plans to show up at this year's One Night Stand. Steiner mentioned that "everyone has got his or her price, and if you’re in this business not for the money, YOU’RE A MARK!" Scott also spoke freely saying, that he is still shocked to see Terry wrestle today, and it’s not the same reason why "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair is still doing it.
What are the chances of seeing the man who revitalized WCW in a TNA six-sided ring, Bill Goldberg? Steiner feels that Bill got the exact same treatment as Scott Hall & Kevin Nash did in their WWE return run. He said that he will welcome Bill if he does come to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Scott honestly feels that Bill does have a bit chip on his shoulder ever since his run in World Championship Wrestling, because "he was handed everything," but nonetheless, he would still welcome Bill into TNA.
Switching back to some WWE talk, Scott also feels that the recently suspended "Legend Killer," Randy Orton, has the talent & personality and is the future of their company. Steiner's opinion & takes are that "Triple H screwed Orton, and once again, it all comes down to whom 'The Game' is banging." The WWE with regards to the Orton suspension & other issues is a "one-way street."
Scott has the chance to get on the "information superhighway" every once in a while, and feels that wrestling coverage on the internet is "half true & half bulls*** -- you don't know what to believe."
In closing, Scott encouraged the fans to check out the TNA Lockdown event when it comes out onto DVD, as a lot of old-school fans w& those who did not see the event, will see the similarities between the "Lethal Lockdown" & the WCW "War Games." Not to mention, that was his first opportunity to compete in the six-sided ring. Stay tuned to
www.TNAWrestling.com for the official release date of the all "Six Sides Of Steel" PPV event.
Wrestling fans, you can check out all of Steiner’s upcoming shows, a career retrospective, & how you can become part of his “Freak Club” on his official website,
www.BootyDaddy.com. The Mayhem encourages everyone to check it out, or you might hear those familiar police sirens…
Plenty of other topics were covered in this fantastic hour-long interview, including: if he ever considered a jump to the NWA/WCW, his uncensored comments on "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels (and fans, he does not love him) & why he feels a DX reunion in the WWE will "tank," whether or not he will be appearing at TNA's "Hardcore War" event at the former ECW Arena, working with Test & Stacy Keibler (how close did it really get?), the balance of talent in TNA (and the age-old expression "the bigger guys holding down the smaller ones"), will Brock Lesnar ever return to the WWE or debut in TNA (based on his recent settlement with World Wrestling Entertainment), what record he broke of a former NBA legend within the past year, whether or not a WCW reunion will come to fruition in the WWE anytime soon, his own personal critique of Triple H's matches over the past few years (and his love for having sex with a transvestite), and his advice to the fans on "how to pick up freaks."
