Around The Ring
by Eric Knudsen(ericknudsen@aroundthering.com)
Welcome ladies and gentlemen, kids and all. Welcome to another edition of Around The Ring, and as always I am your loyal host, Eric. Usually I would have my "If I could be serious for a minute..." catch phrase here, which I stole from the great Lance Storm, I have decided to retire that line and move on to something new. Now the problem is...I have nothing new. So I am asking you all to help me out and send me some ideas for a new catch phrase. Send your ideas to newcatch@aroundthering.com . From there I will pick the top 5 and will have you all vote on which one you like the best. And maybe…just maybe…the winner will get a special prize!!
Although I wrote a column when Chris Benoit and family passed away, I truly haven’t written a column since late 2005. Some of you may or may not care, but I will catch you up a bit on what has been going on since then. Well, I found myself a little too addicted to the internet/computer and was really missing out on life. So I took some time away and began going to the gym 3 to 4 days a week and during this time I actually met someone. We began dating in February of 2006 and got engaged the day after Christmas 2006. Well we just got married on August 11th. So, my life has been consumed with love and wedding planning. But the sad part was, I had really just felt that wrestling was in a real lull. I didn’t care whether I watched or not, and even at times, dare I say…fell asleep!! But it isn’t too bad as of late. Well…there have been a few bad things, but I will touch on that later. But I am back and rejuvenated! So look out…
Oh yeah…before I forget, I redesigned my site http://www.aroundthering.com so go check it out…and vote in the poll on the main page…I will do my best to have a new poll up every week so keep checking back.
Now onto the meat and potatoes…
Before I get to the interview I promised in the last article, I just want to touch on a few items.
Firstly, regardless of what happened with the Chris Benoit and Family tragedy, the coroners report stated that there were NOT enough steroids in Benoit’s body to make him do what he did. Now it seems the news media is backpedaling and trying to save face any way they can. Now I hear on a Fox News Commercial that say investigators say Benoit’s doctor prescribed high amounts of steroids to Chris. Ok…if the coroner says there were not a lot of steroids in Benoit’s body, then where were these large amount of steroids and where were they going if not into Chris’s body? I don’t even like to think or speculate on what happened there. All I know is that I feel that Chris was at least vindicated in the fact that it was not steroids that caused this. The coroner said that. I know I keep saying that, but the news media needs to get off the steroid issue. Steroids are a part of life. What the news media fails to realize is that steroids are used in medically treating people for all sorts of various ailments. For example, I take a steroid. Its called Prednisone and it is for my Rheumatoid Arthritis. Does this make me a bad person? Does it mean I am going “roid out”?? Not quite. Different people have different effects with different medications. My neighbor was on Prednisone too, and she ended up freaking on it. It didn’t work for her but I have not had any side effects. Do I like being on it? No because it does cause damage to my liver and other organs. But it does help me to cope with my arthritis. Benoit, according to his doctor, had a hormone issue and that’s why Benoit was on the steroids. I guess I just get upset because that was the only thing the news media chose to zero in on, although as we know, police said other medications were found inside the house. It is just the news media’s way of trying to hurt our beloved sport.
Another thing that bothers me with that whole is the fact that after years in the shadows, who comes out to get his 15 minutes of fame?? Marc Mero. I appreciate that he is trying to help and save lives and is supporting a strong drug testing policy. However, to me, he seems more like the type that is jumping on the ban wagon and trying to g et some exposure. Or better yet, like someone who has done something bad and has now found a way to get back into peoples good graces. I hope I am wrong, but that’s the way I see it.
It is a shame to see how many have passed in just the last few months. Chris Benoit, Sherri Martel, Brian “Crush” Adams and I know there have been a few others. What is going on? Hopefully this will be it for quite a while. And to the families of those who have passed, I just want to offer my condolences.
I have to say I was really getting into the Ron Simmons “DAMN!” gimmick but now, to me anyways, they are ruining it with all these other words that rhyme with damn. It was kind of funny at first, but it is getting stupid now. I can say I am not a fan of the Great Khali. They have this guy being a monster…and yeah he is at 7’3” and 450 pounds. But how long will this last? And to make him World Champion?? I don’t get it at all. But how long will it be before he is jobbing to the likes of Matt Hardy? Hey…Kane came in as a monster and now look at him. He seems to get beat so easily.
One last thing… Would some PLEASE kill the King Booker gimmick already?!! It is so old and played out and stupid. Just end it…hopefully that’s what will happen at Summerslam.
Well I was fortunate enough to have gotten an interview with a former WWE wrestler a few months ago. Unfortunately and I do apologize to him, I was just so busy with wedding stuff that this is the first chance I have had to drop a new article on you all. This man had one of the greatest entrance I have ever seen. The lights would go out and a red light would come on and on the entrance stage, a ring of fire would appear. And up through the flames would come none other than my guest in my interview. Formerly known as Gangrel, here is Vampire Warrior.
Eric Knudsen: How have you been and what have you been up to
since WWE?
Vamp: WOW WHICH TIME? LOL(Laughing). I've been under
contract twice in the last 3 years, also have been
spending a lot of time in the UK England 3 months at a
time.
E.K.: What kind of upbringing did you have?
Vamp: Good I guess. Very poor. One of two white families in
a Black/Spanish 'hood in Deerfield Beach Florida.
E.K.: Were you an avid sports player growing up?
Vamp: Yes, Football. Until I broke my neck playing it.
E.K.: What attracted you to wrestling and made you
want to be a wrestler?
My grandfather and great uncle Walter always watched it,
so they set seed and then I was looking for a better job
in the Want Ads one day and saw an ad to become a pro
wrestler and the rest is history.
E.K.: Who trained you?
Great Malinko and Rusty Brooks. I learned a lot from
Rusty and credit him for lasting this long.
E.K.: Who were some of your close friends in wrestling?
Do you have any enemies?
Vamp: No enemies, I Don't think. LOL. Friends...Chris Benoit,
Black Pearl will always be my boy. And Luna will always be my
best friend ever.
Eric Knudsen: Who was your favorite person to wrestle and why?
Vamp: Christian and Jeff Hardy. Just great workers.
E.K.: Anyone that you just hated wrestling?
Vamp: Not really.
E.K.: What injuries have you had during career? And
which was the worst?
Vamp: I tore my peck and bicep. That was bad but never missed
a show. But my neck was the s**ts...blew out 4 vertebrae in my
neck, they said my job was done, never wrestle again. Oh well.
Still wrestling, blew both shoulders out several times, broken noses,
lost a tooth or 2 and many stitches.
E.K.: Are you in any contact with WWE? Or with TNA?
Vamp: Not at this time.
E.K.: Do you think TNA has a shot at being a future
rival of WWE?
Vamp: TNA no. Shoot fighting, yes.
E.K.: I have to say that you had one of the coolest
entrances I have seen in WWE. Who came up with it and
who came up with the whole vampire character?
Vamp: Vampire character was created by Luna and I. The entrance was
created by Vinny Russo.
E.K.: Do you think there is a lot of politics backstage in WWE...
favorites being used rather than real talented guys?
Vamp: Come on you know the deal kid!
Eric Knudsen: Do you watch WWE or TNA at all? And what do you
think of them?
Vamp: No, I have not watched in awhile.
E.K.: What was your favorite match?
Vamp: I was in Japan under a mask gimmick called Blackhearts vs
Kroffit and Furness in Budakan Hall. I was 20 at the time.
E.K.: You married into a rather famous family in the
wrestling business. Would you care to share who it was
you married?
Vamp: Luna Vachon, a great woman.
E.K.: Are you still together or what has come of the
marriage?
Vamp: Taking a break. She is my best friend.
E.K.: How much of you is in Vampire Warrior and how
much of Vampire Warrior is in you?
Vamp: 50/50
E.K.: What do you do to prepare for a match?
Vamp: After 21 years I don't know. Stretch I guess.
E.K.: Have you ever seen a move used that is just too
ridiculous that you know for a fact it would never really
hurt, but the recipient had to look devestated by it? And
can you tell us what it is?
Vamp: lol Yes to many to list.
Eric Knudsen: Past Or Present...if you could wrestle anyone,
who would it be and why?
Vamp: Ray Stevens and Curt Hennig. Just awesome workers.
E.K.: List Of Favorites:
Vamp:
Food:CHICKEN
Color:PURPLE
Actress:JENNFER TILLY
Movie:FAST TIMES RIDGEMONT HIGH
Sinful Food:PECAN PIE
E.K.: If you could have anyone as a tag team partner,
who would it be and why?
Vamp: Don't know. Tagged with some of the best. Hard to say.
E.K.: When you are not wrestling, what do you like to
do?
Vamp: Ride motorycle, go to gym.
E.K.: Do you have a funny story while on the road
with wrestling that you could share?
Vamp: Too many to even pick one, maybe I will write a book one day.
E.K.: Do you have any words of advice for those who think that they
have what it takes to be a wrestler?
Vamp: Sacrifice...and just keep at it. The biz has changed, but if you
want anything bad enough, it can happen.
E.K.: Do you think women get a fair shake as wrestlers, or is there
too much emphasis placed on them being "eye candy"? I mean some of
them, as beautiful as they are, have legitimate talent, but you don't
see them getting a lot of tv time to show that talent...or they are
placed in bra and panty matches or some other ridiculous gimmick match.
What are your thoughts on this?
Vamp: Women don't get a fair shake, but they are their own worst enemy.
Guys are bad, but girls can be evil. Yes...evil.
Eric Knudsen: You worked closely with Christian and Edge and
formed The Brood. What do you think of them and are in touch
with them still?
Vamp: They're great kids. Yes, I talk to Christian a bit more, but
still friends with both.
E.K.: Who do you think is the greatest wrestler of
all time is and why?
Vamp: There are many great workers, just different styles.
E.K.: Do you think WWE buying out WCW made things better or
worse for wrestling in the grand scheme of things? Or did it
matter?
Vamp: Definitely worse. It took their(the fans) right to choose
away.
E.K.: Ok...I am going to give you a list of names and I want you
to say in one word what comes to mind:
Vamp:
Vince McMahon - Business
Hulk Hogan - Rocky
WWE - WWF
TNA - Jarrett
Ric Flair -
Edge - Impaler
Christian - Talent
Triple H - Chyna
Batista - Afa
Undertaker - General
Vampire Warrior(David Heath) – PARALLEL
I would like to thank Vamp for his time and this interview.
There is no brainbuster this week, but as I said above, there is a poll to take on the main page of my website: http://www.aroundthering.com below the W-O news box. And don’t forget to send in your new catch phrase ideas. Thanks in advance!!
Well thats it for me. Thank you for joining me for this
edition of Around The Ring. I am Eric, that's my opinion
and I am standing by it!!
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