Steve Corino
Posted by Frank Ram
on 07/05/2004
Frank Ram: Were you a wrestling fan growing up? If so, who were some of your heroes?
Steve Corino: I was a huge fan of pro wrestling since I was 8 years old. My favorites were Tully Blanchard, Tommy Rich, Eddie Gilbert, Barry Windham, Michael Hayes, and Dusty Rhodes.
Frank Ram: Who trained you?
Steve Corino: I trained under Tom Brandi and King Kaluha in 1994 and then trained under Dory Funk Jr. in 1998.
Frank Ram: Tell us about your early days in wrestling from your days in Puerto Rico to wrestling for the ECWA promotion.
Steve Corino: During 1994 to 1998, I traveled as much I could trying to learn everything about pro wrestling. Working with ECWA was my first chance of being a heel and Jim Kettner taught me a lot about attitude in the sport and then getting chances to go to USWA and WWC in Puerto Rico were great for learning.
Frank Ram: What was it like working in the USWA under Jerry Lawler and Jerry Jarrett?
Steve Corino: By the time I got there in 1997 Jerry Jarrett had already sold his shares and Lawler had just sold out to the Burton group. I was honored to work there while it was still going.
Frank Ram: How did you get the nickname The King of Old School?
Steve Corino: I had always had an old school style even for a junior heavyweight at the time and the "king" name I thought of as a thank you to King Kaluha.
Frank Ram: How did you break into ECW?
Steve Corino: I had just finished with the WWF Funkin Dojo in November of 1998 and knew that they were not going to sign me when Nova called me and told me that Paul Heyman was looking for some indy guys and Nova put a big word in for me. I got a tryout in December and Paul offered me a spot that night.
Frank Ram: What were your experiences there and what was your financial status with Paul Heyman?
Steve Corino: My financial status was settled before ECW went to bankruptcy court. I had a great time in ECW and learned so much about pro wrestling and the TV production side. Paul was fun to work for because he is so smart and it is a shame that he doesn't have the booking power he should in WWE.
Frank Ram: Is there any match at ECW that stands out above the rest?
Steve Corino: I had some good matches with everyone but two of my favorites are with Dusty Rhodes at Living Dangerously 2000 and then with Justin Credible in New York City in August of 2000.
Frank Ram: What was the backstage attitude at the last PPV guilty as charged?
Steve Corino: I pretty much assume that everyone knew it was the end but everyone tried to be as positive as they could be. ECW was like a family and no one wanted to see it end, but we all understood that business was business.
Frank Ram: How was your time in MLW?
Steve Corino: I had a great time in MLW. It was the place that gave me the chance to feud with Terry Funk.
Frank Ram: Did you enjoy your time with the Extreme Horsemen and do you think it was showing disrespect to the original 4 Horsemen?
Steve Corino: The Extreme Horsemen actually started in 2001 in Dusty Rhodes' TCW with me, CW Anderson, and Barry Windham. The idea was not to be a Horsemen rip off but a new generation. Me and CW were from the "Exteme (ECW)" and Barry was a Horsemen. When MLW started we brought Simon Diamond in because for five years before we all wanted to be a team.
Frank Ram: What really happened with the whole Teddy Hart mess?
Steve Corino: You would have to ask Teddy for the entertaining side ,but in reality he made a mistake of putting blame where it shouldn't have went. Sometimes you need to find out the real story before you go shooting off your mouth.
Frank Ram: Are you happy wrestling up in Japan and traveling the Indy circuit at this point of your career?
Steve Corino: I love Japan. It was one of my dreams to become a legend in Japan like Stan Hansen, Bruiser Brody, The Funk Brothers, The Destroyer, and Johnny Ace so I am on cloud nine getting the chance to work for ZERO-ONE in the ring and the office.
Frank Ram: Do you have any dream matches you would like to be apart of before you retire?
Steve Corino: I would love to wrestle Ric Flair just one time and would love to be a part of a PPV main event in Japan.
Frank Ram: Would you like to end your career in either WWE or NWA TNA?
Steve Corino: If I had my choice, neither. I hope to end my career in Japan.
Frank Ram: Would you mind if we did some word association to close the interview?
Steve Corino: No. Go ahead.
Frank Ram: Dusty Rhodes.
Steve Corino: The man that put me on the map. A second father to me.
Frank Ram: Barry Windham.
Steve Corino: One of my heroes that I was lucky enough to fight and team with.
Frank Ram: Tully Blanchard.
Steve Corino: One of my first favorite wrestlers.
Frank Ram: Paul Heyman.
Steve Corino: A booking genius.
Frank Ram: Jerry Jarrett.
Steve Corino: Only met him twice but his track record speaks for itself. A good man.
Frank Ram: Jerry Lawler.
Steve Corino: The true king of wrestling.
Frank Ram: Jerry Lynn.
Steve Corino: History will show him go down as the most under rated pro wrestler of all time. He should be the NWA World champion.
Frank Ram: Rob Van Dam.
Steve Corino: His nick name says it all: the whole F'n show. He is awesome
Frank Ram: Buff Bagwell.
Steve Corino: Nice guy.
Frank Ram: Teddy Hart.
Steve Corino: Great talent, big mouth.
Frank Ram: Thank you again, Steve.
Steve Corino: My pleasure.
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