Show: Wrestling Epicenter
Guest: TNA’s “War Machine” Rhino
Date: 6/29/06
Your Hosts: James Walsh, Brendon Brooks, & Ben Benya
Recap By: James Walsh
A few weeks back, just before the big ECW One Night Stand pay per view, Rhino stayed up past his bed time to join the Wrestling Epicenter radio program live on air. A very ill James Walsh crawled into the studio with just enough medicine and Vault to prepare him for the air joined by Brendon Brooks and we got the skinny on Rhino and TNA.
Now that I’ve been nursed back to health, I had a chance to sit down and write this transcript. We hope you enjoy and remember to check out our web site for great new interviews with April Hunter, Zach Gowen, JD Michaels, Daffney, Goldberg, M Dog 20, and many others all courtesy of your friends at the Wrestling Epicenter! Transcripts for all those interviews shall be on the way shortly!
Go to www.WrestlingEpicenter.com to catch all the action!
RHINO:
— Rhino joins the show. Right off the bat, we ask the question that was on everyone’s mind. “What’s the deal with TNA and are you staying?” Rhino says, “Time will tell.” Of course time has told us he has stayed. But, he gives his reasons to us before he even signed.
— Rhino saw his contract was expiring and he was contacted and talking to people from both sides. When it came to the ECW project, Rhino immediately asked, “Is there going to be a dress code?” When they said there was, he knew instantly that this was not going to really be ECW. He jokes saying ECW isn’t ECW without the Sandman in a T shirt and a snot rag hanging out of his back pocket.
— ECW had a renegade spirit. And, so does TNA. Rhino agrees that the two were very much alike. He says coming to work for TNA is a pleasure and he enjoys getting out in front of that Orlando crowd.
— Comparing the WWE to TNA, Rhino says TNA gives the wrestlers the opportunity to go out to the ring and have the best matches they can regardless where they are placed on the card and the WWE doesn’t really allow that. Rhino also goes back to the dress code saying you can be yourself and dress how you want to dress in TNA whereas the WWE has you playing dress up even when you’re not on camera.
— Regarding his WWE release, Rhino says, “I was going through a divorce. That was a tough time for me. Plus, WWE… They weren’t really using me. I mean, you go to work and you give it everything you’ve got. You leave your family and they don’t use you to your potential. It was just very frustrating for me,” says Rhino. That and a verbal fight with his now ex-wife over his 3-year-old daughter and if they’d stay in the United States or go to his wife’s country of Germany all lead to him throwing a tantrum and throwing a potted tree down in a hotel lobby. Vince said, “If it were another place and another time, things would be different.” But, he was made an example of and was fired.
— “It may have been the best thing that happened to me,” says Rhino. He is so pleased to work in TNA where he feels he is being used to his potential.
— “It was an honor,” says Rhino concerning capturing the NWA Heavyweight title. He added, “I just wish it would have lasted longer!” When asked, he says his goal is to get that belt again and have a long run with it.
— Holding a belt to Rhino is a trophy. He views it as an award given to you for your hard work.
— Rhino was the last ECW champion. He doesn’t understand why that wasn’t used last year at One Night Stand.
— Rhino thinks the title “One Night Stand” for second show is stupid. James throws out the title, “Sloppy Seconds.” Rhino laughs and says he’s going to steal that from him.
— Rhino is happy for TNA seeing that they have lasted for so long. He was looking forward to his match with Bobby Roode at the TNA Slammaversary pay per view which aired on June 18.
— Rhino is very serious about what he does for a living. He views it as a serious job and wants to be taken seriously for working hard. In that same sentence, Rhino tells us that we kept him up 2 hours past his bed time. Between Rhino being up late and James trying not to vomit during the show, it lead to quite a strange energy!
— We then do a few word associations with Rhino including:
Jasmin St. Claire: Rhino tells a story about when he gored her as hard as he could… Yes he DOES mean the wrestling move you perverts! Paul Heyman told him to gore her as hard as he could and he did it. He was afraid he’d kill her but credits her for being tough enough to take it.
Paul Heyman: “Mad scientist of pro wrestling.”
And among others, finally,
Jeff Jarrett: “A piece of shit.”
We then close the show with a new cut off the new Animal CD titled Violent New Breed, the song’s called “Hell Child.” Like a drunken girl at a party, I’m pretty sure this song is about me!
You can hear this entire Rhino interview including parts not included in this transcript at www.WrestlingEpicenter.com.
We at the Wrestling Epicenter encourage all of our listeners to watch TNA iMPACT! every Thursday night at 11 pm, 10 central, on Spike TV. If you’re tired of seeing stale RAWs, McECW, and the black hole of nothingness that is SmackDown, give TNA a try. Talented young wrestlers, veterans with the right attitude that can still go, and even knock outs like Christy Hemme… Try it, you’ll like it!
And don’t forget to catch us next Wednesday night at 10 pm Eastern time on www.WrestlingEpicenter.com as we welcome legendary performer “The Missing Link” Dewey Robertson to the air to discuss his battle with drug addiction. It should be great! And remember, watch out for flying chairs!
