Shoot with Steve Blackman

One of wrestling’s most fascinating eras is the era of the late 1990s. Steve Blackman lived that era as a WWE superstar. Steve Blackman’s career began long before he jumped the guard rail in 1997. The jumping of the guard rail and his WWE debut was just the icing on the cake.

Steve Blackman sat down with RF Video for one of the most interesting interviews to date. Steve’s career began in the 1980s and he remembers every day of it. Steve talks in the very beginning of the interview about why he never used steroids in wrestling or succumbed to drug and alcohol abuse on the road with a great story from his past. A great way to start, yet it was only the beginning.

Steve talks about lying his way into New Japan and a tour that would change his career. Who did he meet that changed his career on that tour and why? Who did he meet on that tour that tormented him and made his life miserable? What two wrestlers almost pushed him to the brink? Steve also talks about some great ribs played in

Japan

and a hotel prank that almost got him thrown him in jail.

Steve talks about his days in Stampede with one of the most famous crews in wrestling. Steve tells some great Brian Pillman stories that have never been told before. Steve also talks about touring with Owen Hart, the Bulldogs, Pillman, and more. Steve recounts some great Owen Hart ribbing and how they all found out who the stooge of the company was? Steve also has some great Stu Hart stories.

Steve made a deal to start with the WWE in the late 1980s, early 1990s but never did start until 1997. What happened? Steve talks about almost dying and the longest plane trip of his life. Steve also talks about the pitfalls of trying to come back and the suicidal thoughts he had on the road to recovery.

Steve returned to the WWE locker room in 1997, but not to wrestle. Steve came looking for years of retribution. Remember the two guys who tormented Steve years ago in New Japan? Steve walked into a locker room in Hershey, PA and told his friends he was here for payback. Who was it? What happened when Steve finally confronted him? Why didn’t Steve take retribution in Japan? The story is a great one!

Steve talks extensively about his career in the WWE. Steve talks about the Survivor Series 1997 and has an interesting take on it. Steve talks about his problems with promos. Steve talks about all of his favorite and least favorite tag team partners. Steve talks about his memorable matches, including SummerSlam against Shane McMahon. Steve talks about the road schedule, Vince McMahon’s first reaction to his gimmick, how he changed and altered the gimmick and why, who he liked to ride with, some great road stories and more. Which WWE superstar changed with success? Why are top guys so guarded?

Steve also talks about his experience in the Brawl for All. Why was Steve so confident that he could win? What rule changed the day of the tournament that made him change his game plan? Why does he think it didn’t get over? Was it a good idea? Memories of his match with Marc Mero and if he could have taken Bart Gunn? What did Bart do wrong against Butterbean? What kind of training did Steve do for his matches? Why didn’t he continue in the tournament?

Steve also talks about something Dan Severn said in an earlier shoot. Steve says what he thinks would have happened if Dan had shot in the Royal Rumble. Could Dan have pulled it off?

Steve also talks about why he got out of the business and what he is doing today. Steve gives his thoughts on UFC and how he thinks he would have done. Steve talks about his partner Ken Shamrock’s fights in UFC and has some interesting advice for his ex-partner and foe. Steve also talks about pro wrestlers getting into UFC and has some thoughts on how Brock Lesnar, Bobby Lashley, and Kurt Angle’s chances at long term success.

Steve is more than the black pants and black boots. Steve is engaging and has a ton of great stories in the ring and on the road. Steve has a great memory and takes us through his long journey to achieve success in pro wrestling. From death bed to WrestleMania, Steve talks about it all. This is truly an RF Video Shoot Interview for the ages.

Howd you get started

Was the training more difficult than you thought

What is your martial arts background

You also had an extensive background in weight lifting, can you talk about it

Were steroids big in the sport

Memories of your first match

Did you have any problems stiffing guys accidentally early on

What was Tony Altamore like

Early memories of Stu Hart

How did you get into Stampede

Did you go into the dungeon

Memories of the Hart family

Any good Stu stories

You almost lost your life on a South African tour, can you talk about it

How close were you to dying

How hard was it to come back from malaria

How hard was it to regain your muscle tone and athleticism

You did jobs on WWF tv in the 80s, how did you get in

Memories of being a job guy

What was the locker room like

Did anyone mentor you or help you out

Do you remember anyone being a real jerk

Were you ever given the impression you would get a job there

How many times did you try and come back from the malaria

How did you wind up getting a contract with the WWF

Initial memories and thoughts of Vince McMahon

Did creative come up with a gimmick for you

Was the office frustrated that you weren’t fully recovered

Who came up with the idea for you to jump the rail in your first angle

Who’s idea was it to incorporate your mixed martial arts skills into your gimmick

Did you come in early because of the Patriot or were you planned to start

Was there another idea before the Patriot got hurt

Were you accepted early on by the locker room

Can you talk about the dynamics between Shawn and Bret in the locker room

Early memories of both

Memories of matches with the Hart Foundation

Did you feel any pressure not to show up to RAW after Survivor Series

Who did you ride with back then

A lot of guys take shots at Marc Mero. You teamed with him. Do you think he gets a bad rap

How important was the timing of getting into the WWF right before it took off

Thoughts on Steve Austin

Did he change with success

Memories of your first WrestleMania teaming with Too Cold Scorpio

Early memories of working with the Rock

Memories of teaming with Shamrock and your feud with the Nation

Who’s idea was the entrance with the glowing sticks

Did you like turning heel

What was the deal with that feud between you and head of security Jim Dobson

How were you approached to do Brawl For All
What were your thoughts going in
Was it hard to train for something like that with the road schedule
How realistic did you think your chances were
Did you watch UFC at the time or any other MMA
What was your strategy going in
What was the injury you sustained in the tournament
Did you notice a different kind of respect from the locker room after the tournament
Do you think you could have beaten Bart

Could the Brawl for All work today

Memories of matches with Ken Shamrock

Memories of the parking lot match

Memories of the lions den match

Dan Severn did a shoot and he said he contemplated going into one of the Royal Rumbles and shooting on everyone and not going over the top when he was supposed too. How do you think that would have played out.

Memories of matches with Owen Hart

Talk about the rise of Triple H, what is your opinion of him

Do you think he holds guys back

How did Rock change with success

Whos idea was the cheese head gimmick

Did you like it

Did you like teaming with Al

Did you like the goofy stuff or the more straight laced persona

Memories of your run in the hardcore division

Memories of matches with Shane McMahon

Some guys say he tries to hard to be one of the boys, do you agree

Do you feel a lot of pressure working with him

Memories of your match at Summerslam and the big dive

Memories of the Blackman Bunkhouse Brawl Match

Thoughts on Vince Russo and Ed Ferrera

How did things change when they left

Memories of matches with Raven

Memories of teaming with Brian Christopher

Memories of traveling with him

How did his firing affect your push

Memories of matches against Kurt Angle

How did you wind up hurting your neck

Why do you think around that period a lot of guys were suffering major neck injuries

Was it harder to sit out mentally or physically

How committed to you was the WWE

Did you have a back up plan should your body not recover from your neck injuries?

On your time in HWA, was it hard to adjust to going from the WWF to the HWA? Did you enjoy working with the younger kids down there?

Thoughts on Les Thatcher

Did you see anyone in HWA that you thought would make it that did or didn’t

Why were you eventually cut

What was it like to go from WWE superstar to being unemployed

You started training a bit at the New Japan dojo with Ken Shamrock, were you considering MMA

Talk about your self-defense school

You did some interviews in 2004 talking about a comeback, how come that never materialized

What happened to the G N P clothing line

How did you wind up back for the RAW 15 year show

Were you surprised at the reaction you got from the fans

How were you received by the locker room

Had Vince changed at all

Do you think the door was left open

Do you still watch wrestling

Have you ever talked to TNA

Did you get any heat for appearing on Nancy Grace or Larry King

What made you want to do it

Do you think some guys spoke out just to get publicity

What are your thoughts on all of the deaths of the past few years and which in particular hit you hardest

Thoughts on UFC and comparisons to pro wrestling

Do you want to write a book

What do you think about the media attention pro wrestling is getting now in regards to drug abuse

What do you do today

Fav and least fav guys to work with

Fav ribs and road stories

Do you still have a passion for the business

What do you miss most and least about being a full time wrestler