October 14, 2002
Following is an in-depth interview that wrestling journalist Tony Farinella conducted with me. I am most proud of this piece, as I feel it goes a long way into who I am and what I have done. If you don't know me, these questions will help you do so. And if you do know me, this piece will give you an even greater understanding. Well, that having been said, I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did doing it.
Foreword by Tony Farinella: "Many times in the world of pro wrestling a career is ended shortly without many people knowing or caring about what happen. While the person holds their career near and dear to their heart and will never ever forget it. At times all their blood, sweat, and tears go forgotten by the wrestling world and it fades away with the time. The story of John Rodeo is a very different one and one that many might not know about or heard of. His career includes managing Triple H on the indy scene and being trained by Killer Kowalski and working all over the wrestling world with many talents. While this story has nothing to do with the Midwest or Chicago, please bare with me, as I thought this story would be a good read. I hope you all enjoy the John Rodeo story."
TONY: "We are here with a man I consider a good friend, John Rodeo. Thanks for doing this interview with ringsidenews.com, kocosports.com and chicagowrestling.com. How are you?"
JOHN RODEO: "Thank you Tony. I am doing pretty well, just trying to relax, and enjoy the weather I suppose. Nothing overtly exciting, lol"
TONY: "First John many people might have heard your name, maybe people might not have, tell us a little about yourself please?"
RODEO: "Sure. My name is John Rodeo, pronounced ro-DAY-o as in Rodeo Drive. I had the honor to live a dream from 1992-1999, as a heel manager in the world of independent pro wrestling. During that time, sort of the wonder years of my life, I learned about myself person, and the industry as a whole. I had the chance to work with some great talent, some well known, and some not as well known. And in the process I met some great people, and learned a lot about myself."
TONY: "Tell us a little about yourself growing up?"
RODEO: "Growing up I was a big fan of pro wrestling, which I guess goes without saying. I loved to watch Bob Backlund and the WWF, and the Von Erich's and World Class wrestling. And since I could not get the NWA, I was also a fan of the Apter magazines. I would watch as much, and read as much as I could. It was a true love and passion. In elementary school, I even got into the hobby of drawing wrestlers and championship belts. Before too long, a lot of the kids joined in at recess, and we had our own wrestling promotion, lol. Aside from that it was a normal childhood, and I loved to play sports around the clock."
TONY: "Tell us who some of your favorite wrestlers were growing up?"
RODEO: "Without a doubt, Bob Backlund. He was and is a hero to me. In fact by the time I got into high school, I got his home number. He was so courteous when I called, that we have talked many times, and even worked on the same shows, if not the same exact matches through those years. I was a big fan of the Von Erich's, and Kevin was my favorite there. I also like to watch the Junkyard Dog, Ric Flair, the Fabulous Freebirds, Don Muraco, Jimmy Snuka, Roddy Piper, Hulk Hogan and just about anyone else I saw. I just loved to watch the product. But those were some of my favorites as a kid."
TONY: "What about wrestling did you like? What drew you into the sport?"
RODEO: "It was just something magical and captivating really. I do not know if I can put it into exact words, but there was just something larger than life. In retrospect, I suppose it may have been because it is different than the norm, and an escape from the typical programming on television back in those days. But everything from the mic work, to the wrestling appealed to me."
TONY: "Did you play any sports growing up?"
RODEO: "I played a little bit of everything. From baseball, to basketball, to touch football, lol, and a little later I got into tennis. Basically I played sports whenever and wherever I could. I was not a star athlete by any means, but I was proficient at what I did, had good foot speed, and I always enjoyed myself."
TONY: "Did you ever think to yourself you would become part of the business or did you think you would always be a fan?"
RODEO: "No, I never did. I loved it with all my heart, and I would watch it, and go to live shows whenever I could. But as this was before the Internet, I had no delusions or dreams of getting involved. After all, I was a small kid. Not to mention at times I could, and maybe still can be painfully shy. But as years went on, I realized this was something more than a love. This was something in my blood, and I had to give it a shot. So I went out, took public speaking, visited Killer Kowalski's Institute of Professional Wrestling when I was 16 or so, and began to think of it as a possibility. From there I started to go to indy shows, and get to know some of the boys. So, in short no, as a youth, I never thought I'd have a prayer. But in long, as time went on, and I realized I could work as a manager, as opposed to in the ring, it slowly progressed from mission impossible, into a reality."
TONY: "What was the training like? And was it what you expected?"
RODEO: "Well, I must say it was like being a sponge. I say that in the sense of my trying to soak in as much as I humanly possibly could. At times I would walk away, sore as could be, but I never bumped as much as the boys did in the ring. But little by little, and step by step, in no small part due to some of the boys there at the ring, I began to pick it up. I also combined that, with doing promos in front of a camcorder, and playing those back, for a couple hours each week, just to work on the overall package."
TONY: "How long was your training?"
RODEO: "Well, Kowalski's offered a lifetime enrollment. So there was no set amount of time you had to put in. So I went there throughout my entire run in the business. No matter who you are, or how good you are, you can always learn more. So I think that is a great feature on Walter's school. As far as from when I started training, until my first match, there was likely seven months or so involved. The thing that is also great about the lifetime enrollment, is that you are not pushed into a match, on a deadline, so they can get you out of the door. And being that some of the veterans would stop in, it really was helpful for the young guys looking desperately for both ring time and experience."
TONY: "What was Killer Kowalski like and who were some of the students with you?"
RODEO: "Killer was a man who could be fun loving. But he was also a perfectionist. And that can be a great quality. One thing he always wanted, was to make everyone the very best they could be. At times, some might have thought he was harsh, but I really do not feel that way. As he, obviously, was in the business to train talent. And more so, he was responsible for seeing that the boys all learned respect, and to look out for each other physically in that ring. So, I say Walter Kowalski was a great trainer. As far as whom I trained with, there were a ton of people. But among the best known were Triple H, Perry Saturn, John Kronus, Albert and Chyna. Big John Studd even used to show up with Ron Reis. Mind you, they were not all always there during the same exact years. But there were some great workers that I trained with, that for one reason or another, and despite their talent, never got a shot at the big time. And I learned a lot from each of them as well."
TONY: "Were your parents supportive of your choice to enter wrestling?"
RODEO: "Well Tony, I guess every story has a beginning and an ending. So was the case with my wrestling career. At first they were not for it. The main reason I feel is that they were trying to look out for my best interests. They were nervous about injuries, and the negative stuff you that reportedly occurs. But in was in my blood, so like Davy Crockett used to say, 'Be sure you are right, and then go ahead and do it.' So do it I did. Sure enough injuries occurred, but that is all part of the business. The road less taken, is sometimes less taken for a reason. But for those who dare to dream, and follow that path, the rewards can be great. And in time, my family became my biggest fans."
TONY: "Why do you think you never wrestled and you managed?"
RODEO: "Well, that is a great question. All I knew was I wanted to be involved in the industry. And though some of the smaller sized competitors can fly around the ring, and defy gravity, that simply is not me. One of my strengths is knowing what exactly I am, and am not capable of. And working that style, well it would be far from my strengths. So sticking to what I could do best was talk. Thus, I was not a wrestler, nor a referee. I was a manager. And that was something I loved to do. There, the physical demand was less. And it allowed me to focus on my verbal gymnastics instead. To this day, I'd rather be a talk show segment host, like a Piper's Pit, a behind the scenes interviewer, a color commentator, or manager, as far as working in front of the camera. However, I have wrestled a couple matches in the past. One time I was entered into a battle royal, and not long after the bell rang I hurdled the top rope, and headed to safety. Another time was part of a tag match, under the guise of being a shoot fighter. I came out with my fists tape up and such, but all I really did was come in, take a couple of cheap shots, tease some spots to the fans, and then fail to deliver. It got solid heat. But as far as me doing so on a nightly basis, I tip my hat to the wrestlers, because that is simply, as Austin Powers would say, 'That's not my bag baby.'"
TONY: "How did you come up the character John Rodeo?"
RODEO: "Tony, I knew I wanted to a heel character, but I had no clue on what to do with it. So over the course of time, and thru mental trial and error, I came up with, and others suggested names and ideas for me. However, I decided in order to be really hated, I would combine many of the annoying traits that I saw in others. Combine that with arguably the most famous street in the world, Rodeo Drive, and John Rodeo was born. Through the years, I kept of developing and refining the gimmick. In addition, I always welcome any and all feedback. One person who helped immensely was my friend Patrick Doyle. He was and is a master idea man, and video editor. He was able to bring many of my ideas to life, as well as incorporating his vision for the character."
TONY: "Why did you choose to be a heel over a face?"
RODEO: "Typically speaking, the best managers were heels. And maybe it is something in me, but it seemed easy to make others hate me. There is something comical and gratifying about stepping out in front of a group of strangers, and without them having laid eyes upon you before, to get them to hate you. That is not to say that I never would have worked as a face. As I have before. And I was able to get the crowd of my side. But there is just something about being a heel that clicked with me. I mean where else can u go out, insult people, go to the locker rooms and be told you just did a great job."
TONY: "When was your debut?"
RODEO: "Well, my debut as a heel manager was in March of 1993 in Bellingham, MA. I worked the corner of 'The Mountie' Jacques Rougeau. His opponent that night was Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka. That match was certainly the worst match of my career, due to my being green. But if one is to take a negative, and turn it into a positive, the same can be said in this situation. After the match, Jacques sat me down, offered advice, answered my questions, and in short helped me out greatly. The next night, with his guidance, the match went off without a hitch. However, one thing few people know about me, is that before I was a heel manager, I worked in another capacity. There was a local worker, who was on WWF, now WWE, TV through the years. His name was Tony Roy. Myself, and some friends traveled to the shows, and we were known by our matching T-shirts. We were the 'Roy's Boys.' Doing that, allowed me to get to know the wrestlers better, and in some ways helped open the independent wrestling doors for me. In fact four members of that traveling fan club eventually got involved in the independent scene. And in an interesting twist, I have heard through the grapevine that there was, or is, a group call RB2K who are following in our footsteps."
TONY: "How did the crowd react to you?"
RODEO: "As the Roy's Boys, the crowd instantly rallied behind us. It was a role that actually helped me gain more and more confidence in front of the crowd. Do not get me wrong, as we were never really officially booked as the Roy's Boys, but we would on occasion, get involved in an angle. As far as the being John Rodeo, and working as a heel. I think some people confused me, the person, with me the gimmick. But I'll take that as a compliment. I basically saw a lot of action out there. Keep in mind, as a manager, not only was I the smallest guy there, being on the floor, I was also the most accessible. As a result I was the bulls eye target. I had people yell at me, swear at me, seen little girls kick me, people try stick gum at me, people try to grab me, and try to steal my street sign. In fact I think those were the ones that loved me, lol. Truth is, I actually did have some fans. There was a guy named T.C. Kirkham who along with his wife Kim came to almost all of my appearances. In addition to that there was a contingent called the Boston Mutants, who were roughly a half dozen of great fans. My two best memories of them are these. One, the time where on the way to the rin, one of the guys called the Immortal Spam gave me an authentic shirt from Rodeo Drive. And secondly, one of the mutants was a guy buy the name of Nat, who came to be a manager by the name of Platinum Nat. Some years later I worked the same card with him for my buddy Dan McDevitt down in Baltimore. It was a real kick. So, I guess you can say the reactions I got ran the full gambit."
TONY: "What were some of the places you worked early in your career?"
RODEO: "Well, the reality of the independent scene is a simple on. You work in high school gyms, skating rinks, National Guard Armories, or outside fair shows. As far as what promotion, early on it was with Killer Kowalski's International Wrestling Federation. It was arguably the best indy promotion in New England at that time. And it is where I was fortunate enough to work with Triple H, Saturn and others. It really was were I grasped the basics. Some matches would be 15-30 minutes per night, and I would work as many as five matches, so it was, to say the least, awesome on the job training."
TONY: "Do you have any good road stories?"
RODEO: "Well, good as interesting I suppose. But not good as in fun, lol. Near the end of my run, I traveled to just about every ECW show there was with some of the boys, as we were hoping to get some work. We'd get there to the building early, sometimes helping with the ring, or the setting up of T-shirts and the like. But one time we drove from Massachusetts to Staten Island, NY, only to find out the show was cancelled. Another time we drove for MA to down around Lancaster, PA in a big time snowstorm. Buy the time we arrived the show was cancelled. But such is the life of someone involved in wrestling. And it is things like that, that people who never have been involved do not always fully understand. It is at times about paying your dues. Aside from that, there are many stories just about joking around, and having fun, that makes the bond between those in the business at times something sacred, special and fun to look back at in retrospect."
TONY: "What were your initial impressions of Triple H and did you think he would be as big as he is now?"
RODEO: "Well, let me turn the tables, and ask you a quick question Tony, lol. Take a guess where I first met Triple H, than known as Terra Ryzing?"
TONY: "Hmm, this is a tough one, haha. Killer Kowalski's school?"
RODEO: "One would think that, lol. The first time I ever saw Hunter was when we were meeting a fellow worker. It was at a Dunkin Donuts parking lot. We kept waiting for our friend, as we were early, but to no avail. Eventually I looked to my left, and say a blue Rodeo, I call it a Ro-day-O, Isuzu. In it was a massive dude. I said well, that has to be the guy I was going to be introduced to. So without seeing him standup, walk, work or take a bump, I thought this guy is going to be a star. I guess if I could predict the stock market with the same confidence and accuracy, I'd be rich, lol."
TONY: "Lol. What was your opinion on Chyna, and the Eliminators?"
RODEO: "Well, Chyna was a girl who came in, and knew what she wanted. She was able to use her unique size to her advantage, and in time got a shot with the WWF, now WWE. Once there, there is no denying that she had a long and successful run. She got to live a dream. So, being there from day one, when she started, to now, it is nice to see someone succeed. Because when that happens, it is like a little part of me made it as well. As for the Eliminators, I have to consider myself one of their biggest fans. Perry was as focused, determined, and driven to make it in the industry. I am proud to say I managed John's first match. He was a guy with good size, and rare athletic and gymnastic ability. Together, they worked well together. And enjoying tag team wrestling as I do, I can truly say they were among the best teams I ever saw."
TONY: "We have heard many stories of John Kronus being a little bit different can you add to that a little bit?"
RODEO: "John? Different? No, lol. Maybe John was different, but maybe we all are. Some might say he is goofy, but that is their opinion. What I can say that John was one of the genuinely nicest people I ever met. Sincere as the day is long. He has a great heart. And if he, or someone he knows him is reading this, I'd like to send my best."
TONY: "How did him and Perry get along being so different? Since Perry is all business, and Kronus likes to have fun."
RODEO: "Opposites attract. I mean how can a good interviewer, like you, put up with me, lol. Seriously though, Perry is as I said before, one focused person. If I were to guess, I would say that he was able to use that facet of his personality to, in turn, focus John more so on the wrestling than otherwise might have been the case. And in that sense, like a true team, the worked together, and complimented each others styles."
TONY: "Tell us some of the talents you have worked with over your career?"
RODEO: "Through the years, as far as more nationally known talents I have worked with Billy Kidman, Steve Bradley, Frankie Kazarian and Ace Darling. But, much like my career, there are so many talented people that the general fan never has heard of, that if only given the chance they would have likely excelled. There is Bull Dozer, a guy who was nearly 7 foot tall, and was at one the first WWF Dojo's run my Dory Funk, Jr. There is the late Chris Duffy, who was as good as anyone in the industry. There was Brian Walsh, who came from overseas, and was such a damn consistent worker. There is Tony Roy, aka Antoine Roy, who helped me along the early stages of my career. And I cannot leave out the tag team I worked with, Steve King and Damon D'Arcangelo, the Ark Angels. The bottom line is, at times it is unfair to mention names. Because in some way, shape or form, everyone I have ever come in contact have helped shape me into who I am today. So if you don't like me, blame them, not me, lol. But for real, everything I have ben through has helped to shape me into exactly who I am."
TONY: "Do you have any good stories of fans attacking you or things getting too far when you were being a heel?"
RODEO: "I was lucky nothing major ever happened. But yes I do. My second match ever, I was kicked square south of the border, and no, I was not working in Mexico, lol. But like the saying goes, never let them see you sweat, so they never knew that they made Sammy Sosa like contact. Aside from that, when sliding into a ring, I have had people grab my legs. I have had my hair, when it used to be long, pulled. I have been spit at and so on down the line. I have even had people try to steal my suitcase, or my street sign. And those were my fans, lol. In all seriousness though, I used to say a good manager can be judged by the amount of debris thrown at him during a match. So in that sense, neither the janitors, nor the crowd, seemed to love me. Out there in the ring you had to have eyes in the back of your head, have great awareness, and be street smart. It is the nature of the beast."
TONY: "What injuries did you suffer?"
RODEO: "I was lucky to never break any bones or the like, but I had my fair share of bumps and bruises. One time, when I was power bombed, I lost movement in my arms for a very short amount of time. Other than that, my worst injury came early in my career. There was a botched spot that was not called in advance, where I usually was thrown from the inside of the ring to the outside. I tried to hook my arm on the top rope, but to no avail. Luckily, one of the wrestlers, Triple H, slammed my legs down for more points of impact. In doing so, he likely saved me from breaking my neck. I ended up being knocked out, having my collarbone dislocated, and being carted away in an ambulance. I really do not recall much of what occurred though, due to my brain blacking out. The thing is, injuries go hand in hand with the business. And I am glad to say, though it took two months for Killer Kowalski to get my collarbone back in place, I did not miss any bookings."
TONY: "Tell me the fans the story about that one time at the school when a young kid mouthed off to you?"
RODEO: "I pulled out a gun, and shot him on site. He was pronounced dead on arrival, lol. Seriously though, more often than not when people walked into the wrestling school, they thought they knew what the business consisted of, without taking the time to understand it fully. Truth is, it is such a complex world on so many levels. But on the day in question, a kid came up and said, how come you did not sign with the WWF. He said I am going to make it as a manager in the next three months. Taking the statement from the source, it was humorous and insulting, in that exact order. I told him, sarcastically mind you, but it sailed over his head, that making it to the WWF was never my goal. But with his knowledge, he'd be an overnight star. So I introduced the portly chap to the boys, and explained he was going to make it huge, and I knew so, cause he told me. We all got a chuckle out of him, and he was never seen or heard from again. I guess this goes to show the lack of understanding, and respect some fans have. It also illustrates the type of dues one must go thru in the world of wrestling."
TONY: "During what point in your wrestling career did you begin to become unhappy?"
RODEO: "Great question. I am unsure of any exact date in specific. I guess I will start by saying I love and hate wrestling. Meaning I love and care for it so deeply, that it at times, it can truly hurt. Without going into specific instances, the politics and pay of being an indy worker make it tough at times. But that is all part of paying ones dues. I realize that. But I guess what made me walk away, and take a hiatus from the industry, was wanting to move forward with my life. I realized, that I was skilled in what I did. But I also realized that the role of heel manager was a relic of the past. Valets, and sex sell, and I cannot say I am not a fan of that. But the role a heel manager seemed to almost fall by the wayside. True, some men like Paul Bearer, Don Callis, Jim Mitchell and Harvey Wippleman made it full time. But there are more jobs, and higher odds in being a United States senator, than a heel wrestling manager. One story illustrates this. I met a guy in New Jersey, his first name was Jason, and forgive me for not remembering his last name at this time. Now I remember, his name was Jason Myers, and he also wrestled as Tony Myers. He was part of the ring crew, and occasionally worked in the USWA in Memphis. I met him, and we got to chatting. he said you sent a tape to Bruno (Harvey Wippleman) before and we both watched it. I said what did Bruno say. He said, it is great, but there are no spots for managers nowadays. Nowadays, there seems to be a bit of a managerial rebirth, and if my phone ever rang with a full time offer, I'd consider it. But I no longer stare at the phone 24/7 praying for a call. I have moved on, lead a decent life, and own my own place. But best of all, I dared to live a dream, and learned a lot in the process. But I still follow it on occasional, for as the say wrestling is like the Eagles song, Hotel California, you can check in any time you like, but you can never leave."
TONY: "Did you let any of your peers know you had ideas of leaving wrestling or did you keep it to yourself?"
RODEO: "I thought about it long and hard. I watched old tapes of myself. And I thoroughly considered my decision. I knew I had the talent. But at that point of my life, I knew I wanted and needed a change of scenery. So I guess deep down inside I knew the day would come sooner than later, where I would say by to my wrestling friends. On my last night, I quietly took some of the boys I considered friends aside, and told them, i was leaving. I wished them well, and in turn, they did the same. But I tell you this. I am proud of myself. Because I was able to walk away, on my own terms. I was able to prioritize and focus on what I wanted, and needed at that time. That is not to say that it did not hurt, because leaving that large part of my life behind killed. But I never wanted a big public retirement. Because for one, I am only on hiatus, as I never retired. Does that mean I'll be coming back soon? Likely not. But I dislike big retirement ceremonies, and two weeks later the person is back in action. So I decided instead of making a big public scene, a polite thank you and goodbye was the route I chose to go."
TONY: "What plans did you have for the future?"
RODEO: "I didn't know for sure Tony. I just knew I needed time to sit down, and reevaluate a lot of things. For while, my path took me down the road of tennis, a sport I love, and care deeply for. I was able to work in the stringing room of for the largest stringing company in the world Jay's Custom Stringing. And that was a thrill and an honor. I am glad to have been given that chance. But when I left, I had no exact plans, all I knew is that I wanted to give myself a change to rediscover myself and do some other things."
TONY: "Can you look back on one moment that maybe made that decision for you to leave or was it a number of factors?"
RODEO: "Sure. I guess it was the night a friend in the business called me. I picked up the phone, and I heard Owen Hart, whom I had the chance to meet briefly had passed away tragically. Up until that point, I always said I'd be willing to die for the business. And maybe I still would. But that was a large piece of the puzzle, that made me sit back, take time, do some sole searching, and ultimately led in my decision. There are many reasons for my leaving, but that certainly played a role in my deciding to leave when I did."
TONY: "What was the boys reaction to you leaving?"
RODEO: "I think that the boys I were tight with were sad to see me go. However, as upset as they might have been, I also think they were happy. Reason being that they wanted the best for me, and knew I was not jumping to a rash decision. I am not sure if I was always the most popular in the locker room, as I would always call a spade a spade. But I think the general consensus was, here is a guy, who added to the independents for quite some time. We will miss him, and we wish him well."
TONY: "When was your last night in professional wrestling?"
RODEO: "I do not remember the exact sate, though to be honest I have a list of every match I ever worked. But it was over three years ago, I am guessing June of 1999. Funny how the time just seems to fly by."
TONY: "What was it like leaving behind everything you did?"
RODEO: "Well, I have never done drugs. But I assume getting off of drugs, and going cold turkey was akin to what I experienced. In other words, it hurt like crazy, and it was not easy to do. That was the case, at least at first. But with each passing day, and with the luxury of putting a little distance between myself, and the business, it was easier than I expected. But the truth is, like the Hotel California line I eluded to earlier, you truly can never leave fully, because I will always have a love for, and a piece of the business in me. But as times change, I too must adapt. And I feel, all things considered, I have done quite well in that respect."
TONY: "Do you keep in touch with most of your former wrestling friends?"
RODEO: "Unfortunately, I do not keep in contact with some of the boys as much as I would like to. But I do keep in close contact with some of them, and I consider them true friends. And I exchange holiday cards, or emails with others. But by and large, I keep a low profile. But I am always happy to see some old, and familiar faces. And I certainly wish them all well."
TONY: "Do you ever miss the business?"
RODEO: "As Gwen Stefani would say, No Doubt. At times I miss it like crazy, and at other times it is not as intense. But I certainly do, and likely always will. But I still keep in contact to a degree. And combined with some great wrestling people I have met on the Internet, I have my own website, johnrodeo.com, and the wrestling fantasy game that I co-own, shootclub.com, the pain and the urges are not so bad. Because to a degree I still keep involved, save for the travel, the bumps, and the bruises."
TONY: "Do you watch a lot of wrestling on TV now days?"
RODEO: "Well, not as much as I used to. My usual plan of attack is simply to tape the shows. Than when I find the time, I can watch them, and skip the commercials and such. But if asked specifically to critique of offer feedback on a specific match by someone, I am more than happy to do that. Of all the WWE programming, one of the shows that I tremendously enjoy is Tough Enough. In fact not long ago, I was able to contact Jake from season 2, and offer him some advice and contact information on the California wrestling scene. He seems like a great guy, and with a little work, and a little time I would not be surprised to see him get a contract. I also have enjoyed many of the behond the scenes footage that they show on Confidential. So I do watch some of the current product, and from time to time, I will watch some old tapes as well."
TONY: "Describe John Rodeo the Person and John Rodeo the Manager."
RODEO: "Well, John Rodeo is not my real name, although John is my legal first name. The out of character John Rodeo, is a genuine person. Like anyone I have some imperfections, but I also have my strengths. I feel I am a genuine person, who is never afraid to tell you what is on my mind. Another avenue, or aspect of that is my wanting to help teach others some of the things I have heard in life. The character of John Rodeo is anything but the same person. He is a smart, all knowing, never admitting any faults, name dropping heat seeking manager. Creating, and acting in the role of the heel John Rodeo was most enjoyable. In creating him, I have an actual back story, and tried to incorporate some things I see that annoy me. I figure, if I dislike it, and I do it, some people will surely hate me for it, lol. So though both share the same name, they are not the same person. It is like in the cartoons, you had Superman, and then you had the bizarro Superman. How is that for an obscure reference, lol?"
TONY: "What is the best and worst thing about this business?"
RODEO: "The best thing about the wrestling industry. Hmm. There are many great things. I guess the two aspects that most stick out, are being able to be creative. I love the creative process. And secondly, being able to follow and live out a dream. There is an indescribable feeling that one gets from performing live, and in front of the crowd. As for the worst thing, there are many negative sides to the industry. Certainly injuries are among them. Also, the political process can get into the way. At times it can be trying. That is not to mention the injuries and the travel. Two sad things about this industry is this. One, you cannot always trust people, and take them at face value. And it is in many ways a niche profession. If a guy working at IBM gets laid off, he can always go apply for another computer job. But in wrestling, there are few if any real territories. Rather, it is like playing the board game Monopoly. And if that is how you make your living, and you are let go, where do you go from there? It can be tough road indeed. But for those who have taken it, it can be rewarding."
TONY: "If you had know how the wrestling business is before you started do you think you would have joined it?"
RODEO: "No matter what one does in life, you can always second-guess yourself. Financially, wrestling was a far cry from a windfall, but I knew that going in. But am glad I went ahead, and pursued it. It is something that was in me. It was something that I had to do. So I did it to the best of my ability. No regrets there. So, if I had it to do all over again, I would."
TONY: "Do you have any regrets in your career?"
RODEO: "Yes and no. Yes, in the sense I never got a shot to work full time, and things along those lines. But, truth of the answer is no. I got to do everything I ever dreamt of, albeit on a much smaller scale. And I am proud of that. Deep in my heart, I know this. I was skilled at what I did. I knew what to do, and why I was doing it. Simply, I did everything I could to the best of my abilities. And I know I was damn good. So, though I wish things could or would have turned out differently, that is the wrestling industry. Nothing is promised. True, I never got the call, but I can live with that, because as they say in the movie 'The Field of Dreams' I went the distance. Meaning I did my best, and my not getting signed I do not take as a reflection on my ability. Simply, there were not many men lucky enough to make a full time living as a male heel manager. Fact is there are more Senators in the United States government, than there ever were full time heel managers. But I knew that going in. So nothing ventured, nothing gained. Thus, I have no major regrets. After all, how many people can truly say that they lived out their dream?"
TONY: "How long before you got active in doing something?"
RODEO: "Do you mean how long from the time I started training, until my first match?"
TONY: "I mean after you left the business."
RODEO: "So you are asking, that after I walked away from the business how long until I did other things aside from wrestling? Or how long before I started to watch wrestling again?"
TONY: "How long before you did something aside for wrestling, I'm sorry."
RODEO: "No problem at all. My answers can be long, so I simply want to make sure I am answering the right question, lol. Well, throughout my last days in wrestling, I was heavily into tennis. So, I merely increased that level of activity once I stepped away. So there really was no downtime from the period I left wrestling, until I get involved in other areas of my life."
TONY: "Is it hard to watch wrestling nowadays and knowing that you are not involved?"
RODEO: "Yes, it can be painful. It is not exactly the same industry that I grew up watching. Not that that is a bad thing, but it has certainly evolved through the years. As for it being painful, I love it so much, that at times to stay away does hurt. And if I see something, I can, and will always envision myself being involved. So yes, at times it can be difficult."
TONY: "Do you ever get an urge to or get home sick from wrestling?"
RODEO: "Absolutely. There is always that urge. And I still get offers to work. Or people offering me the opportunity, after viewing my work, to pass it along to others. And at times I have seriously considered it. I will always love it. And I will always miss it. And maybe one day I will return. But every time I contemplate picking up the old street sign again, something always makes me reconsider. So if it is meant to be, I'll return someday. And if not, it was a helluva ride. But yes, I do miss many aspects of it. But I certainly do not miss all of the aspects, lol. So yes, I do miss it. And maybe one day I will return. But the timing would have to work just right for that to be the case."
TONY: "Now did you know exactly what you wanted to do when you left wrestling or did it take you time to find your niche?"
RODEO: "Well Tony, I had plans of getting involved in the tennis industry. I followed that path for a time, but ultimately, it didn't work out for me as a full time gig. But as with wrestling, I met some great people. And I occasionally keep in contact with them. But as for finding my niche, that is something I think all people travel through life in search of. I have had them in the past, and I have potential ones for the future, such as working on shootclub.com. So I suppose time will tell how this thing called life will unfold."
TONY: "Have you had any offers to come back?"
RODEO: "Yes, since the time I left, I have got, and continue to get, occasional offers to get involved with the business again. Some of those are from the Internet, and others are from people that I know, and or have worked for in the past. Recently, someone I know who works for the WWE saw my tape, liked what they saw, and passed it along. But, thus far at least, that has not seemed to pan out. As far as the independent scene, I get offers there as well. They have ranged from preliminary talks about taking part in a potential tribute show down the line, to wanting me to manage again on a more regular basis, to doing a talk show, somewhat along the lines of Piper's Pit, or the Jesse Ventura's Body Shop. At this exact place and time in my life, it is not an ideal fit. But life can move quickly so perhaps sometime in the future it will work in the best interests of all parties involved. So it is not out of the realm of possibility that one day, I might take someone up on their offer. However, the circumstances would have to be just right, and at this exact place in time, they are not."
TONY: "Tell us about Shootclub and some of the other things you do now days?"
RODEO: "Shootclub.com is an internet fantasy wrestling game that I co-own, and work on, with my friends and partners, Webby and Crock. It is a product that has been roughly a decade in the making. It has evolved in its early years, and under a different name, as a play by mail game, into what I honestly feel to be amongst the premier games on the Internet. It combines our custom software, with true love and knowledge of wrestling. It is sort of a hybrid of rotisserie baseball leagues and dungeons and dragons. And one of the beauties of it is that it can be as simple or as intricate as you want it to be. Meaning you can simply look to see if your wrestler won, lost or drew, or you can look into how many boos or cheers your wrestler got in the match, and so on down the line. And that is just touching the surface of what Shootclub has to offer. And to say that I am proud to be associated with it is an understatement. We have some great players, with some great ideas, and that translates into our have a great out of character community, both on our message board and in our chat rooms. In fact, we encompass a cross section of players, not only as far as age, but we have brothers, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, among our player base. And in the not too distant future, we will be unveiling our new and improved software, known as Version 3.0, as well as going to pay to play with that. As with my time I spent managing, I have no question as to the quality of the product. So if that is any indication, things should go well. For right now, that consumes most of my time. As for other thing, I do manage to follow still follow tennis, and play on occasion. And there are a couple of potential things that I am working on for the future, but so far nothing is etched in stone. But Shootclub is a main focus of mine, and my partners, so, as a result, other than relaxing and such, that takes up most of my time. But I would not have it any other way."
TONY: "Tell us about your own website, johnrodeo.com."
RODEO: "Well, johnrodeo.com is my own website. Unfortunately due to a lack of time, and computer skills, it is not updated nearly as much as I would like. But in spite of that, it is something that I believe strongly in, and enjoy doing. The idea of the site actually combines a few concepts. For starters, it introduces people who do not know me to who I am, and what I have done. And for those who do know me, it allows one to get a little bit of a glimpse as to what I am all about. I also feel it is a decent place, albeit I hope in the future it will continue to improve, for people to go to and learn about the wrestling industry itself. I am proud to say that I have answered emails, and given advice to serious fans, and people considering pursuing wrestling as a career alike. Aside from that, I also, time permitting have conducted interviews myself. And being that I am trying to expand the topic matter to the entertainment field in general, rather than just wrestling itself, I had the chance to interview adult film star Midori. I am proud of it, as it shows the woman behind the camera, and the real person she is. So, for all of the aforementioned reasons, I feel that my site is a basic, yet solid addition to the world wide web."
TONY: "Who do you respect the most in this business and why?"
RODEO: "I pretty much respect everyone. I do not know if I could, or would want to mention a couple of specific people. But in general, I will say this. For those of any level, who try to help others, my hat is off to you. For the boys and girls that made it full time, and fight the good fight to stay there, my hat is off to you. For those working in the indies, following a dream, my hat is off to you. For the media and journalists, that care enough to accurately report the industry, my hat is off to you as well. And that goes for promoters, wrestlers, managers, valets, referees, ring announcers, writers and all the way down the line. Anyone that cares enough to give their efforts to wrestling, I do respect."
TONY: "Thank you John, what is your opinion of the current wrestling scene?"
RODEO: "Well Tony, you are welcome. As for the current scene, it is vastly different than the product I grew up on. That much is for certain. As for the current scene, I do not watch it as much as I might, so I am unsure if I would be able to give a completely accurate assessment. I will say, I am glad to see Paul Heyman and Rico, sort of revive the heel manger thing. And I am certainly impressed with the athletics displayed... At times I do wish the would book more so for the regular fans, as opposed to trying to win approval, o surprise the Internet audience. But as I say, maybe I am a little too old school, be it is a different product altogether, from what I grew up watching."
TONY: "Can you share your feeling on backyard wrestling with us?"
RODEO: "Certainly. Now I might get grilled for this, but it is the way I feel. I am, to say the least, strongly opposed to backyard wrestling. True, I have played unorganized football, baseball and the like. But there is a difference between that and the backyarders. For the most part, when I played football, it was not of the contact variety, and as far as baseball, I had played organized ball to draw from as a reference point. As far as professional wrestling, having been there, and done it, it is a completely different animal. For starters, not only have I been injured in my days, but just look at how many of the WWE talent have been battling injuries for the last year. And these are trained people, at the top of their chosen profession. Not only that, the backyard wrestlers are not only jeopardizing their own health, but that as well of the people who are entrusting their health in the hands of their opponents. Now, if you can get past the health issue, which I personally cannot, there are certain ways, and certain nuances to being a worker. And if one is not trained properly, or not trained at all, inevitably bad habits can, and will be formed. Remember, to be a great worker, it is not soley based on what you can do, but also in large part on how you protect the health of others. And if someone wants to bring the name of Mick Foley up, that is cool, because fact is he trained properly with Domenic Denucci. So I urge anyone that is serious about the profession to go to a reputable school, start from the bottom up, and to learn the basics from the bottom up. A cannot run until you can walk, and you cannot walk until you first crawl. That is my opinion, and one I feel most strongly about."
TONY: "What is the future of John Rodeo?"
RODEO: "Let me check my crystal ball, lol. But in all seriousness Tony, I do not know. I know I will continue to be involved with Shootclub.com, as it is a project I truly love. I will continue to update my website when time allows. And I will continue to help people out, and offer advice whenever I can. As for wrestling, as I say, if the right opportunity comes along, I'll listen. But I will not be waiting for that phone to ring. Because there is so much in life, to both explore and enjoy. I have no question I will always keep myself busy, and entertained. And I will always keep learning."
TONY: "If you could step back in the business for one time what would you do and who would you want to work with?"
RODEO: "Well, I guess I would disappoint you if I gave a short answer, so I will make this lengthy, lol. I will break this into different categories. I will begin with singles wrestling. I have been on the same card as Bob Backlund, but I never got to work with him. So managing Backlund would be a dream. Back in 1994, the last night I managed Triple H, I told him it was an honor to work with him. And I thanked him for our times together. He said I am sure, that in the future, we will work again. If that were to be, that would be another dream come true. Now onto tag team wrestling. I always loved the Midnight Express incarnation of Stan Lane and Bobby Eaton. And Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard were as good as any team. So to work with them would have been a pleasure. As for the women's division, I am a fan of Jacqueline from the WWE. She is a girl who I have the utmost respect for. She busted her butt for years, paid her dues, got a shot, and has since made the most of it. So I would greatly enjoy managing her, or putting her over in a match, as long as she promised not to kill me, lol. Aside from that, I am a big Jim Cornette fan. I had the chance to get to know him. And one time, we even cut a promo together. But I would love to work with the master, on opposite sides of the ring. So any of the above, or maybe a combination, would certainly be a dream come true."
TONY: "Now John you told me a story about someone trying to sell you a video of your own interview. Can you share that story with us?"
RODEO: "OK. I myself am always happy to help people out. But sometimes being trusting, and helpful can come back to bite one is the butt. So this was one of those occasions. A couple of guys came up to me after a show, told me how they had a cable access show, and asked me if I might cut a promo for them. I gladly obliged. The next time I saw this twosome, they asked me if I would like a copy of the promo. I responded yes. They told me that the tape was going to be $25.00. Well correct me if I am wrong, but without me, there would have been no interview. Mind you, I am not opposed to shelling over money, to cover the cost of the cassette. However the amount of $25.00 was a joke. Let us analyze the facts. They were allowed into an event for free, in which the boys placed their bodies on the line. Now, they are going to try to make money off of the boys, who went out of their way to help them out? That to me is exactly the type of person I do not respect. If they are there too make money, I do not begrudge them. But sell it to the fans that want to pay. Do not try to sell it to the boys who busted tail. On a similar note, there was a photographer I knew. He tried to sell me a picture of myself, unconscious, with a neck brace on, for a roughly $30.00. As I say, I do not expect then to take financial losses, but to try and scalp such items to me is laughable. Truth is people like him do great photographers, and great people like Donny Laible, who is a great man, a disservice. My moral of the story is this, those who are genuine people, and those who are not, will show there true colors with time."
TONY: "Well John I am done with questions now time for the NAME GAME. I name a name and you tell me your thoughts on them."
RODEO: "OK, shoot away."
TONY: "No shooting. Remember columbine?"
RODEO: "Sadly I do. And I am more a worker, than a shooter in any event."
TONY: "Killer Kowalski."
RODEO: "A wealth of knowledge, who opened his school and mind to the business. A trainer of great talent. A true legend, and an honor to be associated with."
TONY: "Triple H."
RODEO: "A student of the game. Always soaked in information like a sponge. A serious, yet at times funny man. Another pleasure to have worked with."
TONY: "Chyna."
RODEO: "Always a sweet girl to me. She walked into the industry wanting to achive stardom. She was able to achieve that, and I commend her on it."
TONY: "John Kronus."
RODEO: "A truly amazing physical specimen. A fun loving and genuine person. I miss hearing his laugh, and seeing him smile."
TONY: "Perry Saturn."
RODEO: "Polite, professional, driven and focused. A man who thru force of will made himself into a star."
TONY: "Bob Backlund."
RODEO: "A hero. A genuine down to earth guy, who took the time to both chat to me as a fan, and offer advice to as a worker. A great role model. A great family person. 'The Champ' in every single sense of the word."
TONY: "Tony Roy."
RODEO: "An older brother figure, who took me and others in as a green kid. Offered us the forum to work with and learn from. I miss the time I spent with him."
TONY: "Albert."
RODEO: "A man who is as calm and intelligent outside as the ring, as he is aggressive inside of it. Always looked after the younger and smaller guys. A class act."
TONY: "Steve Bradley."
RODEO: "A nice guy, and a helluva hand. It is unfortunate that the WWE recently let him go, but I am hoping that he catches on somewhere down the line."
TONY: "Devon Storm."
RODEO: "A great guy with a great memory. He is truly the definition of a guy who has paid his dues, and deserves another chance to shine."
TONY: "Brian Hildebrand."
RODEO: "Boy do I miss him. Professionally, back when he worked with Smoky Mountain, we talked often. I was trying to get into SMW, but than it closed. I still kept in touch with him on occasion. Sadly, his illness got the best of him, but he left a legacy of love behind."
TONY: "Nova."
RODEO: "I am very friendly with his brother, Donnie B., in fact Donnie used to book me in New Jersey. Nova always looked out for me when I would travel to the ECW shows. He'd say, 'I inherited you from my brother, so I have to look out for you, lol."
TONY: "Shawn Stasiak."
RODEO: "I am somewhat friendly with Shawn, and we talk on occasion. A second generation wrestler, who is deceptively large, and a smooth worker. If pushed properly, I think he could really be a player in the industry."
TONY: "Shane Douglas."
RODEO: "I think highly of Shane. Back in the day we used to talk with each other on occasion. In fact, some years back, he offered me some incredible advice, that I really took to heart. Not to mention he cuts a great promo."
TONY: "Scotty Too Hotty."
RODEO: "I recall seeing him for the first time, and I can remember the drive he had. He was easy to get along with, and easy to work with. I am pleased to see he got his chance to shine, and I hope he recovers fully from his neck surgery."
TONY: "Dennis Coraluzzo."
RODEO: "Dennis gave me a shot, when few other promoters would or could. He and Donnie B. were always helpful to me, and I love them for it. Sadly Dennis is gone, but he is far from forgotten."
TONY: "Tony Rumble."
RODEO: "He really gave me a forum to excel creatively. A couple of side notes. I remember the first night I met him. He, former WCW referee Scott Dickinson and I were sharing a hotel room. I had fallen asleep and Tony poured ice down my back, I figured if he hated me, he would simply have ignored me, so that was cool, lol. And other times I remember him really putting in good works on my behalf to Kevin Sullivan. Tony and I had our good and bad times, but that is the business, and deep down, we really cared for each other."
TONY: "The Internet."
RODEO: "The Internet? What promotion does he work for, lol? But seriously, often times you hear negative things about the Internet, like Chris Jericho being critical of it. I largely agree with his sentiments. But for the moment, I will focus on the good. If not for the net, I would not have met great people like yourself, and Chris Yandek, and shootclub.com and johnrodeo.com would not exist in their current incarnations. Truth is I have met many great people, and met some true friends via the Internet."
TONY: "Vince McMahon."
RODEO: "A man, who through the bad times, the controversial times, the good times, and the great times, has made wrestling what it is today. A business genius who took wrestling mainstream. He can also take credit for helping turn many young stars, as well as untapped talent into superstars within the industry and beyond."
TONY: "Dave Meltzer."
RODEO: "A true pioneer of breaking behind the scenes stories. His book, Tributes, is a must for any true wrestling fan. I am flattered the couple times I saw my name appear in his newsletter, 'The Wrestling Observer' and even more honored the day he emailed me to ask some questions on a friend who had passed."
TONY: "Lol, last couple of questions John, then we will wrap it up."
RODEO: "OK."
TONY: "Name some of the talent you have worked with?"
RODEO: "I have worked with and for a great amount of talent. Some have been big names, and others were independent cornerstones. Some are still living, and sadly others have passed on. I will give brief list of names, which we have not already discussed. There is a more complete list on my website, johnrodeo.com. For bigger names I have worked with Demolition Ax, the original Doink Matt Borne, Bryan Clark, The Bushwhackers, Steve Corino, Raven, Rick Martel, King Kong Bundy and Sgt. Slaughter. For lesser known but equally talented independent names, I have worked with Chris Duffy, Brian Walsh, Tim McNeany and more. For promoters I have worked for Kowalski, Wendell Weatherbee, Dan McDevitt and countless others. And I'd like to thank them all, for giving me a forum in which I could follow my dream, and shine."
TONY: "During your time in wrestling what are some life lessons you learned that you still use to this day and do you feel wrestling made you a better person and if so why?"
RODEO: "There are a lot of lessons I learned from the business. For starters, it helped expand my mind creatively, in the truest sense of the word. It helped to raise my self-confidence, meaning that regardless of popular opinion, or negative comments, I grew to know that if I put my mind to something, that I could indeed succeed. It also solidified my belief in, and ability to, stand up for things that I truly believe in, and to go after things that I truly value. Some other aspects of the business are the ability to see how the machine works behind the scenes, politically and such. At times, it is all too easy to get jaded, and become cynical. But the truth is it can, for better or worse, open your eyes, and allow one to see things in a totally different perspective. All of these factors, have contributed into helping me become a very open minded person."
TONY: "Is there anything that you would like to say in closing John?"
RODEO: "For starters, I would like to thank you for asking me to do this interview. I'd also like to thank everyone who has ever supported me. And I would like to thank everyone who read this interview. And I hope you had a s much fun reading it, as I did reliving my experiences and sharing my thoughts."
TONY: "Thank you."
RODEO: "No problem Tony, it was a true pleasure."
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