IGN interviews Shane Douglas - May 2000
Posted by admin admin on Saturday, May 25, 2013
Under: WCW Interviews
Interview: Shane Douglas
Douglas talks about Ric Flair, Chris Benoit, and the Triple Threat.
May 26, 2000
IGN Scoops held an internet chat session with Shane Douglas at Pillman Show 2000.
Q: After working with Ric Flair, have your feelings about him changed?
Douglas: I have a lot of respect for Ric in the sense that he's lasted in this cut throat business as long as he has. And when I was in the ring with him he legitimately hit me harder with that chop than I've ever been hit, including Benoit or anybody. He showed me he has real heart in that ring. By the same token I still feel very strongly that he doesn't belong in the ring anymore. As great as he was, as entertaining as he is. I still think there's a place for him in pro wrestling. He's got such a great mind for the business and a tremendous gift for gab. The promos he's been doing with David have been nothing short of spectacular. Some of the best I've ever heard him do. But his time has clearly come to step aside. It's sad to see such a great star at that point. It's like when Joe Louis got knocked through the ropes by Marciano. I'm sure anyone who was a Louis fan was disheartened by that. I think we're seeing Flair in the same place. His heart is still there, but his body isn't. I wish for his reputation and legacy he would just wrap it up and pack it away and move to a different aspect of the business. I don't want to see him disappear from the business because he's so damn entertaining. We've got to wrap up the storylines that played Flair, Hogan, Savage, and that generation so prominently and move on. If not, this whole experiment in trying to turn this company around will be for naught.
Q: How is your arm?
Douglas: Feels great. You want to bite your tongue as you say it, because it almost feels too good. I'm back in the gym lifting. The fans will see me getting in better and better shape in the coming months because now I can lift like I want to. My body does stiffen up pretty easy now, especially on wet damp days, but that's part of getting old. I look at Funk and he's a big inspiration. At 56 if he can still do it then I should be able to. It just takes a little longer keeping limber and loose, stretching and stuff.
Q: Anything you'd do differently if you could do it again?
Douglas: Obviously there are things that I've done that have been bad moves in wrestling. I would have tried to keep my patience in check at times. I was reactionary to things that were happening at times where I was. But I don't look back with any anger at what I did. I think we're all sitting here where we are today, regardless of our position in the world, because of our experiences before this. Right now I'm pretty happy with where I'm sitting so I did something right along the line. That's not to say I'm happy with everything I've done in my past or that it was done perfectly or done right. Looking back for instance I would have taken more time in ECW when I was injured. I played that heart on my sleeve champion where the company relies on me. I would have taken the time and let the injuries heal to give myself some longevity. I wouldn't have been so patient with Paul Heyman when it came to money. I would have put a freeze on the first week rather than letting things get that far. Overall I'm happy and excited where things are right now.
Q: Who would you like to reform the Triple Threat with in WCW?
Douglas: Well obviously Candido and Bigelow are big candidates because we have great chemistry. I've worked with them for the better part of two years. It's hard to get good chemistry with a lot of guys. I know where Bigelow is in the ring at all times. He knows where I am. I know where Candido is and what they're both doing. When we're setting up a match, whether it's a 6-man or whatever, it's easy no matter who we're facing. Because between the three of us there's nothing we can't cover. Candido can do most of the high-flying stuff, Bigelow is the strong man, and I do the psychology and the story stuff. We've been very strong in working together. But there are a lot of other guys in WCW right now that have real strong strengths in what they're doing. They're in the growing process of discovering who will be the future players and it's wide open. I don't think that Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff have sat back and said, "OK, Shane Douglas and this guy, and Sean Stasiak, and this guy, and this guy will be the future." I think they've sat back and said, "let's give these guys a chance and see what they can do." It's really interesting because right now everybody's busting their a$$ trying to impress the boss, and that's good for the fans. In time a strong lineup, the first "A-Team" for lack of better terminology, but you'll see not just great work but creative work. You'll see Rey Mysterio start doing stuff he's never done before and become creative. WCW storylines are being stretched to places they've never gone before. The outcome will be pretty interesting for the fan.
Q: I was just wondering if Shane Douglas likes being heel more than a face, since I think he plays the heel role much better. And do you think you will be WCW World Champion, cause if WCW needs a great heel champion, they need to look no further then The Franchise!
Douglas: Absolutely a heel. "The Franchise" character is a heel. He's an a$$hole. He's the dark arrogant side of everybody that they try to keep under wraps. Troy Martin just lets him out. He's the guy that is good at what he does and knows it. If he lived next door he'd smack you in the face before he'd cut the grass. "The Franchise" doesn't play well to a babyface. After playing him for seven years my tendencies in the ring are heelish. Even when Steamboat and I were the babyface tag champions Bill Watts used to say, "damn, your character is such a heel!" I was "The Franchise" even before "The Franchise". And yes, I have a lot more fun doing that.
I've talked to Vince Russo about the champion part. I've always said that "The Franchise" character has always been suited for some gold. Whether it's the Hardcore Title, the US Title of the World Title. The character by proxy of what he is is addicted to the gold. If there isn't some legitimate point him then there's no real heat. I can't go out and day I'm the greatest if I'm going out and getting beaten every night. But if I'm saying it and holding some gold that I've won in some nebulous way then the people sitting at home can boo all they want. But the fact remains that there's legitimacy in what "The Franchise" has done. I'm here for 3 years so I'm really in no rush. I'm willing to work my way up to that point.
Q: Is this the first time you've seen Chris Benoit and them since you left WCW?
Douglas: Yes. Chris and Dean and I have spoken on the phone a couple of times before this, but today is the first face to face. I'm still not happy with what they did. I understand they did what they had to do, like anyone making a business decision for themselves in this industry. I do still begrudge them that they didn't share information because we'd basically made a pact to share that information. But it's in the past. At this point in my life I'd always figured you can gloat on things and let them control you, or you can get beyond that. The fact is I'm being paid more money now than I was with WCW the first time, so the three months off, as stressful as they were, I was able to go home and let the arm heal. My body feels better now than it did 4 months ago when all that bs went down. With Eric and Vince being back I couldn't have written a better scenario for me being back. Overall I'm happy with how things turned out. But when you're such close friends with somebody and you find out that it's not as close as you thought it's not a happy time. I'll always be friendly with those guys but never as close as I was. I think that's a two-way street and the same goes for them. In this business you have to do what you think is right for yourself. I did for me what I thought was right for me, and so did they.
Q: Is it possible for the Triple Threat to surface in WCW? You have 3 past members there and Bam Bam really needs an angle.
Douglas: Absolutely. I think it's a real strong time for that. The nWo is a dead issue. Most of the stables in WCW aren't too strong yet or haven't had enough time to get their legs. So with the long illustrious history of the Triple Threat with Benoit, Candido, Malenko, and Bigelow, it's got a strong history. I've always wanted to see if "The Franchise" could swim in the big pond, and now that I've seen that he can I'd like to see if the Triple Threat can. I think they'd do very well to bring it in, but there's been no official talk of it yet.
Douglas talks about Ric Flair, Chris Benoit, and the Triple Threat.
May 26, 2000
IGN Scoops held an internet chat session with Shane Douglas at Pillman Show 2000.
Q: After working with Ric Flair, have your feelings about him changed?
Douglas: I have a lot of respect for Ric in the sense that he's lasted in this cut throat business as long as he has. And when I was in the ring with him he legitimately hit me harder with that chop than I've ever been hit, including Benoit or anybody. He showed me he has real heart in that ring. By the same token I still feel very strongly that he doesn't belong in the ring anymore. As great as he was, as entertaining as he is. I still think there's a place for him in pro wrestling. He's got such a great mind for the business and a tremendous gift for gab. The promos he's been doing with David have been nothing short of spectacular. Some of the best I've ever heard him do. But his time has clearly come to step aside. It's sad to see such a great star at that point. It's like when Joe Louis got knocked through the ropes by Marciano. I'm sure anyone who was a Louis fan was disheartened by that. I think we're seeing Flair in the same place. His heart is still there, but his body isn't. I wish for his reputation and legacy he would just wrap it up and pack it away and move to a different aspect of the business. I don't want to see him disappear from the business because he's so damn entertaining. We've got to wrap up the storylines that played Flair, Hogan, Savage, and that generation so prominently and move on. If not, this whole experiment in trying to turn this company around will be for naught.
Q: How is your arm?
Douglas: Feels great. You want to bite your tongue as you say it, because it almost feels too good. I'm back in the gym lifting. The fans will see me getting in better and better shape in the coming months because now I can lift like I want to. My body does stiffen up pretty easy now, especially on wet damp days, but that's part of getting old. I look at Funk and he's a big inspiration. At 56 if he can still do it then I should be able to. It just takes a little longer keeping limber and loose, stretching and stuff.
Q: Anything you'd do differently if you could do it again?
Douglas: Obviously there are things that I've done that have been bad moves in wrestling. I would have tried to keep my patience in check at times. I was reactionary to things that were happening at times where I was. But I don't look back with any anger at what I did. I think we're all sitting here where we are today, regardless of our position in the world, because of our experiences before this. Right now I'm pretty happy with where I'm sitting so I did something right along the line. That's not to say I'm happy with everything I've done in my past or that it was done perfectly or done right. Looking back for instance I would have taken more time in ECW when I was injured. I played that heart on my sleeve champion where the company relies on me. I would have taken the time and let the injuries heal to give myself some longevity. I wouldn't have been so patient with Paul Heyman when it came to money. I would have put a freeze on the first week rather than letting things get that far. Overall I'm happy and excited where things are right now.
Q: Who would you like to reform the Triple Threat with in WCW?
Douglas: Well obviously Candido and Bigelow are big candidates because we have great chemistry. I've worked with them for the better part of two years. It's hard to get good chemistry with a lot of guys. I know where Bigelow is in the ring at all times. He knows where I am. I know where Candido is and what they're both doing. When we're setting up a match, whether it's a 6-man or whatever, it's easy no matter who we're facing. Because between the three of us there's nothing we can't cover. Candido can do most of the high-flying stuff, Bigelow is the strong man, and I do the psychology and the story stuff. We've been very strong in working together. But there are a lot of other guys in WCW right now that have real strong strengths in what they're doing. They're in the growing process of discovering who will be the future players and it's wide open. I don't think that Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff have sat back and said, "OK, Shane Douglas and this guy, and Sean Stasiak, and this guy, and this guy will be the future." I think they've sat back and said, "let's give these guys a chance and see what they can do." It's really interesting because right now everybody's busting their a$$ trying to impress the boss, and that's good for the fans. In time a strong lineup, the first "A-Team" for lack of better terminology, but you'll see not just great work but creative work. You'll see Rey Mysterio start doing stuff he's never done before and become creative. WCW storylines are being stretched to places they've never gone before. The outcome will be pretty interesting for the fan.
Q: I was just wondering if Shane Douglas likes being heel more than a face, since I think he plays the heel role much better. And do you think you will be WCW World Champion, cause if WCW needs a great heel champion, they need to look no further then The Franchise!
Douglas: Absolutely a heel. "The Franchise" character is a heel. He's an a$$hole. He's the dark arrogant side of everybody that they try to keep under wraps. Troy Martin just lets him out. He's the guy that is good at what he does and knows it. If he lived next door he'd smack you in the face before he'd cut the grass. "The Franchise" doesn't play well to a babyface. After playing him for seven years my tendencies in the ring are heelish. Even when Steamboat and I were the babyface tag champions Bill Watts used to say, "damn, your character is such a heel!" I was "The Franchise" even before "The Franchise". And yes, I have a lot more fun doing that.
I've talked to Vince Russo about the champion part. I've always said that "The Franchise" character has always been suited for some gold. Whether it's the Hardcore Title, the US Title of the World Title. The character by proxy of what he is is addicted to the gold. If there isn't some legitimate point him then there's no real heat. I can't go out and day I'm the greatest if I'm going out and getting beaten every night. But if I'm saying it and holding some gold that I've won in some nebulous way then the people sitting at home can boo all they want. But the fact remains that there's legitimacy in what "The Franchise" has done. I'm here for 3 years so I'm really in no rush. I'm willing to work my way up to that point.
Q: Is this the first time you've seen Chris Benoit and them since you left WCW?
Douglas: Yes. Chris and Dean and I have spoken on the phone a couple of times before this, but today is the first face to face. I'm still not happy with what they did. I understand they did what they had to do, like anyone making a business decision for themselves in this industry. I do still begrudge them that they didn't share information because we'd basically made a pact to share that information. But it's in the past. At this point in my life I'd always figured you can gloat on things and let them control you, or you can get beyond that. The fact is I'm being paid more money now than I was with WCW the first time, so the three months off, as stressful as they were, I was able to go home and let the arm heal. My body feels better now than it did 4 months ago when all that bs went down. With Eric and Vince being back I couldn't have written a better scenario for me being back. Overall I'm happy with how things turned out. But when you're such close friends with somebody and you find out that it's not as close as you thought it's not a happy time. I'll always be friendly with those guys but never as close as I was. I think that's a two-way street and the same goes for them. In this business you have to do what you think is right for yourself. I did for me what I thought was right for me, and so did they.
Q: Is it possible for the Triple Threat to surface in WCW? You have 3 past members there and Bam Bam really needs an angle.
Douglas: Absolutely. I think it's a real strong time for that. The nWo is a dead issue. Most of the stables in WCW aren't too strong yet or haven't had enough time to get their legs. So with the long illustrious history of the Triple Threat with Benoit, Candido, Malenko, and Bigelow, it's got a strong history. I've always wanted to see if "The Franchise" could swim in the big pond, and now that I've seen that he can I'd like to see if the Triple Threat can. I think they'd do very well to bring it in, but there's been no official talk of it yet.
In : WCW Interviews