IGN interviews Tazz - September 2000
Posted by admin admin on Saturday, May 25, 2013
Under: WWF/WWE Interviews
Interview: Tazz
Tazz talks about working with Triple H, The Rock, & Kurt Angle, and the evolution of his character.
September 14, 2000
The following interview comes from IGN Scoops, courtesy of Total Station magazine.
Having dominated the bloodthirsty world of Extreme Championship Wrestling, the monstrous Tazz has sent his sights on the WWF, Total Station (TS) Magazine was fortunate enough to catch up with the Human Wrecking Machine and grab this exclusive interview! We discuss, the past, present, future, Stone Cold Steve Austin, the Rock and of course kicking serious xxxx!
TS: Are you pleased with the way you are being put over in the WWF?
Tazz: Yes, absolutely. Great feeling the way the WWF debuted me at Madison Square Garden against the undefeated Kurt Angle and my entrance video and pyro, I am so happy to be where I am.
TS: Do you miss your awesome feuds with Sabu in ECW?
Tazz: Yes, I do miss wrestling Sabu especially in ECW. I miss our feuds both in and out of the ring. Maybe one day we will meet in the ring again.
TS: Who do you think would make a good WWF wrestler from the current ECW roster?
Tazz: Justin Credible would be over big in the WWF and Tommy Dreamer.
TS: What do you like doing when not wrestling?
Tazz: Spending time with my family, training and relaxing
TS: Do you ever get scared for your safety during matches?
Tazz: No, I don't think about it, that's my job. I'm kind of superstitious that if I think about it, it will happen, so I just focus on the match.
TS: What made you want to be a wrestler?
Tazz: I needed a job and I wasn't focused in school, I was more an athlete. I started studying judo and got trained from there. I didn't start making a living as a wrestler until 6-7 years later.
TS: Is there anything you would rather be doing?
Tazz: No, I love my job. I am so lucky, especially being a part of the WWF. I am so fortunate to love my job and what I do.
TS: Is it daunting being on the same line-up as such massive names as The Rock and Steve Austin, if so why?
Tazz: It's very competitive, but it's cool, I respect them all. I know what it's like to be a top guy in a smaller league and it's tough to stay on top. Vince McMahon takes talent to make them something. Everyone gets a chance. It's one step at a time and one match at a time.
TS: Have you wrestled in any other countries such as Japan?
Tazz: Japan, Puerto Rico, and Caribbean
TS: How different is working in the WWF to working in ECW?
Tazz: It's a lot different, more organized, WWF is the big-time. It's a different formula. Paul at ECW does it all himself. WWF has different people working on different areas. Vince takes an interest in everything, Paul tries to do everything. Vince lets people do their jobs.
TS: Who do you most respect in the wrestling business?
Tazz: That's tough - it's hard to say one name, although I gained much respect for Triple H when I worked with him. He is so good and grossly underrated in the business. Rock, he's not just a pretty face, but a big, strong guy who works hard. Rob Van Dam, Sabu, Ric Flair are others.
TS: Are you going to be in the next WWF SmackDown! game?
Tazz: I think I just missed being in this one, maybe next time.
TS: The Tazzmission is an awesome move, has it ever gone too wrong?
Tazz: Never, but it can. It is a dangerous hold and I don't suggest trying it at home. The hold will be a dominating one in the WWF I predict.
TS: How did you come up with the name Tazz?
Tazz: As a nickname in college, I wasn't as tall, kind of stocky with a dark complexion. It's nothing like the cartoon character, it's just a name.
TS: Where did you learn to wrestle?
Tazz: With Johnny Rodz, the Unpredictable, Johnny Rodz. Trained with him for nine months then went to Puerto Rico on 6/3/87.
TS: What advice would you give any aspiring wrestlers out there?
Tazz: It is a lot harder than you think, be patient, work your butt off. It is hard to explain and very hard to succeed. The physical is only a small part, it's also attitude and being professional 24/7 when fans approach you for an autograph and your tired and in pain, but you have to be professional because they're the reasons why we have jobs.
TS: How does it feel to walk into an arena, and hear the crowd explode in your honor?
Tazz: Words can't describe it, it's an amazing feeling. The best feeling ever was walking into Madison Square Garden at Royal Rumble and the people erupted to my music. I will never forget that as long as I live. It's like that at the WWF every other night - it's as good as you can imagine.
TS: We get more requests and phone calls asking if Tazz is a secret character in WWF SmackDown! or how do I make Tazz in SmackDown! how do you handle such popularity?
Tazz: I don't think about it, I remember where I came from playing in front of 600-700 people in ECW where they didn't have locker rooms or showers. I am a blue-collar guy from a blue-collar family and want people to get their money's worth. It is so competitive in the WWF that if you don't work hard one night, you can lose your spot.
TS: Where can we get hold of your cool T-Shirt?
Tazz: On the WWF's website, wwf.com in the ShopZone area or at arena merchandise areas.
TS: How long before you main event? We reckon a Stone Cold/Tazz feud would be nothing short of awesome!
Tazz: The Tazz character is not ready for that yet, not evolved to that yet, just taking it nice and slow. Eventually, I would love to do business with Steve Austin, we both have the bad xxxxx attitude. He's the toughest SOB in TX and I am the toughest SOB from Brooklyn.
TS: Your recent return to ECW and Tommy Dreamer's run in on SmackDown, will we be seeing more cross promotion between ECW and the WWF?
Tazz: I don't think you'll be seeing that much, only on occasion, maybe teasers but nothing long term.
TS: Thank you for taking this time out from your busy schedule, and good luck for the future.
Our thanks to James Gale, Editor of Total Station PlayStation2 and PlayStation Magazine. Look for an exclusive review of THQ's WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role in our latest issue on sale, October 19th!
Tazz talks about working with Triple H, The Rock, & Kurt Angle, and the evolution of his character.
September 14, 2000
The following interview comes from IGN Scoops, courtesy of Total Station magazine.
Having dominated the bloodthirsty world of Extreme Championship Wrestling, the monstrous Tazz has sent his sights on the WWF, Total Station (TS) Magazine was fortunate enough to catch up with the Human Wrecking Machine and grab this exclusive interview! We discuss, the past, present, future, Stone Cold Steve Austin, the Rock and of course kicking serious xxxx!
TS: Are you pleased with the way you are being put over in the WWF?
Tazz: Yes, absolutely. Great feeling the way the WWF debuted me at Madison Square Garden against the undefeated Kurt Angle and my entrance video and pyro, I am so happy to be where I am.
TS: Do you miss your awesome feuds with Sabu in ECW?
Tazz: Yes, I do miss wrestling Sabu especially in ECW. I miss our feuds both in and out of the ring. Maybe one day we will meet in the ring again.
TS: Who do you think would make a good WWF wrestler from the current ECW roster?
Tazz: Justin Credible would be over big in the WWF and Tommy Dreamer.
TS: What do you like doing when not wrestling?
Tazz: Spending time with my family, training and relaxing
TS: Do you ever get scared for your safety during matches?
Tazz: No, I don't think about it, that's my job. I'm kind of superstitious that if I think about it, it will happen, so I just focus on the match.
TS: What made you want to be a wrestler?
Tazz: I needed a job and I wasn't focused in school, I was more an athlete. I started studying judo and got trained from there. I didn't start making a living as a wrestler until 6-7 years later.
TS: Is there anything you would rather be doing?
Tazz: No, I love my job. I am so lucky, especially being a part of the WWF. I am so fortunate to love my job and what I do.
TS: Is it daunting being on the same line-up as such massive names as The Rock and Steve Austin, if so why?
Tazz: It's very competitive, but it's cool, I respect them all. I know what it's like to be a top guy in a smaller league and it's tough to stay on top. Vince McMahon takes talent to make them something. Everyone gets a chance. It's one step at a time and one match at a time.
TS: Have you wrestled in any other countries such as Japan?
Tazz: Japan, Puerto Rico, and Caribbean
TS: How different is working in the WWF to working in ECW?
Tazz: It's a lot different, more organized, WWF is the big-time. It's a different formula. Paul at ECW does it all himself. WWF has different people working on different areas. Vince takes an interest in everything, Paul tries to do everything. Vince lets people do their jobs.
TS: Who do you most respect in the wrestling business?
Tazz: That's tough - it's hard to say one name, although I gained much respect for Triple H when I worked with him. He is so good and grossly underrated in the business. Rock, he's not just a pretty face, but a big, strong guy who works hard. Rob Van Dam, Sabu, Ric Flair are others.
TS: Are you going to be in the next WWF SmackDown! game?
Tazz: I think I just missed being in this one, maybe next time.
TS: The Tazzmission is an awesome move, has it ever gone too wrong?
Tazz: Never, but it can. It is a dangerous hold and I don't suggest trying it at home. The hold will be a dominating one in the WWF I predict.
TS: How did you come up with the name Tazz?
Tazz: As a nickname in college, I wasn't as tall, kind of stocky with a dark complexion. It's nothing like the cartoon character, it's just a name.
TS: Where did you learn to wrestle?
Tazz: With Johnny Rodz, the Unpredictable, Johnny Rodz. Trained with him for nine months then went to Puerto Rico on 6/3/87.
TS: What advice would you give any aspiring wrestlers out there?
Tazz: It is a lot harder than you think, be patient, work your butt off. It is hard to explain and very hard to succeed. The physical is only a small part, it's also attitude and being professional 24/7 when fans approach you for an autograph and your tired and in pain, but you have to be professional because they're the reasons why we have jobs.
TS: How does it feel to walk into an arena, and hear the crowd explode in your honor?
Tazz: Words can't describe it, it's an amazing feeling. The best feeling ever was walking into Madison Square Garden at Royal Rumble and the people erupted to my music. I will never forget that as long as I live. It's like that at the WWF every other night - it's as good as you can imagine.
TS: We get more requests and phone calls asking if Tazz is a secret character in WWF SmackDown! or how do I make Tazz in SmackDown! how do you handle such popularity?
Tazz: I don't think about it, I remember where I came from playing in front of 600-700 people in ECW where they didn't have locker rooms or showers. I am a blue-collar guy from a blue-collar family and want people to get their money's worth. It is so competitive in the WWF that if you don't work hard one night, you can lose your spot.
TS: Where can we get hold of your cool T-Shirt?
Tazz: On the WWF's website, wwf.com in the ShopZone area or at arena merchandise areas.
TS: How long before you main event? We reckon a Stone Cold/Tazz feud would be nothing short of awesome!
Tazz: The Tazz character is not ready for that yet, not evolved to that yet, just taking it nice and slow. Eventually, I would love to do business with Steve Austin, we both have the bad xxxxx attitude. He's the toughest SOB in TX and I am the toughest SOB from Brooklyn.
TS: Your recent return to ECW and Tommy Dreamer's run in on SmackDown, will we be seeing more cross promotion between ECW and the WWF?
Tazz: I don't think you'll be seeing that much, only on occasion, maybe teasers but nothing long term.
TS: Thank you for taking this time out from your busy schedule, and good luck for the future.
Our thanks to James Gale, Editor of Total Station PlayStation2 and PlayStation Magazine. Look for an exclusive review of THQ's WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role in our latest issue on sale, October 19th!
In : WWF/WWE Interviews