Lance Von Erich Shoot Interview

Runtime:  1 hour 19 minutes Memories of growing up?  Did you live in Texas as a child?  If not, where did you grow up?  What was childhood like? Obviously you were always renowned for your look and physique - what made you start to go to the gym and work out? How prevalent were steroids at the time?  Was it around the same, different or more than pro wrestling in your mind? What was your athletic background before pro wrestling came calling?   Is it true you were friends with Jeep Swenson before either of you were in the business?  If so, what was he like at the time?  Memories of him? Did you ever cross paths with any other pro wrestlers? First memories of pro wrestling?   Were you a fan at all growing up? When did you first learn or hear of the Von Erichs?  Were you a fan? Your entrance into the business started after David Von Erich’s passing - as someone outside the business at the time, do you remember how it was covered in the media?  Were they big stories locally? Memories of being approached by David Manning at a golf course about getting into the wrestling business? What was pitched to you and what made you interested in trying pro wrestling? Had you ever thought about pro wrestling as a career before this? Memories of walking into the Sportatorium for the first time to meet with Fritz Von Erich?   Who else was there and what was pitched to you? Did you get in the ring at all? What were your first impressions of Fritz? First impressions of David Manning? What made you decide to take the plunge and get in? What were you doing before you got into the business?   Who was handling the hands on training in the ring? Did you like training?  What aspects of wrestling did you pick up the easiest?  What was the hardest part of the business to understand? Did you have any preconceived notions about what wrestling was before you started training that changed? Memories of training in Texas with George Weingeroff, Kelly Kiniski, Skip Young, and Bill and Scott Irwin? What was the best advice you received about the business while learning to wrestle? What was it like training with Jake Roberts? Your debut was actually under a mask against Jake Roberts - memories of that match?  Were you nervous? Did Kevin or Kerry help at all with the training? How did your family react to you getting into the business given what a wear and tear it put on your body and the time away from home? Why were you sent to Portland to continue training and wrestle there as opposed to debuting you sooner? Was there talk of being sent anywhere else? First impressions of Portland when you got there? Did you deal with Don Owen at all and if so, what were your thoughts on him? Did Owens give you the Ricky Vaughn name? Any idea what inspired the Ricky part of the name? Any advice he gave you that worked? Memories of the Portland Sports Arena?  How did it compare to the Sportatorium in terms of atmosphere? Given this was the first place where you wrestled, what was the schedule like between training and touring the territory on a weekly basis? What was the most surprising part of working the territory as someone who was doing this for the first time?  Was the most enjoyable and the most annoying part of the grind? How was the money?  Was it what you were expecting?  Better or worse than your career before wrestling? Were there moments where you were wondering what you were doing? Memories of training under Sandy Barr and of him as a person? Memories of living with and teaming with Billy Jack Haynes?   What was Haynes like in that time period?   Obviously, his legacy is dark now and he’s been more known for conspiracy theories and is currently waiting to be tried for murdering his wife - did you ever see darker sides of him? In your book, you mentioned your falling out with Haynes personally, did things ever get better between the two of you? Coming from the outside of it, were you surprised or shocked by the party scene in the business? Memories of Jerry Grey? You worked a lot of time limit draws with him in the territory - was this to get you more experience?  What did you learn from working with him? Memories of the night the ring collapsed as you wrestled Steve Simpson? Memories of living with and spending time with Steve? What was it like learning promos for TV at the time? You got to team with Tom Zenk in the territory - memories of the Z Man? Memories of wrestling Buddy Rose? Memories of beating Mike Miller for the Pacific Northwest Heavyweight title? Did it mean anything to you personally to win the belt or was it just part of the job? Was there a pay bump that came with the title? Memories of feuding with Bobby Jaggers for the Heavyweight title? Memories of working and/or traveling with the following in the territory: Chris Colt Teaming with Debbie Combs Alexis Smirnoff Rip Oliver Moondog Moretti Tim Flowers Ed Wiskowski (later Col. Debeers) Tiny Anderson Mr. Ebony Mega Maharishi Billy Two Eagles Karl Steiner. Kendo Nagasaki Did you ever cross paths with Roddy Piper in Portland?  He would refuse to work WWF shows in that city due to loyalty to Don Owen - did you ever meet him in that era? When was the decision made that you should head back to Texas? Do you think they brought you back too soon?  Would you have liked to have stayed in Portland or gone elsewhere to get more experience?? What was Don Owens’ reaction to you leaving the territory? Where did the idea that you were Waldo Von Erich’s son come from? Were you even aware there was a Waldo Von Erich before this? Kevin Von Erich was against the idea of creating a new Von Erich family member - how did you get along with him?  Did you understand his perspective on that? First impressions of Kevin as a person?  How did he treat you behind the scenes? First impressions of Kerry?  Did he have any issues with you working as the new “family member?” First impressions of Mike Von Erich?  Obviously, he had been through toxic shock syndrome by the time you met him - how was he?  Do you think he should have still been in the ring? What were the family dynamics like at the time?  Obviously, they had been through a lot personally and the territory wasn’t anywhere as possible as it had been. How was it finding chemistry with them in the ring?  Was it easier with some and not the others? What was life like as a Von Erich in the public eye?  How were you treated once you debuted as Lance V Erich? Given Kevin wasn’t on board with adding a new “family member” how did your relationship with him grow or change over time, if at all? Memories of your official debut at the Cotton Bowl helping Kerry during the hair vs. hair Lumberjack Match with Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez? Memories of teaming with Chris Adams?  How was he at the time as a person? Did you see signs of his excessive drinking and behavior at the time? Memories of wrestling and being around Gino Hernandez? What are your memories of how the company reacted to his passing? How do you think Gino’s passing affected Chris’ behavior? When you look back, what was the drug use and party scene like there at the time?  Was it crazier than Portland? Are you surprised by how many talents passed before their time? How did the World Class locker room compare to the Portland one? Did you feel accepted there from the start of your tenure? Was the money better in World Class vs. Portland? How was the touring for World Class vs. Portland? How often did you have to do double shots the same night? What was the effect of the touring schedule on you personally and physically? Memories of the atmosphere in The Sportatorium and in Ft. Worth? Did you ever feel accepted by the family or did you feel like you were just an employee? Were you specifically booked not to out-shine the other members of the family? What made you wrestle barefoot? Memories of wrestling Ric Flair for the NWA World Championship?  How was Flair in the ring?  What sort of advice or insight did he give you knowing he had worked with the Von Erichs quite a bit? Memories of being considered for The Rocky IV film as Ivan Drago? Memories of teaming with a young Jim Hellwig aka The Dingo Warrior? Were you surprised to see him go on to become such a massive performer for the WWF? How happy were you to have Steve Simpson come join you in Texas? Do you know what Steve and Shaun are up to today? Memories of World Class touring Israel - how insane was the fan response there?  How often did you go?  What was the culture like?  Favorite memories of those events and tours? Recollections of Chris Adams’ issues over there? Memories of wrestling The Fabulous Freedbirds and learning from them? Memories of the night you won the six man tag team belts with Kerry and Steve Simpson? Why was that night the night you were allowed to use the Iron Claw for the first time? Kerry’s motorcycle wreck was a month later.  What were the initial expectations about him potentially returning?  Was it well known that the hit foot had been amputated? Memories of touring New Japan Pro Wrestling in October 86?  Was that something Fritz set up?  Why did you leave the tour early? Memories of the following from Texas? Skandar Akbar Bruiser Brody Bronko Lubich Iceman Parsons Buddy Roberts Nord the Barbarian  Brian Adias Killer Brooks Dusty Wolfe Scott Casey Black Bart Master Gee (George Wells) Al Madril Bob Bradley The Grappler The Missing Link John Tatum Jack Victory  Michael Hayes Terry Gordy One Man Gang Great Kabuki Butch Reed Rick Rude Blackjack Mulligan Buzz Sawyer Matt Borne Missy Hyatt Sunshine The Youngbloods Abdullah the Butcher The story that floats around is that you wanted more money and when Fritz wouldn’t agree, you left the promotion.   Was this something that was brewing for some time or was it a circumstance that happened and you were gone?   Were there promises made that weren’t kept?   Is there anything they could have done to keep you on board? Were you surprised that the family made the decision to announce you weren’t actually a real member of the family on TV? What was your reaction when you saw or heard about the announcements Kerry and Fritz made about you? Did it matter to you that they broke kayfabe at the time? Some feel this was a major moment that helped ruin the fans’ trust in the Von Erichs because it came off as if the family had been lying to the fans - would you agree with this assessment?  You were still wrestling for Wild West Wrestling at the time - did you see or feel any difference in how fans treated you after Fritz’s announcement was made? Did Fritz ever try to get you to return to the fold? Would you have wanted to do it if the money was right? If you had the chance, would you want to sit down with Kevin Von Erich and talk?  If you saw him today, what would you say to him? Why did you never look to go to the NWA/WCW or WWF?  Were there ever talks about it? Did you feel blackballed out of going anywhere larger because of the issues with Fritz? What were your thoughts when you heard of the passing of Mike, Kerry and Chris? From your time being there, do you believe the stories that Fritz forced his kids into the business and controlled them? What do you think the family’s legacy in the business should be? Where did the Fabulous Lance name come from? Did you ever think about using the Von Erich name after World Class? Memories of Wild West Wrestling and why do you think that promotion didn’t last? Memories of wrestling for Carlos Colon in Puerto Rico? How was the experience of wrestling Terry Funk there? Memories of wrestling for Eddie Mansfield in Florida? Memories of touring the following countries in the 1990s? India - Wrestling Vladimir Kozlov, Mongolian Mauler, (teamed with Larry O’Day), Demolition Blast, Giant Kimala South Africa - wrestling Giant Warrior, Wrecking Crew Rage Malaysia - Wrestling Vampire Warrior (Gangrel), Jim Neidhart Memories of wrestling for the Savoldi family in IWCCW? (wrestled Greg Valentine) After wrestling, you got into the gym business in South Africa - how did you land in that world and what were the keys to building that into a successful business? Did you see The Iron Claw movie and if so, what did you think of it? MJF is in the film for a quick bit as you.  Were you disappointed you weren’t featured in a larger part of the story? What led to you writing and releasing your memoir, Lance By Chance? What was your favorite thing about being in the ring? Is there anyone you look at after you retired that you wish had the chance to have worked with them? Are there favorite matches or events you oversaw that stand out as events you are proud of? What are you up to today? What’s missing in the business today that you’d like to see return? We talked a few arenas, but what were your favorite cities to compete in? Favorite ribs or backstage stories? Since you have traveled so much, was there a Favorite country you had a chance to tour in? What was your worst travel day in pro wrestling? Favorite ribs on the road? Do you follow what the business has become today and if so, is there anyone you enjoy watching perform? If you had to pick what your legacy was in pro wrestling, what would it be? Final words for everyone who has supported your career?