Spike Dudley Shoot Interview

A man who, in nine years, went from runt of the litter to the boss of the (former) Dudley family. The original giant killer. A grade school teacher who left teaching third grade to achieve his dream and go beyond while becoming WWE Cruiserweight, European, Hardcore, and Tag Team Champion. A guy who stayed in ECW as the ship was sinking, who gave his body to the fans, in a brutal series of matches against World Champion Mike Awesome and Television Champion Rhino, taking some of the sickest bumps in the history of the promotion. For the first time ever, Spike Dudley does his first shoot interview. If you want tons of great new ECW stories along with some WWE stories, this is the shoot for you as Spike is open and honest about both of his runs. Hear a true wrestling fan speak on the business as Spike holds nothing back. From ECW on TNN, to Smackdown on UPN, Spike has had a career which has seen him go all over the wrestling landscape of America. From coming into the WWE when ECW folded, ’til being released earlier this year during Black Wednesday. Little Spike Dudley has had quite the career and now shares his stories with everyone on this anticipated release. Experience the rise and fall of ECW firsthand with spike as he rode the roller coaster all the way to the end, then get trapped in the amusement of the WWE funhouse! Were you a fan growing up Who did you like watching Did you play any sports growing up When did you know you wanted to give it a shot Were you discouraged at all early on because of your size Now you were a third grade teacher, when did you decide that you were going to make wrestling your full time career As a former teacher what are your thoughts on Matt Stryker who as a teacher used sick time to wrestle in Japan and got caught and fired How did you meet Roland Alexander Thoughts on Roland Memories of training Did you enter the school to be a wrestler Memories of Chris Daniels, Donovan Morgan, Mike Modest Memories of your matches out West with Erin O Grady What do you remember about the indy years before ECW How were you contacted, were you contacted or did you contact them Did you ever have any talks with ECW before that time Did you know anyone in ECW before you came in Were you nervous coming into ECW What was the biggest misconception you had of ECW Initial impressions of Paul Heyman Were the other guys receptive to you in the locker room How receptive were Bubba and Devon Memories early on of working against them Do you think they were overly stiff Did anyone take liberties with you because of your size Did anyone in ECW ever refuse to put you over or sell Memories of Chris Candido Memories of matches with Axl Did you prefer tag teams or singles When you started in ECW, were you part of the ring crew Were you caught in the middle of the problems between Erin and everyone else Initial thoughts on Taz How did your friendship with Taz grow over the years Thoughts on working Taz Thoughts on Dreamer Thoughts on teaming with Mikey Thoughts on matches with the FBI Thoughts on matches with Balls and Axl The Bam Bam Bigelow feud. Whos idea was it? Did Bam Bam have any reservations about putting you over, memories of the matches Would you say that was a turning point for you in your career How come do you think Danny Doring and Chris Chetti have not been able to transition to WWE Thoughts on teaming with New Jack against the Dudleys Thoughts on working with Gran Naniwa At what point in your career did you think, wow I made it? Thoughts on matches with Rhino What did you think when Paul told you he was giving you the tag team titles How did ECW change when Taz left Which departure surprised you most? Raven, Saturn, Taz, or Mike Awesome Who were you surprised never continued success after ECW closed and vice versa How crazy was the drug scene in ECW Thoughts on Tajiri What do you remember about the whole deal with Mike Awesome Do you still have heat with him over it How do you think that affected ECW long term Were you ever contacted by WCW when you were in ECW Thoughts on working with RVD Thoughts on Sabu At what point did you realize there were problems in ECW Did Paul E ever lie to you Was it discouraging the less and less he would come to house shows Did you have in your mind a breaking point where if things didn’t turn around by this time you had a back up plan Who did you ride with in ECW What do you remember about the night you injured your knee against Mike Awesome Did you feel any pressures to return early What did you do during your time off Any good road stories What do you both think made ECW so successful, and at what point do you think ECW was at its highest point? Conversely, what do you think caused ECW to fail and what do you think other than the close itself was the lowest point? Memories of the final ECW PPV What did it mean to you to get the ECW title How much money were you owed by ECW Did you ask Paul directly the future of ECW and if so what did he say Memories of the final shows in Arkansas How did you know it was finally overCould an ECW succeed today How aware were you of Vince McMahon’s financial involvement in ECW? Do you think you were suckered by Paul Heyman It has become public that Paul was under contract to the WWE before ECW actually closed, what are your thoughts on that What is the biggest misconception about ECW Memories of the night Sandman wrestled naked Who do think were the most overpushed guys/girls in ECW? What do you remember about the ECW/XPW angle Were you contacted by XPW after ECW closed Dave Meltzer wrote a lengthy piece about ECW and said that Vince McMahon’s deal as part of funding Paul was for Paul to steer talent towards Vince and away from WCW when leaving. What do you all think of that, and can you remember any instances where that happened? Axl Rotten did a shoot where he mentioned the final years in ECW and the guys on top and said that those guys weren’t ECW, thoughts? You were one of the guys that came into the WWE pretty quickly after ECW closed. How did that happen? Did you have a back up plan after ECW if you never got a call to go to the WWE How different was the Paul Heyman in WWE as compared to ECW Did Bubba and Devon go to bat for you to get into WWE Initial impressions of Jim Ross and Vince What were you told about how you would be used Thoughts on your initial feud with the Dudleys, Edge, Christian, and Rhyno and the Hardys and Lita How receptive was the locker room to you Were you stigmitzed as an “ECW guy” Thoughts on your first pay per view match at Backlash 01 Was it weird to be working with Justin on a WWE pay per view Did you feel more or less pressure on a WWE PPV compared to an ECW ppv Was it easier or more frustrating putting spots together in six man tags and can you give examples Thoughts on Wrestlemania 17, your first Wrestlemania How different was life for you now that you were now a true celebrity, wrestling superstar How weird was the locker room once the WCW guys started working there Were the WCW guys ribbed a lot Were guys less willing to sell for someone of your size in the WWE then ECW Can you point to any specific instances Whos idea was it for the story with Molly Was it difficult to work that kind of angle with her since shes very religious Thoughts on your series with the Hollys How odd was it to be working with Erin on a WWE pay per view Thoughts on Bob Holly, do you think hes a bully? Are you surprised it didn’t work out for Raven in WWE Thoughts on some of the writers: Brian Gerwitz Dave Lagana Paul Heyman Stephanie Mcmahon In July 2001 you broke your fibula. What kind of pressures did you feel to come back early or even wrestle through it Did you find the road agents helpful or a hinderance Were you on the “flight from hell” and if so, thoughts Whos idea was it to put you and Taz together How different was Taz at this time compared to his ECW tenure What was it like for you to be a WWF tag team champion Thoughts on working with Bubba and Devon in the WWE Do you think they ever rubbed anyone the wrong way Thoughts on wrestling at Wrestlemania 18 and winning the hardcore title Thoughts on Randy Orton Thoughts on Brock Lesnar and how he left Thoughts on Kurt Angle Thoughts on Eddie Guerrero Were you surprised when Bubba and Devon were split apart Whos idea was it to put you and Bubba back together Memories of your matches with Benoit and Guerrero Memories of matches with William Regal Many people say Triple H holds people down and has too much power on Raw, what are your thoughts on him and his reputation? Thoughts on the match you had with him on Raw Was it his idea to give you that much Thoughts on John Cena Thoughts on newsletter and the net Were you pressured to alter your physical appearance Did you use steroids What do you think of steroids in wrestling What did you do to get yourself in that kind of shape Will you maintain that lifestyle Thoughts on your series with Jamie Noble Do you think the Cruiserweight division will ever be successful Are you aware that the cruisers were told to tone down there style, and thoughts Thoughts on the 4 corners Survivor series match Thoughts on Rey Misterio Jr How much of being successful in the WWE is about politics Thoughts on Chavo Guerrero Thoughts on the entire Edge, Lita, Matt Hardy situation Thoughts on Wrestlemania this past year and the battle royal For six or so years you were on the road constantly, what has life been like for you without that kind of lifestyle Thoughts on Paul London Thoughts on matches with Kidman Thoughts on One NIght Stand Thoughts on RVDs speech Thoughts on the inclusion of WWE talent Were you disappointed that they completely dropped the angle the next night Is there anyone that wasn’t on ONS that you think should have been Thoughts on the JBL-Meanie incident at ONS Thoughts on JBL when you have worked with him Are you surprised Meanie got a job out of it Were you worried what would happen if the table didn’t catch on fire at One Night Stand Good road stories from your time in WWE Good rib stories Were you surprised when you were told you were droppin the belt to announcer, Sho Funaki Thoughts on Steve Austin Thoughts on the Rock How were you told you were being released How surprised were you Are you upset that you are released while less talented guys are still employed there Were you surprised about anyone else’s release Did you have any proposed gimmicks or angles in the WWE that were turned down Fav matches in the WWE Fav guys to work with and why Least fav guys to work with and why At what point in your career did you think you made it Any regrets Does it bother you when you see less talented guys being pushed at a time when your released What is your future Do you think TNA has a future Do you think you will be a part of it When did you find out that the WWE would prevent you from using your name What is your side of the story Have you talked to Paul since all of this went down Do you think this has closed the door on a return to the WWE Do you have any desire to get out and work indys How much of a toll has all the punishment you have absorbed on your small frame taken on you at this point in your life Thoughts on Shane Douglas’ Hardcore Homecoming series Does it bother you after your release when you see all these contests for 250 grand a year like Tough Enough or Diva Searches Do you watch tapes and if so, who If WWE started ECW back up, could it work Do you think an indy can rise above and compete like ECW did in the current climate Any regrets