WrestlingFigs > Wrestling News Posts > INTERVIEW RECAP OF DR. TOM PRITCHARD
INTERVIEW RECAP OF DR. TOM PRITCHARD
  • 07/13/2006 (3:11:46 pm)
  • Chris Murray

ON BETWEEN THE ROPES…

Between The Ropes
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Central Florida's Sports Radio 740 The Team
Simulcast online at www.BetweenTheRopes.com
 
On Wednesday night, July 12, Dr. Tom Pritchard joined hosts Brian Fritz, Dickerman, and Vito DeNucci live on Between The Ropes on Central Florida's Sports Radio 740 The Team to chat about career all over the country, working in talent relations for WWE, his participation in the Capitol Wrestling Legends FanFest from August 11-13 in Rockville, Maryland, and more.
 
Don't forget that you can now pick up your copy of the critically acclaimed Between The Ropes: Wrestling's Greatest Triumphs and Failures book at retailers, both online and in your neighborhood, for the retail price of $19.95. Order through the www.BetweenTheRopes.com website and receive a free 'Best of BTR' CD of classic interviews with every book purchase. Check out the site to also find out how can get a FEEE AUTOGRAPHED BEST OF SAMOA JOE DVD.
 
Dr. Tom opened reminiscing a bit on his days as a member of The Heavenly Bodies with host Vito DeNucci, a member of The New Heavenly Bodies tag-team along with 'Classy' Chris Nelson.
 
Living in East Tennessee now, Dr. Tom is staying busy on the local independent wrestling scene, putting together camps and seminars for young wrestlers and "finding out that there's even more people out there that don't know what they're doing than I thought. It was an eye opener coming back."
 
The discussion shifted to the Smokey Mountain Wrestling days. Tom didn't feel Smokey Mountain could have been a factor on a major level. He was happy to have the steady job and enjoyed working in front of people that still had a passion for wrestling. But he knew the reality was inevitable that Smokey Mountain would end up succumbing to the big promotions like every territory. He felt his Smokey Mountain days and his time in the Continental territory were the two best periods of his wrestling career.
 
Dr. Tom talked a bit about his two Heavenly Bodies tag-team partners. Stan Lane was more laid back and generally went with the flow. He told some classic stories about working with Jimmy Del Ray, including post-show activities at the local bar where Jimmy would get a bit boisterous while Tom preferred to keep a low profile. Jimmy liked to give people options at the bar - drink or a chop.
 
Pritchard talked about working with the late Chris Candido as part of The Bodydonnas in WWE. After his run with Jimmy Del Ray ended, WWE asked him to cut his hair. He refused at first, but wanted the job and reconsidered. He enjoyed teaming with Candido, but the side of dealing with Chris and Tammy together was unpleasant. "Tammy was one of those girls who was very cute at 18 years old and everybody was looking at her. And I'm sure she grew up hearing how great looking she was. And she was. And then she went to WWF and got a push and some people handle that well and other people don't handle that very well. She was one of those who really felt the world revolved around her and it didn't always help Chris. She could be very nasty, let me put it to you like that. At that time, there was a lot of stuff going on with everybody. That was at the time when there were people like Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash, and Razor Ramon and people like that. If you don't know those guys and don't understand how to take their wit and humor, they can be brutal. But you have to let it slide off your back and I don't think it slid off Chris' back too well. I had known those guys for a few years before I even got there. And I knew how Scott was. I knew Shawn. I knew Kevin. And when they saw somebody vulnerable, they just went after it. And Tammy was right there egging it on."
 
The talk transitioned to Dr. Tom's work in talent relations for WWE after his in-ring career ended. He welcomed the change since he had been physically messed up after nineteen years of wrestling. He had no problems moving to Stamford and didn't mind living there. "I looked forward to it. And it was cool when I first got there. And it was cool up until J.R. left."
 
Dr. Tom talked about the internal changes in WWE after J.R. left his position as vice president of talent relations. He said that he used to go to work in sweatpants and a t-shirt since he was a coach and J.R. never said a word since Tom did his job and found talent. John Laurinaitis took over and asked him to wear business attire and painted the office and made other changes, but it was mostly cosmetic. He felt J.R. had more passion for the job and found guys that he felt would be major stars in the company regardless of their look or physique whereas Laurinaitis looked for guys who would make the boss happy. J.R. wouldn't mind taking the heat and voicing his beliefs that might contradict with the boss while Laurinaitis generally agreed with Vince McMahon and believed everything was great. Pritchard felt that there aren't any people in WWE management now that would rock the boat or take a chance to voice a conflicting opinion for fear of reprisals down the road.
 
The interview concluded with Dr. Tom offering a piece of advice for potential wrestlers trying to get a break. "Do not say no. Let me relay this to you. The Highlanders, Rory and Robbie, two guys who came to a camp of mine in New England about four years ago. Didn't know how to get in. They had been doing some independents. Rory, the bald headed guy, is from Scotland and came over here to get his break. Everybody laughed at him and he was catching a whole bunch of crap from his family and friends. I said, 'You can't take no for an answer. You have to persevere. You can't quit.' If you quit, then there's nothing left. You've quit. I always tell him, 'Whatever it takes. Don't say no. You've got to take it from there.' Perseverance is the key.
 
Dr. Tom Pritchard will be appearing at the Capitol Wrestling Legends FanFest from August 11-13 in Rockville, Maryland. Other stars appearing at the convention include Bret "The Hitman" Hart, Jim Neidhart, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Jim Cornette, Superstar Billy Graham, and dozens more. For more information, visit www.capitollegends.com.
 
To listen to the Tom Pritchard interview and the entire July 12 edition of Between The Ropes in streaming audio or to download the full show in MP3 format to listen to on your iPod or MP3 player, visit the show online at http://www.BetweenTheRopes.com. Don't forget that Between The Ropes: Wrestling's Greatest Triumphs and Failures is now available in book stores, online retailers, and also at www.BetweenTheRopes.com exclusively with a free 'Best of BTR' CD. Join us for Between The Ropes for two hours every Wednesday night at 10:00pm ET on Central Florida's Sports Radio 740 The Team and worldwide on www.BetweenTheRopes.com.
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