- 04/15/2007 (12:00:36 am)
- Georgiann Makropoulos
With more to come…
Principles of Design Productions JJ Dillon Chat Q&A
Principles of Design Productions & Twisted Metal Wrestling proudly presented a chat session with JJ Dillon on Saturday April 14th, 2007 with a special visit by WrestlingFigs.com’s own Georgiann Makropoulos joining in for a few minutes. Below are the questions that were asked by various chatters and JJ Dillon’s answers:
Q. You are from
A. No im from NJ I got my first break in the business and spent the summer of 1973 in the Canadian Maritimes (NB and
Q. Who first got you into the wrestling business?
A. I kinda worked myself in over a period of time. I had a fan club for Johnny Valentine in 1957 I got a chance to referee when no ref showed in a snow storm for a taping in Philly 6 years later I got to wrestle myself
Q. What was so endearing about Johnny Valentine in your eyes?
A. Johnny was such a great talent and years after getting in the business that I truly understood why he was so good. He was solid and believable.
Q. Would it be wise for newer fans of the business to create a fan club for a wrestler now? Could it open doors for them to also get into the business?
A. The business has changed so much. With electronic media being so immediate today the idea of a fan club to send out info has almost become obsolete.
Q. What was it like working with Buddy Landel?
A. I think the world of Buddy Landel. He has had more than his fair share of bad breaks and I think he would be the first to admit that some where a result of his own mistakes.
Q. Which one of the Four Horsemen in your opinion was the best and why?
A. How can I pick the best horsemen that is like trying to decide which of your children you love the most. I love them all.
Q. Are you part of the newest wwe released DVD of the four Horsemen?
A. Yes... to my surprise I was approached in December. I was told that the story would not be complete without me being involved. I am very pleased with
Q. Are you excited about the NWA Fan Fest in charlotte in August?
A. I am really looking forward to the next fan fest. The first time was such a positive experience for me on a personal level. For years we were isolated from the fans and had very little contact. The FanFest allows that personal contact after all these years.
Q. What does it take these days to be a manager?
A: The role of manager may have become a lost art. The business has changed.
Q: Why has Alan “Ole Anderson” Rogowski been so critical and hands-off of the business and especially the Horsemen and Flair in particular?
A: I have known Ole since I started in the
Q: Do you think the wrestling business will ever gain the popularity back that it had in the 1980’s?
A: I don’t know if it is possible. The small territories died because the cost of gas, lodging, insurance, rent etc., etc.went up and the economics were such you couldn’t run a small territory and stay in business. Plus you were overshadowed by the national promoters.
Q: How do you become a referee in the business? You mentioned reffing before you managed or wrestled.
A: Actually, I was a ring second, and one night at a TV taping in Philly none of the refs showed up, and I got my chance. Right place at the right time. I learned to referee by watching as a fan. The very first time I was instructed to work three sides of the ring and to keep my ass out of the camera.
Q: JJ What do you think of today’s wrestling?
A: I could go on for hours about the state of wrestling today. It is not good. All the emotion is gone from wrestling today. You don’t have the diverse characters. Everyone developed their own character. Now everyone reads from someone else’s script. No individuality.
Q: Who was the best promoter to have worked for in the past?
A: I loved working for Eddie Graham in
Q: What is your opinion on Kayfabe and how it has evolved since your heyday?
A: Kayfabe is dead.
Q: What is your opinion on Hogan?
A: Hulk wasn’t the best worker by any stretch of the imagination, but he knew how to be Hulk Hogan and to sell himself. Many of the people that drew big money weren’t great workers…and some great workers never drew a dime. Figure that out???
Q: What do you think about the booking in TNA and with the direction they are going do you think they can ever be viable competition for the WWE?
A: First regarding TNA…I think the biggest mistake was trying to emulate the WWE. Every time a talent leaves the WWE and goes to TNA and that talent cuts a promo knocking the WWE, they come across as second rate to the WWE. Same with the lame skits that recognize the WWE.
Q: What are your thoughts on Ric Flair in the WWE right now?
A: I feel for Flair…I too hate to see him these days….how could you have Wrestlemania and have Flair on your roster and him not be on the card. I would hate to think that Flair is still wrestling because he has to financially. Most guys could have retired on the booze Ric has spilled over the years.
Q: What have you been doing in your second life JJ since you “retired” from the “bidness” in 2003?
A: I actually work for the state of
Q: Do you think Tully Blanchard could have had a long and storied career if he would have stayed healthy? How about Magnum TA if he hadn’t been in a car wreck?
A: Tully and Magnum were great talents….Tully still is. He is 50 and in great shape, and he has great pride. We were just scratching the surface working with TA when he went down from the wreck.
Q: How come Tully never tried making a comeback?
A: The business has changed so much…Tully would hate the business today…no patience.
Q: If WWE or TNA offered you a contract, would you consider it?
A: No, I have no interest in TNA or WWE. Russo is still at TNA, and he may be a changed person (?), but I still don’t respect him. The business requires you to invest 24/7 of your time. I don’t have that kind of energy at my age.
Q: Who is the most annoying/disliked talent you ever worked with?
A: This may sound like a cop-out, but I can’t think of one talent I disliked working with. I guess you could say Vince Russo.
Q: Have you seen the Horsemen DVD yet?
A: I have seen the first disc of the Horsemen DVD and it is very well done. After some soul searching I agreed to be interviewed for the DVD. I was told that the story would not be complete without my involvement. So, I did it….and I thought I owed it to the other Horsemen. It is very well done…nicely edited and good flow…the WWE didn’t try to rewrite history with this one…the main criticism has been too few matches and the selection of matches on the DVD.
Q: Was Russo just a cocky jerk or a backstabber? Besides his bad booking was he just a dislikable guy?
A: Russo had no respect for the business…and in all my years he was the only one I couldn’t trust. Trust is important in wrestling. You put yourself in vulnerable positions and rely on trust. If you were on a high trapeze team and let go of the bar to be caught by another on the team to keep from falling and maybe killing yourself….that is trust…You couldn’t trust Russo.
Q: What were your thoughts on the Ring of Honor show you worked? Will there be a Volume 2 of the Jim Cornette/JJ Dillon shoot interview DVD?
A: I loved working with ROH and doing the interview with JC. I have such respect for him. I hope we can do a Vol. II.
Q: Can you shed some light on why Ole was absent on the Horsemen DVD?
A: It was Ole’s choice. Ole has some serious health issues and I regard him as a close friend. I think Ole is very angry at what the business has become.
Q: You said in your book about the possibility of moving up to the death row department at the corrections facility….did that ever happen?
A: I work on death row from time to time. Some great wrestling fans there too. I took it as a job and I try to never be judgmental. There are people in prison that don’t belong there, and other people on the street that should be behind bars.
Q: Where do you see Harley Race on the all time top list of great workers?
A: Harley is near the top…and a legit tough guy to boot.
Q: How far do you think TNA can go?
A: Regarding TNA…you sometimes only get one shot at a first impression…I don’t know what they can do to turn things around and make an impact…I don’t think it is with Russo.
Q: Blackjack Mulligan recently did an interview where he talked about after his prison term he called you in WCW looking for a job and you basically said, “No see you have a nice life” any truth to that?
A: I have too much respect for Blackjack to ever speak to him in those terms.
We would like to say thank you to everyone that came in to talk to Mr. Dillon and hope to see you for the next chat. Details coming soon about the chat, so please stay tuned to http://www.principlesofdesignonline.com or http://www.twistedmetalwrestling.com for all your chat information. Please sign up on the POD Productions message board for all the late breaking news and let us know that you are from WrestlingFigs! See you all ringside!
Thanks to Paul McClemens
