RICK MARTEL DISCUSSES CONFUSION REGARDING HIS RELATION TO "SENSATIONAL SHERRI" MARTEL, WHY HIS FAMILY CHOSE THE WRESTING NAME "MARTEL," REASONS FOR HIS RETIREMENT, AND MORE

By WorldWrestlingInsanity.com

The 118th edition of JG’s Radio Free Insanity is on the air and available right now at WorldWrestlingInsanity.com (Flash and MP3 download) This week's show features former AWA World Champion and WWF Tag Team Champion Rick Martel.

James Guttman begins the show with some background on this week's guest.  Rick Martel is a true wrestling legend and someone who has accomplished a ton in his career.  From the AWA Championship to the WWF Tag Team Championship to being one of the industry's most memorable heels, Rick has done it all.  Now, he's joined ClubWWI.com to discuss his entire career from start to finish.

Rick's 50 minute ClubWWI.com shoot includes talk of: Tom Zenk's sudden depature from WWF and the Can-Am Connection, why Tom's logic was flawed, why Rick was worried it would affect him, Strike Force, his history of teaming with Tito Santana before WWF, his relation to Sensational Sherri Martel, why his family chose the "Martel" name, practicing his blindfold match with Jake Roberts prior to WrestleMania, feelings about Slick, not getting an Intercontinental Title run, King Curtis, what he learned from Stan Hansen, Ric Flair, Jumbo Tsuruta, the Boston Crab, living his gimmick, doing English interviews when his first language was French, and so much more.

JG then tells listeners to check out all the upcoming audio on ClubWWI.com in the next few days including his post-One Night Stand audio report, ZAH's ROH Take No Prisoners Audio Review, and….on Wednesday…

One of the most controversial shoot interviews you'll ever hear…anywhere.  It's one hour with someone who blows the roof off the wrestling business and then takes the roof and pees on it.  You won't believe what this person has to say and you won't hear it anywhere else besides ClubWWI.com so keep your eyes peeled.

Guttman then speaks about WWE's desperation in the last few weeks and the transparency of their recent publicity stunts along with thoughts from casual fans who mention memories of the company and why they don't watch now.  With that, he cues up clips from Rick Martel's 50 minute www.ClubWWI.com shoot.

- ClubWWI.com -

James Guttman welcomes Rick Martel to the show and asks how things are by him.  Rick says that life is really great.  He has a seven year old daughter and now can spend time with his wife and family.  He's keeping in shape and manages real estate.  James says that it must be great to be able to sit back after a successful career and enjoy life after wrestling.  Martel says it's a long time overdue.  He returned to wrestling in 1992, but had to retire in 1998.  He had some pain and some x-rays showed problems with his hips.  Because of this, he had to get two artificial hips.

"But now, the operation was four years ago so I feel fine – like nothing happened.  So I go to the gym.  I do a lot of cardio vascular workouts and stuff and I feel fantastic."

JG says that it's great to hear about someone taking care of their injuries early instead of pushing themselves too far, as is often the case.  Rick agrees and responds:

"My body has been good to me so now I have to be good to it.  You know?  Pay my debt."

- ClubWWI.com –

James brings up the Martel name.  Coming up, JG thought it was his real name, but was surprised to learn it wasn't.  He asked Rick about "Martel" and the inspiration behind his family's decision to use it.  Martel explains that his real name is "Vignault," but people can never pronounce it correctly when they see it on paper.  Rick's brother Michele used it at first, but people would butcher it.  His brother ended up choosing Martel because it was French and it was easy to say.  Rick also realized later on that it was a blessing because he could use his real name on the phone and not have the notoriety of people knowing who he is because he used a different name to wrestle.

"One thing funny is Sherri Martel.  People thought she was my sister or wife or whatever.  I don't know why she picked that name but I never really got around to ask her. "

JG brings up that he and Sherri weren't just in WWF together, but in Canada as well.  Rick says that she was a great lady and he had a lot of respect for her.

Rick's 50 minute ClubWWI.com shoot includes talk of: Tom Zenk's sudden depature from WWF and the Can-Am Connection, why Tom's logic was flawed, why Rick was worried it would affect him, Strike Force, his history of teaming with Tito Santana before WWF, his relation to Sensational Sherri Martel, why his family chose the "Martel" name, practicing his blindfold match with Jake Roberts prior to WrestleMania, feelings about Slick, not getting an Intercontinental Title run, King Curtis, what he learned from Stan Hansen, Ric Flair, Jumbo Tsuruta, the Boston Crab, living his gimmick, doing English interviews when his first language was French, and so much more.

Remember, well over 100 star interviews are available on ClubWWI.com for less than five dollars a month. Among the other guests you can hear from are: Jesse Ventura, Terry Funk, Jerry Lawler, Vince Russo, Eric Bischoff, Ahmed Johnson, Bobby Heenan, Kevin Nash, The Iron Sheik, Sid Vicious, Paul Bearer, Bruno Sammartino, Sean Mooney, Scott D'Amore, Tito Santana, Al Snow, Tod Gordon, Charlie Haas, Tom Prichard, Jacques Rougeau, Tammy Sytch, Too Cold Scorpio, Ole Anderson, Kid Kash, Ivan Koloff, Jackie Gayda, John Heidenreich, Jimmy Hart, Jimmy Valiant, Bad News Brown, Nick Bockwinkel, Dory Funk Jr, Diamond Dallas Page, Rob Conway, Sylvain Grenier, Buff Bagwell, Christian Cage, Jazz, Demolition Ax and Smash, Koko B. Ware, Ricky Morton, Dustin Rhodes, Damian Demento, Fred "Shockmaster" Ottman, Cpl. Kirchner, One Man Gang, Scott Steiner, Shawn Stasiak, Ted DiBiase, Ivory, Chris Masters, Elix Skipper, Kamala, Samoa Joe, Giant Bernard, Bill DeMott, Juvi "Juice" Guerrera, Nora "Molly Holly" Greenwald, Nick Dinsmore, Harley Race, Bull Buchanan, D-Lo Brown, Road Warrior Animal, Missing Link, Slick, Nidia, George Steele, Christy Hemme, Disco Inferno, Paul Ellering, Vito, Steve Blackman, Bushwhacker Luke, AJ Styles, Chris Daniels, Dennis Stamp, Shawn Daivari, Kevin Sullivan, B.G. James, Ron Killings, Zach Gowan, Dan Severn, Earl and Dave Hebner, Spike Dudley, Rodney Mack, Larry Zybszko, Rick Steiner, Mae Young, and many, more. 

James Guttman's second book, "Shoot First...Ask Questions Later," is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com.