ROB CONWAY TALKS ABOUT LEAVING WWE AND MORE..
- 06/04/2007 (3:07:41 pm)
- Press Release
Booking information, my space page and more….
ROB CONWAY TALKS ABOUT LEAVING WWE, JOINING TNA, HOW FANS CAN ASK HIM QUESTIONS, THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR, AND MORE
Credit: WorldWrestlingInsanity.com
This week’s 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 guest is the Con Man himself, Rob Conway.
James Guttman starts things off by talking about Rob Conway. Conway's recent release surprised a lot of people because so many thought he had a huge amount of potential. That wasn't the only surprise, though. Guttman says that when he asked Rob to be on the show, he figured it would be his first interview since leaving WWE. James didn't imagine it would be his first shoot interview ever.
JG looks at why that is and talks about the new era of released stars. With the way the wrestling industry has changed, many guys spend years with WWE (in Rob's case - 7) at a young age. As opposed to before where wrestlers would spend years on the Indy scene and then get called up, so many stars find themselves in WWE developmental early and never have a chance to do the journeyman thing. Years later, when they finally leave, they embrace the opportunity to embark on new directions in their career rather than being bitter.
Guttman brings up Doug Basham, who spoke about the same post-WWE excitement on Radio Free Insanity that Rob Conway did this week. He says you can tell it's not someone trying to mask their resentment over being let go. It's listening to a long-time wrestling fan, as Rob and Doug are, and hearing them talk about a stage of their career that they've probably wanted to do for a long time but never had the chance. It sets them apart from wrestlers who didn't follow the business growing up and therefore can't appreciate the things they experience. James compares it to golf. If you hate golf, but find you're good at it and go pro, you won't be able to enjoy the major things you accomplish as much as a golf fan in the same position.
James reminds listeners that today is just a portion of the full shoot. Conway's full interview is up on ClubWWI.com and lasted for 45 minutes. In his first ever shoot interview, Rob Conway speaks very openly about a number of subjects in his career including why La Restistance was split up, the WWE Raw Homecoming, taking the Von Erich claw, Taboo Tuesday, OVW, USWA, wrestling Linda Miles, Heat, Randy Savage, Dusty Rhodes, Jerry Lawler, and so much more.
JG reminds listeners that aside from Rob Conway there's over 70 interviews on ClubWWI.com with top names. Guests include: Kevin Nash, Jerry Lawler, Diamond Dallas Page, Dustin Rhodes, Paul Bearer, Bobby Heenan, Ted DiBiase, Christian Cage, Samoa Joe, Road Warrior Animal, The Iron Sheik, Rhino, Earl Hebner, The Steiner Brothers, Nidia, Christy Hemme, Chris Daniels, AJ Styles, Vince Russo and dozens of others. Plus audio shows from Lisa "Ivory" Moretti, D-Lo Brown, Kevin Kelly, Orlando Jordan, and Dr. Tom Prichard.
JG then talks about how Les Thatcher just recently joined the list of names on ClubWWI.com with audios. Les ran the HWA when it was WWE's developmental league and writes the Wrestler's Eye View for PWInsider. Not only that, but he has been with Smoky Mountain Wrestling, WWE, WCW, and everywhere else. He's one of wrestling's most respected minds and brings that insight to ClubWWI. His debut lasted for 83 minutes.
With that, James cues up the interview with Rob Conway.
James Guttman begins by asking Rob Conway how things are by him since the release. Rob says he's doing good and then explains that the company called him and said they'd be invoking their 90 day clause. It surprised him because he didn't feel he fit into the same category as everyone else who was released because he wasn't a "gimmick" really, but more of a wrestler. He says that within 24 hours he went from being down about it to being really excited about it. Conway says he now has the chance to choose what he does and where he wrestles without anyone telling him what to do. Having been with WWE for seven years and although he appreciates the time he had there, he never had time off until now and says he's going to take full advantage of it.
JG says that Rob's lack of TV time may endear him to the smart fans who think he has more to offer than they've seen. Conway says that he's looking forward to it. Wherever he goes, he can adjust his style and suit what the audience wants.
"I can wrestle a Memphis style. I can wrestle more of a Chris Benoit style. We did 500 squats before every match….What I'm looking forward to doing is not being pigeonholed into 'you gotta do this, you gotta do that, in this length of time.' To go out and just have free reign too feel it out and see what people are wanting. I'm not trying to convert people into liking a different style. I feel like I can got out and adjust because they're the ones paying their hard earned money so whatever they like I can adjust my style to it."
JG brings up Rob's physique, which Conway mentioned the importance of. Guttman asks about how he keeps in shape on the road. Rob says he has a system so it's not hard to do, but hard to keep motivated. Bodybuilders get in shape for one show. Wrestlers keep it going for long periods of time. Conway says that in 2005, he got his body fat checked every two weeks and it stayed under five for five months. He brought his food with him when he traveled and called it "really bland stuff." The problem is staying motivated. When you set a standard for yourself, you don't get positive reinforcement.
"What happened with me, I felt myself slipping in condition the last six months I was there. How you're being used affects your motivation as far everything you do in wrestling. If you're a on a consecutive losing streak and you're not on television every week, it makes it harder to say I want to hit this extra set and do this extra tanning because I was already leaner than everybody else in 2005 and it didn't really get me where I want to go."
He says that it didn't really make anyone notice his ability even though he was in shape and it affected him. "Chicken and tuna and rice six meals a day isn't nearly as a appealing when you know you're going to be on television." When you tell people you're 98% fat free, they have to be able to look at you and say, "He is." Now that Rob's at home, he's training like crazy.
"By the time that I'm seen on any television program again, people will say that guys' not just sitting around. He trained really hard."
James brings up Les Thatcher's audio and how they spoke about wrestlers who don't do conditioning and why that is. Conway talks about that subject and gives his opinion on why it doesn't happen for everyone. He mentions that it's all about influences. If you grew up watching Dusty Rhodes, you were into promos more. If you were a Ultimate Warrior fan, you were into conditioning more. They also discuss wrestlers being fans of wrestling. Conway says that wrestlers are "the biggest fans out there."
- ClubWWI.com break -
In progress, Rob is discussing promos and how many guys could cut their own promo because they did them in front of the mirror growing up. Any wrestling fan did. He says that he can come up with something better for himself than someone else can come up with for him.
As the show comes to a close, James gives Rob a chance to speak to his fans. Conway says:
"Over the next year or so I should be coming someplace close enough that you can come see me. I can also be reached at [email protected]. And as much as I want people who are looking to book me for a live event, I have no problem answering any questions someone might have as a fan. Because something most people don't know and It tried to stress this, they guys that dedicate themselves to being a wrestler are the biggest wrestling fans in the word so I have no problem answering anything or talking to you if I'm online. I'm very accessible, which I never had the chance to do."
JG asks about TNA really quickly and Rob says he can't speak to them yet, but as a wrestler "that's what I do, I wrestle. You want to find a place to do what you do and do it on television." He says that we all watched it on TV and that's what we want to do.
"If they come calling, I'm gonna have an open ear."
Rob Conway's full interview is up on ClubWWI.com and lasted for 45 minutes. In his first ever shoot interview, Rob Conway speaks very openly about a number of subjects in his career including why La Resistance was split up, the WWE Raw Homecoming, taking the Von Erich claw, Taboo Tuesday, OVW, USWA, wrestling Linda Miles, Heat, Randy Savage, and so much more.
Also on ClubWWI.com, you can hear over 60 exclusive interviews with wrestling’s top names including Kevin Nash, Jerry Lawler, DDP, Paul Bearer, Bobby Heenan, Ted DiBiase, Christian Cage, Samoa Joe, Road Warrior Animal, The Iron Sheik, Rhino, Earl Hebner, The Steiner Brothers, Nidia, Christy Hemme, Chris Daniels, AJ Styles, Vince Russo and dozens of others. Plus audio shows from Lisa "Ivory" Moretti, D-Lo Brown, Kevin Kelly, Orlando Jordan, and Dr. Tom Prichard. JG’s Radio Free Insanity is always free and always on the air each weekend at WorldWrestlingInsanity.com, with extended interviews and show archives available on ClubWWI.com. James Guttman’s book, World Wrestling Insanity, is available at Amazon.com or wherever books are sold.
Credit: WorldWrestlingInsanity.com
This week’s 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 guest is the Con Man himself, Rob Conway.
James Guttman starts things off by talking about Rob Conway. Conway's recent release surprised a lot of people because so many thought he had a huge amount of potential. That wasn't the only surprise, though. Guttman says that when he asked Rob to be on the show, he figured it would be his first interview since leaving WWE. James didn't imagine it would be his first shoot interview ever.
JG looks at why that is and talks about the new era of released stars. With the way the wrestling industry has changed, many guys spend years with WWE (in Rob's case - 7) at a young age. As opposed to before where wrestlers would spend years on the Indy scene and then get called up, so many stars find themselves in WWE developmental early and never have a chance to do the journeyman thing. Years later, when they finally leave, they embrace the opportunity to embark on new directions in their career rather than being bitter.
Guttman brings up Doug Basham, who spoke about the same post-WWE excitement on Radio Free Insanity that Rob Conway did this week. He says you can tell it's not someone trying to mask their resentment over being let go. It's listening to a long-time wrestling fan, as Rob and Doug are, and hearing them talk about a stage of their career that they've probably wanted to do for a long time but never had the chance. It sets them apart from wrestlers who didn't follow the business growing up and therefore can't appreciate the things they experience. James compares it to golf. If you hate golf, but find you're good at it and go pro, you won't be able to enjoy the major things you accomplish as much as a golf fan in the same position.
James reminds listeners that today is just a portion of the full shoot. Conway's full interview is up on ClubWWI.com and lasted for 45 minutes. In his first ever shoot interview, Rob Conway speaks very openly about a number of subjects in his career including why La Restistance was split up, the WWE Raw Homecoming, taking the Von Erich claw, Taboo Tuesday, OVW, USWA, wrestling Linda Miles, Heat, Randy Savage, Dusty Rhodes, Jerry Lawler, and so much more.
JG reminds listeners that aside from Rob Conway there's over 70 interviews on ClubWWI.com with top names. Guests include: Kevin Nash, Jerry Lawler, Diamond Dallas Page, Dustin Rhodes, Paul Bearer, Bobby Heenan, Ted DiBiase, Christian Cage, Samoa Joe, Road Warrior Animal, The Iron Sheik, Rhino, Earl Hebner, The Steiner Brothers, Nidia, Christy Hemme, Chris Daniels, AJ Styles, Vince Russo and dozens of others. Plus audio shows from Lisa "Ivory" Moretti, D-Lo Brown, Kevin Kelly, Orlando Jordan, and Dr. Tom Prichard.
JG then talks about how Les Thatcher just recently joined the list of names on ClubWWI.com with audios. Les ran the HWA when it was WWE's developmental league and writes the Wrestler's Eye View for PWInsider. Not only that, but he has been with Smoky Mountain Wrestling, WWE, WCW, and everywhere else. He's one of wrestling's most respected minds and brings that insight to ClubWWI. His debut lasted for 83 minutes.
With that, James cues up the interview with Rob Conway.
James Guttman begins by asking Rob Conway how things are by him since the release. Rob says he's doing good and then explains that the company called him and said they'd be invoking their 90 day clause. It surprised him because he didn't feel he fit into the same category as everyone else who was released because he wasn't a "gimmick" really, but more of a wrestler. He says that within 24 hours he went from being down about it to being really excited about it. Conway says he now has the chance to choose what he does and where he wrestles without anyone telling him what to do. Having been with WWE for seven years and although he appreciates the time he had there, he never had time off until now and says he's going to take full advantage of it.
JG says that Rob's lack of TV time may endear him to the smart fans who think he has more to offer than they've seen. Conway says that he's looking forward to it. Wherever he goes, he can adjust his style and suit what the audience wants.
"I can wrestle a Memphis style. I can wrestle more of a Chris Benoit style. We did 500 squats before every match….What I'm looking forward to doing is not being pigeonholed into 'you gotta do this, you gotta do that, in this length of time.' To go out and just have free reign too feel it out and see what people are wanting. I'm not trying to convert people into liking a different style. I feel like I can got out and adjust because they're the ones paying their hard earned money so whatever they like I can adjust my style to it."
JG brings up Rob's physique, which Conway mentioned the importance of. Guttman asks about how he keeps in shape on the road. Rob says he has a system so it's not hard to do, but hard to keep motivated. Bodybuilders get in shape for one show. Wrestlers keep it going for long periods of time. Conway says that in 2005, he got his body fat checked every two weeks and it stayed under five for five months. He brought his food with him when he traveled and called it "really bland stuff." The problem is staying motivated. When you set a standard for yourself, you don't get positive reinforcement.
"What happened with me, I felt myself slipping in condition the last six months I was there. How you're being used affects your motivation as far everything you do in wrestling. If you're a on a consecutive losing streak and you're not on television every week, it makes it harder to say I want to hit this extra set and do this extra tanning because I was already leaner than everybody else in 2005 and it didn't really get me where I want to go."
He says that it didn't really make anyone notice his ability even though he was in shape and it affected him. "Chicken and tuna and rice six meals a day isn't nearly as a appealing when you know you're going to be on television." When you tell people you're 98% fat free, they have to be able to look at you and say, "He is." Now that Rob's at home, he's training like crazy.
"By the time that I'm seen on any television program again, people will say that guys' not just sitting around. He trained really hard."
James brings up Les Thatcher's audio and how they spoke about wrestlers who don't do conditioning and why that is. Conway talks about that subject and gives his opinion on why it doesn't happen for everyone. He mentions that it's all about influences. If you grew up watching Dusty Rhodes, you were into promos more. If you were a Ultimate Warrior fan, you were into conditioning more. They also discuss wrestlers being fans of wrestling. Conway says that wrestlers are "the biggest fans out there."
- ClubWWI.com break -
In progress, Rob is discussing promos and how many guys could cut their own promo because they did them in front of the mirror growing up. Any wrestling fan did. He says that he can come up with something better for himself than someone else can come up with for him.
As the show comes to a close, James gives Rob a chance to speak to his fans. Conway says:
"Over the next year or so I should be coming someplace close enough that you can come see me. I can also be reached at [email protected]. And as much as I want people who are looking to book me for a live event, I have no problem answering any questions someone might have as a fan. Because something most people don't know and It tried to stress this, they guys that dedicate themselves to being a wrestler are the biggest wrestling fans in the word so I have no problem answering anything or talking to you if I'm online. I'm very accessible, which I never had the chance to do."
JG asks about TNA really quickly and Rob says he can't speak to them yet, but as a wrestler "that's what I do, I wrestle. You want to find a place to do what you do and do it on television." He says that we all watched it on TV and that's what we want to do.
"If they come calling, I'm gonna have an open ear."
Rob Conway's full interview is up on ClubWWI.com and lasted for 45 minutes. In his first ever shoot interview, Rob Conway speaks very openly about a number of subjects in his career including why La Resistance was split up, the WWE Raw Homecoming, taking the Von Erich claw, Taboo Tuesday, OVW, USWA, wrestling Linda Miles, Heat, Randy Savage, and so much more.
Also on ClubWWI.com, you can hear over 60 exclusive interviews with wrestling’s top names including Kevin Nash, Jerry Lawler, DDP, Paul Bearer, Bobby Heenan, Ted DiBiase, Christian Cage, Samoa Joe, Road Warrior Animal, The Iron Sheik, Rhino, Earl Hebner, The Steiner Brothers, Nidia, Christy Hemme, Chris Daniels, AJ Styles, Vince Russo and dozens of others. Plus audio shows from Lisa "Ivory" Moretti, D-Lo Brown, Kevin Kelly, Orlando Jordan, and Dr. Tom Prichard. JG’s Radio Free Insanity is always free and always on the air each weekend at WorldWrestlingInsanity.com, with extended interviews and show archives available on ClubWWI.com. James Guttman’s book, World Wrestling Insanity, is available at Amazon.com or wherever books are sold.
Rob's my space page Click here: www.myspace.com/therobconway
ROB CONWAY is now available for bookings @ [email protected]
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