TATANKA TALKS WWE vs WWF, HOLLYWOOD WRITERS AND MORE
- 02/01/2008 (2:17:59 pm)
- Georgiann Makropoulos
…..
Show: The Interactive Interview courtesy of www.wrestlingepicenter.com
Guest: "Native American" Tatanka
Date: 2/1/08
Your Hosts: Patrick Kelley & James Walsh
Transcript By: Patrick Kelley
You can almost hear the man's battle cry as you read this. One of the most decorated Native American wrestlers in recent memory, Tatanka has received many blessings in his time in the wrestling business. And now, after 5 years of trying to track him down, The Interactive Interview finally has Tatanka step into the Epicenter!
What a great treat it was for Patrick and myself to do this interview. Tatanka proved himself a well-spoken business man with a great heart and love for what he has achieved in this business. Open, honest, forthright, and never anything shy of professional, this is an interview not to be missed.
You can download the audio of this broadcast free of charge in glorious digital audio at www.WrestlingEpicenter.com. We also have an interview with the very much alive "Evad" Dave Sullivan and UFC ring announcer Bruce Buffer which just went online. These plus over 300 other interviews can be downloaded at your listening pleasure, free of charge, at www.WrestlingEpicenter.com, the official home of The Interactive Interview!
Tatanka
- The Native American Tatanka is welcomed to the show by James Walsh. Tatanka thanks James and his fans for wanting to listen to him on this interview.
- First up, Tatanka hypes the show he did on the 19th, the Bash at the Ballpark which brought many wrestling legends for one card: Roddy Piper, Demolition, Honky Tonk Man, Jimmy Snuka and various other legendary figures. It was presented by the WWA (World Wrestling Association) Tatanka says that they expect a large crowd for this event. Tatanka wrestled Psycho Sid in the main event, a match that Tatanka was looking forward to.
- When asked about his last run with the WWE, he says that there have been a lot of changes. The company has branched out and gone all over the world and the company needs more people to run it. He says the story writer position has been like a revolving door and he feels that a lot of the storylines are hurting the product. He felt it was better when Vince had his “finger on the pulse” with all the decisions that went into the stories. However, he had a lot of fun doing that run, and really liked the response he got upon his return.
- Tatanka said on a shoot interview once that he wanted to work with Shawn Michaels again when he went back to the WWE and bring back what they did in 1993. Tatanka says that for what ever reason it just never happened. He also says that they had some great things planned for the angle where he was getting cheated every week, but things happened with the story writers that stopped it. He feels that the writers don’t know wrestling, and references Pat Patterson’s creative input in all the years he was with the company.
- Tatanka says that most other Native Americans were proud of the way he was portrayed and he feels that the WWE never really went too far with the Native American traits of his character. Not everything they did was 100% accurate, but also said that many Native Americans looked up to him. He feels Chief Jay Strongbow was there to make sure nothing too out of line with the Native American people took place. Tatanka also mentions that Gerald Brisco has Native blood in him.
- He actually owns the gimmick and the name Tatanka. When he first went to the WWF, Vince let him pick the name and he felt that “Tatanka” (meaning Buffalo or Bull) was one of the best. He says that Vince originally owned the trademark, but his ownership of it expired, and now Tatanka officially owns the name. He then explains that since Tatanka is a real word from the native tongue, and many natives felt it couldn’t truly be owned. A Native American tribe did officially gave him the name Tatanka in a ceremony, which he felt was a great honor.
- The interview then shifts to Bam Bam Bigelow, who Tatanka feuded with and partnered with in the Corporation. He greatly misses Bam Bam and really enjoyed the feud they had. He specifically recalls a match they had in MSG where Bam Bam had the back of his head busted open on the guard rail but continued the match. He fells it was one of his greatest matches, and one of many with Bam Bam.
- Tatanka’s first loss in the WWF was to Ludvig Borga in 1993 right before Survivor Series 1993. He felt that it was a good idea because he had been built up really strong, and they wanted to push Borga hard. Tatanka also recalls that it took Ludvig Borga had help from Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji helped him, so he didn’t look weak (if anything he feels it made him look extremely strong) He also says that his undefeated streak was probably the longest in WWF history, and considering a lot of the guys he worked with, he says it is something to be proud of.
- Probably the biggest angle Tatanka did was the heel turn against Lex Luger at Summerslam 1994. He says it first came about in a meeting with Vince where Vince pitched the idea to him. At first he didn’t take to it because he liked being a face, but when he thought it about it, he thought it was a really good idea. He says that it got over like crazy when it happened. Some fans have even told him that it was one of the best heel turns ever.
- When asked about why he didn’t go to WCW, he says that he was doing very well in businesses outside of wrestling, and at the time he felt that he needed to take some time off and raise a family. After a few years, he worked the Indy scene and did really well as he continues to do so now.
- To end the interview, Tatanka plugs his website (http://nativetatanka.com ) and thanks all of his fans that have supported him throughout the years. He also says that he isn’t done with wrestling yet with a classics figure coming out, and the fans should keep their eyes open for him.
Guest: "Native American" Tatanka
Date: 2/1/08
Your Hosts: Patrick Kelley & James Walsh
Transcript By: Patrick Kelley
You can almost hear the man's battle cry as you read this. One of the most decorated Native American wrestlers in recent memory, Tatanka has received many blessings in his time in the wrestling business. And now, after 5 years of trying to track him down, The Interactive Interview finally has Tatanka step into the Epicenter!
What a great treat it was for Patrick and myself to do this interview. Tatanka proved himself a well-spoken business man with a great heart and love for what he has achieved in this business. Open, honest, forthright, and never anything shy of professional, this is an interview not to be missed.
You can download the audio of this broadcast free of charge in glorious digital audio at www.WrestlingEpicenter.com. We also have an interview with the very much alive "Evad" Dave Sullivan and UFC ring announcer Bruce Buffer which just went online. These plus over 300 other interviews can be downloaded at your listening pleasure, free of charge, at www.WrestlingEpicenter.com, the official home of The Interactive Interview!
Tatanka
- The Native American Tatanka is welcomed to the show by James Walsh. Tatanka thanks James and his fans for wanting to listen to him on this interview.
- First up, Tatanka hypes the show he did on the 19th, the Bash at the Ballpark which brought many wrestling legends for one card: Roddy Piper, Demolition, Honky Tonk Man, Jimmy Snuka and various other legendary figures. It was presented by the WWA (World Wrestling Association) Tatanka says that they expect a large crowd for this event. Tatanka wrestled Psycho Sid in the main event, a match that Tatanka was looking forward to.
- When asked about his last run with the WWE, he says that there have been a lot of changes. The company has branched out and gone all over the world and the company needs more people to run it. He says the story writer position has been like a revolving door and he feels that a lot of the storylines are hurting the product. He felt it was better when Vince had his “finger on the pulse” with all the decisions that went into the stories. However, he had a lot of fun doing that run, and really liked the response he got upon his return.
- Tatanka said on a shoot interview once that he wanted to work with Shawn Michaels again when he went back to the WWE and bring back what they did in 1993. Tatanka says that for what ever reason it just never happened. He also says that they had some great things planned for the angle where he was getting cheated every week, but things happened with the story writers that stopped it. He feels that the writers don’t know wrestling, and references Pat Patterson’s creative input in all the years he was with the company.
- Tatanka says that most other Native Americans were proud of the way he was portrayed and he feels that the WWE never really went too far with the Native American traits of his character. Not everything they did was 100% accurate, but also said that many Native Americans looked up to him. He feels Chief Jay Strongbow was there to make sure nothing too out of line with the Native American people took place. Tatanka also mentions that Gerald Brisco has Native blood in him.
- He actually owns the gimmick and the name Tatanka. When he first went to the WWF, Vince let him pick the name and he felt that “Tatanka” (meaning Buffalo or Bull) was one of the best. He says that Vince originally owned the trademark, but his ownership of it expired, and now Tatanka officially owns the name. He then explains that since Tatanka is a real word from the native tongue, and many natives felt it couldn’t truly be owned. A Native American tribe did officially gave him the name Tatanka in a ceremony, which he felt was a great honor.
- The interview then shifts to Bam Bam Bigelow, who Tatanka feuded with and partnered with in the Corporation. He greatly misses Bam Bam and really enjoyed the feud they had. He specifically recalls a match they had in MSG where Bam Bam had the back of his head busted open on the guard rail but continued the match. He fells it was one of his greatest matches, and one of many with Bam Bam.
- Tatanka’s first loss in the WWF was to Ludvig Borga in 1993 right before Survivor Series 1993. He felt that it was a good idea because he had been built up really strong, and they wanted to push Borga hard. Tatanka also recalls that it took Ludvig Borga had help from Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji helped him, so he didn’t look weak (if anything he feels it made him look extremely strong) He also says that his undefeated streak was probably the longest in WWF history, and considering a lot of the guys he worked with, he says it is something to be proud of.
- Probably the biggest angle Tatanka did was the heel turn against Lex Luger at Summerslam 1994. He says it first came about in a meeting with Vince where Vince pitched the idea to him. At first he didn’t take to it because he liked being a face, but when he thought it about it, he thought it was a really good idea. He says that it got over like crazy when it happened. Some fans have even told him that it was one of the best heel turns ever.
- When asked about why he didn’t go to WCW, he says that he was doing very well in businesses outside of wrestling, and at the time he felt that he needed to take some time off and raise a family. After a few years, he worked the Indy scene and did really well as he continues to do so now.
- To end the interview, Tatanka plugs his website (http://nativetatanka.com ) and thanks all of his fans that have supported him throughout the years. He also says that he isn’t done with wrestling yet with a classics figure coming out, and the fans should keep their eyes open for him.
Tags:
