William Regal interview

Tyler Durden

Excerts from the interview William Regal recently gave to The Sun (UK newspaper)

Eddie Guerrero

“That was me! had the same thing as Eddie, heart failure, I was just lucky I was already in hospital when they discovered it. I had some symptoms beforehand that caused me to get checked out. Two or three weeks before he died, Eddie came and sat next to me in Los Angeles. If he ever came and sat next to me it would always be something serious. He said: ‘I’m having trouble with my stomach. It’s swelling up and getting hard. I feel tired.’ I said: ‘Don’t mess about, go and get it checked out. I started off like that and you should get tested for all kinds of stuff - you just never know.’ A week after he told me: ‘I was eating a lot of oatmeal and I’ve cut down on that, so it’s got a bit better.’ I said: ‘You still need to get tested and find out other things as well.’ That was the last real conversation I had with him. Eddie was obviously feeling something but he didn’t get it checked out or, if he did, he didn’t get it checked out by the right people.�

Nick Dinsmore (Eugene)

“Nobody has the right to judge what anybody else does. Everybody gets tied up in something like that in their lives and getting out of it is all that matters.�

On blaming Wrestling for the problems of the individuals

“I haven’t taken a pill or had a drink in seven years now, so you can get by. It’s easy to make excuses, I did when I was using, but you need to look yourself in the mirror and say do I really need it? If you’re really injured then it’s up to you to speak up, that’s why we have trainers, doctors and medical insurance. There’s no reason why you can’t get help on your days off and therapy for injuries. Most guys can’t be bothered so they end up taking pain pills. Then they find out they like the feeling when they’re on pain pills, so they take more and get addicted to them. Before you get mentally addicted to them you get physically addicted, the narcotic element makes you sick if you try and cut down. But somebody somewhere is always going to be making an excuse for using something they shouldn’t - whether they’re a wrestler or not. So don’t blame the business.�

On using “the schedule� as an excuse

We work four days a week, get guaranteed days off and when we go on tour we get ferried about and looked after. All we have to do is put our boots on and go out and perform. I suppose I come from a different era, where we worked far more days a year under far worse conditions. I get at least two full days at home each week to plan things with my family, and I never got that until I came to the WWE. So I don’t know how anybody can complain. Maybe the guys who are moaning have just grown up with a different work ethic to me - it’s the generation who don’t even have to get up to turn their TVs over.�

Regarding the Smackdown “low rider� angle following Eddie’s passing

“We live inside our own little world and obviously see things completely differently to those on the outside - but it doesn’t mean we are doing things for the wrong reasons. Fans obviously care enough to wear Eddie’s T-shirts and chant his name, so by giving them something that involves Eddie it keeps his name alive. I didn’t see anyone in the building that night who was outraged by it, it was only when people had time to sit and think.�

On Samoa Joe

“I called Joe after he sent me a copy of his ROH match with Kenta Kobashi to thank him, because I thought it was amazing. It’s an honour when Joe calls me to ask how he can improve. I tell him: ‘You’re doing a lot better than I am - it should be me asking you!’ (as an aside I'm sure he probably thought that KJay and Jackies opinions sucked!!)

On Bryan Danielson (American Dragon)

Training Bryan Danielson is the proudest thing I’ve ever done in wrestling. He wears my boots, my trunks and does a lot of the stuff I showed him. Bryan is such a nice person and is turning into a great wrestler. He watches every single match on every single show, he even gets tapes sent over from England. He could have been in the WWE years ago if he wanted, they’ve offered him a job but he doesn’t want to come. Bryan knows he’s better off where he is. He gets to work every week, making a decent living and doing the matches he wants to do. He is also talking about going back to college. I would tell everyone to get that experience before coming to the WWE, just take your bags and go around the world.�

On Ken Doane (soon to be in WWE with a male cheerleader gimmick) & Harry Smith (British Bulldogs son)

“There’s a new guy we’ve got in Ohio Valley called Ken Doane, who is only 19. He asked me for my advice the other week and I told him to quit!� And I suspect this was BEFORE Doane became a cheerleader. “If you come in to the WWE at 19-years-old and only know one style of wrestling, then by the time you’re 25 your face will be worn out. Harry Smith, Davey Boy’s son, has listened to the advice of me and Chris Benoit and is wrestling all over the world learning different styles. When Harry comes in, he’ll be something special already.�

On Cena & Batista’s current standing as regards the stars of the recent past

“The Rock and Steve Austin were just two guys who were very special. John and Dave are doing a great job and both have lots of charisma, it is just getting limited to opponents for them. But that’s not their problem - it’s our company’s problem to make them new opponents. Where they’re going to from, I just don’t know. When I look around now I see a lot of talent, but I don’t see someone who lights the room up like I did the first time I met Steve Austin and Mick Foley. Even if you look at someone like Big Daddy, he had something and was a genuine superstar in this country. That’s something you can’t buy or teach people. There’s a big difference between being talented and having that something special. Both fortunately and unfortunately, four of the best ever came along together in a two year period - Austin, Rock, Mick Foley and Triple H. And I don’t see anyone, in any wrestling company, of that standard at the moment�.