Between The Ropes Radio Show
January 11th, 2008
Archived online at BetweenTheRopes.com
Former WWE and WCW World Champion Sid Vicious recently sat down with Brian Fritz of Between the Ropes to discuss Ric Flair, a possible return to WWE, and more.
Sid addressed the rumors regarding a return to WWE in the near future: âWell, honestly, Iâve left in in their court over there. I did a show up in Connecticut ⦠actually, I was working with (Jerry) Lawler. Johnny Laurinaitis at the time was the talent coordinator for that company. Now I heard last week and this week as well that he no longer has that position. And all these are rumors, of course, and I donât know anything to be one-hundred percent true, but I feel like he has been replaced and I donât think someone would tell me that if it wasnât true ⦠Really, these talent people, they donât have the say-so; itâs going to be Vince or whoeverâs running the show. And Iâm sure that they know Iâm available and if they want to do business theyâll call me.â
Vicious spoke of his desire to become part of a booking committee when his active wrestling career is finished: âI talked with Vince about that a long time ago when I worked for him the very first time. My goal was to be in creative. When I was in WCW I worked in the office. I brought in Harlem Heat. I brought in Col. Parker. I gave them those characters. I helped them with interviews. I find that as challenging as doing it myself. And Iâm not trying to toot my own horn, but itâs real easy to get yourself over when youâre able to get over and you know how to get over. Itâs more challenging to try and get someone over who doesnât know how to get over or doesnât have all the tools you have. And itâs just as gratifying as getting over myself – maybe more gratifying. Iâve always wanted to be on that side of the deal, but now how things have changed ⦠first of all, you have to realize that in every aspect of this business thereâs going to be a lot of jealousy. I think if I was coming in as a creator, Iâd have to have the same jealousy as an entertainer. And I donât know if I could do it now, because I know Iâm as smart – and probably smarter – than most people that are in that position right now. Iâd automatically walk in with a cloud over me, because people want to see people that are good fail. So I donât know with the business being the way it is if I would be able to do something like that.â
Sid says he has spoken with TNA, but he feels the company is unable to provide him with the opportunities he is looking for: âThey called me a bunch of times. What I told them was this; Iâve really had to work to get back to where Iâm at right now ⦠To make money, you have to sell a lot of tickets to put people in seats. And I want to be in front of some really big crowds again. And not just ten or twenty thousand people, but I think Iâve got one or two shows left in me where I could get seventy or eighty thousand people in an arena. And you canât do that with TNA. And youâre never going to be able to do it with TNA. Now, if it was just for the money ⦠but itâs not just for the money. One is for the money and the other is for self-gratification. I know what Iâm worth and I know what Iâm capable of doing, and Iâd really be handcuffing myself to work for TNA.â
Sid also shared his feelings on Ric Flair âI have to commend the guy. For anyone who has worked so hard as he has done pretty well for himself inside the business. He hasnât done very well outside the business. But heâs one of those people who had to stay in the business until heâs sixty years old, because heâs never saved any money. But you have to take your hat off to the guy for being able to take that physical wear and tear as long as he has. I would not want to be in the ring looking like he does, but if I could stay seriously in shape I would like to work until Iâm sixty as well.â
Vicious stated that he only wishes to wrestle for another two or three years before possibly transitioning to the creative side of the business. However, Sid seems very pleased with how his career has played out overall: âIn the last ten or fifteen years in this business, not many people have been as successful as I have. Iâve had successful runs everywhere Iâve went. Almost as long as Iâve been in the business Iâve been successful ⦠Anytime where Iâve been put in the position where I could be successful, I have. And Iâve been more successful than Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, Rock, and all those guys. Those guys right there I just mentioned only had one great run. They didnât have a bunch of good runs, they only had one. And thatâs the difference between me and a lot of different people.â
