Post by TM on Nov 15, 2005 17:47:01 GMT -5
I'm a subscriber to PWTorch.com and saw this interview and thought you might all enjoy it.
Keller interviews Eddie Guerrero in 1995 on differences between U.S., Mexico, Japan
Nov 15, 2005, 16:46
Torch Talk Interview: Eddy Guerrero, part two
Conducted by Wade Keller, Torch editor
Conducted October 21, 1995
Originally published in Pro Wrestling Torch Weekly #357
Original headline: "Eddy Guerrero on promoting styles"
Original Introduction:
The following is part two of a "Torch Talk" with Eddy Guerrero. In this installment, Guerrero compares the differences in the promoting approaches in general in the U.S., Mexico, and Japan and some changes he'd like to see made. The interview was conducted Sept. 21, 1995.
Wade Keller: When you first started training, what were you best at right away? What came easiet?
Eddy Guerrero: Just wrestling, mat wrestling. Amateur style.
Keller: What aspect of being a professional wrestler was actually the toughest for you?
Guerrero: Learning how to shoot. It was totally different from amateur wrestling.
Keller: How are they most different?
Guerrero: An amateur feeds a shooter. An amateur doesn't really know the difference between grabbing a wrist at the joint and grabbing to break it. In shooting you learn all of that. You learn a lot more how to really hurt some people.
Keller: Do you remember your first match in front of a crowd?
Guerrero: Yes. It was in Juarez against Crazy Boy 33 and somebody else. My partner was The Mathematic.
Keller: What do you remember about that match? Were you scared or was it second nature?
Guerrero: I was really nervous.
Keller: Did you do okay?
Guerrero: Yeah, I did good from what I understand.
Keller: At the time of your first match, what were your goals in wrestling?
Guerrero: One of my dreams was to go to Japan. I have accomplished that, thank God. Another dream of mine was to become a good wrestler. I've got a lot of doors that opened because of my father and my brothers. At the same time, it's hard because you've got to live up to their names. I always wanted to live up to their names, make them proud.
Keller: When you chose wrestling as your career, did you figure you would make your full time living in the U.S., Mexico, or Japan?
Guerrero: When I first started I knew it would probably have to be in Mexico, although I always wanted to work in the States. This is basically the first time that I'm doing it.
Keller: How did you get hooked up with AAA?
Guerrero: Basically through Konnan. Konnan was starting out. I helped him out. He never forgot that, so when he made the big thing with AAA and all that, he was pushing me to go with him. Once I did, he took care of me.
Keller: How did you originally meet Konnan?
Guerrero: Basically he came up to me in Tijuana and introduced himself. I really didn't know who he was. I knew he was big and he told me he was working out. I told him, "Don't stop, don't stop, push yourself." Then he was an overnight sensation here in Juarez. That's basically where I got to know him better.
Keller: What was it like wrestling full time on the road in Mexico?
Guerrero: I loved it. Actually, I hated it at first. I didn't hate wrestling, but I hated being away from the States. It's a third world country and I did not like it. I never did because once I got married I was away from my family. I like Mexico, but I don't like it to live. I was 19 when I started wrestling and I got married at 22. I've been married five years.
Keller: What about Mexico is like a third world country when you're on the road as a wrestler there?
Guerrero: It's a beautiful country. I love my country. My roots are there. But you get used to living with the facilities here in the States and you go from there and have facilities but not as good as they have here.
Keller: What was the atmosphere like in the locker rooms among the wrestlers in Mexico? Was there a strong camaraderie?
Guerrero: Yeah, a lot of that. A lot of factions, too, just like here in the States. Anywhere you go, brother, it's the same thing. Basically where you don't see it as much is in Japan. That's because it's different over there. You have it everywhere.
Keller: What causes it to be different in Japan?
Guerrero: You've got the same cliques, it's just more professional over there. Over there if you're good they're gonna use you. Over there they go by talent. In a lot of other places they go by camaraderie and cliques.
Keller: If someone were to walk into a locker room in Mexico and one in Japan, they wouldn't notice the difference, it's more in terms of how guys are pushed or hired that's the difference?
Guerrero: Right.
Keller: How did you get hooked up with New Japan?
Guerrero: I was scared, man. I was scared out of my wits.
Keller: How long had you been wrestling before going to Japan?
Guerrero: About three years.
Keller: Was there anything about wrestling in Japan that you didn't know until you got there and actually wrestled?
Guerrero: Yeah, it's a lot stiffer, and I knew that, but I thought it was going to be a lot more stiff than it is. It's different when you work with the younger boys, but I didn't know the other guys weren't as stiff. The older ones have more experience and it's a lot easier to work with them and you gain so much experience and you learn so much over there.
Keller: Between Japan and Mexico, what is it that draws fans to the arenas and is it in essence the same thing? Or because the cultures are different, do totally different things draw crowds in the two countries?
Guerrero: Basically, in Mexico, it's like a circus. You have a lot of great, great wrestlers in Mexico, but the other wrestlers have made it so ridiculous sometimes it's like going to a circus. In Japan, they have their people (customers) so well educated and they take such good care of the business that it's just a big difference as far as that goes.
Keller: Given the differnece of Mexico being like a circus and Japan being so serious and professional, is that a product of what the fans want or are the fans just buying what the promoters give them?
Guerrero: Japan has been smart, very smart with it.
Keller: So if the promoters in Mexico had promoted like Japan has, they would be doing well with the more serious style?
Guerrero: It's not so much the promoters as the blame is on the wrestlers because they're the ones who are doing it.
Keller: What do you mean by circus atmosphere?
Guerrero: They don't take it as seriously as they should. I hate that.
Keller: Are the wrestlers flippant about things behind the scenes or is it what they do in the ring?
Guerrero: Just too much acrobatics and not enough wrestling. I love doing acrobatics and the people like it, but you've got to wrestle. They forgot the wrestling part of it, a lot of them.
Keller: What draws money in Mexico now?
Guerrero: Basically the masks and stuff like that. Gimmicks. It's the same thing basically everywhere, except Japan. They run wrestling the way it should be run.
Keller: U.S. promoters often generalize and say Mexico is full of small masked wrestlers who do acrobatics and that doesn't apply in the U.S. That said, is it more the personalities and the heritage that draws fans in Mexico or the wild, high-flying wrestling? Cien Caras is a headliner and he is far from what many Americans stereotype as a "Mexican wrestler?"
Guerrero: A little bit of both, I would say.
Keller: What elements that made wrestling popular in Mexico could transfer to the U.S. and help the U.S. scene?
Guerrero: Negro Casas and people like that. He's tremendous. He can do whatever he wants in there. He can make people cry, he can make people mad, he can make them laugh. He's a hell of an athlete and a hell of a wrestler, too.
Keller: Are there certain things in Mexico that U.S. promoters haven't done yet?
Guerrero: What they're doing now in Mexico, they're kind of doing what happened here in the States. They're doing the same thing. And now what has happened in the States is what they need to realize they need to do something a little bit different. That's why they have (Dean) Malenko, (Chris Benoit), and me in there, because they know they need something different. But in Mexico, they're burning it out.
Keller: Who was most giving of time and advice when you first started wrestling?
Guerrero: My brothers. I'd say Negro Casas again. I'm not just putting him over. He helped me a lot. My brother Chavo helped me out a lot, in his way.
Keller: Were there some wrestlers who seemed reluctant to help out?
Guerrero: Well, not really. This is a very jealous business. You've got to go out there and learn it on your own.
Keller: You were in AAA when they began to make inroads into the United States with shows lin L.A. and elsewhere. Did you think at that time the U.S. would become a major revenue generator for AAA?
Guerrero: Hmmmm, nope. Maybe in the Latin population here, but I knew AAA was going to screw it up. It was a fad. They tried to go back and didn't even draw half the house because they're doing it the wrong way, man.
Keller: What mistakes did they make?
Guerrero: They're doing the same thing. I'm not saying change the talent. Maybe they can still use the same talent. They've got to change their ideas because they're doing the same angles.
Keller: In terms of approaching hair vs. mask matches and the like?
Guerrero: They always do the same thing. It's like watching the same movie with different actors.
Keller: A lot of people give AAA credit for having really innovative, internally logical, smart booking and storylines. Do you disagree with that?
Guerrero: I disagree with that. They took the American concept and took it to Mexico and adapted it to the Mexican style.
Keller: Antonio Pena gets credit for carrying out storylines for several months with many angles being cleverly played out within the course of one six-man tag match.
Guerrero: You've got to give him credit for that. If you put in too much, though, the people can't follow it. I think a lot different. I'm old fashioned. I grew up with my dad and my brothners, so I think old fashioned. He has great ideas. He is very, very intelligent, but I think he's doing the same thing.
Keller: What did you think of Ron Skoler at first?
Guerrero: He's a good guy. He takes care of me. Anybody who takes care of me is a good guy.
Keller: How did the crowds in L.A. for AAA react differently from the crowds in Mexico?
Guerrero: They were more violent, man. Geez, are they violent.
Keller: They wanted violence or they were violent.?
Guerrero: They are violent.
Keller: Were you excited about the AAA pay-per-view in the U.S.?
Guerrero: Tremendously excited about it.
Keller: If you guys did a good job, was there a feeling among you guys it could turn into several pay-per-views a year?
Guerrero: I thought so, but they didn't follow through. That's what I'm talking about with AAA. They don't follow through on this stuff. If they would have followed through and they would have kept it up, they'd be making good business and good money right now. But they didn't. They let it go. They didn't follow through. It's like, "Okay, we did it. That's it." And now they want to do it again, but it's going to take them a long time to build it back up. You can't blame that on Ron Skoler. If anything Ron Skoler has been trying to do it, but AAA is like, "Let's take the money and go." I love AAA. They gave me an opening and they gave me a lot of TV exposure and they gave me my shot. I love them and I will always be grateful to them. I have nothing but respect for them. But what I don't like about them is they went in and burned everything out.
Keller: What could they have done not to burn everything out?
Guerrero: Be smarter and not give the people everything on TV.
Keller: How would you do their television show differently?
Guerrero: I would have done something more like what Paul (Heyman) is doing. Man, does he ever have a great mind for a TV show. He puts on one or two matches, he puts on his interviews, and he makes it a fun show to watch. It's really fun to watch. I like it. With AAA, they just throw on match after match. It's not a show. Why are people going to go to the matches when they can see the same thing on TV for free, especially with the economy the way it is right now. I don't understand.
Keller interviews Eddie Guerrero in 1995 on differences between U.S., Mexico, Japan
Nov 15, 2005, 16:46
Torch Talk Interview: Eddy Guerrero, part two
Conducted by Wade Keller, Torch editor
Conducted October 21, 1995
Originally published in Pro Wrestling Torch Weekly #357
Original headline: "Eddy Guerrero on promoting styles"
Original Introduction:
The following is part two of a "Torch Talk" with Eddy Guerrero. In this installment, Guerrero compares the differences in the promoting approaches in general in the U.S., Mexico, and Japan and some changes he'd like to see made. The interview was conducted Sept. 21, 1995.
Wade Keller: When you first started training, what were you best at right away? What came easiet?
Eddy Guerrero: Just wrestling, mat wrestling. Amateur style.
Keller: What aspect of being a professional wrestler was actually the toughest for you?
Guerrero: Learning how to shoot. It was totally different from amateur wrestling.
Keller: How are they most different?
Guerrero: An amateur feeds a shooter. An amateur doesn't really know the difference between grabbing a wrist at the joint and grabbing to break it. In shooting you learn all of that. You learn a lot more how to really hurt some people.
Keller: Do you remember your first match in front of a crowd?
Guerrero: Yes. It was in Juarez against Crazy Boy 33 and somebody else. My partner was The Mathematic.
Keller: What do you remember about that match? Were you scared or was it second nature?
Guerrero: I was really nervous.
Keller: Did you do okay?
Guerrero: Yeah, I did good from what I understand.
Keller: At the time of your first match, what were your goals in wrestling?
Guerrero: One of my dreams was to go to Japan. I have accomplished that, thank God. Another dream of mine was to become a good wrestler. I've got a lot of doors that opened because of my father and my brothers. At the same time, it's hard because you've got to live up to their names. I always wanted to live up to their names, make them proud.
Keller: When you chose wrestling as your career, did you figure you would make your full time living in the U.S., Mexico, or Japan?
Guerrero: When I first started I knew it would probably have to be in Mexico, although I always wanted to work in the States. This is basically the first time that I'm doing it.
Keller: How did you get hooked up with AAA?
Guerrero: Basically through Konnan. Konnan was starting out. I helped him out. He never forgot that, so when he made the big thing with AAA and all that, he was pushing me to go with him. Once I did, he took care of me.
Keller: How did you originally meet Konnan?
Guerrero: Basically he came up to me in Tijuana and introduced himself. I really didn't know who he was. I knew he was big and he told me he was working out. I told him, "Don't stop, don't stop, push yourself." Then he was an overnight sensation here in Juarez. That's basically where I got to know him better.
Keller: What was it like wrestling full time on the road in Mexico?
Guerrero: I loved it. Actually, I hated it at first. I didn't hate wrestling, but I hated being away from the States. It's a third world country and I did not like it. I never did because once I got married I was away from my family. I like Mexico, but I don't like it to live. I was 19 when I started wrestling and I got married at 22. I've been married five years.
Keller: What about Mexico is like a third world country when you're on the road as a wrestler there?
Guerrero: It's a beautiful country. I love my country. My roots are there. But you get used to living with the facilities here in the States and you go from there and have facilities but not as good as they have here.
Keller: What was the atmosphere like in the locker rooms among the wrestlers in Mexico? Was there a strong camaraderie?
Guerrero: Yeah, a lot of that. A lot of factions, too, just like here in the States. Anywhere you go, brother, it's the same thing. Basically where you don't see it as much is in Japan. That's because it's different over there. You have it everywhere.
Keller: What causes it to be different in Japan?
Guerrero: You've got the same cliques, it's just more professional over there. Over there if you're good they're gonna use you. Over there they go by talent. In a lot of other places they go by camaraderie and cliques.
Keller: If someone were to walk into a locker room in Mexico and one in Japan, they wouldn't notice the difference, it's more in terms of how guys are pushed or hired that's the difference?
Guerrero: Right.
Keller: How did you get hooked up with New Japan?
Guerrero: I was scared, man. I was scared out of my wits.
Keller: How long had you been wrestling before going to Japan?
Guerrero: About three years.
Keller: Was there anything about wrestling in Japan that you didn't know until you got there and actually wrestled?
Guerrero: Yeah, it's a lot stiffer, and I knew that, but I thought it was going to be a lot more stiff than it is. It's different when you work with the younger boys, but I didn't know the other guys weren't as stiff. The older ones have more experience and it's a lot easier to work with them and you gain so much experience and you learn so much over there.
Keller: Between Japan and Mexico, what is it that draws fans to the arenas and is it in essence the same thing? Or because the cultures are different, do totally different things draw crowds in the two countries?
Guerrero: Basically, in Mexico, it's like a circus. You have a lot of great, great wrestlers in Mexico, but the other wrestlers have made it so ridiculous sometimes it's like going to a circus. In Japan, they have their people (customers) so well educated and they take such good care of the business that it's just a big difference as far as that goes.
Keller: Given the differnece of Mexico being like a circus and Japan being so serious and professional, is that a product of what the fans want or are the fans just buying what the promoters give them?
Guerrero: Japan has been smart, very smart with it.
Keller: So if the promoters in Mexico had promoted like Japan has, they would be doing well with the more serious style?
Guerrero: It's not so much the promoters as the blame is on the wrestlers because they're the ones who are doing it.
Keller: What do you mean by circus atmosphere?
Guerrero: They don't take it as seriously as they should. I hate that.
Keller: Are the wrestlers flippant about things behind the scenes or is it what they do in the ring?
Guerrero: Just too much acrobatics and not enough wrestling. I love doing acrobatics and the people like it, but you've got to wrestle. They forgot the wrestling part of it, a lot of them.
Keller: What draws money in Mexico now?
Guerrero: Basically the masks and stuff like that. Gimmicks. It's the same thing basically everywhere, except Japan. They run wrestling the way it should be run.
Keller: U.S. promoters often generalize and say Mexico is full of small masked wrestlers who do acrobatics and that doesn't apply in the U.S. That said, is it more the personalities and the heritage that draws fans in Mexico or the wild, high-flying wrestling? Cien Caras is a headliner and he is far from what many Americans stereotype as a "Mexican wrestler?"
Guerrero: A little bit of both, I would say.
Keller: What elements that made wrestling popular in Mexico could transfer to the U.S. and help the U.S. scene?
Guerrero: Negro Casas and people like that. He's tremendous. He can do whatever he wants in there. He can make people cry, he can make people mad, he can make them laugh. He's a hell of an athlete and a hell of a wrestler, too.
Keller: Are there certain things in Mexico that U.S. promoters haven't done yet?
Guerrero: What they're doing now in Mexico, they're kind of doing what happened here in the States. They're doing the same thing. And now what has happened in the States is what they need to realize they need to do something a little bit different. That's why they have (Dean) Malenko, (Chris Benoit), and me in there, because they know they need something different. But in Mexico, they're burning it out.
Keller: Who was most giving of time and advice when you first started wrestling?
Guerrero: My brothers. I'd say Negro Casas again. I'm not just putting him over. He helped me a lot. My brother Chavo helped me out a lot, in his way.
Keller: Were there some wrestlers who seemed reluctant to help out?
Guerrero: Well, not really. This is a very jealous business. You've got to go out there and learn it on your own.
Keller: You were in AAA when they began to make inroads into the United States with shows lin L.A. and elsewhere. Did you think at that time the U.S. would become a major revenue generator for AAA?
Guerrero: Hmmmm, nope. Maybe in the Latin population here, but I knew AAA was going to screw it up. It was a fad. They tried to go back and didn't even draw half the house because they're doing it the wrong way, man.
Keller: What mistakes did they make?
Guerrero: They're doing the same thing. I'm not saying change the talent. Maybe they can still use the same talent. They've got to change their ideas because they're doing the same angles.
Keller: In terms of approaching hair vs. mask matches and the like?
Guerrero: They always do the same thing. It's like watching the same movie with different actors.
Keller: A lot of people give AAA credit for having really innovative, internally logical, smart booking and storylines. Do you disagree with that?
Guerrero: I disagree with that. They took the American concept and took it to Mexico and adapted it to the Mexican style.
Keller: Antonio Pena gets credit for carrying out storylines for several months with many angles being cleverly played out within the course of one six-man tag match.
Guerrero: You've got to give him credit for that. If you put in too much, though, the people can't follow it. I think a lot different. I'm old fashioned. I grew up with my dad and my brothners, so I think old fashioned. He has great ideas. He is very, very intelligent, but I think he's doing the same thing.
Keller: What did you think of Ron Skoler at first?
Guerrero: He's a good guy. He takes care of me. Anybody who takes care of me is a good guy.
Keller: How did the crowds in L.A. for AAA react differently from the crowds in Mexico?
Guerrero: They were more violent, man. Geez, are they violent.
Keller: They wanted violence or they were violent.?
Guerrero: They are violent.
Keller: Were you excited about the AAA pay-per-view in the U.S.?
Guerrero: Tremendously excited about it.
Keller: If you guys did a good job, was there a feeling among you guys it could turn into several pay-per-views a year?
Guerrero: I thought so, but they didn't follow through. That's what I'm talking about with AAA. They don't follow through on this stuff. If they would have followed through and they would have kept it up, they'd be making good business and good money right now. But they didn't. They let it go. They didn't follow through. It's like, "Okay, we did it. That's it." And now they want to do it again, but it's going to take them a long time to build it back up. You can't blame that on Ron Skoler. If anything Ron Skoler has been trying to do it, but AAA is like, "Let's take the money and go." I love AAA. They gave me an opening and they gave me a lot of TV exposure and they gave me my shot. I love them and I will always be grateful to them. I have nothing but respect for them. But what I don't like about them is they went in and burned everything out.
Keller: What could they have done not to burn everything out?
Guerrero: Be smarter and not give the people everything on TV.
Keller: How would you do their television show differently?
Guerrero: I would have done something more like what Paul (Heyman) is doing. Man, does he ever have a great mind for a TV show. He puts on one or two matches, he puts on his interviews, and he makes it a fun show to watch. It's really fun to watch. I like it. With AAA, they just throw on match after match. It's not a show. Why are people going to go to the matches when they can see the same thing on TV for free, especially with the economy the way it is right now. I don't understand.
