Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Why Rhyno turned down double the money from WWE and left

Episode Date: June 20, 2019

Rhyno’s WWE contract officially ends on July 17 and despite being offered more than double his current salary, he has decided to leave. He tells Chris Van Vliet what went into that decision, his thoughts about AEW, who took his gore better than anyone else, his new business venture as a marina owner and much more! Audio equipment provided by Samson Technologies: bit.ly/CVVSamson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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It's Chrysomania, brother. That's a great question. Look at you. man with the powerful questions this is the Chris Van Vleet show Chris Van Vleet show Ladies and gentlemen Chris

Chris Buh yeah this is the Chris Van Fleet show and I am you guessed it Chris Van Vleet The response to the podcast has been awesome so far so keep it coming keep those reviews coming Keep the awes coming

I know a lot of you prefer to just listen to these while you're driving or you're at the gym or you're at work which is great that I'm distracting you while you're at work, but that's awesome. So, yes, keep them coming. The YouTube interviews, they'll still be there, but the audio-only interviews will be here on the podcast. I'm a lifelong wrestling fan, just like you. And as a 36-year-old, ECW was such a part of my formidable years as a teenager.

So it was a huge honor when Rhino called me up out of the blue and said, I'm going to let my contract with WWE end, and I want to get my... side of the story out there before everyone else gets their side out. I know you're the right guy to do it. I'm like, yes, I will take the next flight to Detroit tomorrow and we will make this happen. This is a really good chat with a guy who couldn't be any different in real life compared to the character you saw on ECW. But first, the Chris Van Fleet Show is brought to you by Green Roads and there's a lot of CBD companies that are popping up all over the place. But Green Roads is a pharmacist found a company that uses only the best ingredients. There's a lot of health benefits to

CBD oil and CBD products, but for me the best has been how it calms the nerves, lessens the stress as my voice gets very less stressy here. And also tastes great, especially the relaxed gummies. But the CBDT, very good too. Use the code, Chris 15, to get 15% off your Greenroads order at greenroadsworld.com. The CVV show also brought to you by Samson, which is how you're listening to us right now. Samson Technologies has great mics, headphones, cables, mixers, all that stuff for podcasters of any skill level. Their prices are very affordable.

The sound is top-notch, so check them out, samsontech.com to see the full lineup. Rhino tells me he was offered more than double his salary to re-sign with WWE and basically just sit at home. That's not what he wanted to do. He gets into why he turned down that contract, also talks about. his favorite spear and his new business venture, Rino is the owner of a marina just outside of Detroit. Yeah, Rhino the marina owner. The man loves boats. He does. I hope you like this chat as much as I did. Here he is, the man beast, Rhino. This might be the best setting we've had for any

of these interviews. That's nice. I mean, how can you get any better than this, you know? It's a beautiful spring day here in Michigan. Yeah, and we're at the Monroe Boat Club. Correct. Just down the street from your marina, actually. Exactly. Actually, a hop, skip, and a jump away. Three houses separate us.

Big Daddy's Marina? Big Daddy's Boatyard. Big Daddy's Boat Yard. Yeah, show it off there. Yeah. So thank you for taking the time to do this. Well, thank you for coming out and doing the interview. I'm actually excited about it.

Yeah. You know, especially when you're like, oh, we could do it at the marina or whatever. I'm like, you know what? Why don't we do it at the boat club? Yeah. You know, it's a very popular place like Big Daddy's Boatyard, but they have a better scenery right now because a lot of work going on at Big Daddy's Boatyard.

So we don't want to get the painters in there. I think most wrestling fans don't look at you and go, that's a guy who likes boating. Right. And that's a guy who owns a marina now. Right, right. Well, it's, you know, it's a passion. And I never really put that passion. Like, wrestling is a passion for myself, but I've never really talked about, you know,

my other passions in life. So boating and blondes. So you're obviously wrestling and you're running the marina? Correct. Okay. And there's rumors out there that your contract is ending in July. So that's kind of what we're sitting down here and talking about. So what's going on with that?

Well, July 17th is my last date there. They actually offered me more than twice my downside. But it wasn't where they would have to use me because the downside is. so large. And it wasn't about money. It was me wanting to be on the road working, helping the younger guys, kind of like a player coach. And that's kind of my role is helping the younger guys, whether it's with, you know, because there's so much when you're in, you know, a company with like WWE, you got to be able to learn how to talk to, you know, like whenever you're promoting event, whether you at a news station or something, you have to know how to, and I learned a lot

from Steve Lombardi, believe it or not. We went on some media days. And then, you know, just do's and don'ts, you know, and giving guys advice and, you know, tell them the mistakes you've made, so hopefully they don't repeat them, you know, and, or stay away from making that same mistake. And that's, that's, you know, because a lot of the men and women that are on the main roster, they're at such a high level where not necessarily they need help with their in-ring work. It's just like how to pitch storylines and how to do this and how to do that. And, you know, don't stay out until 3 o'clock in the morning getting drunk. You know, I mean, not that I've done that.

But I think a lot of people from the outside looking in would go, they offered you more money. Why are you walking away from that? That's a good question. Well, you know, and I came back and I said, well, okay, because I want to be on the road. I feel good. I'm very blessed. My health is there. Knock on wood.

You know, and my job is to find the next John Sina, the next Stone Cold Steve Austin, the next rock. And how can I help these guys? And if I'm not on the road, if I'm sitting at a marina, you know, yeah, that's nice. And I'd be very blessed and fortunate. I can't help those younger men and women go from here to here. You know, and that's one thing that I enjoyed on the Indies is, one, I love driving everybody in WWE. They would always laugh and joke. And they go, hey, we're in Louisiana.

They're going, you driving home tonight? And, you know, of course, it's 15 hours. Why wouldn't I? But on the Indies, I can do that. And with other companies, whether it's a AEW or Impact or Ring of Honor or, you know, New Japan, I've done that before in the past. And, you know, and that's something I can do now in the future. So are you saying that you would rather walk away from the company so you can actually wrestle in the ring more? Correct.

And it was a mutual understanding that, you know, we're not going to figure out a number. You know, so it was like, hey, and they've been great. I mean, I can't say anything bad about them. I had a lot of fun. I was afraid that they would say yes to a larger downside than what they've offered me because I was afraid that maybe they would still sit me at home. You know, and it's not that they don't like me. It's, you know, there's a lot of talent there, and they have to cycle the talent, you know, which is normal.

You know, because you want to get guys and girls out there to men and women out there to work. But, you know, and then I was afraid that I would become miserable. And that's the last thing you want to do when you're doing something that you love is become miserable. You know that. Sure. So, you know, and I would rather take a step back and work for some of these companies and work the independent scene. But you could have, you know, taken a good chunk of money, maybe been like in the performance center helping people out. Right.

It's the reason here, the reason they're throwing big money contracts at a lot of guys like you is, Is it because they're scared of AEW scooping up some people? You know, that's actually a good question. I don't know if they're scared or they're concerned, but if you notice, because I like to tell a lot of people to shut your mouth, open your eyes and ears and learn, what WW did back in the territorial days when they had that vision, you know, they went and they picked guys and signed them from contracts

from like the southern territories, the Midwest territories, the West Coast and as they went across, so you realize those stars. And I think if they sign and extend, and this is no inside information, this is just what I, what I think is if there's no talent out there, no, their companies can grow. You know what I mean? Or if they, you know, there's a lot of stuff, whether it's Impact, Ring of Honor and New Japan, doing more stuff over here, you know, and Impact and AWW and all that stuff. If they don't have the equipment to build that factory, then, you know, there's not going to be that competition, so to speak.

So I think that's why they're offering a lot of money, you know, and do the guys and girls deserve it? Yeah. You know, and it's not like they never took care of the men and women, but, and another reason why they're offering money is because you have to be cycled and you have to sit at home, you know, so you're not, they're, they've never wanted to hold you up from making money, but they also, you know, don't want to be afraid of, uh, or they don't have, they don't want to worry about people coming in and, you know, um, you know, winning the Monday night wars for 80-some weeks again, you know, because there's a lot of sketchy time, you know. So I mean, the, the, the, business practices are normal and that's what you would do in business, you know, so. But we don't have to worry about a 90-day compete clause for you? No, no. In my contract ends on the 17th. And like I said, they've been great to me.

You know, when I'd go to work, I'd have fun. You know, all the men and women, they brought me in. It's weird now that you're that old guy in the locker room when you're so young and you're like, yeah, I'm the youngest guy. And like that, you're that old guy in the locker room. They're like calling you Papa and calling you big daddy. Right, right. Actually, I'd ask them to, but the boys, the guys would, but none of the women would. I was like, come on, I'll pay you.

So, but, you know, it's cool because you kind of mentor them and they look up to you and they respect you. You know, and the reason, well, I don't drink, I don't do drugs and all that stuff. And that's another thing, you know, especially being in a role like I'm in, you know, as a senior, they can look up and say, okay, well, you know, that's something to shoot for in that sense, you know. and they should shoot to be like a Johnson or a rock or an Austin to draw a mega. I was going to cuss. You can. It's fine if you want. So they can draw some fucking serious money.

But, you know, you could have taken a big contract. You could have done it for another two, three years and retired. Right. And you live the life here. It's beautiful here. You have a marina. You could run your business. Why do you want to stay in the ring?

You know, I mentioned this earlier. I'm very religious. That's another thing I've never really talked about. I try to go to church every morning. So I usually get every morning. Every morning. I try, but I usually get to church three times a week. So I'm on the right track.

But one of the things is I figure I'll roll the dice. And if it wasn't meant to be, it wasn't meant to be. You know, and then sometimes you think, well, if I'm getting paid a lot of money and I still sit at home, you know, if they went for the money so I'd work, but they still sat me at home, I'd be happy and I don't think I would because I'm not giving you advice to watch you improve. Like Vic Joseph and Alicia Taylor, those are two that I helped out. And I always tell them, they thank me. And I go, no, you did it. I just gave you advice. I'll never forget Vic Joseph in Finley, Ohio. I like that we're calling him by his W.W.E. name.

It's Vic Travelyanti. He's still in my phone. It's Vic Travelyanti. I won't you tell you what he's in my phone ask but uh anyways uh so i'm the godfather to his kids right so i uh so the the fans know who we're talking about but well they probably do know him by his real name but anyway i go we'll have to put together a five-year plan for you because no one would return his call i was working with ring of honor at the time and then uh um he emailed kevin kelly like a couple days before that so i go let me talk to him and then we'll try to get things rolling and that was like the first step. Kevin Kelly started working with him a little bit and then, you know, talking to him. And then he kept on moving up the ladder. He got in touch with Dreamer through other friends. And then Dreamer

used them on House of Hardcore and all those things. So, so, you know, and then Alicia Taylor Warrington's, her real last name. I met her on an indie show. And she's a drummer, professional drummer, always on tour. And she, you know, so all these things she had. And I go, well, and she worked with the Indies out there. I go, did you ever think about WWE? Because her passion ever since a kid like a lot of us. We grew up watching it. So then I had Vic help her get the ball rolling to there. So it's one of those things where it's hard, like as a talent, in-ring talent,

because there's so much talent in WW. So you have to look at where can you go so you're working, you know? And NXT is a great system. I call it a factory, you know, because being from the Motor City, you have all these factories around you. It's like they're building talent, you know, opposed to cars. So, yeah. But, you know, it's one of those things where I felt great about helping someone or giving them advice and they took the ball and they ran with it and they're living their dreams.

And it's hard for me to be in a position there and, you know, sitting at home and trying to help people get to where they need to be. Because if I'm with WWE, I can't say to talent, okay, I've watched your stuff. You should try to go to impact or AEW or this or that, you know. And so it's just because it's kind of like you're married. but you're looking for a girlfriend, you know, it's just, it's not going to work out, you know. And it's disrespectful to your wife, and it would be disrespectful for T&A. I'm sorry, at WW. Sure.

I mean, we've mentioned AEW a couple times already. Is that a slip of the tongue or no? Actually, it's impact now, right? It's strictly impact. It is impact, but everybody knows what you're talking about when you say TNA. AEW is now less than three weeks away. Do you think that as a wrestling fan yourself and as a wrestler, Do you think it's an interesting time?

Oh, very interesting. I think the momentum's there. I think if anybody's going to make it work, I think it will be them because they have that football ownership of a football team and a soccer team and, well, American football and a European football team. And then, you know, so they know the TV contracts, the this, the sports. They have the financial means behind them. And they have a good business goal and a good direction.

and, you know, once the, and they have the talent, you know, but here's a thing. You need, because it's not just a, it's a global business, you know, that their AEW's going to be. And in order to sell to toy manufacturers to, you know, internet, or I'm sorry, overseas television markets, they have to have guys like Jericho, guys that have been on TV because when you're trying to sell, you know, like overseas TV, is icing on the cake. You're selling a product that you've already done and it's just icing on top of the cake. So, you know, they have to have

you know certain and a lot of wrestling fans go, oh, you're just hiring and I'm not just saying this because I'm a senior now in the wrestling business, but you have to have those guys with somewhat named value to get deals, but they also have to be willing to help

build these other guys up because so they can be the stars, you know? Toy manufacturers, they want to how much TV time their talent has, how much TV time they have been on, you know, before they pull a trigger and say, okay, well, we don't want to spend all of our money trying to build your talent. We want to sell talent that people already know of. So in order to get some of these, and Eric Bischoff said that, you know, with Hogan and Macho Man, when a lot of people were criticizing him about signing a lot of old WWE stars, that, that, why are you doing that?

You're trying to rehash that stuff. He's like, I'm trying to get these deals. So we're making more money and generating more money, whether it's through toys or, you know, overseas TV contracts. So that's important. But you've got to have that talent, build up the younger talent, too. You were obviously tag team partners with Heath Slater. You were on the road with him, I imagine. I've got some stories there. What did he think when you started having this discussion about, you know what, maybe I'm not going to resign?

He was a little upset. You know, he's just like, I'll just resign and, you know, we'll have fun and this and that. And, you know, he's Slater is so talented. You know, you don't really see how talented. Yeah, he's there for, you know, you laugh, you know, at a lot of his stuff. He's funny. But one, he holds a dear close spot in my heart because, you know, my brother, he was diagnosed with cancer years ago. And I don't want to turn this sour.

But for two and a half months, it was, you know, it was like stage four and it was really bad. And, you know, when you know you've got stage four cancer and there's no alternative. than the ultimate, you know, then, you know, your mind is just consumed with, you know, not necessarily regret, but, you know, it's just overwhelming. And when Heath Slater would talk to him, my brother would forget that he had cancer because you heard the joy come back into his voice and we'd travel down the road and, you know, and for that, it's just a kind-hearted human being, you know, and he would just make them laugh. And to make a person laugh in a situation like that,

forget that they have that horrible disease. It's just like, you know, and someone that I've never been closer to than my brother, you know, it's just, it means so much to, you know, myself and him, you know, and my brother and him developed a little bit of a friendship. So, and Slater would always go, sick of saw him, a sick of dawn. And my brother thought, for whatever reason, that was the funniest thing. And my brother, Jim touched a lot of guys, you know, lives, whether it was Edging Christian, Joe Legend and you know when they would come down and stay in the house before all the Canadians

right right you're home yeah so they would all come down and one time my brother goes like this and Legend and Edge and Christian they all still bring it up someone Barb had to go to a funeral and he goes funeral my dick because he didn't want to go so all of a sudden like to this day they still say that and that was back in like 97 and then here this is even better Adam briefly, you know, started to date this girl down here. Nothing serious. They didn't even, you know, make it past second base, I don't think. And I'm not just saying that.

But, you know, so Adam has their edge has a clean image or anything. But the thing is, didn't he make love on Monday Night Raw? So we don't have to, yeah, right, right. So, but no, he didn't even cross second base. He seemed that she was a little bit of a clinger, right? So this lady would, like, call up, like, his house in Toronto. And this is when Adam was still staying at his mom, you know, with his mom, and he was on the road a lot. And then she would call up our house, right, looking for him.

And my brother was the type of guy like he would get aggravated if you ask him the same question over and over. She's like, are you sure he's not there? He's like, no. And this is, he's repeating the story to them. And so anyways, she goes like this. She goes, are you sure? And my brother goes, bro, I told you, he's not here. And I'm so used to them calling chicks bros and everybody, bro, they just started laughing.

So to this day, they find that so funny. It's like, remember when that girl would call and he called her? He's like, bro, he's not here. I got to say, I love that you're not jaded. There's a lot of guys I interview who have left WWE, and they have nothing but bad things to say about the company. You seem to be in a completely different, pardon the pun, boat. Well, here's the thing. You know, I know I'm reflecting on what I could have done.

done better in the last three years with WW. I think what happened is what I'm trying to figure out why it wasn't more aggressive is because I think I was withdrawn and that was personally. It wasn't none of them. It wasn't writers. I know a lot of people get down on the writers, but they have to answer to Vince and other things. And, you know, it's a lot of team effort and, you know, you try to work and this and that. I have to reflect and blame a lot on myself. I think the reason why I was disconnected so much was because right when I re-signed, I was in the middle of a campaign, and I was doing everything on the campaign, and a campaign is a lot like a business. So you've got to try to generate income from donations, you've got to knock on doors. I knocked on 14,000 doors,

which I noticed in Dearborn there's a lot of steps and a lot of red doors. I thought my red door in my house was something special, right? But anyway, so I'm trying to run that. I'm trying to do this, and then right off the gate, I was already kind of burnt out. So I was a little disconnected. I could have taken care of my health a little bit more. I could have, you know, as far as dieted down and stuff, and then, which I'm actually doing the keto diet, I was telling you, but the last couple weeks I haven't been fasting. Eating great, but not fasting. My goal is to get down another 40 pounds. Wow. What would that bring you down to? My post ECW right around then when I first started with WWE. So, yeah, so I'm pretty excited about that. So I reflect and I go,

well, I could have done this better, this better, and this better. You know, I would have still loved to tag with Slater. Nothing against that. But I think, like, right now, like, you know, I'm sitting at home for, like, at least two and a half, almost three months. And, you know, because they've got to work, you know, the other guys. They could put me on the road tomorrow. I don't know. But as far as now, you know, my next venture is I know it's going to be, I'm going to be more engaged.

Because one, I like driving. I'll do a lot of independent shows. And then here's the thing. Vince said that if I can start taking independent bookings right now and the promoters can promote me, unless like an A.W or an Impact or a Ring of Honor or New Japan, they can't publicly announce anything until after the July 17th, which is fair.

But the fact is, he knows, promoters need time to promote someone. So technically in the contract, I don't know if they can or can't, but he don't mind me doing that, you know, or interviews like this, you know. But the reason why I'm not jaded is because I take responsibility for faults. Not saying other guys don't, but sometimes it's easy to point a finger, you know, and I love the boys and I get along with all the boys. I can only talk about myself, you know.

And sometimes people have a different experience and they have a right to. to, you know, be upset at certain things. But I think the last three years, I wasn't engaged as I could have been. And it was for personal reasons, not them. You know, like Hunter and I, I mean, we get along great. I still owe him a Big Daddy's Boatyard T-shirt, X or large. And Vince, I owe him a double X because I think he told me that his arms are bigger than hunters.

So that goes out to Hunter. So that's no beef here. Did he really say that or not? I don't know, but Hunter, I think he wants to double X because his arms are bigger than yours. You mentioned your, from what he said. You mentioned your campaign. Or didn't say. I feel like you would have won had you put Rino on the ballot.

I know, who's not going to vote for a guy named Rino? You know, I thought about doing that, and the thing is, you know, you have to, like, nicknames and stuff you can put on there, but you have to go through a thing. So I figured, because I'm Italian and my middle name is Guido, so I figured. I'll put Terrence Guido Garin and then, you know, they're like everybody loves Italians. But it should have been Terrence, Rhino, Garin. Or Terrence Guido, Rhino. That's just too much. Yeah, too much.

But is your legal name Rhino? No. Could it be? Maybe. I mean, I think my, I don't know if my mom would mind, but I definitely think my grandma would if I kept Rhino and Guido and Garin, she'd be okay. But if you were a Rhino Terry. Yeah, well, maybe.

Maybe. But I'm dead serious. If your name was Rhino on the ballot, people who don't know you and don't know the guy you're running against is they're for sure going to vote for Rhino. We got to check that out. But maybe I'll have you as my campaign manager. Apparently you need me. Jeez.

You know, and then, you know, and that's another thing after I won the primary and I lost a general, but I did very well. I looked back and I said, okay, what could I do better? And then, you know, if I do decide to run, maybe as a council member or something like that, and, you know, and start off, you know, where it'll still allow me to work, you know, full time in wrestling, you know, so I think so, but I'll be calling you for a, our camera's almost going to blow over. I'll call you to the campaign.

It doesn't pay anything, so you can sleep on the boat or at the house. What campaign were you running on? What's your platform? Well, just common sense politics, you know, a lot of times, you know, and it, and it, and it, don't get me wrong, I'm not anti-government or I'm not anti-government programs. I think, you know, you have to, things have to be more efficient. And a lot of times, because it's not the candidate or the person that's won the election, it's not their money. So it's kind of like when it's not your money, and sometimes a lot of politicians on both sides of the aisle aren't held accountable for that

money that they're spending, they're like, oh, well, you know, we'll get some more money someplace else, you know, and it is a difficult job, a lot of these positions, whether you're a mayor or a council member or a state rep, you know, or a governor or lieutenant governor, you know, tough jobs and you have to, my thing was is I have the ability to pull people together. First off, you've got to start a conversation. How do you start a conversation in wrestling? Everybody loves wrestling. If you're not watching wrestling now, you probably watch it with your grandparents. If you didn't watch it with your grandparents, your grandparents watched wrestling and they'd get all excited. So, therefore, you have an inn. A lot of people

come up to me and say, especially after I bought the marina down here, it's like, oh, you're that wrestler that bought the marina. Now I'm in. Now I've got a conversation. Yeah. Do you have a boat? You know, because I got docks to sell. So if you have a boat, you got to dock someplace else like at Monroe

Boat Club, because one thing everybody's like, oh, a yacht club, a boat club, it's all these snobs and it's all these, no, it's boaters that don't want to pay nothing for a well. That's what I've learned because the well, you have to for a membership but once you get in and you build seniority you get a well here it's only like a few hundred bucks i mean so so so but it's when they have then they save money there they have enough

money and they're stoop and they buy another boat that's where i come in you know or i'll sell you a t-shirt so you're obviously best known for the gore right who who took the gore the best in your opinion um the rock and believe it or not find this some place on uh i think it's out there on YouTube or hit up Eric Freedom. It was at a show. It was probably about four or five years ago. I gored Game Boy. It is probably one of the most vicious. And that was only four years ago. Gores, I've ever, like you've seen the place just like come up. It was so insane. Yeah. The rock like does like a back flip out of the gore, right? I just literally cut in half. I'm like, wow, I really laid into this guy. Oh my God. Yeah. It was whether he wanted to take it like that or not,

He didn't have a choice, but yeah, it was it was like a gore on super steroids. Yeah, I mean, a lot of people do the spear, but the gore is like next level. Yeah, I tell people there's a big difference, which really there is not. It's like I have a low center of gravity and the power of these gams right here. Yeah, these are giant legs. Yeah, I could go to zero to 60 in a matter of a second. So, and then, you know, like when you're dealing with taller individuals, they don't have that power below the belt, you know. I mean, maybe they do, but that's a whole other interview.

That's with a whole another audience and a whole other people. I also loved your pile driver, and I was pretty bummed out when my lower back didn't it? Yeah, I was bummed out as a fan when they got rid of the pile driver, but, you know, how was it for you when they banned that? You know, certain things, like at first, I'm like, what the, you know, what the hell, right? And then you look at it and you're like, it was a blessing in disguise, because if you're, you look at guys like Stone Cold Steve Oz and Hulk Hogan, when they're doing the stunner or the leg drop, their lower back takes a lot of abuse, you know. And then, you know, just with a pile driver, you know, maybe that would have cut years off of my career. So sometimes you're, you know, and that's what, this is a learning experience for a lot of younger fans.

In life, sometimes you look at it and you're like, you know what, this is unfair, this is terrible, this is blah, blah, blah. But one, I got a great move out of it. I was doing the Gore before that. But I wasn't using it as a finisher. Steve Lombardi gave it to me as a finisher. He told me I should use it as a finisher. But then, you know, sometimes in life, you're like, this is just wrong, but something else better comes along. You know, I mean, that's true in a lot of things, whether relationships or at jobs or whatever, you know.

When you gave that pile driver to women in ECW, did they have to do anything different when they're taking it? No. Or did you have to do anything different? I just recommend them say a prayer. If you're not religious, you better get religious real quick. What's the key to not breaking your neck when you're taking it? Well, don't look back. Look up and, you know.

Are they bracing on your legs? Yeah, usually you don't want your hands in the way. But it's just like, you know, last time I checked my, whether I'm 250 or 300 pounds, I've got a big rump. So that takes most of the abuse. So, yeah, it's funny because, you know, like I was married. and my ex-wife and I get along great, and then my success, you know, it was like this

and, you know, going up and all that stuff. And then after we got divorced and I started dating again, it was funny because, you know, like a couple girls I dated, they never watched wrestling, and their parents are like, looking me up on YouTube and seeing me pile driving women,

and a lot of the stuff would come up was, you know, or looking me up on it. I think, yeah, YouTube, but it was like they would see, like, a lot of the stuff in ECW and how I would curse in interviews, and they're like, and this is before they met me, or would meet me, and they're like, you're going on a date with this guy?

You're dating this guy? Like, you know, it's like, oh, he's not like that. You're very much the opposite in person. Right, right. And like your intense, hair down, like, brooding, terrifying man. Right. Yeah. It's funny because it was right after the pay-per-view in Milwaukee,

I wrestled Sandman, and that's when I, Powell drove his wife through a table and off the ring apron through a table. And I was literally, I drove back that night, and then I woke up and then went and worked on my boat and changing the oil and all that stuff in my hair. If I don't mat it down or wet it, it'll just, I look like Snoop Dog in that video, gin and juice, you know, in the beginning, it will just fro out. So I was driving back. This was in 2000. March of 2000, I believe. Yeah, March. And then March or May.

But anyways, I stop at McDonald's. My ex-wife was like, can you pick me up something at McDonald's? I'm like, yeah, yeah, for sure. So I'm waiting there, grabbing us something to eat. And it's probably like 9 o'clock, and I've got grease all over me. And I don't look like a guy that was just on a pay-per-view the night before. And this guy is talking to me in line. And he's like, oh, yeah, and then we start talking about the pay-per-view.

I go, what match did you like the best? And he told me a match. I go, I'm like, this guy don't even recognize me. I go, what about the Sandman and Rhino? And he goes like this. He goes, oh, yeah, that was a real good match. He goes, I don't like that Rhino fella. Did you tell him?

Yeah, I go, that's me. He's like, no, it's not. And this was in 2000 before the phones you can just look up. He's like, look, and I'm like, hey, if you don't want to believe me, that's fine. But, you know, I figured it'd be cool that you know. I go, I'm glad you. You know, you don't have to change your tone and say you liked me or, you know. But anyways, as long as you like the match, that was what I was cool with.

But, yeah, it was really fun and entertaining, though. But, yeah. Do you have a favorite ECW moment or match? Oh, there was a lot. You know, it was cool because I think working with Samman, because that really put me on the map. And Samman always reminds me, oh, kid, if it wasn't for me. Well, he never takes claim for my success, you know, but he's like,

oh, I put you on the map. I'm like, I know you did. So if you're going to be going to be taking these independent bookings, how much longer did you want to be wrestling for? Five years. We talked about this a couple days ago. Yeah. Another eight years. I want to work hard for five. And then three just taper off and maybe get into local politics and, you know, more Marina. And then, you know, maybe buy a bigger marina. Keep the one I have now and then, you know, advance in that and then taper off

in the next three. Eight is very specific, though. Right. Because not Tom Petty, Richard Petty of NASCAR. I was watching a thing and he drove NASCAR for 32 years and then he retired. And it's funny because I think I told you Tom Petty and I always

do that. Like the singer? He never drove NASCAR. You mean Richard Petty? Yeah. I always say Tom Petty. But anyways, yeah. So I figured I've seen that probably about three or four years ago. I go, you know, 32 years in the wrestling business, that would be cool, you know. Wow. So, yeah, so I figured that would be good.

And then that way I can kind of, like, I really enjoy going out there and working. And here's another thing. A benefit for me to go on, you know, and work Indies and then work for another company because, one, I have a lot to offer, not just Indies, but, you know, companies like AEW Impact and Ring of Honor and New Japan, you know, helping the younger talent. and then, you know, helping develop them, get them over and helping them, you know, go to the next level. I can even work behind the scenes a little bit, you know, whether it's in talent relations, whether it's, you know, as a producer or whatever, or a booker or even storylines.

It's one of those things where, you know, even WWE, and they probably realize this, that if you let him go, you know, he likes to get on the road and grind, he's going to, you know, he meaning me will develop more of, you know, behind the scenes. So down the road, I could even, you know, go back there under a producer or something like that. You know, so you have to have an open mind. You have to, and remember when door shuts, you know, another one, and sometimes you've got to kick the door open. So, and, you know, and that's what I tell a lot of people, you know,

obviously right now Vince McMahon is the number one. And he has, everybody thinks he's lost his mind. He hasn't lost his mind. And, you know, because, like, I'll hear them say stuff. And, you know, I've carried stuff, you know, at least 15 years that he said in meetings, you know, to this day. And I use them make his examples. One of the things I talk to Carrano about, it's like, listen, you know, I've got to start setting up shows. And, you know, they've got to start promoting them these independent promoters.

I understand people with TV they don't want. Yeah. But the thing is is, is I put out feelers, you know, before, you know, during kind of like a negotiation, I go, don't think it was a snake move, but would Vince McMahon sit around and wait for the phone to ring? I'm making my phone ring. And that's one thing I always ask people. And when other promotions come up, it's like, what would this person do? I even use Dixie as an example because Dixie was out there watching T&A shows when I first started with them.

And she was watching and studying the product. And like she would sit in an area where they would like, you know, disabled veterans or kids or whatever, you know, they would, you know, and she would make them feel, you know, like family, you know, which was very good. And I'd watch stuff like that. If she ever sees it, she probably wouldn't, she didn't know that I knew. And I would watch her watch to study the product, to study not only the wrestling business, but their product and all that, you know, so you have to be hands on. And that's very, that's why I'm hands on at the marina. Yeah. if you're a nice looking blonde, I'll be, only blondes, right. No, brunettes, redheads, you know,

I mean, I can't, you know, I don't want to, you know, but it's funny. My brother, Ron, he always goes, when Speedo week at the Marine, he thinks it's so funny. It's like, easy grandpa with your joke. Ha, ha, you and you guys, you know, Speedo week, this and that. But Speedo week is right after Shark Week, and that's July 29. Actually, Monroe Bow Club, actually, July 29th is a Monday. It's actually right after the shark week too, but we're not having Speedo week. No, no. It's funny. We'll joke around about that. But it is kind of funny because he'd say that in front of some people. I think it's a dumb joke, but other people would laugh. And at Big Daddy's Boatyard, it's an atmosphere where you laugh, you joke, you have some fun and you go home, you know.

So I'm all over the place. I had Red Bull. Nothing else. So we were joking about that. He goes, don't drink too much energy drink. I go, why? You don't want your audience to think I'm hopped up on something else. We've had other interviews like that. You can maybe make some guesses. Right, right. Sandman comes to mind. I can't thank you enough for your time. Oh, no, thank you. I'm excited to see what happens with your business and also where you end up this summer. Right, right. Well, you know, definitely this summer. I'm either going to be at my Marina or Monroe Boat Club. And, you know, one thing I really like to stress, you know, live life, enjoy life. Don't forget to go fishing. to enjoy life because you only go through once, you know, and don't be a dick to other people,

you know, and just, you know, and try to make a difference in the world and in a positive light. And then, you know, it's one of those things where if you're happy with yourself, usually you're happy if you do charity stuff or help people out and then other things could come. It's like pushing out positive energy, the secret. You ever seen that? Yeah. Yeah, I tried to like to leave on a positive note. There you go.

I'm going to write a book. No, I'm not. Because there's a lot of bad shit out there. Such a good guy. What a happy and positive dude. And he's such a good guy that he picked me up from the airport, which is 40 minutes from his marina. Then he drove me from there after our interview, almost an hour away to my next interview with Zach Gowler. So thanks to Rhino for that being just as such an awesome human.

Thanks to you for listening. And please, if you're enjoying this, leave a review so we can help get that word out there. Also, thanks to Green Roads for sponsoring the show. Use the code, Chris 15, for 15% off your CBD products at greenroadsworld.com. Thanks to Samson Tech for the equipment that we are podcasting on. And I'm going to keep uploading the recent interviews, some of the throwback interviews, kind of mixing them all in. And we just put it all out there. So keep listening.

And remember, I say it all the time. But remember this one. Vag goals, get vague results. Boom! We'll talk to you soon. The Hammer Alley podcast, an 80s flashback mockumentary. Back in the 80s, there were a thousand bands trying to make it in the world of rock, but there was one band that had it all.

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