Interview Recap - Chris Cruise

By Raoul Duke

www.inyourheadonline.com <http://www.inyourheadonline.com/>
 broadcasting LIVE every Wednesday, 8pm-10pm EST with Jack,
Oneinchbiceps and Barbie Richards.

Jack and Oneinchbiceps welcomed former WCW announcer Chris Cruise to
the program once again. Chris will be attending the NWA Wrestling
Legends Fanfest August 14th through to August 17th in Charlotte,
North Carolina along with other legends such as Ric Flair, Superstar
Billy Graham, Bruno Sammartino, Ole Anderson, JJ Dillion, Tony Atlas,
Ted Dibiase and many more. You can find out more information about the
fanfest at http://www.nwalegends.com. <http://www.nwalegends.com./>
Chris admitted it’s the kind of event that, as a fan, he would pay
to see if he wasnt going to be part of the staff.

Jack asked if there’s anyone at the fanfest this year that Chris has
never met or worked with; Chris said he doesn’t think hes ever met
Superstar Billy Graham, even though he is supposed to host the Q&A
with him and Bruno Sammartino; but hes been doing his research and
looking at old clips online to prepare himself for the event. Chris
jokingly speculated that he won’t have to ask many questions. Chris
then said he plans to take it very seriously and believes that
Superstar Billy Graham has been very honest about what he created
with the use of steroids. Jack plugged that Superstar Billy Graham
will be on the program July 30th.

Jack brought up that Chris hosted a Q&A session with Bobby Heenan,
Jim Cornette and a surprise appearance by Percy Pringle at the 2006
Fanfest; Chris said he thought Percy did a good job and everybody was
excited to see him. Chris said he loved doing those Q&A sessions.

The IYH crew and Chris then talked about how tragic it was that a few
wrestlers that were at the Fanfest last year have now passed away,
like Ernie Ladd, Sensational Sherri and Gary Hart.

Chris then talked about how some of the most interesting stuff at the
Fanfest happens in the Green Room because some wrestlers may have heat
with one another and others haven’t seen each other in 20 years. Chris
compared it with old soldiers having not seen each other since they

fought together in battle and said it can get pretty emotional.

Jack asked Chris about Ole Anderson, who was one of the nicest guys
at the Fanfest last year and spent a lot of time interacting with the
fans; Chris replied that Ole was always very fun and approachable with
him, but he believed that because Ole had so much pride about the
wrestling business, he wanted everyone else to share the same pride
and when they didnt, it really bothered him.

Jack mentioned that commentators Bob Caudle and Rich Landrum will be
at this year’s Fanfest and asked Chris how he would compare their
commentary style to his own; Chris said he’s never had the
opportunity to meet Rich Landrum and everybody said he did a great
job on WCW Worldwide, but he always liked Bob. Chris said Bob was a
guy who made broadcasting look easy.

Jack told Chris that recently a TNA iMPACT script was leaked to the
Internet and they actually scripted out what Mike Tenay and Don West
were supposed to say. Jack posed the question of whether or not
that’s always gone on or if it’s just a modern-day thing; Chris said
he thought it was a modern day thing. Chris said that when he was
working in WCW the announcers were left to their own devices and the
only time they were given strict bullet-points were when Glacier
debuted.

Oneinchbiceps then took a question from the IYH message-board from
The Big Tiny, who asked what are Chris’ feelings on Mike Tenay; Chris
said he’s never been a huge fan of Mike Tenay, but he helped him out
professionally, especially on the “When Worlds Collide” PPV, where
they both travelled together to Mexico so he could get a better
insight into Lucha Libre. Chris felt he isn’t convincing enough to
carry a broadcast even though he is very methodical in his
play-by-play and that he’d be better served in an interview position
rather than an anchor situation. Chris said he’s tried very hard to

enjoy the TNA product but it just isn’t interesting to him.

Jack stated that last time Chris was on the program he wasn’t a big
fan of Joey Styles and wanted to know what he thought of his
replacement, Mike Adamle; Chris said he hasn’t even listened but
thought Adamle brought a lot of credibility to American Gladiators
and that was one the reasons for the show’s success. Chris referred
to a guy he knew from Maine he worked for ABC News as a fill-in guy
and once he worked his way up to local news he was terrible and says
that it’s similar to Adamle’s current situation but it’s not his
fault; it’s the fault of the people who let him on the broadcast.

Chris said he doesn’t watch RAW or ECW anymore and mentioned that one
of his friends ended his subscription to Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling
Observer Newsletter after 21 years; Jack said that he has been a
long-time subscriber to WON too but doesn’t like the fact that it’s
catering too much towards MMA; Chris replied that maybe they should
split the two but ultimately Dave Meltzer’s a publisher that has to
print stuff that people want to read.

The IYH crew then once again plugged the upcoming NWA Wrestling
Legends Fanfest and advised everybody to check
http://www.nwalegends.com <http://www.nwalegends.com/>
where you can see the full list of the wrestlers who are attending,
booking information and schedules.

Jack asked Chris if he collected any wrestling memorabilia; Chris
said yes and that he’s on Ebay a lot collecting old magazines. Chris
says he has no problem spending good money for a good-quality
magazine with Bruno Sammartino on the cover and that Bruno once

playfully called him a mark for buying that stuff.

The IYH crew then took a call from PH who asked what the backstage
environment in WCW was like; Chris said he never got involved in the
politics and that whenever a booker came down to the studio there was
always tension. Chris remembered a time when Mean Gene Okerlund came
down and started comparing him to Gordon Solie to which Chris
countered, and I quote,  “Between you and I we are Gordon Solie; I do
play-by-play and you abuse drugs.”  Mean Gene then reportedly asked

Eric Bischoff to fire him after that.

Jack then asked if wrestling isn’t an environment where you can speak
your mind, bringing up Michael Hayes’ recent punishment for racist
comments; Chris said that once you stop taking bumps and become a
“suit” youre no longer “one of the boys,” and there’s a clear
delineation and Michael thought he was something he wasn’t anymore.
Chris said that to use the N-word in front of an African-American is
just astounding.

The IYH crew then took a call from Jose who asked who the worst
person to work with in WCW was; Chris said it was Tony Schiavone.
Chris said the wrestlers were always professional and they respected
the announcers but Tony was always miserable and hated wrestling but
was a very talented producer.

Jack raised the question of whether or not appearance matters for an
announcer; Chris said if you’re aiming for the pretty boy look you
wouldn’t hire a guy like him or Jim Ross and that it ultimately comes
down to talent and ability. Jack then asked which wrestlers he thought
made a good transition from wrestling to commentating; Chris said
Dusty Rhodes was the best, also Larry Zybysko and Bruno Sammartino,
who was much underrated as a color commentator. Chris said it was a

very difficult transition from wrestler to commentator.

Onceinchbiceps then asked a question from the IYH messageboard from
Uslander who wanted to know what was the most bizarre thing Chris
ever saw backstage in WCW; Chris said it was probably Brian Pillman
as he wasn’t aware that it was all a work. Chris recalled a PPV where
he was trying to wrap it up and Brian wouldn’t stop talking; then
Brian came back later and ignited a shouting match between them and
Arn Anderson had to get in involved.

Jack asked if Chris still has the lampshade from the WCW All-Nighter
and if he has any plans to put it on Ebay; Chris said he probably
should and that’s the thing most fans ask him about now. Chris found
it funny that people ask him if they actually stayed up all-night
when really they taped it all in a few hours.

Before Chris left the program, Jack asked his feelings on the Hogan
situation and how he came off on Larry King; Chris said he was
familiar with public relations and he thought it was outrageous. He
advised Hogan and his family to stay under the radar until the whole
thing blows over but thought it could also be a good time for Hogan
to turn heel because no one would cheer him. Jack disagreed because
he still sees people on the Internet praising Benoit, which Chris
found incredible.

To hear the interview, head on over to www.inyourheadonline.com
<http://www.inyourheadonline.com/>
and remember to check out the show live every Wednesday 8pm EST. You
can also check out their 3 year interview archive which guests such as
Mick Foley, Chris Jericho, Rob Van Dam, Terry Funk, Goldberg and Eric

Bischoff.

Please make plans now to be with us for 3 HUGE DAYS (and now 4 nights!)
celebrating wrestling tradition!

This will make a great summer vacation!

NWA Wrestling Legends Fanfest
Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 14-17, 2008
Hilton University Place Hotel; Charlotte, North Carolina