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WF: We are pleased, that you’ve taken some time to do this interview with wrestlingfever.de. How are you doing?
AS: well thank you for having an interest in me and I am very happy to do an interview with you.
WF: What was your personal motivation to become a pro wrestler to get blood, sweat and sometimes tears?
AS: I do not know why I becam a Pro Wrestler and to this day nearly 27 years later I still dont know why. I just knew in my heart it was something I had to do and still absolutely love doing. I dont think my love affair with Proffesional wrestling will ever end.
WF: What come thru your mind before you enter the ring, when you hear your music, are you nervous?
AS: I always have to pee right before I go through the curtain and out to the ring. If ever a day comes and I dont feel that I will probably quit.
WF: What means your entrance-theme to you as a pro wrestler, what is in your mind on the way to the ring?
AS: As I am walking to the ring I am already working the audience in the direction of what business I wish to accomplish that night . Whatever that may be.
WF: Al, let`s light up your wrestling career before WWE & ECW a little bit. Let’s talk about Smoky Mountain Wrestling. Can you share some memories from your early days in wrestling with us?
AS: Smoky Mountain was an amazing time for me. I really enjoyed my time there. I learned so much from all the boys in the territory and especially from Jim Cornette. This was really my first big break and actual recognition on a nation wide basis of my career.
WF: SMW was truly old school wrestling. ECW was completely different and had an influence on the big TWO. Which stiles do you like more, old school or new school?
AS: There is no such thing as Old school or New school as Pro wrestling is Pro wrestling and nobody has actually reinvented the wheel. There were different promotional and philosophcal styles. This was no different than when there were territories all over the United States. All had their individual style and approach but were all still selling wrestling as a competitive situation.
WF: In WWE you wrestled as Leif Cassidy in a tag team with Marty Jannetty for a while, but it was just a remake of the Rockers. What do think about that tag team and its early split today?
AS: The New Rockers was great oppurtunity that just did not pan out unfortunately. I feel very lucky to have had a chance to have teamed with such a great talent as Marty Jannetty. I learned a tremendous amount during my time with Marty. And always had a blast both in and out of the ring.
WF: What do you think about remakes of some stables, gimmicks and storylines in general?
AS: In Actuality there are very few things in wrestling that have not in some form or another been done before. You simply update and raise the sophistication of the gimmick or angle to match that of your audience.
WF: After that, you went to ECW, where you became a huge fan-favourite with “Head”. Most fans remember you for that Gimmick. What do you think made this Gimmick so memorable?
AS: I think the Head gimmick connected so well with the fans because it felt so real and was believeable on many different levels.
WF: Also a "standart" question: What’s the story behind Al Snow and Head? How was it developed?
AS: I was trying to show while in the ring that I had suffered a nervous breakdown and nothing seemed to work. Until I found a styro foam head in the back of ECW arena and began to bring it to the ring with me and speak with it and it just took off.
WF: It is said, you were supposed to win the ECW heavyweight title, but you were reordered to the WWE. Is this true? And is it true that you had a contract with the WWE during your time in ECW?
AS: I was on loan from WWE to ECW during my time there. Due to the fact that a year prior I had tried to quit WWE and my contract was rolled over.. I dont know wether I was supposed to win the ECW title. But I was approached a short time after that by Vince Russo and was convinced to send a tape of my stuff to Vince Mc Mahon who then contacted and the rest is history so to speak.
WF: What are your memories about Paul Heyman as Promoter, friend and ECW?
AS: Paul Heyman is a tremendous and cretive wrestling promoter , TV writer , Editor , and Talent manager.
WF: Let’s talk about the J.O.B Squad. That was a stable with you, Duane Gill, Blue Meanie, Bob Holly and 2 Cold Scorpio. Who had the idea to form the J.O.B Squad and how do you feel about it today?
AS: The J.O.B. Squad started as a joke in WWE and then when I went to ECW i developed a life all its own in the locker room. It took off so strong that Vince Russo insisted on using it in WWE. The point of the J.O.B. Squad was nad is not about losing or a group of supposed losers. It was a reminder to all the talent in Pro Wrestling and regular life that youre not really winning someone has simply paid me to allow you to.
WF: I made an interview with Duane Gill lately. He had not many good words to say about Vince McMahon. How does Allen Savern feel about the WWE boss?
AS: I have nothing but respect for Vince Mc Mahon and truly appreciate all the oppurtunities he gave me. during my 13 year stay in WWE. I only wish that I knew then what I know now and so I would be able to mximize those oppurtunities I was given.
WF: What are your memories about the “Attitude Era”? Can you tell us a funny story?
AS: The night in Tacoma Washington when during a match of Blue Meanie VS Golddust. Golddust had put Blue Meanie in the corner for Goldust shattered dreams kick to the crotch and when Goldust did that spreading Meanies plump thighs far enough apart so as to be supported by the second turnbuckle . Meanies testicles popped out of both leg holes on his already way to short daisy duke shorts. Which was televised all over the world on live TV.
WF: During your long term relationship with the WWE you worked as a wrestler, as a trainer in “Tough Enough” and in OVW. And you did a great job as a commentator on TV. Was it challenging to do all this things and what did you enjoy the most?
AS: During my time in WWE I was very lucky getting alot of different oppurtunities. I believe the one that was the most challenging would have to be the commentating. It is far more difficult then anyone can imagine and I guess tha tis a testament to how talented they all are by making it look so easy.
To be honest I truly enjoyed all of jobs in WWE.
WF: What do you think about the “Tough Enough” idea? Is it possible to develop a talent in such a short time? What do you think?
AS: It is possible to do that which I was attempting to do through Tough Enough and that is give them a very strong base that owuld have them ready to perform in front of an audience with a more experienced veteran to lead them.
That was the way it was done when I broke into the business nearly 27 years ago and even before that. The plac eyou truly learn the art of Pro Wrestling is by doing it in front of an audience.
WF: Can you explain to us and yourself, why you got fired? I’m sure you could fulfil many other tasks.
AS: WWE moved the developmental talent to Tampa Florida. A move they had planned for quite some time and when they did they already had several other trainers in place there so we parted ways.
WF: Now after your WWE career, in which you held several titles like the European, Tag Team & 6x Hardcore Championship, are you satisfied with your independent booking-schedules?
AS: Well I would always like to work more only because I truly absolutely still love it. But that being said I am keeping very busy and having a great time every where I go.
WF: Recently you had some appearances in Germany. How did you like it and what do you consider with Germany and "Hate`s F`N Birthday" Show?
AS: I loved the fans at the show and the atmosphere was fantastic. its the only place I have been where the fans are literally right by the ring. It was a great night. And Hate was a total professional.
WF: Can you tell us, what do you think about Ultra Violant Matches?
AS: Violence isnt in what you do its in the reason why you do it. I think that some of these matches try so hard to simply shock that they forget that.
WF: What would you like more to achieve in your career?
AS: I want an army of evil midgets all at my command :)
WF: Allen, many of your former ECW and WWE colleagues died because of their lifestyle much too soon. What do you think personally about the WWE Wellness Policy?
AS: I believe that the wellness policy is there to help protect those who cant seem to do it for themselves for whatever reason.
WF: If you could choose between a TNA and a WWE contract, which company would you choose and why?
AS: My heart is always with WWE but I would not turn TNA down. Lets face it I am like every other wrestler I am a whore lol.
WF: We thank you for this interview and hope to see you again soon…
AS: I hope to work in Germany again soon. Ciao!
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