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WF: First of all: Thank You for this interview.
How are you? Stro: Great! My pleasure! WF: Before we talk about your wrestling career, we have to talk about your music background. Some people did not know that you have experiences in playing at the theater. Can you tell us something about these? Stro: Yes I do have a musical and theatrical background growing up. My choir teacher still gets after me about pursuing wrestling over singing..lol. But now along with the acting for TV and Film I am doing, you never know. WF: You were trained among others by Ivan Koloff, a name, who especially know older wrestling fans. Today, how do you look back to your time as a rookie and to which memories do you remember eminently or on which memories are you frown on? Stro: Yes , Ivan Koloff, Gene Anderson, and Nelson Royal broke me in the wrestling business. They were very hard on me and studied lots of tapes of many greats. But that was the old school way and that along with my collegiante amatuer and MMA training overseas paved the way for me. I am very greatful. Taught me a lot about in the ins and out of the business. Some people I have seen tried the short cuts, but eventually fizzled out due to lack of drive and proper training, so I was very grateful for what all they taught me. WF: In 1990, you celebrated your professional debut. Now it is 20 Years ago. How do you remember to this time and Smoky Mountain wrestling where persons like Chris Jericho or Chris Benoit had their beginnings, too? Stro: Smoky Mountain Wrestling was my first big wrestling promotion. Many great legends and future stars of wrestling I wrestled with then.`Amazing to see to this day what all became of us. Robbie Eagle was the name given to me by Jim Cornette and Ricky Morton for the promotion at the time. Lot of the lockeroom called me "Baby Steiner" due to my amateur and MMA background. WF: As Robbie Eagle, you get to the WCW for a short time to have a feud with Sting. How do you remember to this time? Stro: Anytime you get in the ring with the caliber of Sting, it is a big time moment. Was honored to have Sting as my first WCW opponent. William Regal and Dusty Rhodes compared my style to that of my grand uncle Gorgeous George to which I found out later from my grandfather ofg my relation to him. George and my grandpa were amatuer boxing buddies before he broke into the wrestling industry years ago. So I dubbed the name Gorgeous George III out of respect for him. The original MoonDog Larry Winter and Bill Dundee put in the good word for me to the USWA which I had many great matches with Jerry Lawler, Brian Christopher,and Bill Dundee as well as tagging up with The Gambler, Pat Tanaka, Scott Hall, King Mabel, Sid Vicious,and other WWE stars. Even got to main event the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee in a hair vs hair match teaming up with Tommy Rich against PG-13. From there I made two tours of Puerto Rico for WWC. Had some great matches there and wrestled with Invader, Hurricane Castillo, Pulgarcito, Abdullah The Butcher,Big Vito, Sean Morley, Dutch Mantell, Carlos Colon among many greats. After my run there I went down to AAA in Mexico and made a successful run tagging with Jake "The Snake" Roberts. We got to main event 1996's Triplemania there. That is where I first met Rey Mysterio and many of the luchadores. WF: After the WCW you went back to the independent scene. Next to SMW, you`ve got some dark matches in the WWF, today known as WWE, with Chris Benoit. Can you tell us something about him and this time? Stro: Awesome wrestler, great friend. Inspired me a lot. My tryout match was with Scotty Riggs. Neither one of us was taken by the WWE at the time. Was great to finally work together in WCW years later. We wanted to have more matches in WCW with each other than what was given us. WF: How did you notice about the tragedy with Chris and how do you personally remember about the people Chris & Nancy. Stro: Have known them both for a while. So I was as shocked as the rest of the world of the news. Very sad, but I will always remember their kindness to me and the good memories I have of them. WF: In the Mid of the 90, you get MMA experience with MMA Legends like Ken Shamrock or Dan Severn at a Japan tour. Do you watch MMA, Strikeforce and co and have you any favorites? Stro: It was an honor and a great learning experience. Yes, I am a big fan. Randy Couture, Anderson Silva,and Chuck Ladell stand out. Fan of the Gracie Jujitsu style as well. Nice to see the females like Gino Corano and Cris Cyborg compete. My thoughts and prayers go out to Brock Lesnar on a speedy recovery back to the Octagon. WF: At the End of the 90s, the fans could see the „Maestro“ at WCW. How did it come to this gimmick around the person, to the entrance with this instrumental music etc. Stro: Maestro was created by myself and Eric Bischoff. Maestro was a throwback from my Gorgeous George III persona but with a "Phantom of the Opera" like musical twist with my musical background. The platform that I was lowered to the arena playing the baby grand piano was very elaborate. I had to almost bang the keys playing coming down from the rafters as the crowd noise would at times drown out the sound. Practiced with stunt coordinators propelling myself from the rafters with a harness for two weeks leading up to my debut. After first I was hesitant to due to Owen Hart's passing, but got the blessing from Bret which meant the world to me. WF: Which influences did you have to the Character and the feuds? Stro: I had some and some potential great ideas, but like many thins at the time fell thru the cracks. But the talent at the time was the best in the world. Was a real treat. WF: You`ve got feuds against David Flair, Norman Smiley, Buff Bagwell and Ernest Miller for the World Television Title. I think, that to you and most of the fans, the feud with “The Cat” Ernest Miller is still in memory. They bring James Brown in the game… Stro: Had some great matches and feuds there for sure. Would loved to have done more with Ric Flair, Terry Funk,Piper, and Hogan at the time. WF: How do you remember the feud against "The Cat" Ernest Miller and James Brown? Stro: Was an honor to work with James Brown during my feud with Ernest Miller. Heard there was talk of Vanilla Ice even getting involved with us before our feud ended..lol. Our feud had potential to do so much more though. WF: In the News, we could read that you leave the WCW after this title run of David Arquette. Was it really this booking or did you leave because of few TV appearances? Stro: Well my three year contract was up and was being told of the companies troubles. So I didn't renew. WF: After your WCW Time, often, we could see you in independent promotions. What are you doing today? Stro: Back with the NWA (NWA Mountain State) among many promotions across the U.S. and overseas on occasion. Also operate a wrestling school in Jacksonville, North Carolina along with acting now for TV and Film. Have two films out on DVD now "12-24" and "Deader Country". You can see both video trailers for the two films at my official website http://www.facebook.com/l/8549d;www.thestro.com WF: We would like to thank you for the interview and wish you the best for the future. Stro: Thank you all so much! Stay in touch! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! WF: Finally, do you have any words for your German Fans? Stro: Thank you for all your support through the years. I do hope to return to entertain you all again soon. God bless! |
| Dieses Interview führte Markus Eisenkolb (DXMEMBER) & Merlin Schatz (Sephiroth) |
