Reported by Adam Martin of WrestleView.com
On Saturday, February 25, 2006 at 2:59 AM EST

The following was transcribed by Chris Furguson:

Show: Wrestling Epicenter
Guest: Kamala
Date: February 24, 2006
Your Hosts: James Walsh, Brendon Brooks, Ben Benya, & "Queen of Extreme" Francine

"The Ugandan Giant" Kamala is well known for his famous painted up face, ring gear, massive size, attempts to pin his opponent while they're face down, and his savage yelps. And now, he will forever be known for his singing as well!

Joining the show this week, we welcome Kamala as he takes us through his career and into the world of who exactly the man is behind this infamous character! And, I feel like Allan Freed minus the big pay checks from Dick Clark... Want to hear some of the man's music? We debut this vocalist on the radio right here on "The Blaze" 1260 AM with a song called Booty Girl!

Plus, "The Queen of Extreme" joins us to tell us about her photo shoot on www.MissyHyattandFrancineTV.com where she is covered in chocolate sauce... I wonder what you'd call that at your local ice cream shop... I know! The Dairy Queen of Extreme! Yes, I'm dorky enough to actually say that... Great photo shoot, great discussion about Shane Douglas, and more. Plus, I think I (James) manage to offend Francine. Publically, allow me to say "I'm sorry" if I did for the entire world to read...

To listen to this entire broadcast, go to www.WrestlingEpicenter.com.

Transcript by Chris Furguson, Intro by James Walsh.

"KAMALA, THE UGANDAN GIANT" INTERVIEW
(Interview conducted by James Walsh and Chris Furguson)
---

Kamala's theme leads us into interview with the Ugandan Giant, Kamala. It has been a long time coming, which the mellow voiced Kamala says "we finally got together!"

The first topic is Kamala's upcoming "WWE Classic Superstars" action figure. Kamala says he hadn't seen it, yet, but he was going to travel to New York the day after the interview to promote it.

James then follows with a question about what Kamala thinks about the WWE doing these action figures, explaining that the classic figures often sell better than the current wrestlers do. "I didn't know that, but it's good to hear that! I think it's great!"

About Kamala's recent appearances on WWE television and how it feels to be in front of the camera now, Kamala says "It's about the same as it was years ago. Kamala then mentions that he's been in front of the camera for the past 27 years, only now he "gets out of the arena early, so it's great!"

Chris asks about the first casket match against The Undertaker (SummerSlam 1990). Kamala confesses that he's really afraid of coffins, but when he was in it, he felt comfortable. However, "working my way up to the casket match, I just didn't know how I was going to take it."

Kamala's journey from the "Mississippi Mauler" and "Sugarbear Harris" to "The Ugandan Giant" was "just like shopping." His "Mississippi Mauler" gimmick wasn't popular so he changed it to "The Ugandan Giant." Kamala also says that he used to live in Africa and "while I was in Africa, it started brewing in me, and we end up doing it."

Do the chants, in the "Kamala" character, mean anything? "It's just random."

Do the symbols on his face, chest and stomach mean anything? "Not that I know of! When I was living in Africa, we went down in the valleys, as they called it, and I saw people with the painted stuff on their face. What it meant, I don't know, but it's something that really caught my eye and I was interested in it."

Chris enters into the conversation with a question about certain people borrowing the "Kamala" gimmick, specifically mentioning Joel Gertner's "Ugandan Studmuffin" tribute. When asked if he had seen it, Kamala says "I didn't seen that and I never heard of it."

James later asks about the "Uganda" character, which is a copy of the Kamala character. Does he have a problem with people copying his gimmick? "No, I really don't. I mean, when they first started doing, it kinda bothered me a little bit, but I just let it go."

The WWF in the mid-80's is the next topic, when Kamala had a feud with Hulk Hogan, and the transition from being a territory to a national promotion. "It was great being in one of the greatest organizations in the world." Kamala later adds that "I can say I've been to the top there. Even though I wasn't compensated for it, I can say I've been to the top!"

Kamala also felt he should have been paid better. "Everything that Vince did, I definitely know I should have been paid better." When asked if there was a fall guy that he talked to, Kamala said "I called Vince, direct."

The two "Kimchees" is the next subject. Kamala clarifies that there was only one "Kimchee," which was Steve Lombardi. There was, however, a "Friday," which was dressed the same way, and was played by the late Gene Stevens. The purpose of that character was to make Kamala more of a savage by having a handler.

The face run, when "Reverend Slick" tried to civilize Kamala, is the next topic. Did Kamala enjoy that angle? "I didn't, I really didn't. With all respect to Slick, Slick is a super nice guy, but I don't think we was compatible. I didn't like being a babyface."

What is it about being a heel that Kamala loves? "It's so much easier for a guy like me, cause the only thing I do is stomp and punch and kick, bite and stuff like that, and when you're a babyface it don't get over as well."

Kamala's short WCW run is next. "I was only there for 3 months and it was the worst experience I ever had in my whole wrestling career." The Dungeon of Doom faction he was a part of "didn't mean nothing to me."

Kamala mentioned the Gimmick Battle Royal at Wrestlemania X-7, which Chris asks about. Kamala says that the WWE called him a couple of years before that, asking to do one of the PPVs, but refused. In 2001, they asked again, this time for he just did it. "It was alright when I got there, but I couldn't wait to get back home."

Does Kamala still have that "bad taste in his mouth?" "No, no, not really." After the Gimmick Battle Royale, Kamala got lots of phone calls from independent promotors, trying to get him to do their shows.

The indy fans seem to appreciate Kamala now, and he's adjusting to being a babyface! He gets a lot of cheers coming out, along with people wanting to shake his hand and get his autograph.

Kamala's appearance at the "RAW Diva Search" is next. Did Kamala think those girls knew who he was? "Ah, no. I really don't!"

Kamala's CD is "a mixture. I would say it's Rock and I have a lot of Country songs. It's home done, not distributed, or nothing like that, from a distrubuting company. I do it all right here at home." Kamala has a small studio in his house. He also do his own musicianship, which impresses James.

They mention the music on his website, www.TheGiantKamala.com, where you can purchase his CD.

James asks if Kamala uses his own music when doing indy shows. "No, I still use the same old Kamala music that I've been using for years. But, I think I'm gonna change that in the future and start using some of the music that I wrote myself!"

After mentioning Jimmy Hart's praise of Kamala's music, the question of "does having been Kamala help or hurt his music career" arises. "I can't say for sure right now. It's a little too early." He's only been doing it for 2 years, but he's getting a lot of compliments on his music.

Does Kamala have any hopes of being in the WWE Hall of Fame? "I really hadn't thought of it." He later adds "It don't interest me at all."

How does Kamala WANT to be remembered by wrestling fans? "As a great heel. A nice guy, a super nice guy that was easy to work with. And a guy that really took care of his gimmick, back when the kayfabing was enforced."

Kamala's opinion of the lack of a "Kayfabe" era, and the internet's openness is "I really don't think that's a good thing. That's the reason the house shows is so down now."

What does Kamala think of TNA? "I really don't watch wrestling, and I don't know a lot about it."

Word Associations:

Hulk Hogan: "I don't have a story, but Hulk Hogan was, to me, the greatest champion."

Jerry "The King" Lawler: "I had a lot of great matches with him, and I still do."

Koko B. Ware: "We go way back, he's a super guy too."

Eric Bischoff: "I can't say what I think he is on the air."

Dr. Harvey Whippleman: "We traveled a lot of miles together."

Vince McMahon: "He's a good promoter, he knows how to make money, but I don't think he thinks about the guys who help him put butts in the seats."

The interview ends with another plug for www.TheGiantKimala.com and a little bit about Stanley "Tookie" Williams. They also play a track from Kamala's CD called "Bootie Girl."

***** Be sure and join us next week at 10:30 p.m. E/T as we welcome Rodney Mack, Francine, & Gary Michael Cappetta! Go to www.WrestlingEpicenter.com for information as to how to tune in!