Ken Anderson shares interesting Balls Mahoney story
Chris Featherstone passed along this recap.
Ken Anderson was the latest guest on the Pancakes and Powerslams show. During the live interview, WWE broke the news that Balls Mahoney had passed away.
Anderson immediately had a very interesting story to share about a particular interaction with Mahoney:
“I was around him a lot when he was in the WWE when they married ECW with WWE. We spent a lot of time on the road because ECW and SmackDown would travel together. The overseas and in-state tours together. He was great [backstage]. Always a nice guy. I had some strange interactions with him. I remember one time I was walking up to an arena, I think we were in Germany, and he was sitting out kind of sunning himself. He had these headphones on, big headphones, and as I walked by, he pulled the headphones off, shook my hand [and said], ‘How’re you doing, brother?’ He was always the sweetest guy, very friendly. And I said, ‘I’m good. What cha listening to?’ And he goes, ‘Type O Negative.’ I’m like, ‘Oh. Those are the guys who think they’re vampires, right?’ And he goes, ‘Yeah. I’m a vampire too.’ I was like, ‘What? What do you mean?’ And he showed me his arm where he had cut himself the night before where he and his girlfriend were taking turns sucking each other’s blood.”
Anderson shared the details on the original plans for his Money in the Bank win, and how it was changed, costing being the World Heavyweight Champion simply due to a misdiagnosis:
“The intention was for me to wait the entire year. Then Undertaker got hurt, he’d torn his biceps, I believe. So Vince and Stephanie called me in the office after SmackDown and said, we were planning on Taker run with this title for a long time, but he’s hurt. We need to get the title off of him. We think the best way to do that is for you to come out next week, and cash in the Money in the Bank. So, we talked about it, talked about a couple of scenarios, then I left. The very next time that I wrestled, I believe it was Poughkeepsie [New York], during the first match, Batista shot me in the corner, gave me a clothesline, and just grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the corner for a short clothesline. For some reason, I just bumped kind of weird, kind of sideways, and when my triceps hit the mat, it just felt like something exploded. By the time I got to the locker room, I couldn’t bend my elbow. My arm was already starting to discolor. I drove with Hornswoggle that night to Erie, Pennsylvania to get an MRI. After the MRI they tell me to go to your hotel and just wait, we’ll call you and let you know what is happening. So Stephanie calls me while I’m at the hotel and says, ‘You tore your tricep off the bone, and you’re gonna have to get surgery and you’re gonna be out for seven or eight months. But the problem is, we still need to get that title off of Taker because he’s injured. What we’re thinking is we’re gonna send Vince’s jet to come pick you up in Erie, fly you to Penn State, Edge is gonna challenge you for the Money in the Bank, and then he is going to do what you were supposed to do. [Edge challenged me on Raw], but I couldn’t do anything. It was as though I had a splint from my shoulder to my wrist. And Vince said, ‘What do you want to do?’ I said, just have him jump me, beat me all the way to the ring, roll me in, ring the bell, hit me with the spear and 1-2-3. [Vince said], ‘Ok. That’s what we’re gonna do.’ Then the next day, I flew to Birmingham, Alabama, and sat on Dr. James Andrews’ table. He says, ‘They’re telling me you tore your triceps, huh?’ So he feels around and goes, ‘That’s not a tear. You didn’t tear it.’ And I go, ‘Excuse me?’ He goes, ‘There’s no tear. You can tell where there’s a divot in the muscle, but not a tear.’ I did another MRI, and it was just a really bad bruise and my arm swelled up. He said if you take three maybe four weeks off, you’ll be right back in the ring. And that’s what happened.”
If it were not for the misdiagnosis, he would have been World Heavyweight Champion.
Anderson also explained how the “F*** TNA!” comment was completely taken out of context:
“I was told that someone took eight seconds out of that [long] video which said, ‘I’m Ken Anderson. I don’t work for TNA anymore. F TNA!’ Well that’s not what happened. The fans were chanting. It was a very adult crowd, wild crowd. 5-600 people in Scotland at ICW. ICW is a huge deal in Scotland. Reminds me a lot of ECW. You can say whatever you want on the mic. Anything goes. So, they started chanting, ‘F TNA!, F TNA!’ I said okay, I don’t work for them anymore, so yeah, I agree. And then I said after that, ‘Well, F you too!’ because I was playing a heel. But whoever posted the video in the first place just took the eight seconds out so it looks like I’m on a soapbox. I have friends that work in TNA. I’m not gonna badmouth the company. I had fun while I worked there. Loved that company, love wrestling. I hope that company can figure it out and become successful, because God knows the men and women there are busting their tails.”
Anderson also shared his feelings of being Eddie Guerrero’s last opponent, details about the Lesnar/Hennig fight and more on the “Plane ride from Hell”, more on his WWE release, feuding with Sting, Aces & Eights, and much more in this nearly 90 minute discussion.
Here is the link to the full interview
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pancakesandpowerslams/2016/04/13/pancakes-and-powerslams-episode-211
Johnny Mundo (John Morrison) clarifies comments about Roman Reigns
Kevin Gill passed along this recap.
Lucha Underground superstar Johnny Mundo FKA John Morrison explains Roman Reigns comments, and discusses the importance of an off season, who is the best wrestler in the world, Rey Mysterio, Positive Mental Attitude, Headlocked and more on episode 87 of The Kevin Gill Show, the long running podcast series, with every episode recorded in person with top stars of wrestling and music.
Past episodes include in depth conversations with MIck Foley, Jerry Lawler, Vampiro, Kevin Owens, Colt Cabana, Enzo and Big Cass, Doc Gallows, Sean Waltman, Scott Hall, Lars Frederiksen (Rancid), Sonny Sandoval (POD), Violent J (ICP) And many more!
Available for instant stream or download from ITunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Tune In, and always at www.KevinGillShow.Com
https://soundcloud.com/kevin-gill-show/johnny-mundo-lucha-underground
On A Wrestling Off Season:
“There’s no other entertainment show that doesn’t have an off season. There’s no other professional sport that doesn’t have an off season. Part of the good thing about an off season is it gives the performers time to reflect on what they did for he season. It gives the people behind the scenes time to reflect. It gives the writers time to write. And it makes it so there’s no loose ends.”
On The Success Of Lucha Underground:
“Any pro wrestler will say the more promotions that have successful TV shows, the better. The more places to work as a pro wrestler, the better. Ultimately pro wrestling really comes down to what transpires between pro wrestlers and the fans. And the more opportunities, the more canvases, the more outlets, the better.”
On The Temple:
“There’s something about The Temple that really brings the “A” game out of people. It’s a competitive environment, in a good way.”
On Rey Mysterio in Lucha Underground:
“I can’t say enough good things about Rey. He’s somebody that’s possibly the most popular Luchador of all time. When you’re in Mexico with Rey Mysterio, it’s like walking around in England with The Beatles. Everybody knows who Rey Mysterio is.”
On Prince Puma:
“I think that dude is the most talented wrestler in the world right now. There’s no one I’ve seen since I started that can do the stuff he can do aerially. Gymnastically, the type of flips and twists and body control he has, in addition to the type of strength he has, and the way he looks now as to when he was Ricochet doing double moonsaults 6 years ago, he’s got the complete package going on right now. It’s effortless. If anything it’s too easy for him.”
On Willie Mack:
“When I first watched him wrestle I was like holy shit, he’s defying the laws of physics and gravity. He has so much charisma and personality and he’s making me crack up. I was blown away by Willie back then. And now the stuff he’s done in Lucha Underground is light years ahead of what he did even back then”.
On Matanza:
“Matanza can do stuff that seems size defying and impossible. I’ve seen him do feats of strength stuff and I’m like he’s the strongest guy ever. Then I’ve seen him do flips and acrobatic stuff where I’m like hey bro, can you leave something for me? He’s proven that he can wrestle everyone from Rey Mysterio to Prince Puma to Killshot to Willie Mack to Brian Cage, all different styles, weights and sizes. To me, he’s really proving himself quickly and has exceeded expectations”.
On Roman Reigns:
“I did this interview. And I put him over, like he’s a really nice guy and a buddy of mine. They were like how would you like to wrestle him? And I kind of said off the cuff, a little jokingly and a little seriously I’d love to wrestle him in ten years after he’s learned to work. Did I mean that? I just made the comment to bust his balls a little bit”.
On PMA:
“My glass is always half full. Even when it’s all the way full, it’s half full”.