Greetings fan once again - I'm Lenny Zefring and I've got another One on One, this time with RCW and former EMWC star, Tommy Stephens. In our interview, we talk about Tommy's history, future... and even some music. So I hope you enjoy the interview and check back for our next One on One interview - this time, with one of wrestling's top former stars!
LZ: Hello Tommy, good to see that you were able to get some time to sit down with me.
TS: What, and miss out on some free publicity? No way, Lenny dear!
LZ: Good to hear. Now Tommy, you've been wrestling for quite a while now, haven't you?
TS: Hmm... I'd say so. Eight years now so I guess that makes me one of the older guys in wrestling.
LZ: But from your accomplishments and the way you hold yourself on screen, no one would really tell.
TS: What's that supposed to mean?
LZ: Just that when most wrestlers start to hit the thirty mark, they tend to "get serious" or make some last ditch run at the top title. Whereas you still act the same as you've always done and are content being where you are.
TS: Well that's a mouthful. Why don't you just slap me across the face too!
LZ: No offense, Tommy, but your history has looked rather bare for someone with your amount of time in the sport.
TS: My history's looked bare? Oh give me a break! Given the chance, I could dominate this sport - no doubt!
LZ: You've been given chances, though.
TS: Not really, Lenny. There's always been "someone else". Like when I was in EMWC, I wasn't the one to be pushed up the ladder. No, it was that crackpipe whore November that got the golden pass upwards and onwards. I was really bitter about that when I was told backstage.
LZ: Is that what caused the "drinking problem"?
TS: [Laughs] Drinking problem? Ha! No, Lenny, there wasn't any drinking problem. I got pissed that I was being passed over even though I was bringing back some worth to the worthless EMWC TV title.
LZ: So you're still sore about that?
TS: Hell yeah! Here you have me, bonefid star, great worker, and one of the best at getting a crowd reaction... And you put that piece of crap November above me? Above ME? After that, I didn't care anymore what I did, so I just really had fun and did whatever I wanted.
LZ: Hence the bringing the bourbon to the ring and being drunk.
TS: Well, yeah. Had to forget that I was deemed less worthy than November. Seriously, Lenny, November? NOVEMBER? If you ran a federation, would you be booking a guy who was a brooding cruiser?
LZ: I-
TS: And what's he brooding over? Cause his cookie got snatched away as a kid? Cause all the girls thought that he was a cooty-carrying queer? So I had my fun and wrecked some plans. You know, dropping the title to The Scrayper of all people? Priceless!
LZ: Don't you think that actions like that hold you back from advancing up the levels in wrestling?
TS: Me? Na, I'm a proven commodity - I know what I can do, all those feds know what I can do. I just have to be given the chance.
LZ: What about the place that you've spent the longest time with, River City Wrestling? How come you haven't really made a mark there?
TS: I've made a mark there, I think. I'm an institution there.
LZ: But you've yet to capture a title other than the defunct RCW Television Title, which as I understand it is a title geared more towards newcomers than "institutions".
TS: Well, I've had a couple World title shots and some Gateway or River City title shot opportunities. And I'm one of the anchors of the fed's heavyweights. I think my value in RCW is high and getting higher and higher each and every day.
LZ: Let's look at it a different way.
TS: Ok.
LZ: You were a charting member of the once powerhouse stable, Ego MAX. Juan Vasquez, Luke Kinsey, Rembrandt, Shane Destiny, and you were all members at one point or another. Taking out Rembrandt since he just fell off the face of the Earth... You, Tommy, are the only person of that group to really capitalize on any boost the stable brought.
TS: I wouldn't say that.
LZ: No? Even though Juan Vasquez is the top North American wrestler right now and is now RCW World Champ; Shane Destiny is considered the best all-around wrestler and the next champion; and Kinsey's a two-fed main event star. While you, Tommy, are still in the middle of the pack in RCW. It's soemthing that your new on-air manager, Fudo Waru, has brought up a couple times.
TS: Well what do you want me to say, Lenny? That I'm unhappy where I'm at in RCW? That I hate where I'm at right now in my career as a whole? Ok, yeah, you got me. Sure, I'd love to be more in the mix at the top scene. And yeah, I do wish I got some more credits on my resume... But I don't and that's something I'm working on. It's a frustrating thing, but... Well, in RCW, people don't rise quickly.
LZ: But you've been there from the beginning.
TS: True, but... Look at Luke. He's just now getting THE main angle and he's been one of the anchors to the fed. Juan, too, had to wait a long time before getting a shot. RCW went through a time when the people booking it threw back their homegrowns for the flash-in-pans or the big names that ultimately fizzled once they stepped in the door.
LZ: Like who?
TS: Well, namely Dan Kauffman and Devon Case.
LZ: I can see why you would say Kauffman, but Case? I thought he did well as a champion and overall wrestler for RCW.
TS: There's a reason the place went under when that gloryhound took the title.
LZ: You've never liked Case, right? Why is that?
TS: What's TO like about him? He's as empty as wrestler as there ever was... and HE somehow got all the glory! He got the RCW World Title AND the EMWC World Title?!? Why? Cause Shane Destiny carried his ass in a match? He's a shallow little man that had NO talent! NO TALENT! Meanwhile, I'm throwing myself everywhere in the ring at that time... and that jerk gets everything! EVERYTHING? That's why I hate Devon Case. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE, if I can paraphrase Mr. Tripp Shade...
LZ: And -
TS: Who I also don't like.
LZ: Who?
TS: Tripp Shade.
LZ: Why?
TS: Eh, his first name's Tripp. Who'd call themselves Tripp, anyway?
LZ: Anyone else you don't like?
TS: How long you got?
LZ: Hrm, good point. Uh, let's talk about one person I know you don't like, who in fact actually trained you and helped you along in this sport.
TS: Whoa, whoa, whoa, if you're talking about Mark, then just stop at "trained" cause that rat bastard didn't do a damn thing for my career ever.
LZ: But just by being associated with Mark Langseth and being his top pupil has to have gotten you some opportunities in wrestling.
TS: Oh, yeah, just great. Just wonderful. I get to be "Mark Langseth's pupil" instead of being "Tommy Stephens". Yeah, being seen as a coattail rider really helped me a whole lot, Lenny. Really astute of you...
LZ: Ok, but he did help you.
TS: Helped? Yeah, I guess in that he did train me when I first started out... But when he did that? He was a nothing, a joke. He barely trained me and when it did come time for me to wrestle my first match? I looked like a fool. I wasn't hitting any spots or anything cause I didn't know a thing in the ring, for real. Mark only showed me the simple, basic stuff that I could've gotten anywhere.
LZ: But didn't he train you again, later on when he started growing his presence in EMWC?
TS: Him? Hell no. He was too busy in basking of the glow of his own crap to be bothered with me... Even though the jackass put me out of wrestling for a while.
LZ: Yes, he did do that.
TS: Yeah, he did. That jerk, that soulless piece of crap - get this, he sold me out when I was still a rookie... He sold me out to work with, heh, Chris Hopper and The Gorilla.
LZ: ...
TS: Yeah, Chris fucking Hopper and The fucking Gorilla. Pardon my French, but that's pathetic. He sold me out by letting that dimwitted careless fuck Gorilla hit me with a chair. It hurt! I mean, really hurt!
LZ: Says in your bio that it "Cracked your skull" and that you were in a coma for a month and a half?
TS: [Laughs] Heh, not quite. I think that was a hold over to when Fletcher still tried to make something out of nothing and over credited The Gorilla's "power". What it did do was give me a serious concussion, ruined my balance for a couple months, and a fractured bone in my neck. End result was that I couldn't wrestle for THREE YEARS. Three years of my career and life taken away all cause that rat bastard sold me out.
LZ: Maybe it was a mist-
TS: No, it wasn't a mistake, Lenny. He knew what he was doing. He knew he didn't want me around when he went to the big leagues so the bastard set me up. He set me up. You know, the happiest day I can recently remember was when that asshole had the same thing happen to him? I was grinning, ear to ear, when Courtade snapped him and ruined his career. It was a long time coming, but it was justice served.
LZ: But now that Langseth is back, in your home fed RCW, what are your thoughts?
TS: Eh, he won't do anything there. He may not show it, but he's a shell now. He can't work a match - a real match, not some bull comfort match. He's done and he's just trying to hang on for one last shot of luck. He'll do the same as Kauffman did - nothing. It's one reason why I can respect a guy like Alex Martinez, who's worked and worked and worked and refused the creampuff crap matches. He knows the fans would turn on him - really turn on him if he sleepwalked through his matches.
LZ: Going back to your time away from the sport, what did you do to occupy yourself? How did you cope being away from the sport?
TS: Well... Really? When I got injured, I had only about... six months or so under my belt. Nothing too major, so I didn't really miss the sport. I missed the easy money, though, when I had to get a real job.
LZ: You worked in the automotive industry, right?
TS: A little, yeah. It's hard not to in Detroit. But only for a couple months since I wasn't a fan of shift work. I worked some other jobs - security guard, construction, some other stuff to pay the bills. It got hard at some times, but I made it through.
LZ: Now didn't you also pass the time by starting a band as well.
TS: Uh... [Silence] How-how did you find out about that?
LZ: Well, I just did a google search on your name and the band Lemon D-
TS: Wait, don't bring that up. Please.
LZ: But it seemed like you were into the band, the Lemon Drop Ex-
TS: No.
LZ: -Experience at one point.
TS: Great, just great...
LZ: What was the "Lemon Drop Experience"?
TS: [Sighs] Well, now that you blabbed it... It's a band that I fronted right before I joined RCW.
LZ: And it was a rock band?
TS: It... Well, I... I guess it's a rock band. Was, well, kind of a rock band. Maybe more rock & roll than rock, you know?
LZ: Not really.
TS: Um, well... We - to my protest - went for that adult contemporary market, you know? The, uh... Well, one critic? They said that we were almost in the same light as Eve 6. And if we got a little better? Matchbox 20!
LZ: Uh...
TS: But, but... But I, you know, I wanted to be a little more of an edge. A little more Collective Soul, Our Lady Peace, ya know?
LZ: Ye- no, I don't.
TS: Oh, well...
LZ: But I did happen to find a CD of your band's music in -
TS: You what?
LZ: I found a CD of the Lemon Drop Experience. It, uh... Hold on, let me get it... Here, titled "Lemon Drops Keep Falling On My Head".
TS: Where... Where'd you find that?
LZ: I have my sources.
TS: A store? Did you get it in a store?
LZ: No, Tommy. I can't say who gave it to me, but it was one of your peers.
TS: Damn...
LZ: Anyway, let's see... Here's track one, called "Honeydear"?
TS: Honeybear, ok? Look, if you're going to do this, do it right. It's Honeybear and it's great romantic song.
LZ: Uh... Well, let me play the song... [song starts playing]
#Whoa, whoa, whoa#
#Hey, hey, hey...#
TS: That's me on vocals there, Lenny.
#What's that I see?#
#Lookin' down n' around for ME?#
#Who are ya, baby?#
#Who are ya, honeybear#?
#You're lookin' for me, maybe#
#But why the hell do ya care#
LZ: [Lenny stops the CD]. That was, um, interesting.
TS: Admittedly? I'm not that great an R&B vocalists. I'm more of your hard-edge rappah/rockah, you know? That song, that's Josef's baby - the bass man for group.
LZ: Oh.
TS: Since you've got it up, play track... seven, yeah. That's my creation, all the way.
LZ: Ok [song start to play with a loud guitar riff and someone screaming out the lyrics]
#CHAMPION! I'm a champion!#
#Punch, kick, gouge -#
#You think you can beat me?#
#Ain't gonna happen!#
TS: Listen for it, Lenny... Just listen for it.
#Cause I'm a CHAMPION!#
#A mother[bleep] championg!#
#I wear the belt#
#I earn the titles#
#Ain't no one gonna take down me#
#I'm the real American Idol!#
LZ: [Lenny stops the CD again]. Well, that was -
TS: Great? Yeah, but you would have to find the censored version. You really don't get the same kick with that one. But doesn't it remind you of a Rollins Band, man?
LZ: Uh... Yeah... So do you all still play?
TS: Occasionally, when we need a good jam seesion. We might even try to put out a new album.
LZ: Oh, well.
TS: Yeah, it'll be good. Maybe some spoken word stuff in there too, you know?
LZ: Uh... Ok... But, uh... Your song - it brings me back to my question, oddly enough. You keep saying that' you've a champion, one of the best, yet... To your name, you've only acheived small time prizes while the rest of your peers have stepped out past you. Why is that?
TS: Um, well, bad breaks, you know?
LZ: From the people I've talked to, it's more because of your work ethic and that you don't really do all that you can for the federation that you're in.
TS: Well, whoever you're talking to is a liar. I've done a good deal for RCW and when I was in EMWC. I helped make Juan Vasquez the star he is today. I showed Shane Destiny the ropes when he got to the big time in RCW. I was the only one in Ego MAX working to build a legendary group, not pad my singles resume.
LZ: You believe that?
TS: Hell right I believe that! I've always been the unseen glue, holding things together. I've always been the go to guy when the bookers want me to push along new talent. I've done my part in helping, so don't give me any of that "badd attitude" crap you're sholving.
LZ: Sorry, just what I heard.
TS: Well hear better next time.
LZ: Fine, will do... So then you're satisfied with your part in wrestling history? Being the unseen man?
TS: Well... Well, I guess... Of course everyone wants to make it big and be in the main event all the time, being in the feature match on a PPV. My time will come, I believe in that.
LZ: Just a couple more questions, how is Goku Waru doing? Why did he not come back to be your manager when RCW started back up?
TS: Goku's fine. He just wanted to get away for a while and do his own thing. He was getting bored in his role, so he went to find some other stuff to do.
LZ: And that's when he recommended his brother Fudo for you?
TS: Yeah, Fudo. Yes, they're really brothers, if you want to know. They used to tag together in the late seventies -
LZ: So they were both former pro wrestlers.
TS: Yeah, and in fact they came over to the US in, I think '83? Yeah, they toured some of the regional feds. Usually booked under the typical "Evil Japanese" gimmick to get them the instant heat they needed for their matches. They did pretty good for the year or so they tagged before Fudo retired.
LZ: Interesting.
TS: Yeah, they were pretty good back then.
LZ: And the Mysterious Suited Guy?
TS: Hell, I don't know. Probably in some smalltime fed somewhere. He'll resurface somehow. He always does.
LZ: So, let me ask... by the end of this year, where do you see yourself, Tommy?
TS: Where?
LZ: Yeah, what will be the story concerning Tommy Stephens by December 31st, 2005?
TS: Hrm... Story? Uh... Well, how 'bout this? "In a stunning defeat, Tommy Stephens takes Juan Vasquez's RCW Title in a big ladder match!" Yeah...
LZ: You -
TS: And the finish WON'T be a damn Tommy Stephen-style senton...
LZ: [Chuckles] Of course. Well, Tommy, it's be an interesting interview. I know you have to run.
TS: Yeah, I got... Well, don't really have anything to do today...
LZ: Oh, well... I, uh, I do.
TS: Oooohhh, well aren't you something?
LZ: Uh, yeah... Thanks Tommy for your time.
TS: Uh huh.
- Lenny Zefring is the lead announcer for Championship Fighting Federation and head interviewer for Just The Facts! 3001. If you wish to setup an interview with Mr. Zefring, please e-mail us at [email protected] with the details