This interview was done by Jesselee by "Yahoo! Messenger" on October 1st, 2003 at 11:45AM and ended at 1:30PM. Very cool interview with *Showtime* Shane Somers of NWA-Missouri!!!
Powerbomb 101: Well first off, thanks for steppin up and being our first guest Shane.
Shane Somers: Thanks for having me guys. It's great honor to be your first guest.
Powerbomb 101: Alrighty, I'll get Jerrys questions out of the way first...
Powerbomb 101: With the WWE as the only Major league in town, is wrestling doomed?
Shane Somers: I doubt it. Because the fans that don't really care for what the WWE is putting out still have an outlet. NWA-TNA is slowly starting to get their name out there to fans w/o access to the internet. WWE has made some mistakes, however I'm starting to think they might be heading in the right direction with the whole Goldberg World title win last week.
Shane Somers: NWA-TNA in about a years time will be considered a major threat to the WWE.
Shane Somers: Mark my words.
Powerbomb 101: Alright, cool. Who is the greatest wrestler ever, in your opinion?
Shane Somers: Besides Shane Somers?
Powerbomb 101: Yes, besides yourself lol
Shane Somers: I don't really know.
Shane Somers: I judge a great wrestler a little differently then you might.
Shane Somers: I judge a great wrestler on the amount of money one draws.
Shane Somers: In that case it's a tie between Hulk Hogan and Steve Austin.
Powerbomb 101: Ok. I ws going to say Bret Hart.
Shane Somers: If your judging it on ring abilty then the top three in my opinion, in no order, are: 1. Bret Hart 2. Ric Flair 3. Arn Anderson
Powerbomb 101: Cool cool. Whats the greatest match you have ever seen?
Shane Somers: On the indie scene? Or, other?
Powerbomb 101: either one, or both.
Shane Somers: Indie scene, easily Sure Shot vs. Little Tony Luza.
Shane Somers: They are the boys I trained and they tore the house down.
Powerbomb 101: Luza is cool.
Shane Somers: That's the best match w/o me in it....lol
Shane Somers: Luza has the tools.
Shane Somers: WWE/WWF......Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair WM 8
Powerbomb 101: Amen to that one.
Shane Somers: The match with the most impact on my life would have been Hogan and Andre
Shane Somers: because it's the first match I ever sat all the way through.
Powerbomb 101: Cool. What is your favorite match you have ever been in?
Shane Somers: To be honest, I hate all my matches.
Shane Somers: I just don't think they are entertaining enough.
Shane Somers: I've been told otherwise, but I still hate watching my matches.
Powerbomb 101: Well, I enjoy your matches so HA. Whats your favorite angle in wrestling history?
Shane Somers: Hart vs. The U.S.
Powerbomb 101: Ah sweet, thats what popped into my mind as well, it was so over with the fans and it made you want to hate Bret personally.
Shane Somers: It was an angle that had never been done before. Having Bret Hart as a heel in the U.S. but a Face everywhere else, it was just so radical
Shane Somers: and it worked so well.
Powerbomb 101: Very true. Which wrestler, besides yourself, gave the best promos?
Shane Somers: The best crowd interactive promo's belong to the Rock.
Shane Somers: Best heel promo's go to Triple H
Shane Somers: The promo's that made believe the most was Jake Roberts.
Powerbomb 101: Yea, The Rock can control the crowd so easily. Everyone really seems to hate Triple H with a passion and so hes got the tools to be a heel. Jake Roberts was very intimidating when I watched him back in the day.
Shane Somers: He was and is the best promo guy of all time. Flair is second in that respect.
Powerbomb 101: Flair is THE man, enough said. Will territorial companies rise up again?
Shane Somers: Doubt it.
Shane Somers: The only company that stands a chance right now is TNA
Shane Somers: and I'm not saying that because I'm the NWA Missouri State Champion or because I'm on the pay role either.
Shane Somers: It's my opinion.
Powerbomb 101: Portland Wrestling had a big thing going till they sold their name to WB. They had the Pacific Northwest by the horns.
Shane Somers: See, I'm going to look dumb here......I didn't know anything about the WB thing.
Powerbomb 101: Ah, I didnt either till recently.
Powerbomb 101: Ok, next question. Who is wrestlings greatest play-by-play man ever?
Shane Somers: Jim Ross.
Powerbomb 101: Jim Ross is very good, the living wrestling dictionary. But in close second in my opinion is Mike Tenay.
Shane Somers: Tenay is good. But Ross seems more passionate.
Powerbomb 101: Yea, Ross is very passionate, but does get carried away at times.
Shane Somers: That's the way wrestling is.
Shane Somers: It's a business where everything and everyone has to get carried away.
Powerbomb 101: That is true, especially in this day and age.
Shane Somers: You know wrestling has changed a great deal.
Shane Somers: I started about six years ago now.
Shane Somers: And I remember them saying a leg drop is a finisher.
Shane Somers: A Power bomb was a sure fire finisher. Now everyone kicks out of the Power Bomb.
Powerbomb 101: I know, sign of the times.
Shane Somers: I don't have a point or anything.
Shane Somers: I just got to thinking.
Powerbomb 101: ok , last question from Jerry. Is Bobby Heenan wrestlings greatest color commentator?
Shane Somers: YES.
Powerbomb 101: Yea, I really miss him, same with Gorilla Monsoon.
Shane Somers: I enjoyed wrestling so much more back then.
Shane Somers: It seemed more fun.
Powerbomb 101: I even remember Gordon Sollies commentating.
Shane Somers: I don't really remember Gordon.
Shane Somers: I'm a little young I suppose.
Powerbomb 101: Its alright. Ok, on to Chris's brainfart question. What was the difference between being in WWE and being in NWA-Missouri? (Note to fans: Shane Somers made an appearance in WWE awhile back as a bar room brawl extra with the A.P.A and Big Show)
Shane Somers: It was just so big. I sound a little stupid when I say this, but I was awe struck at how big it really was.
Shane Somers: I was there for one small day. But, it was awesome.
Shane Somers: NWA - Mo is the way it used to be. Small venue same fans every single night.
Shane Somers: The fans really get to know you here.
Shane Somers: With the WWE it's hard for the Superstars to really get to know the fans. With NWA Mo it's easier.
Powerbomb 101: Yea I noticed that when I went there the first time, I loved it.
Shane Somers: For 5 1/2 years I was the heel, then I started to get Face pops. I turned into a face.
Shane Somers: But, I'm back to my evil ways.
Powerbomb 101: You BASTARD lol sorry....ok, now its on to MY questions! Muahahahahaha.
Shane Somers: Bring them on.
Powerbomb 101: What gave you the idea to become a pro wrestler? Did you have any other dreams in life besides being a pro wrestler?
Shane Somers: There was nothing I would rather be doing.
Shane Somers: I love the interaction of the crowd.
Shane Somers: I love this business.
Shane Somers: There is nothing else like it.
Powerbomb 101: ok. If WWE was to come up to you tomorrow and ask you to go to OVW becuase youve been offered a developmental deal, would you take it? Or would you say "Ive got better things to do."?
Shane Somers: Depends.
Shane Somers: What kind of a deal they offer.
Powerbomb 101: In my own opinion, Id refuse. Their road schedule seems too hecktic. Somewhere like TNA seems like a good place to start.
Shane Somers: The road schedule wouldn't bother me.
Shane Somers: I love to travel.
Shane Somers: And I love to meet new people. Plus, i'd get to wrestle every night.
Powerbomb 101: Ok, a little out of character question for you. Is Shane Somers that much different from yourself?
Shane Somers: I get asked that a lot. I based the character on a kid I knew growing up.
Shane Somers: He acted like Somers, pranced around like him, said the things he did.
Shane Somers: I just took that kids attitude and added a little bit more from teen movies and badda bing.
Shane Somers: There you go.
Powerbomb 101: Or in otherwords, KOO-KOO-KA-CHOO youre a success.
Shane Somers: I'm not a success. I've made some history in wrestling.
Shane Somers: I've been told that I'd never get anywhere, and I have. I went from 400 LBS down to 270 LBS. In those respects I guess I am a success.
Shane Somers: I did things others said I couldn't.
Shane Somers: I've been placed in opening matches because certain people didn't like me. But the crowd got behind the character to the point that there would be small "We want Somers" chants during other matches on the card.
Powerbomb 101: awesome
Shane Somers: Let me tell you a small story.
Powerbomb 101: alright
Shane Somers: About a year ago I was working with a group out of Illinois. I won't mention any names because that would be even more tacky then what I'm about to say.
Shane Somers: They booked me against their top guy. I worked the show and lost the match in a way that didn't make a whole lot of sense. Next time we came back to the town I worked the same guy, he's in the ring, my Music hits and the 400 people in the place went nuts. The reason I'm telling you this is because rumors around the locker room was that they (Bookers/owners/Main Event talent) didn't think I was able to out do him or others. I'm not ego driven, I don't mind losing, I often ask to lose. People pay to see my character get it handed to him. But these people were just rude and ego driven.
Shane Somers: Next thing I know my promo time went down to zero time.
Shane Somers: And I was never booked again.
Shane Somers: The indie scene is a cut throat business.
Powerbomb 101: dang, politics. I guess the wrestling world is full of it.
Shane Somers: The reason I told you this story is because you asked me earlier if I love this business.
Shane Somers: I do..........
Shane Somers: sometimes.
Powerbomb 101: Im sure every wrestler will love and hate the business from time to time.
Shane Somers: Another companies wrestlers wanted me to change my entire gimmick. Because, they saw me as a threat. I was told this by a very reliable source. Wrestling is hardcore business. You have no friends.
Shane Somers: I know this interview went a different direction then you wanted to go with it.
Powerbomb 101: nah its perfect.
Shane Somers: I was just trying to give you some insight.
Powerbomb 101: its all good
Powerbomb 101: heres another question: Im sure you have trained hundreds of young hopefuls into pro wrestlers. Who was the most memorable, good and bad?
Shane Somers: Everyone sticks out as a favorite. Good, bad or indifferent.
Shane Somers: They all remind me of me.
Shane Somers: Because they all work real hard.
Powerbomb 101: Is there just "that certain one" that stood out the most?
Shane Somers: The Mad Hatter.
Shane Somers: He has become a solid all around worker.
Shane Somers: It took him a long time. But he has finally gotten into his groove.
Powerbomb 101: I agree. Is there one that you just pounded your head on a cement wall wondering why you trained them?
Shane Somers: The Mad Hatter.
Powerbomb 101: ha ha ha!
Shane Somers: I'm serious.
Shane Somers: lol
Shane Somers: No, there was one guy I guess. Tom, he just didn't get it. He tried harder then anyone I know. But at the end of the day I couldn't keep taking his money. I cut our ties. He understood.
Shane Somers: I felt like a real jerk.
Shane Somers: I hate telling people "You don't have it.". When it was told to me.
Shane Somers: That really hurt when I was told that.
Powerbomb 101: Its kinda like when I was told awhile back "100 people go in, and on a good day, 2 are successful"
Shane Somers: That's a pretty accurate look at it.
Powerbomb 101: ok, next Q. If both NWA-TNA and WWE came up to you asking for you to join their roster, who would you join up with and why?
Shane Somers: Your trying to make me choose between my current company and another.
Powerbomb 101: Well, not really, just a case of "what if"?
Shane Somers: What if? It would depend on the offers.
Shane Somers: But I'd more then likely go with NWA TNA because I think they would offer me a better chance at getting to wrestle every night. Where with WWE I would be given a "chance".
Shane Somers: But it's hard to say either way.
Powerbomb 101: yea, TNA is more "less talk, more wrestling" while WWE is the opposite.
Shane Somers: I love to talk.
Shane Somers: That's my whole gimmick.
Shane Somers: He's an asshole.
Powerbomb 101: Amen to that one lol
Powerbomb 101: ok, next Q. It is obvious that most wrestlers, like yourself, take offense when someone calls wrestling 'fake'. What do you tell someone who says that?
Shane Somers: The other day three Navy boys said it was fake. I offered them the chance to find out if I was fake.
Powerbomb 101: Whoa.
Shane Somers: I hate the term Fake.
Shane Somers: Football players have come to my school and quit in under an hour because it was too hard hitting.
Shane Somers: We get a ton of heat. But wrestling is more real then you could ever imagine.
Powerbomb 101: I know. Been in the ring before, hurt like hell lol
Shane Somers: The hits are hard.
Shane Somers: The falls are even harder.
Shane Somers: I'm a pretty stiff guy.
Shane Somers: I like to get hit.
Shane Somers: I like to hit.
Shane Somers: That's my style I guess.
Powerbomb 101: ok. Where would you be today if you were never in pro-wrestling?
Shane Somers: Burger King, taking your order.
Powerbomb 101: Alright. Whats the most determinating factor if youre going to succeed in pro-wrestling? What causes you to fail?
Shane Somers: You have got to have heart to make it wrestling.
Shane Somers: If you don't have heart then you will never get out of school.
Powerbomb 101: Good answer. Lets say some newcomer, some 'green' guy waltzes into the locker room thinking hes all that and he starts talking to you in a manner that is very rude, how would you handle that situation?
Shane Somers: I was never one to beat down someone just because I hated his/her attitude.
Shane Somers: I ignore that person to the best of my abilty. However, i would still have a conversation with he/her if that person was to start one.
Shane Somers: I have been in what we call a "Shoot" in the middle of the ring before.
Shane Somers: That only happened when someone started it with me.
Shane Somers: I have never went out of my way to hurt someone on purpose.
Powerbomb 101: Thats good, we need more people like that in wrestling.
Shane Somers: Thanks.
Powerbomb 101: Do you think the art of wrestling nowadays has been lost?
Shane Somers: Yes / No.
Shane Somers: I think it was lost there for awhile, but it is slowly making a comeback.
Shane Somers: Watch any Kurt Angle or Chris Beniot match.
Shane Somers: It's like watching Flair and Hart.
Powerbomb 101: Yea. Bret Hart made a comment this past saturday saying Kurt Angle can save wrestling from itself.
Shane Somers: He did?
Powerbomb 101: Yes.
Powerbomb 101: A great honor coming from Bret.
Shane Somers: I don't read the internet Bull Sh*t sites.
Powerbomb 101: Well, this was from Bret Hart himself.
Shane Somers: I guess I should start reading the internet then.
Shane Somers: Bret Hart is just awesome.
Powerbomb 101: Yea, too bad his career was cut short.
Shane Somers: Heavy ring psycology.
Shane Somers: I learned more watching his tapes then I did anyone else.
Shane Somers: It's all good I guess. WCW wasted him.
Powerbomb 101: ah, that brings me to my next quesiton. Who was THE most influential man in wrestling to you? Why?
Shane Somers: Most people always loved the heels.
Shane Somers: I prefered the Faces.
Shane Somers: Because you could just feel for them. Bret Hart was very good at creating that feeling.
Shane Somers: You wanted to believe in him.
Shane Somers: However, I was never very good at creating that kind of emoition.
Shane Somers: It's hard for fans to care about a guy 6ft 6 inches tall when a guy half his size is beating him.
Shane Somers: I figured I could be the guy that helped the man get all the love.
Powerbomb 101: Therefore, why not be a heel, correct?
Shane Somers: Smart man.
Shane Somers: My baby face run down here was special. However, after a while the fans started to get tired of it. That wasn't the guy they fell in love with.
Shane Somers: However, as a heel I was f*cking up. I'm supposed to create hatred, but I wasn't getting it done anymore.
Shane Somers: But after I switched back to heel from face the entire crowd felt like I let them down.
Shane Somers: Kids where really crying in the crowd.
Powerbomb 101: Wow, ok. Since becoming a wrestler, has there been a day you have woke up after the night of the show and said "I feel great."?
Shane Somers: I can't recall any.
Shane Somers: lol
Powerbomb 101: Yea, Lance Storm had said in his commentary that on a scale from 1 to 10 in pain, hes always averaging 4.
Shane Somers: Thats about how I am.
Shane Somers: To be honest guys.....Not trying to sound tuff here.....I've wrestled at one point and time with 2 cracked ribs, broken tail bone, torn rib muscle and a herniated disk.
Powerbomb 101: damn
Shane Somers: I did three shows and had to cancel the fourth appearance because I couldn't take the pain. I feel the effect to this day.
Shane Somers: That was 2-3 years ago now.
Shane Somers: And I still feel it.......every single day.
Powerbomb 101: Life of a pro wrestler.
Shane Somers: And, what gets me was that I made out of those 3 days a grand total of $65.00
Shane Somers: But I lost $500 and up at the ER
Powerbomb 101: geez
Shane Somers: But I'm just a fake wrestler.
Powerbomb 101: yea *sarcasm*. Well, its time for THE 1-WORD GAME, ya up for it?
Shane Somers: Yeah.
Powerbomb 101: ok
Powerbomb 101: Mad Hatter
Shane Somers: Great guy. One of my best friends.
Shane Somers: Did I just say that?
Powerbomb 101: yes, yes you did
Shane Somers: Alright.
Shane Somers: Next........
Powerbomb 101: John "The Bodyguard" Epperson
Shane Somers: Great guy. Really cares about professional wrestling. Plus, he's bald.
Powerbomb 101: bwaaahahahaha!
Powerbomb 101: Ed Chuman
Shane Somers: Short.
Powerbomb 101: Dazie Haze
Shane Somers: Beautiful. Very talented lady wrestler. Deserves a break.
Powerbomb 101: Dan "The Beast" Severn
Shane Somers: Dan Severn is the baddest man alive......Next to me.
Powerbomb 101: Triple H
Shane Somers: Best heel in wrestling.
Powerbomb 101: Hulk Hogan
Shane Somers: One of the greatest wrestlers of all time.
Shane Somers: He deserves more respect then what he is given.
Powerbomb 101: Ric Flair
Shane Somers: My hero.
Powerbomb 101: Bret Hart
Shane Somers: See Flair.
Powerbomb 101: Kurt Angle
Shane Somers: The future.
Powerbomb 101: Vince Russo
Shane Somers: You know, I really don't know. I can't give an answer to that one. I liked what he was doing w/ WCW and what he did with the WWF.
Shane Somers: I like Russo and his ideas.
Powerbomb 101: Vince McMahon
Shane Somers: Greatest promoter of all time.
Powerbomb 101: Harley Race
Shane Somers: One of my favorite people. I enjoy being around Harley Race.
Powerbomb 101: Matt Murphy
Shane Somers: Good talent.
Powerbomb 101: Bradshaw
Shane Somers: Nice guy.
Powerbomb 101: Rob Van Dam
Shane Somers: He's alright.
Powerbomb 101: Chris Benoit
Shane Somers: Next to Angle he's the best in the land today.
Powerbomb 101: Curt Hennig
Shane Somers: Sad story. Great worker. One of all of the greats.
Powerbomb 101: Owen Hart
Shane Somers: See Curt Henning
Powerbomb 101: Randy "Macho Man" Savage
Shane Somers: He should be given more respect. He's one of my all time favorites.
Powerbomb 101: WWE
Shane Somers: The place to be.
Powerbomb 101: NWA-TNA
Shane Somers: The next big thing.
Powerbomb 101: NWA-Missouri
Shane Somers: The number one group in Missouri. That's what I have heard from different fans who have been to several other shows in this area. They rank us at the top.
Shane Somers: So the fans don't lie.
Powerbomb 101: and last but not least, *Showtime* Shane Somers
Shane Somers: Hard worker. Always gives his best to please the fans. Youngest NWA Central States Champion in history (won it at the age of 19).....Youngest NWA Missouri State Champion ever (Won it at the age of 20).
Shane Somers: Nice guy, to boot.
Shane Somers: Plus, he looks like Ben Affleck.
Powerbomb 101: hahahaha, well dang, this was a long interview! Well, that pretty much wraps it all up, anything you want to say to all the fans reading this at home?
Shane Somers: Come out this Saturday night to St. Roberts, Mo at the Community Center to see a night full of hot wrestling action. Plus, check out: http://www.nwamissouri.cjb.net for more information on our upcoming shows.
Powerbomb 101: Alright, well Shane, thanks for being our guest this week.
Shane Somers: Thanks for having me here.
Powerbomb 101: No problem.
[End Interview]
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