This interview was done by Jesselee via Yahoo! Messenger on November 17th, 2003
PowerBomb 101: Well first off, thanks for doin this interview Steve.
Steve Anderson: Thank you for having me!
PowerBomb 101: Alright, well, first question is how is your wrestling career so far? Are you active at the moment?
Steve Anderson: How it's going so far is that I'm healing from a contusion in my right calf muscle of my leg from a show that I participated in on October 18th but as far as what achievements I've made, I'm pretty happy where I'm currently at right now this point in time. To answer your second question I'm still active but the question will be how much longer?
PowerBomb 101: What do you mean by "how much longer"? do you feel that maybe your time in the ring is almost done?
Steve Anderson: I'm not saying that my time in the ring is almost done. What I mean is just what I said. Did I say that I was retiring?
PowerBomb 101: Nope, not at all.
PowerBomb 101: Next question is of course, where did it all start for Steve Anderson? What made you want to be a pro-wrestler?
Steve Anderson: That's a good question to be quite honest. I wanted to become a professional wrestler because for many years I had stepped into wrestling circles in Jr. HS and HS which also includes Jr. College but through the years, it was something that I just fell in love with. More or less it was the physicality and the display of the athletes that had me hooked. Where it all had started originally was from a magazine. For years I had always wanted to be a professional wrestler but nobody ever took me seriously and one day I borrowed a magazine from a friend of mine named Derrick who was also a huge wrestling fan such as I. I was reading through this magazine and found an ad for a wrestling school located in the panhandle of Florida operated by a legend of professional wrestling. This was before the internet had even became a word in the everyday vocabulary of the English language. I remember calling the school and asking many stupid questions which I won't get into on this interview, but he had told me that this business was not for the meek and he sure to hell wasn't kidding about that. To be honest, all my years in H.S. I had told my friends that I was going to become a professional wrestler and of course all they did was laugh because they found it funny was all. Now as for my family that was a very different story because they did not support my dream to becoming a professional wrestler and to be honest it really hurt that everyone told me that I would never live it but I did not accept their decision and I made a promise to myself that I would become a professional wrestler and spite those who had no faith in me from the beginning. Nobody but myself has been the only supporter of this dream. There was only one person who supported me as a friend when I chased my dream and I love her to death though when I tell her I'm hurt, she worries. I was obligated to serving a contract with the United States Armed Forces, but before I left, it was the summer of 1996 I had finally got to have a taste. I met with independent pro wrestling sensation "Scrap Iron" Adam Pearce outside of my home to watch a practice in Chicago, IL for Pro Wrestling International. I remember that day pretty much as being a hot day. Having to walk up three flights of stairs only to make a left at the end of the hall into a walk-in size closet of a professional wrestling school with a two roped ring will always stand out in my memory for as long as I live. At first I thought just what in the hell was this place because I for the most part thought it was going to be ritzy but I was proven wrong. I met with AWA legend Sonny Rogers who tried to discourage me from becoming a professional wrestler, but I told him flat out that all my life I've had people telling me that I could never do this or that I could never do that and if there was anything in the world that I wanted to do with my life, it was to become a professional wrestler and not him or anybody was going to tell me any fucking different and if he didn't like my dedication for wanting this then I'd find a different school who would be willing to show me the ropes no matter the cost. I left for the U.S. Armed Forces on October 28th of 1996 and for awhile I was left without anyway of bettering myself. It wasn't until late 1999 when I would have my opportunity to learn the ropes without interuption or prior obligations holding me down.
PowerBomb 101: Wow, you sure had plenty to say!
PowerBomb 101: Next question is Who is "Enforcer" Steve Anderson? Inform the fans of who you are and why they should care.
Steve Anderson: Steve Anderson is a member of the distinguished Anderson Family which has ruled wrestling for over thirty years from Gene to OIe, Ole to Arn, Arn to CW, CW to yours truly! Why should these people care? We're a long living legacy that has survived the element of "Sports Entertainment". We've never been out there to play cartoon characters. We're professional wrestlers who are out there to take names and to bag and tag those who stand in our path!
PowerBomb 101: Sounds good to me.
PowerBomb 101: So next up is, whats your current view on pro-wrestling? And not just WWE or NWATNA, but the independents.
Steve Anderson: My view on professional wrestling as a whole. Well it all starts at the tippy-top of the mountain with World Wrestling Entertainment because how people view the WWE is how they view professional wrestling as a whole. For example, when SCSA left the WWE the wrestling business started to decrease in revenue and in popularity. This surely affects the outlaw orginizations or what many people know as "independents" in North America. It has gotten to become out of hand. All I can say is that wrestling is starting to lose its mystique that it once had many moons ago and now that people are aware of this business, they expect to be spoiled but because they cannot be spoiled enough, someone has to do something to top the other over and therefore the magic is slowly being destroyed little bit at a time and unless something is done to improve the material that wrestling fans are exposed to, it just only gets worse as time goes on and the rate we're going right now with McMahon, he needs to either step down and allow the person next in line to bring its prominence back through the roof or he needs to be opened to new and fresh ideas brought to him by others within his company. When they do something that attracts them, it makes a positive impact on those smaller promotions. To put it in a nutshell, it starts from the top and ends at the bottom. What affects one affects all.
PowerBomb 101: And the crowd said, amen. So my next question is a curious one, are you available to work any wrestling shows?
Steve Anderson: Well technically I'm not available as I'm currently on the shelf until cleared by my doctor to wrestle. As I stated before, I'm currently on the shelf with a contusion in my (R) calf muscle the size of a baseball but in all honesty and I hope my doctor never finds this interview but I'm going against his orders and I will be wrestling this weekend for Midwest Mayhem Wrestling at the Oshkosh Convention Center in Oshkosh, WI.
PowerBomb 101: Well, I always considered you a hard-ass when it comes to being told what to do lol
Steve Anderson: What's that wise-ass remark supposed to mean huh?
Steve Anderson: Oh nevermind! Let's move on shall we?
PowerBomb 101: Next question. Tough Enough. Explain why you hold such a grudge for those who have been in the competition or those who even thought about going there. What about those who didnt win but went on to further their skills elsewhere.
Steve Anderson: Well first of all I thank those powers that be that finally realized that the show was a farce and a disgrace to professional wrestling and those who worked their asses off to get where they're at, but my problem I had with the show was that it was the "Sports Entertainment" version of "Real World" except that their reward was to "WIN" a WWE contract. Notice that I said to "WIN" a WWE contract. They never earned it and they sure to hell did not deserve it! It was a slap in the face to those who've been at it for such long time getting paid $15.00 - $30.00 to drive countless miles and burning gas, setting up rings, putting out chairs, and then taking all the abuse for literally next to nothing and just so by the end of the night they sleep in their car freezing their ass off or sweating to death just so that they can PAY THEIR DUES and move up the ladder of success. Those people who wanted to go on "Tough Enough" had no business to even consider about getting into this business. As for those who did not make it but they're out on the independent circuit, they're still getting paid more than the rest of those people who spent countless dollars to train and learn their craft. It's always going to be a win/win situation for those people. Look at Josh Matthews. He's getting a paycheck now. Look at that little anorexic looking girl Jessie. She's getting a paycheck too! I don't know what I hate the most a yarder or a T.E. reject?!
PowerBomb 101: my opinion on T.E is that if it were treated like "Road Rules", where they had to do certain tasks to get paid a certain amount of money, i think it could have been better.
PowerBomb 101: having some guys like Al Snow and Tazz wake them up at 4 AM to set up the ring and train would make it more realistic
Steve Anderson: That's not realistic!
Steve Anderson: That is just show business!
PowerBomb 101: ok now on to the next question. Backyard "wrestling". I know how you feel about it and its understandable. But what about those who have gone into pro-wrestling, eventually became legit pro-wrestlers, only to continue the backyard stuff?
Steve Anderson: I say that filthy pig fuckers like them need to die a slow painful death and burn in hell. Anyone who was smart enough to get out of the yards and get TRAINED only to return back to the yard because they couldn't hack it or just plain amount to shit in the business needs to die a slow painful death and rot in hell. I hate yarders! I had the pleasure of fucking up one guy in a match who claimed to be a professional wrestler. You think New Jack fucked up that piece of deceased shit "Mass Transist" then you needed to be there to see what happened. I'll kill you first before you cripple me if you don't know what in the fuck you're doing!
PowerBomb 101: Well, I WAS in backyarding, and I did get out of it. Now im set on being in the pro business. So do you havemore respect for "kids" who do get out of the yarding stuff and then get into training like they should in the first place?
Steve Anderson: I don't trust anyone who had a reputation for being a yarder in the beginning and they have to prove to many other people that they're intentions on training to become a professional wrestler are legitimate. One of my friends who was a yarder got really smart. We both broke into this business together but he was one of the only people out of twelve of his friends who did not wash out because they couldn't handle the learning process.
PowerBomb 101: ok, good answer. Next question is about politics in wrestling. Whats your thoughts about its place in wrestling and do you think the whole business would be better without it?
Steve Anderson: To be honest, it's been in this business forever now. However I think that if many people could keep their egos in check and realize this business is about opportunities that it could benefit a locker-room but that is not the case today. I think that this business could operate better if the politics were not as cut-throat as they've been in recent years.
PowerBomb 101: Once again the crowd said, amen. So now heres a question for you. Where do you see yourself in five years? ten years?
Steve Anderson: In all honesty I cannot answer that question because nobody knows where they'll be in the future. Maybe other people in this business like to dream about where they'll be in the future and while they're busy day-dreaming about it, I'm here being real with you just giving you the facts right here. I focus myself on the present because that's what matters the most.
PowerBomb 101: Alright well, time to hit it off with word association. I tell you a name and you give me a short description. Ready?
Steve Anderson: Shoot!
PowerBomb 101: John Cena
Steve Anderson: It's a bird...It's a plane...It's Vanilla Ice Yo!
PowerBomb 101: Chris Benoit
Steve Anderson: Professional Wrestler
PowerBomb 101: Kurt Angle
Steve Anderson: Got Milk?
PowerBomb 101: Steve Austin
Steve Anderson: Who in the hell is Hulk Hogan?
PowerBomb 101: Randy Savage
Steve Anderson: Ritalin
PowerBomb 101: Paul Heyman
Steve Anderson: Creative Genius
PowerBomb 101: Bret Hart
Steve Anderson: The Best There Is, Best There Was, Best There Ever Will Be!
PowerBomb 101: Ultimate Warrior
Steve Anderson: WHAT?
PowerBomb 101: Vince Russo
Steve Anderson: Piss Off!
PowerBomb 101: Vince McMahon
Steve Anderson: I plead the 5th
PowerBomb 101: Jeff Jarrett
Steve Anderson: Dish Pan Hands
PowerBomb 101: Raven
Steve Anderson: HOT DOGS
PowerBomb 101: Hulk Hogan
Steve Anderson: Could You Please Retire Already?
PowerBomb 101: Triple H
Steve Anderson: Locker-Room Cock Jobber
PowerBomb 101: Rey Mysterio Jr.
Steve Anderson: He's not a real wrestler. I don't watch cruiserweights.
PowerBomb 101: Vader
Steve Anderson: Big Mother Fucker!
PowerBomb 101: Maven
Steve Anderson: Fake ass, no dues paying, wish he could be, should be a trainee, bushy eye brow, seen midgets who can drop kick higher than he, Pat Patterson Semen Depository Center, LOSER!
PowerBomb 101: Ric Flair
Steve Anderson: Jet Flying, Limousine Riding, Kiss The Girls and Make Them Run Home Crying, Legendary Son of a Gun!
PowerBomb 101: WWE
Steve Anderson: Where's the WRESTLING?!
PowerBomb 101: Owen Hart
Steve Anderson: God Bless!
PowerBomb 101: British Bulldog
Steve Anderson: Damn is that all?
PowerBomb 101: Hawk
Steve Anderson: God Bless Brother Hawk!
PowerBomb 101: Brian Pillman
Steve Anderson: God Bless!
PowerBomb 101: Stu Hart
Steve Anderson: Thank You For Creating Pro Wrestlers!
PowerBomb 101: Curt Hennig
Steve Anderson: Absolutely...PERFECT!
PowerBomb 101: Goldberg
Steve Anderson: GET THE HELL OUT OF WRESTLING!
PowerBomb 101: Mark Henry
Steve Anderson: GO GET TRAINED YOU FUCKING MARK!
PowerBomb 101: Big Show
Steve Anderson: Stacker 2
PowerBomb 101: Diamond Dallas Page
Steve Anderson: Outstanding Human Being
PowerBomb 101: And last but not least, "Enforcer" Steve Anderson
Steve Anderson: I'm An Anderson! What More Do I Need To Say?
PowerBomb 101: Alrighty well that about wraps it up. Do you have anything to say to the people who will be reading this?
Steve Anderson: As a matter of fact I do have something that I'd like to say if I may?
PowerBomb 101: go ahead
Steve Anderson: If you have any questions or if you'd like to e-mail me or speak with me online, I can be located at NForcerSA2k on Y! instant messenger or at [email protected] If you're interested in booking me for your next event, you may e-mail me at the address provided in this interview.
PowerBomb 101: Alright well once again, thanks for doing this interview Steve, it took forever but it was worth it.
Steve Anderson: Thank you for having me and don't forget my check now!
PowerBomb 101: uhhhh yeah.......right.
[End interview]