Interviews
Wrestle Hustle Exclusive: Lance Storm interview
Published February 14, 2012 at 6:41 am by Tez Himself
Interview conducted by Marek Indyka.
WH: How did you first get your start in Extreme Championship Wrestling?
STORM: I got started in ECW the same way most guys did, i just kept calling Paul until he finally called me back. I was working for WAR in Japan at the time so I was just looking for bookings between tours, hoping to get exposure like guy like Jericho, Malenko, and Eddie, did before me. Paul eventually gave me that chance and things took off quickly.
WH: You were one half of the Impact Players with Justin Credible along with Dawn Marie. How did this team come together?
STORM: I actually trained Justin back in 1992 so we knew each other before we ended up in ECW together. Justin had been asking Paul to let us work each other for a while and eventually we ended up in a 3-Way Dance with Dreamer and I think Paul saw some chemistry and put us together as a team. Dawn and I were already a duo at this time having been put together a year or so earlier when she was brought in as a one night foil to Tammy Sytch. I thought there was chemistry between us and asked Paul if she could take on a full time role.
WH: ECW had some of the most unique fans you'll ever find, talk about the atmosphere they created in the ECW Arena and just what the ECW fans meant to the company's success?
STORM: The Arena was one of the best places to work because the fans were so rabid. While they would give you a hard time a lot they also showed a lot of respect too. We were all in it together and the fans were as much a part of making ECW special as we were.
WH: You worked a match with Chris Jericho at WWE One Night Stand in 2005. To many people this was the return or resurrection of ECW, describe the vibe or feeling amongst the ECW stars at this time and your thoughts on the match with Jericho?
STORM: I was thrilled to get to work with Jericho again on this show. For a while I wasn't even going to be getting a match on the show because booking wise nothing was shaping up that would make sense. The crowd was awesome that night and getting to go on first made it even better.
WH: Who were some of your favorite guys to work with in ECW?
STORM: This is a no brainer: Jerry Lynn, Chris Candito, Mikey Whipwreck, and Tommy Dreamer. Of course working together with Dawn was the best part of it all.
WH: Can you share a road story or rib from your time in Extreme Championship Wrestling?
STORM: I was never a big rib guy, but there is a great story of a show in Youngstown that is kind of funny. We flew into Pittsburgh and Jerry Lynn and I were riding together. I also printed out maps and directions to the towns on my computer before leaving home. The first show was in Youngstown, so I looked it up on the map and found Youngstown, Ohio which was a little under a 2 hour drive from Pittsburgh. I recall mentioning to the boys that the shot would be an easy drive, which they all agreed. So Jerry and I drive to Youngstown, OH and try to find the building. We stop at a gas station and as for the "Such and Such" County Armory, but no one has a clue where that building is, and seem very unsure as to the name. This starts making me angry and I start cutting a promo on these idiots for not even knowing what County they are in. Jerry decides to call one of the guys in the ring truck figuring they will be at the build by now for sure. Well it turns out there was also a Youngstown, PA which was also just under a 2 hour drive from Pittsburgh, just in the other direction. We were 2 hours west of Pittsburgh and the show was 2 hours east. Jerry and I then had to haul ass to try to still make the show. We made the show just at the tail end of intermission and had about 5 minutes to change and get to the ring for our match.
WH: This question gets asked alot, what was the downfall of ECW. In Lance Storm's opinion, what was the down fall of those famous three letters?
STORM: It became a case of ECW was too big to be small, yet too small to be big. We became big enough that anyone who got really over would be noticed and offered a better deal else where. Because of this Paul had to tie guys up with longer term contracts. To get guys to commit to longer contracts he had to offer them substantial money, and ECW wasn't growing fast enough to afford big money contracts. The payroll got ahead of the money the company was drawing.
WH: Is it true you actually took up some booking duties in the original ECW?
STORM: Yes there was a time where I was helping Paul a lot with booking. At first just offering ideas, and booking my own angle and eventually helping book the whole show. At one point Paul, Dreamer, Raven and I were the booking team.
A few comments on the following people (word association)
* Paul Heyman: Passionate, a joy to work with.
* Raven: Proof that opposites attract. Raven and I get along very well.
* New Jack: A little crazy but an awesome promo.
* Rob Van Dam: The most laid back, hard working guy I've ever met.
* Shane Douglas: A great guy to be in the ring with, we had good chemistry.
* Joey Styles: One of the few people I'd have been friends with if wrestling were not part of the equation.
* Taz: In ECW at least, even more serious than me.
* Dawn Marie: I complete joy to work with, we had so much fun together. Not too bad to look at either.
* Jason: I never really talked with Jason much, we had very little interaction despite being part of the Impact Players together.
