Taken off the Observer site:
This week Teddy Hart joined Get in the Ring to discuss anything and everything. This is
a must hear if you want to hear Teddy's side of the controversy coming out of the recent Ring of Honor show and the HBO Real Sports piece from a few months ago. Unfortunately, it won't be available on www.getinthering.tv until the end of the week so here is the recap (but listen for yourself- this is another potential interview of the year candidate)
Sir A starts off reading a quote from Gabe Sapolsky taken from this week's Wrestling Observer which reads "Teddy is the greatest talent in the business who will never make it anywhere". Teddy responds by putting over ROH as a great promotion and says that the bookers put together a great match. In fact, everything except how they handled him after the match was great. Rob Feinstein brought him in as he knew that Teddy had experience using the ring with the platforms which ROH used for the match as these were used in the Matrats promotion. Teddy says he loves the fans, which not only does he work for and would die for, but says that the fans have always treated the Hart family well. He thinks the ROH match that he was involved in was one of best matches ever in wrestling. He says that the match was great and the cheers from the fans had his adrenaline rushing. He had a little left in the tank after the match so he did not think that the fans got all of their money's worth from Ted which is why he did the extra moves. He had a concussion after the match, but he is not using that as an excuse.
He did a 30 foot moonsault off the cage to the floor. He also did a shooting star press onto 3 guys and did a backflip off the ropes as a tribute to his uncle, the late Owen Hart. He states that anyone who has seen him in Calgary knows that he does the backflip tribute at the beginning and end of every one of his matches, win, lose or draw. The hosts say that they respect that he wanted to do a tribute, but ask how he can justify doing that in light of what was asked from him in the match. Ted says that he is being paid as a performer and believes he did what the promoters wanted to a point, but that ultimately the fans control a match. This was the first time that the people really got into him and he was overtaken and captured by the excitement so he went with it. He got a standing ovation from the crowd, but got a less than warm reception from some of the boys in the back. However, he states that they did not throw his bags out of the locker room and that all of the guys in the match except the Carnage Crew said they were not mad at him. In fact, many of the guys in the match said they loved working with him and that he made them look good. He says that he bumped harder than anyone in the match except his partner, Jack Evans. Teddy cites a front bump he took on the guardrail to get Loc over. He doesn't know if the guys who were mad at him were mad because they will have to follow him for the next number of years, however, he claims to have been given phone numbers from all of the guys in the match.
He says that he loses money on most bookings and flew himself out to ROH because Steve Corino and a couple of other guys refused to work if Teddy was getting paid. Teddy flew himself out to show the fans that he is the present and future of wrestling. He loves the fans and wants them to continue to know that his creativity comes from the Hart dungeon which has made all of these amazing moves possible.
The talk turns to the match Teddy had with Juventud Guerrera in TNA. Teddy can't believe the talk about him not selling as he performed a shooting star press, which he views as a finishing move, which wasn't sold as Juventud was instantly up. There was no set plan for the match and Juventud was fine that Teddy nipped up after the match. He shook Teddy's hand and said that Teddy did unbelievable for his first match on national TV. Juvy said Teddy likely made some mistakes, but overall he did great. When asked if he was ever asked back to TNA, Teddy said that his plane ticket from Calgary is expensive so they want him to stay for 8 days at a time. Jeff Jarrett spoke to Bret Hart about it and Teddy believes he can go back if he wants to.
Teddy feels that a couple of guys in the ROH are captains of locker room and on the night of the big cage match united with a bunch of other guys against him. The other 15 guys didn't want to see anything happen after the match. He says he walked in the back and took responsibility for every move he performed and apologized for doing anything offensive. He did not realize doing 3 extra moves in a match without psychology would ruin his rep. He believes people are jealous of the moves he can do. When asked who these people are, he responds that Steve Corino did a shoot interview insulting him and calling him a goof. Teddy said when he saw Steve he shook his hand and said he would let it go. Corino responded why and that "you are a goof". He also cites how AJ Styles gave him a list of moves not do to do. Teddy feels this is unfair as AJ didn't invent the moves in question. He doesn't feel that he should be handcuffed and that he must give the fans everything he has. He does not believe the business has to work in such a manner and cites guys doing jobs to Goldberg and HHH as proof. He says that the locker room can't just band together and refuse to do a job. The promoter should step in and say that Ted Hart puts asses in seats. Sir A says he would pay to see Teddy after this interview. Phantom says he would definitely see him if he vomits 6 times like he did in ROH as that is awesome. Teddy says it was only twice but Phantom says that's still fun.
Teddy used to work at KFC and says that you can't tell your boss there you're only giving 50%. He says that if a fan spends $50 on a ticket to see Ted Hart they are going to get their money's worth. There is no option for him to only give 50%. He says if he was working under contract to Vince it would be different, but on the indy scene he can't understand holding back. He says that Rob Feinstein left the door open for him to do this as he told him that if the fans cheered his name then go with it. He believes a lot of the guys who were angry at him are just jealous and everyone knows his only plan is to go to WWE. He loves Vince McMahon and notes that Stu Hart stopped promoting 20 years ago at which time he passed his sons to Vince. Teddy knows he wants to be a part of WWE and if they don't want him then he'll be a lonely ghost chasing the dream until he dies. He is not afraid of Vince being scared off by his much-talked about problems. If God wants him to make it in the WWE, then he will. He says there is a reason God lets him do 30 foot moonsaults. He feels that one day someone in the WWE will notice. People who try and blackball him only add more fuel to his fire. He is there to please the fans and not the boys even though the boys have his life in their hands. If they drop him on his head then so be it. He won't stop because 5-6 guys who shouldn't be lacing up boots don't like him. He can't believe he isn't allowed to compete on an equal level because some guys do the same moves as him.
Teddy is 23 years old and partially attributes people's jealousy to his age and that they don't have the same creativity and athleticism and feel challenged because they're not willing to follow the standards he sets. He says that we would still have communist countries if people weren't willing to take a chance. Sir A stops him as he states that the hosts don't read the newspapers and drink a lot. Teddy doesn't drink or smoke and compares himself to a preacher.
The talk turns to Bret's feelings on Vince. Teddy agrees with Phantom that Bret may one day mend the fences for Teddy's sake, but he notes that Vince has always been kind to him since day one. Vince put $25,000 cash in trust for Teddy's brother who passed away. He also flew Teddy and his friends to a PPV where he let them go in the ring and have a match. Overall, Vince has always been generous to the Hart family and continued to push the Hart name. Bret has told him that what happened between him and Vince has nothing to do with Teddy. Vince has said Teddy & Harry will be viewed on their own. Teddy believes that time heals old wounds and that Vince and Bret were friends for 25 years. People change and grudges can be dropped and there is nothing he would rather see than Vince, Bret and Shawn Michaels walking arm in arm. As a group no one has provided more entertainment than those three and no one gives Vince credit for always putting his balls on the line.
Even though his agent told him not to say it, if he dies in the ring then so be it. His job is to perform and he is not afraid to die. He would hate to leave the earth, but if he had to he would want his last memory to be in the ring as his whole life is wrestling and he lives and dies for it. This attitude has nothing to do with Owen. He never holds back and has no fear. He also created couple of guys who act the same. He believes that if the fans give their hard-earned money then he will be best wrestler he can possibly be. If he dies then it is God's plan. He hopes he is not crucified for being himself.
He feels that Owen is an angel on his shoulder telling him to fly high. Owen was the first guy to show him how to do the moonsault. He has now done it from 30 feet in the air. He feels that if the people want him to survive then their prayers and cheers will keep him alive. As long as people will pay to see him and if it will keep Vince McMahon around he'll do whatever it takes.
Teddy is intrigued by Sir A and Phantom's long standing plan to be co-managers so that tone of them could distract a ref and the other could hand foreign objects to their protege. Phantom suggests that Sir A could get on Phantom's shoulders and then Teddy could do a moonsault.
Teddy talks about his brother who was tragically lost to a rare flesh eating virus. His life was wrestling and at that time Ted wanted to be a lawyer. His brother said to Ted take care of the kids and carry on the family name.
Teddy is the only one of the Harts who was never stretched by Stu. He says he is not trying to blow smoke up his own ass, which Phantom quickly responds would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for a person to do. Teddy has seen a lot of people pass out from Stu's stretchings and when asked who got it the worst he responded Carl Le Duc. Le Duc was screaming up a storm and he was a tough guy. It was a good stretching part of which took place in a pile of cat urine on the floor. Sir A notes how most kids like to go to grandpas house to which Teddy replies that his was sitting in his basement waiting for the next victim.
Teddy feels that Bret is the leader of the Harts. Without Bret the Hart family would not be as well known today. He feels some people forget that and that is where the problems started. Bret has done a great job representing the family for 20 years and he is not ready yet for the passing of the guard. Bret is Teddy's hero and Davey Boy Smith was the nicest guy Teddy ever met in wrestling and it is a shame what happened to him.
Teddy was not too happy with the Real Sports piece feeling he was misquoted and he was not promoting steroids at all. He said Armen Keteyian sat with him all night and Teddy invited Armen over to his house where they swam in the pool and watched a movie. Armen said the only footage that would be shown was of the match and Teddy never signed any consent forms or anything. Armen said it was not an expose, but rather just a piece about wrestling. Teddy feels disappointed and lied to. Armen slept over his house and went home at 5 am. Sir A and Phantom were appalled and can't figure out why the hell he would sleep over. The boys agree dinner and drinks but no sleep over.
Teddy was not asked about steroids and was taken out of context. He was asked if he was a guy already in the business who did it before, then would he do it again. He said I guess so. Vince has always been kind to him and was probably not happy. If Vince asked him he could clarify this situation. He believes he was misquoted because they got nothing scandalous out of him. He is 23 and not media savvy.
Teddy's matches and clothing wear will be available at www.tedhartprowrestling.com.
Listen to the archived show later this week at www.getinthering.tv. This week a Survivor Series preview and a desperate plea to Randy Macho Man Savage featuring superstars you won't believe. Next week Kurt Angle!!!
