My Interview with a WWE Hall of Famer

[cawthon777]

This past weekend I was fortunate to speak in-depth with WWE Hall of Famer 'Handsome' Jimmy Valiant. He's retiring on Christmas Day after 40 years in the ring, has been running his own wrestling school for the past 12 years, and is writing a book scheduled for release in 2005.

 

The interview is broken into three parts. I'll be posting a new section after every few days.

 

Here's a link if you're interested: An Interview with Jimmy Valiant

[Slickster]

You're the man, GC.

 

Great interview and I can't wait to read the next part.

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

Good interview so far. Congratulations Graham on landing this interview.

 

I found Valient's comments on Kayfabe in regards to his wrestling camp quite interesting...

 

It was protected so well that I still protect it.  I'm writing a book, Graham, and it's out in 05.  I have this wrestling camp, this is our twelfth anniversary / graduation.  My kids they talk it when they come in.  Man, I don't even talk about it when they come in.  I say "Come here, son.  Tie up, just be real loose, you know, be like a wet rag, like we're dancing."  And I show them.  I don't tell them nothing.  And it's just because that's the way I was taught.  It was such a close-knit fraternity.  Now people talk about it, that's fine, that's fine.  Brother, I still believe in Santa Claus.

 

Obviously, you don't want to run around explaining your secrets, and wrestlers probably shouldn't. I would question how detrimental that could be for an aspiring wrestler. But I guess that is how the old timers learned. Fred Blassie described a similar experience in his book. Alot of us tend to draw upon our own experiences, and Jimmy Valient is no exception.

[Detox]

excellent read I am looking forward to the next installments thank you for sharing

[cawthon777]

Part 2 is up for those who are interested. Just follow the link I gave earlier and scroll to the bottom of the page.

[Guest DeputyHawk]

Great job, Cawthon. I absolutely love reading interviews with old timers who still love what they do with all their hearts. Same deal as watching some of the old jazz and blues guys play in New Orleans, it just makes the hairs on your arms prickle with admiration and respect. I hope I'm that happy sitting on the front porch of life when all is said and done. Anyway, question - how did you conduct the interview - dictaphone, camcorder, notebook & pen?

[cawthon777]

Mini cassette recorder. Think it was about $50 at Best Buy.

[cawthon777]

Part 3 is up for those who are interested.

[Slickster]

JV says something about 'working with you,' GC. Are you going to be working with BWC in the future?

[cawthon777]

He's working on a local TV deal and, if everything goes through, he offered me a spot as the head play-by-play / interviewer. It would be after the first of the year; no specifics as of yet.

 

It would be a great opportunity if it happens. I graduate college in the spring so my only issue is what to do so I can stay in the area and work with BWC. Maybe grad school at VA Tech, we'll see.

[Slayer]

Last March, I visited his training camp/museum outside of Blacksburg, VA (my g/f went to VTech and told me about the place)

 

Didn't seem to be all there collectively, but a damn nice guy