 Show: The Interactive
Interview
Guest: Native American Tatanka
Date: 1/18/08
Your Hosts: Patrick Kelley, James Walsh, & Nick Noel
Tatanka is one of professional wrestling's most beloved and decorated superstars.
Fans of all walks of life have taken to this wrestler like few before him
and learned to appreciate the Native American culture through his ring wars.
Tomorrow, January 19, 2008, Tatanka steps into the squared circle against
a former Million Dollar Corperation peer, "Psycho" Sid Vicious at an outdoor
event happing at the Coco Expo Ballpark! Click the link below for more
information on this great event!
It is hard to believe but in 5 years of chasing down all the top wrestling
superstars, Tatanka has managed to escape our grasp... Until now! For the
first time ever, we get Interactive with Tatanka as he steps into the
Epicenter!
"Native American" Tatanka
- The Native American Tatanka is welcomed to the
show by James Walsh. Tatanka thanks James and his fans for wanting to listen
to him on this interview.
- First up, Tatanka hypes the show he did on the 19th, the Bash at the Ballpark
which brought many wrestling legends for one card: Roddy Piper, Demolition,
Honky Tonk Man, Jimmy Snuka and various other legendary figures. It was presented
by the WWA (World Wrestling Association) Tatanka says that they expect a
large crowd for this event. Tatanka wrestled Psycho Sid in the main event,
a match that Tatanka was looking forward to.
- When asked about his last run with the WWE, he says that there have been
a lot of changes. The company has branched out and gone all over the world
and the company needs more people to run it. He says the story writer position
has been like a revolving door and he feels that a lot of the storylines
are hurting the product. He felt it was better when Vince had his “finger
on the pulse” with all the decisions that went into the stories. However,
he had a lot of fun doing that run, and really liked the response he got
upon his return.
- Tatanka said on a shoot interview once that he wanted to work with Shawn
Michaels again when he went back to the WWE and bring back what they did
in 1993. Tatanka says that for what ever reason it just never happened. He
also says that they had some great things planned for the angle where he
was getting cheated every week, but things happened with the story writers
that stopped it. He feels that the writers don’t know wrestling, and
references Pat Patterson’s creative input in all the years he was with
the company.
- Tatanka says that most other Native Americans were proud of the way he
was portrayed and he feels that the WWE never really went too far with the
Native American traits of his character. Not everything they did was 100%
accurate, but also said that many Native Americans looked up to him. He feels
Chief Jay Strongbow was there to make sure nothing too out of line with the
Native American people took place. Tatanka also mentions that Gerald Brisco
has Native blood in him.
- He actually owns the gimmick and the name Tatanka. When he first went to
the WWF, Vince let him pick the name and he felt that “Tatanka”
(meaning Buffalo or Bull) was one of the best. He says that Vince originally
owned the trademark, but his ownership of it expired, and now Tatanka officially
owns the name. He then explains that since Tatanka is a real word from the
native tongue, and many natives felt it couldn’t truly be owned. A Native
American tribe did officially gave him the name Tatanka in a ceremony, which
he felt was a great honor.
- The interview then shifts to Bam Bam Bigelow, who Tatanka feuded with and
partnered with in the Corporation. He greatly misses Bam Bam and really enjoyed
the feud they had. He specifically recalls a match they had in MSG where
Bam Bam had the back of his head busted open on the guard rail but continued
the match. He fells it was one of his greatest matches, and one of many with
Bam Bam.
- Tatanka’s first loss in the WWF was to Ludvig Borga in 1993 right
before Survivor Series 1993. He felt that it was a good idea because he had
been built up really strong, and they wanted to push Borga hard. Tatanka
also recalls that it took Ludvig Borga had help from Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji
helped him, so he didn’t look weak (if anything he feels it made him
look extremely strong) He also says that his undefeated streak was probably
the longest in WWF history, and considering a lot of the guys he worked with,
he says it is something to be proud of.
- Probably the biggest angle Tatanka did was the heel turn against Lex Luger
at Summerslam 1994. He says it first came about in a meeting with Vince where
Vince pitched the idea to him. At first he didn’t take to it because
he liked being a face, but when he thought it about it, he thought it was
a really good idea. He says that it got over like crazy when it happened.
Some fans have even told him that it was one of the best heel turns ever.
- When asked about why he didn’t go to WCW, he says that he was doing
very well in businesses outside of wrestling, and at the time he felt that
he needed to take some time off and raise a family. After a few years, he
worked the Indy scene and did really well as he continues to do so now.
- To end the interview, Tatanka plugs his website (http://nativetatanka.com)
and thanks all of his fans that have supported him throughout the years.
He also says that he isn’t done with wrestling yet with a classics figure
coming out, and the fans should keep their eyes open for him.!
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