INTERACTIVE WRESTLING RADIO INTERVIEW - Gary Michael Cappetta

Show: Wrestling Epicenter
Guest: Gary Michael Cappetta
Date: 4/5/06
Your Hosts: James Walsh, Ben Benya, Brendon Brooks, & Francine

 

This week's show is a fun one. We welcome a man who worked for the McMahon family for 11 years. We welcome a man who

many of us fondly remember from the early days of World Championship Wrestling. And, we welcome a current Ring of

Honor employee. None other than Gary Michael Cappetta joins the show!

 

You know what is a shame? A lot of people might not download or listen to this show because it isn't with a "wrest.er."

Well, that's a shame. Gary was a fly on the wall to such insane stories from the history of this business and if you're like

me, you'll find those stories hysterical! Sid and Arn Anderson scissors story? You bet!

 

 


GARY MICHAEL CAPPETTA

 

Interview Conducted by James Walsh and Brian Luquette.

 

After some introductory banter, James starts off the interview with a question about Gary's book "Bodyslams." Gary says he didn't intend to write the book, but found himself at home with no job after his run in WCW. He started writing it like a diary (which is why it's called 'Memoirs of a Wrestling Pitchman'), but found himself still writing it two years later!

Cappetta is happy about the end result of the book, mostly because of the response of readers.

 

The book was re-released, and what was added from the first release was Gary's dealings with the publishers, who constantly told Gary that "Wrestling fans don't read. Wrestling fans can't read." This was before Mick Foley's first book was released.

 

In order to get some press for his book, Gary invited any wrestlers whom were talked about to say a few words in their defense. Gary then goes into a story about how Jim Cornette smashed a fan in the face with his tennis racket, a story that made the AP wires, but wasn't sued!

 

Gary says he gave Vince McMahon a chance to respond, who refused. George "The Animal" Steele and "Superstar" Billy Graham were two who did write rebuttals, though. Gary also goes into how he was offered a chance to work with ECW, which wasn't his "cup of tea," and that Steve Corino wrote a letter for the new edition of the book.

 

Gary says that ECW was a "garbage federation" in the begining, but then it "evolved into something more than what it was in 1994."

 

The cover of the book features Gary interviewing Ric Flair. It was ECW Press' art department decision, but Gary's pretty happy about the artwork. Gary mentions other people on the cover, including Mick Foley, The Undertaker, Steve Austin, Bruno Sammartino and Andre the Giant.

 

After a while, Brian asks a question about Gorilla Monsoon. Gary goes into how Gorilla was the co-owner of the WWF (Capital Wrestling), and was in charge of television production. They then go into a bit about how Gary lied his way into the WWF and stayed for 11 years!

 

Gary thinks Howard Finkel has the best voice of all.

 

When comparing Vince McMahon Sr. and Jr., Gary says that both could be ruthless. Vince Jr. is open about it, while Vince Sr. was well-groomed, but when things needed to be done, he had them done. Gary then goes into a small line about how Bruno Sammartino was "black-balled" for not playing along with a script.

 

Gary says the Vince McMahon TV character is reminiscent of Vince's actual personality.

 

Gary goes into how he sued Vince Jr. over the unauthorized use of his voice on certain products, and how he sued his no-showing lawyer as well!

 

After leaving the WWF, Gary spent a bit of time in the AWA, which was the first wrestling show on ESPN, and for a brief time he was announcing for all three companies (WWF, AWA and NWA)!

 

The next bit is whether or not Vince knew about Gary working for all three companies, and Gary goes into how Pat Patterson and Howard Finkel would go to opposition shows, in disguise, to check out the competition!

 

The story about "Mean" Mark Calloway (later known as "The Undertaker") and Buzz Sawyer is next. It was Mark's the first night in WCW, at a taping in Saginaw, Michigan, and they wound up driving together that night. Gary even goes into how Mark was really quiet, but became chatty the further away they got from the arena! The story continues with how Buzz Sawyer had screwed Mark out of $2000 and Mark was plotting his revenge. One night, Buzz, Mark and Gary were the last ones left in the arena, but before anything could happen, Gary dragged Mark away from Buzz.

 

Gary then goes into how he would watch Mark wrestle in WCW night after night, and how he had incredible athleticism and balance. However, Mark had two expressions: "A really bad impression of a pained _expression and none." Gary also says he was naturally "as white as a ghost."

 

The conversation goes into how Vince isn't the genius he's touted as, because Vince was very creative in the early days but not recently. Gary calls things like Vince's "kiss my ass" segments "desperation."

 

Gary then goes into how certain road agents, like Ricky Steamboat and Arn Anderson, tell him that what is on TV is what Vince wants. Gary then says that if Vince told them to turn the WWE into a "real entertaining, wrestling product," they don't think they could do it with the talent they currently have!

 

Ring of Honor is the next topic. Gary went to a ROH show and was impressed with the product and offered his services to Gabe Sapolsky, which led to Gary doing the backstage interviews.

 

Gary then goes into how he showed "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson some old NWA tapes and asked Bryan a question during an Arn Anderson match, who didn't respond. After the match, Bryan explained "It's a sin to interrupt an Arn Anderson match!"

 

Are the current wrestlers "revolting" against the past? Gary says no. It's that the young guys aren't told any different and that unless you study the history, like Samoa Joe and Bryan Danielson, you're just going through the actions. He then goes into how

 

Brian has the next question: Will ROH get on TV and become competition for WWE? Gary says that it would take someone like Bill Gates to come in and finance them!

 

Gary then goes into how today's young wrestler, while far more athletic than the wrestlers of old, need to know when to do their "spectacular moves" as well as think about protecting themselves so they have long lasting careers.

 

The three have a conversation about being fans, and Gary tells a story about how he would tour the country with his book, at county fairs and such, and how people of all ages would talk about the old days. He also had a TV with him and would play Great American Bashes from the 80s, and marveled at kids, who weren't interested in what he had to sell, would stand there watching Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff and Sting wrestle!

 

After a bit about how Vince is catering to the lowest common denominator and how mainstream corporations won't touch wrestling, Gary is asked about some of the sillier things he had seen in the business, specifically asked about RoboCop. Gary mentions an angle between Kevin Sullivan and Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin, where Sullivan had Garvin's valet, Precious, "under his spell."

 

The Arn Anderson/Sid Vicious "scissors" incident is next, the details of which need to be heard.

 

David Penzer is the next topic. Penzer was in charge of bookkeeping and when Gary left WCW, he asked to take over. They put over Penzer's on-air role in TNA as the current ring announcer before mentioning the loss of Public Enemy, which brings the conversation to a halt.

 

Gary's role in the "Showdown: Legends of Wrestling 3" video game is next. Gary spent 2 weekends doing over 6,000 sound bytes for the game. Unfortunately, the game bored Gary quickly, and he wasn't paid for his work, but it was fun for him.

 

The interview wraps up with ends one Word Association:

 

Missy Hyatt - "Tell her she owes GMC a book!"

 

Gary gives a plug for his website, www.bodyslams.com. Gary then discusses briefly what he doesn't like about what a famous writer did to wrestling in the late '90's!

 

Gary then goes into Vince isn't the genius he's credited as being. He even begins to speculate if Vince puts on bad shows sometimes to drive his stock prices down for later gain.

 

Gary also doesn't do Indy shows, because they can't afford his price. He recently did a show for Maryland Championship Wrestling and says he really enjoys working there. He also mentions our next guest, Gillberg!