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Submitted by Calvin Martin on Sunday, April 21, 2002 at 4:23 PM EST
Chris Benoit is not at the arena for Backlash tonight. Benoit was rumored to have a role in the show with Chris Jericho. The Rock and Juventud Guerrera both appeared on The Steel Cage radio show today out of Tampa. Main news item from Rock - he said the next movie he will be in, Helldorado, is an action/comedy and he will star with Seann Scott, the guy who played Stiffler in the American Pie movies. Main news item from Juventud - he said will be in the WWF my May or June. He is anxious to wrestle Billy Kidman and Rey Mysterio Jr. again in the cruiserweight division. Credit: 1Wrestling.com Jeff Wilen sent this in Here's a recap of The Rock on Larry King's Live Weekend show: Rock was on for the full hour. Numerous WWF clips and Scorpion King clips were shown throughout. King introduces Rock as The People's Champion and The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment. King says Rock is ready to bodyslam the big screen. Rock says he's both a wrestler and an actor. Rock talks about his family. Rock talks about his other wrestling names -- Flex Cavana (a good guy with bad tendencies) and The Rock character. Rock says that name was a collective idea. Rock says the name was Rocky Maivia, then it was shortened to The Rock. Rock explains how wrestling has a lot of physical theatrics and acting. Rock says there is not a lot of love involved. Rock says his character was not a hit right away. Rock calls the fans "savvy fans." Rock says he took three months off as the fans were booing the good guy. Rock says there was talk of turning him heel. Rock says he asked Vince and the writers for "creative freedom" to further his Rock character. Rock says his character has charisma and confidence now. King asks Rock if there are many blacks wrestling. Rock says there are many more now. Rock says his dad was one of the first blacks to transcend the color barrier in wrestling. Rock says his family and him shuffled around Georgia, Tennessee, Florida and Texas, and that he grew up alot in Hawaii. Rock says his dad was a champion on numerous circuits. Rock says his grandfather was half-black/half-Samoan. Rock says it gave him a unique look. Rock says he has a wide spectra of fan base. King mentions Rock's use of the third person, the slogans and the People's Eyebrow. Rock says he has his own writer (Brian). Rock says Arnold Schwartznegger has been a big support. Rock says, "I will try to keep wrestling." Rock says wrestlers have to "stay in shape," contrary to the public's perception. Rock says, "I lose more than any other wrestler, any other hero." Rock says his character is more relatable when he loses. Rock says, "I prefer to lose more than I win." Rock says it's a formula to be flawed and in jeopardy character-wise. King asks if Rock ever gets mad in the ring. Rock says a couple of times, but not in the ring. King asks Rock if he's been hurt before. Rock says he had surgery three years ago. King asks if wrestling exploits women. Rock says no. Rock says it's funny, comical violence. Rock says it's not a putdown. Rock says his wife is supportive and a critic of his character. Rock says he met her at The University of Miami. Rock says he signed with UM in 1991. Rock says he was beat out by Warren Sapp. Rock says he had a back injury, a bad senior year, wasn't drafted by the NFL, and wasn't signed to a free-agent contract. Rock says he wanted to play in the NFL. King asks Rock about the Lionel Tate trial. Rock says Tate's lawyer wanted to "go after the biggest name in the industry" -- that being him. Rock says wrestling is choreographed and that one must protect the other guy. Rock says there was a lot of damage done by Tate to that little girl who was killed. Rock says at 14-years-old and up, sometimes younger, you know what you're doing. King asks Rock about Vince. Rock says Vince is great to work for and that they have a honest relationship. Rock says this is a closed industry, with lots of egos. Rock says he's very well paid. Rock says fans watch for two reasons: 1, an insaccionable appetite of good vs. evil; 2, living vicariously through characters. Rock says steroids were rampant in the 1980s and early 1990s. Rock says it's not as prevalent now. Rock says he tried needles in college. Rock says he noticed any changes. Rock joked it was probably Tylenol PM. King asks Rock about the Beyond the Mat film. King says a character using crack was portrayed. Rock says the movie showed the not-so-good side (crack user, broke wrestler, and a hanger-on). King asks Rock about Owen Hart. Rock says that was difficult. Rock says he was close to the Hart family and to Bret Hart. Rock says his match was next up after the incident happened. Rock says he wanted to run out and check on his friend Owen but thought the fans might think it was part of the show if he did. Rock said, "I realized he wasn't with us anymore when he came through" (the curtains). Rock says his success wasn't planned. Rock says he was broke through college, and won't forget that. Rock says he has to pinch himself sometimes, and actually enjoys doing so.. Rock says there are temptations on the road, but Rock says he makes sacrifices. Rock says he doesn't put himself in positions of temptations. Rock jokes that he'll go talk to the ugly girl and not the pretty girl. Rock says he's "very lucky." King mentions Rock and his Republican National Convention appearances. Rock says he's Republican and voted for Bush, but that he still weighs in on the candidates when voting. Rock says he was in Houston, Texas, on 9-11-2001. Rock says those that kill in cowardly fashion have a price to pay (they will be killed). Rock says Bush has done a good job. Rock then says Bush has done a great job. Rock says his wife was vice president of Merrill-Lynch. Rock says she now is part of her own business in Miami, Florida. King compares Rock to a rock star, in that people like him. Rock says he's been to Samoa two times. Rock says it's still preserved, with people still living in huts. Rock says Samoan is on his mom's side of the family. Rock says his dad was his grandfather's tag-team partner in San Francisco, and that they hung out. Rock says he likes The Scorpion King character. Rock says he's a good guy with bad tendencies. Rock says he has a good villain. Rock says the movie was in 5000 BC. Rock says it's a fun ride. Rock says the ring is 15-30 minutes with one take, while film has numerous takes. Rock says he takes direction (movie-script) well. Rock says he's 29. Rock says he wants to be a movie star. Rock says he'll never forget poverty. My thoughts: Rock all but said he was virtually done with wrestling. He didn't use those words, but he hinted at it more than once on the show. Hearing Rock say, "I will try to keep wrestling" didn't sound very convincing. Rock saying how he loses more than anyone I guess is probably true. I wonder if he was sending a message here. Hearing how Rock said the Rock name was a "collective idea" makes me think he'll fight Vince McMahon for rights to that name one day. Rock saying how this industry has lots of egos reminded me of what a tough job Vince truly has. Rock was pretty honest that Lionel Tate got what he deserved. Rock hinted at continued steroid use, but didn't name anyone. Rock was "somewhat emotional" during the Owen Hart talk and 9-11 talk. Rock came across as honest, straight-forward and very interesting. I have more respect for The Rock after watching this solid interview. Jeff Wilen http://www.news-journalonline.com/column/anglendx.htm *NEW GALLERY* Hot Photos of Hulk Hogan's YOUNGER MISTRESS & Brooke's Friend!
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