The Rant of the Week: My Interview with The Stro & other stuff
Submitted by Phantom Lord on Sunday, February 8, 2004 at 1:43 AM EST



Greetings conversationalists all across the fruited plain, it is I your personal Harvester of Sorrow Phantom Lord and this is my Rant of the Week. I am coming to you as always from the Frozen Apple that is New York City. I have come to a conclusion that from now on if a Groundhog sees his shadow, we should shoot it. Granted there isn’t a damn thing we can do about the weather and it’s only going to get worse in the coming decade, but it would be a nice ego boost shoot one of those varmints for forsaking us with the extra cold weather. Well as I promised, I have an exclusive interview with former WCW Wrestler and Current Indy World Champion, The Stro. But before I go Toe to Toe with him, I have to address one small sports related topic. A thin margin of people still like to think that Boxing is a legit sport. Earlier this week I heard the Federal Government wants to waste tax dollars that could be spent fighting the war on terrorism to form a commission to oversea Boxing in this country. Why would you want to even bother? We all know that Wrestling is “fixed”. Can anyone honestly say after watching some big money fights that the same can’t be said about Boxing?

I mean Boxing has always tried to be like Wrestling on the entertainment level and this week we got the equivalent of Hulk Hogan retiring so he didn’t have to lose to Bret Hart or some other up and comer when he was reaching the end of his career. Case and point Lennox Lewis. He retired as World Heavyweight Champion this week to avoid having to face Vitali Klitschko. Klitschko beat the holy hell out of Lewis in their title fight and Lewis was ordered to give him a rematch or be stripped of the title. So Lewis took the coward’s way out and retired using the “I have accomplished all that I can in this sport”. Lennox Lewis should be forever branded a coward and he should be booed unmercifully until he has the balls to “do the right thing” and face Klitschko one more time. In wrestling it’s called putting someone over or passing the torch. In boxing it’s called getting knocked out in a big title match against a younger and stronger opponent. But as my old history teacher Mr. Strom used to say “Professional Wrestling is the last legitimate sport left in this country”, and it’s time for the featured portion of this week’s column. This week I bring to you the reader an exclusive interview for LOP as I go one on one with The Stro. The Stro is currently wrestling all over the United States for several companies and at one point last year he held Three World Titles at the same time. I believe only Vader has done that, but Vader did that on three different continents. So before I get any e-mail saying he’s a has-been or a never was, try reading the interview before you pass judgement.

And now join me as I go Toe to Toe with The Stro

Phantom: For those that don't know you, could you give a quick summary of who you are and your career.

Stro: My wrestling name is the Stro. I have been wrestling for 14 years and was brought into professional wrestling industry after my extensive amateur wrestling background and Japanese shoot wrestling by Gene Anderson, Nelson Royal, and Ivan Koloff. I have wrestled all over the world for many promotions including NWA, tryouts with WWE, and my most notorious run with WCW as The Maestro. Earlier in my career I dubbed the name Gorgeous George III due to the respect and the relation I had with the original. Have held numerous singles and tag team titles and currently hold a few in various independent promotions.

Phantom: We all know about how bad WCW was during the time you were a star there, but was there any one moment where you thought maybe they were going to turn things around and make a run at the WWF again?

Stro: Well when the Bischoff/Russo alliance was made, there was hope as the office seems determined to change things around for the company. Everyone has high hopes. But in the end, just as what was currently going on, WCW just seemed to could not pull it together to work cohesively.

Phantom: What would you say was the best in ring moment you had while in WCW?

Stro: I had many great matches in WCW and had the luxury to work with many great wrestlers. But the one moment that sticks in my mind ironically wasn't wrestling related. It was during the segment of the Superbrawl PPV that I did with the Cat when James Brown made his entrance. The ovation he received that night was deafening! It was really special to be a part of that segment with one of the all time greats in music.

Phantom: Since the demise of WCW, You've become quite the draw on the Indy circuit and you currently hold numerous World Titles. Is it fair to say that you are The Real World's Champion?

Stro: Definitely! I have trained and worked really hard to get to this level. I am bigger, stronger, and much more experienced now. In WCW, I didn't get any World title matches (why I have no idea..lol). So I more than made up for it on the Indy scene. Ric Flair gave me some good advice a while back to strive nothing more than to be the very best. That and the ring psychological influence of Jake Roberts has helped me tremendously. Jake and I have worked together a lot thru the years and the knowledge that he has for the wrestling industry is uncanny. Some people take things for granted, but I have always absorbed and appreciated every little piece of advice the veterans of this business has given me. Little things mean a lot and that's the philosophy I take with every match.

Phantom: Your a relative of the Original Gorgeous George. Do you think some wrestlers today could learn a thing or two with the way he worked a crowd before, during, and after a match?

Stro: Absolutely. He was an innovator of his era. He was a master of making those "little things" speak volumes as well as having tremendous wrestling skill. It's with these attributes that kept Ric Flair on top of the business for so many years. Few people in our sport have the best of both worlds, but the few that do shine so much above the rest.

Phantom:You were trained in part by Ivan Koloff. What was it like being trained by him?

Stro: Ivan was a machine! Very tough and could wrestle for hours! It was his and Gene Anderson's toughness that I attribute my aggressive style along with the technical knowledge of Nelson Royal. It was because of Nelson's relationship with Stu Hart that I knew of the dungeon which was nice to meet with Owen and Bret years later.

Phantom: What did you think going down to AAA was going to be like? How did you come out in the end?

Stro: Honestly, I had no clue at first. Jake and I were a top tag team with AAA. It was amazing to see the acrobatics of the luchadore style. But was nice to mix their styles with mine and Jake's. Made for some exciting matches. Our run went pretty well, culminating in a huge main event for their third annual Triplemania in Mexico City which had 20,000 plus in attendance. In the end, Jake and I cleaned house!

Phantom: What was it like working with Jake "The Snake" Roberts?

Stro: I have so much respect for Jake. We have tag teamed together and have faced each other time to time thru the years. In the ring and behind the scenes, he is a great man who I consider my friend.

Phantom: How is the wrestling school going?

Stro: My wrestling school is going great. The students this year have been doing fantastic and I am very pleased with their progress. I already have graduates that are doing very well on the Indy scene.
http://www.thestro.com/school.html">(to find out more on my school, go to Stro School

Phantom:What do you believe the important aspects of pro wrestling are?

Stro: The blend of presentation and wrestling skill. Some have succeeded with excelling in just one, but very few. The ones that have mastered both realms are the ones that stay on top. Knowing what to do and what not to do. Knowing your limitations and knowing how to preserve. Longevity is everything in wrestling.

Phantom: Explain how your finisher the Stro-Bearhug-DDT came about.

Stro: The idea came from a match I saw in Japan. Only it was executed from a vertical suplex position into a ddt. So I figured that securing my opponent in a bearhug position, hooking the head, and dropping back into a ddt would be more effective and could be executed on many size of opponents. Thus the 'SBD" was born. It always gets a reaction. The visual and physical of the SBD is devastating!

Phantom: Do you think that with companies like NWA-TNA, MLW, and ROH gaining a lot of attention that in the mix a viable competitor to the WWE can be found?

Stro: In time. They are still in the early stages where as WWE has had years to build to their current level. But as they say, "never say never". Look at what happened with Turner?

Phantom: What kind of direction do you personally see Professional Wrestling/Sports Entertainment going in the next five to ten years?

Stro: I see a definite uprise coming. It's slow coming and may take some time. But I give it a few years and the business will be reaching towards another peak stage.

Phantom: What do you think has been the highlight of your career so far?

Stro: There have been so many. Have wrestled many great wrestlers over the years. From Taz, Lawler, Scott Hall, Sid, Flair, Wahoo McDaniel, Ron Garvin to guys like RVD, Sean Morley, Paul Orndorff, Sting, Buff Bagwell, Mick Foley, etc etc.. just to name a few. Wrestling overseas and my tryout in WWE and my stint in WCW has to rank also among high moments. It is hard to pick just one.

Phantom:And Finally, if you could wrestle anyone past or present in any kind of match, who would it be and why.

Stro: Well let's see, the ones I haven’t wrestled yet who I would like to is Ricky Steamboat, Shawn Michaels, and Kurt Angle. These great wrestlers always have great matches and putting my skills to the test with either of them would be a treat.

Phantom: Thanks in advance for taking the time to answer these questions.

Stro: Your very welcome. Thanks to all the fans for their support!
"Nobody can go toe to toe with the Stro!"

GOD bless yall!

http://www.thestro.com">Stro's official website

Once again I would like to thank The Stro for taking some time out of his busy schedule to give me that interview. If anyone from NWA-TNA or even the WWE is reading this, SIGN THE STRO. Hell, MLW could benefit from having a guy like him on the roster. In order for “the business” to prosper, companies need to find new talent to push and make into something. Well unless you’ve been living in a cave, it appears the powers that be in the WWE have finally listened to us the lowly fan and the people we have been begging to be pushed are finally being pushed. I mean Benoit is main eventing Wrestlemania. There is an 85% chance we will get Guerrero vs. Angle for the WWE Title on that same show. And to top things off, The Undertaker is coming back. Not the American Lardass, but The Deadman himself. OH HAPPY FREAKING DAY.

Yes, it is a good time to be a fan of the WWE. The question is can they keep this momentum going and not screw things up between now and Wrestlemania. I will give the WWE and the writing team the extreme benefit of the doubt here because despite my preaching of doom and gloom, I don’t want to see the company die. If the WWE were to implode like WCW it would take down the entire industry and it would probably be decades before a company ever got to the level McMahon built himself up to.

Speaking of companies building themselves up, I am starting to get concerned with the current direction of NWA-TNA. Unlike others I think bringing in ICP was a smart move and in the long term it will work out for TNA, but rumor has it TNA has signed Chyna to be a valet or something for Jonny Fairplay. If TNA had a women’s division, I could understand this move. But perhaps the critics of TNA are right on this one. It serves no purpose to bring in people who never had much attention to begin with. Sure Chyna was in Playboy twice, but what is she gonna do in TNA other then be the big lumbering bodyguard that she was when she first came to the WWF. Don’t expect her to fight men, because the PPV company that distributes TNA does not like that. That is the sole reason that Trinity suddenly went from being as tough as one of the guys last year to being the valet who occasionally gets involved in a match with Sonny Siaki. I really don’t know what good can come out of this deal because she’s not gonna be in Playboy again since the WWE has an exclusive deal with them. Acting wise her only real credit so far has been in the video for ‘Enemy’ by Sevendust where she beat up a cripple and still lost.

But as usual with TNA it’s best to sit back and watch rather then just read some news and pass judgement. Now I know because TNA on PPV, Money is a factor into your opinion on TNA. I personally have come to enjoy TNA and even with a miss they still manage to deliver high quality Wrestling action. In the end that’s what it all comes down to. Not who has the most celebs or who has the best angles. It comes down to who has the best wrestlers. While the WWE has the best talent in the world, TNA takes up and comers and makes them shine better then they would anywhere else. They also take people who were dismissed elsewhere and turn them back into stars.

As I was saying, I am enjoying the ICP’s stay in TNA. I think TNA is smart enough to realize these guys have a huge cult following and if they tune into see them then it would be a good thing buyrate wise. Personally I thought WCW missed the boat with ICP. I thought it was a huge mistake not having ICP win the tag titles. I mean as far as entertainment goes ICP is a great tag team. They can be over the top faces or hated heel’s and everything in-between. Wrestling wise…well they aren’t Haas and Benjamin. But a lot of the all time great tag teams weren’t exactly great wrestlers. The Road Warriors didn’t exactly go in and wear down teams. They just went in and beat the tar out of them. My point is, ICP has that special something that can’t really be explained, but you know they have it. What ever it is, The Insane Clown Posse does have “IT”.

Before I go, I never want to see a wrestler ever get hurt. But the wrestling gods have sort of answered out prayers and Mark Henry is now on the shelf for a few months with a busted up shoulder. Perhaps this is a blessing for the WWE because you have Teddy Long who is in need of a new client and Booker T who is in need of someone to guide him back to the promise land…you feel me? But once again maybe the WWE will realize that this clumsy oaf is not worth the money he was signed for and they will finally give him a buyout. It’s not that hard, companies with a lot more money on the line do it every day.

Well that’s if for this week. As always take care and remember, someone has to provide you with this information so it might as well be me.

And Now the Plugs

Visit the Lord's of Pain Message Board. Home to the Psychotic Wrestling Alliance and some of the best discussions on Wrestling, Entertainment, and Politics around

The Official Website of The Stro

Visit the official home of Chris The Brain. The Voice of the United Wrestling Council

Visit what has come to be known as The Raven Effect (The Official Website of Raven)

Visit Spiritual Fitness Wear, A clothing line from Two Time W.O.W World Champion Heather Lee Millard

Visit 96X FM WROX Radio out of Norfolk,VA.

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Note if you don’t label it as Feedback, then it gets deleted with all the spam mail for drugs and porn that I get.









***DIRECT LINK*** Must See! MICKIE JAMES High-Def & UP-CLOSE! Amazing!!

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